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The Battalion
Wednesday, October 19,1988
Page?
Writers, SID officials clash
on NCAA infraction issues
By Stephen Masters
Senior Staff Writer
A nine-member panel of journalists
and sports information employees
disagreed Tuesday about the range
and methods of coverage of NCAA
infractions in the Southwest Confer
ence.
Bill Cousins, sports information
director for Rice University summed
up the school side by reminding the
panel and audience that the SID is un
der the command of the university’s
administration, not the public.
“If the sargeant says shoot the chil
dren, we shoot the children,” he said.
“If we’re told not to release some in
formation, we’re not going to release
it.
“The thing to keep in mind is that
we are the employee of the university
first. The number one thing in our
reasoning in releasing information is
not the public’s right to know, but
what reflects the best light of the uni
versity. Our paycheck comes from
the university, not the media.”
Neal Farmer, a sports writer for the
Houston Chronicle, had a differing
opinion on Cousins’ assessment of
the public’s right to know.
"I’d like to think that there is some
need to tell the truth on their part,”
Fanner said.
In addition to Cousins and Farmer,
the panel also included Colin Killian,
assistant SID at A&M, Ron Crozier,
sports director for KBTX-TV, Cha-
rean Williams, sports writer for the
Bryan-College Station Eagle, Hal
Hammons, sports editor for The Bat
talion, A1 Carter, sports writer for the
Houston Chronicle, Kirk Bohls,
sports writer for the Austin Ameri-
can-Statesman and lecturer at South
west Texas State University, and
Richard Kilwine, an intern assistant
SID at the University of Houston.
The program was moderated by Chip
Howard, sports director for KTAM-
KORA radio.
Much of the discussion focused on
the Texas media’s spotlight on
NCAA infractions by Southwest
Conference schools.
“Why should we investigate the
Southwest Conference?” Carter
asked. “Why is the government after
the Mafia?
“I think it shows the depth of the
problem when you have the governor
of the state involved in cheating in
college football. We look at the
Southwest Conference more because
there’s more going on here.”
Killian disagreed with Carter’s
comparison.
“I don’t think it’s fair to compare
the Mafia with the Southwest Confer
ence,” he said. “1 haven’t heard of
anyone who was killed over a recr
uit.”
Carter responded, “But two-thirds
of the Mafia hasn’t been indicted.”
The journalists on the panel agreed
that a working relationship can be
strained by running controversial sto
ries, and Bohls mentioned experi
ences where coaches and players re
fused to grant interviews to the
media.
“You can’t let anyone intimidate
you,” he said. “You have to stand up
for your rights as a journalist and
hopefully your employer will back
you up.
“If they won’t talk, fine. I tell
them, ‘I can still cover the game and
write about you.’ It makes my job
harder, but it can be done.”
Fanner said he takes a direct ap
proach in his interviews.
“I go to a coach or administrator,
tell them what I know and ask for
their comment,” he said. “Sometimes
I say too much and I lose a story, but
I may gain five, 10 or 15 stories down
the road.
“As long as I perceive myself as
honest, I don’t have a problem.”
Kilwine said that sometimes the
stonewalling method can backfire.
“If you exclude them (media), they
may tend to get you more negative
publicity than if you didn’t,” he said.
Cousins pointed out that while
Rice has not been accused of any
NCAA infractions, they have lost 12
straight games and not had a winning
season since 1963.
“I thought there was a reason and
Governor (Bill) Clements showed us
— we’re haven’t been playing with
the same rules,” he said.
A’s
McGwire
finally beat Dodgei
vire homers in 9th for 2-t wi
ers
win
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mark Mc
Gwire hit a solo home run with one out
in the ninth inning as the Oakland Athlet
ics finally broke through for a 2-1 win
over Los Angeles Tuesday night.
The victory cut the Dodgers’ lead in
the World Series to 2-1.
McGwire fouled off three 2-2 pitches
before lining a drive over the left-center
field for his first hit in 10 World Series
at-bats.
The blow came against Jay Howell,
making his first appearance since his sus
pension for using pine tar in Game 3 of
the National League playoffs.
It was the first home run Howell had
given up to a right-handed batter in 112
at-bats this season.
The Athletics managed just five hits,
but McGwire’s homer was the difference
in a game in which Oakland’s bullpen
did the job.
The Athletics escaped a bases-loaded,
no-outs jam in the sixth inning and Rick
Honeycutt allowed one hit in the final
two innings for the victory.
Howell entered in the ninth and retired
Jose Canseco on a pop-up before McG
wire homered.
The Dodgers will pitch Tim Belcher in
Game 4 Wednesday night against Oak
land’s Dave Stewart in Game 4 Wednes
day night in a rematch of opening-game
starters.
The home team now has won 13 con
secutive games in the World Series.
The Dodgers blew a chance to break
the game open in the sixth when they
loaded the bases with no outs but failed
to score.
Danny Heep’s double, John Shelby’s
single and a walk to Mike Davis finished
Bob Welch.
The former Dodger has not lasted be
yond 2 2 /3 innings in four postseason
starts this year.
The Oakland bullpen, the most effec
tive in the majors this year, did its job
well.
Left-hander Greg Cadaret stopped
lefty Mike Scioscia on a foul popup and
right-hander Gene Nelson got Jeff Ham
ilton on a force at the plate and Alfredo
Griffin on a grounder to first.
Kirk Gibson, the Dodgers’ pinch hitter
deluxe in Game 1, was not employed this
time, even though Los Angeles was at
the bottom of its batting order.
The Dodgers’ injury problems wors
ened as starting pitcher John Tudor and
right fielder Mike Marshall each were
forced from the game.
Tudor, bothered by hip and elbow
problems throughout the season, left dur
ing the second inning with more arm
trouble.
Marshall’s weak back stiffened up in
the third.
Welch and Tudor, big winners who
had done poorly in postseason play, each
started out well on nine days’ rest.
Tudor retired all four batters he faced
before Tim Leary took over in the sec- ^
ond.
Welch won 115 games in 10 seasons
with Los Angeles and became the second
pitcher in history to start a World Series
game against the team he played for the
previous year. ;<
Bob Ojeda was the other, pitching in
1986 for the New York Mets against
Boston.
Welch gave up a leadoff single to I
Steve Sax and struck out the next four
batters.
He fanned eight in four innings and
took a 1-0 lead into the fifth before Los
Angeles scored.
Hamilton singled for his first hit in 10 ^
Series at-bats, advanced on Griffin’s sac
rifice and came home on Franklin ?
Stubbs’ two-out double.
[■i
The Athletics ended a streak of 18
scoreless innings with a run in the third.
Glenn Hubbard opened with a single f
off the left-field wall.
Hubbard, who stole only one base all
year, cruised into second base when the
Dodgers failed to cover the bag and con
tinued to third when Scioscia’s throw
bounced into center field for an error.
Hassey, a lefty starting against the
left-handed Tudor because of his rapport
with Welch, singled to left field to score
Hubbard.
Hassey was Oakland’s hotest hitter in
the playoffs, going 4-for-8.
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It’s old, but pass-less offense is still hurting A&M
There’s rro question, a team that wants to win
jthe national championship has to have a defense
Ithat can stop anything — that’s a given. But
Iwhat separates those who make it to the top and
|those who get hung up on the top rung is offense.
After four straight games of Oklahoma-style
Irunning, the Aggies are on the winning road, but
Jwill chugging it out on the ground be able to take
|k.mtothetop?
Beginning with the Oklahoma State game,
[A&M has proved they can consistently rack up
[big yards with talent like Darren Lewis and
'Bucky Richardson. Coming into the Baylor
Igame, Lewis was the fourth-ranked runner in the
[country. And having Richardson is like having
[Fran Tarkenton with a broken right arm.
Passing the ball has just about vanished from
[A&M’s attack. The combo of Chris Osgood and
^Richardson attempted only 16 passes against
Baylor and had seven of them caught.
Against Houston, the Aggie tandem shot for
114 completions in 32 tries. On the season, all
Aggie quarterbacks, plus a couple of tries by Le-
|wis, are hitting around 44 percent.
Now 44 percent isn’t atrocious, but what is
[hard to accept is that only two passes went for
|TDs and 10 for interceptions.
on Fr«-1
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iionopof
For any team that predominantly runs, the
passing game is used to set up the run by keeping
the defense a little looser. A running team has to
have a great defense because they can’t catch up
if they get very far behind, like A&M against
LSU and Oklahoma State.
Defense has been great for the Aggies the last
three weeks, but their passing game isn’t doing
anything to alarm the other team. The opposition
knows that the ball will either go to Lewis or
Robert Wilson, or in the case of an option, Rich
ardson will keep.
When an Aggie QB does drop back to throw,
it’s generally either a short pass or an incomplete
long one — or an interception. Only two Aggie
receivers are averaging more catches per game
(Rod Harris with 4 and Larry Horton with 2)
than the average number of interceptions per
game thrown by A&M (1.67).
The Aggie running attack, however, is aver
aging around 250 yards a game. The last three
weeks, against Southwest Conference teams, the
Aggies have run like an elephant escaping the
circus.
It’s hilarious! Everybody on the defense
knows what is going to happen, and at least
when playing Southwest Conference teams, they
can’t do anything about it.
Like former UT coach Darrell Royal said,
“There’s only three things that can happen on a
pass, and two of them are bad.” For A&M, the
interceptions and incompletions have destroyed
any passing triumphs. But can the Aggies keep
winning without passing?
There are only a few “brutes” in the country
that almost always win by using an offense that
is weighted so heavily to the run. Oklahoma has
done it for years, and they’ll probably keep on
doing it. Texas used to do it, and Arkansas still
tries, although Athletic Director Frank Broyles is
pressuring Coach Ken Hatfield to pass or leave.
To run the ball and win, the Aggies must have
plenty of beef up front. Guys like Jerry Fontenot
and Matt McCall fit the big mold fine. And with
the average size of linemen growing every year
— with or without steroids — keeping up the
supply of beef shouldn’t be a problem.
Right now, the talent in the backfield isn’t any
issue either. Richardson and Lewis are sopho
mores along with Larry Horton and Keith McA
fee. At fullback, two freshman, Wilson and
Randy Simmons, have a long time to improve on
already good talent.
No problems so far.
Opposition defense isn’t much to worry about
either, especially in the SWC. Let’s face it: If
A&M is playing like they can, there isn’t anyone
in the SWC that can go head-to-head with the
Aggies.
Playing outside of the conference has been the
only problem for the Aggies this year. The All-
Star backfield got stuffed against Nebraska and
LSU, and it wasn’t enough to beat OSU. In these
games, a credible passing game would have
made a big difference. But what killed the Ag
gies in these games was the defense, so that’s be
side the point.
Osgood has had some bright moments passing
this season but there have been a lot more shiny
spots when Richardson is leaping over the de
fense. Lance Pavlas has only played sparingly
since the OSU game, and there is no telling what
it will take for Sherrill to give him another shot.
What the Aggie offense of the future will be is
like a class syllabus — subject to change. It all
depends on who Sherrill wants at QB. It would
be nice to have three teams and let each quar
terback lead one for a whole season and then
pick the starter.
But for right now, the purpose of starting Os
good isn’t making much sense. He seems like a
football-style decoy that serves no purpose be
cause everyone knows A&M is going to run.
The pass just doesn’t fit into what Sherrill has
planned for now, and that’s more of Richardson
and Lewis.
The Aggies can run over anyone in the SWC
for the next three or four years at least. But to
play outside the conference and win the games
the rest of the country sees, A&M will have to
commit to the run and quit toying with an inept
passing game.
Halloween Sale
Oct 22-31
Save 20% on all our experienced clothing.
Great Costume ideas.
301 College Main
Northgate
2nd Chance
M-Sat 9:30-6
846-6536
S uperior Service
for Today’s Cars
maintenance, service, and repair on
imports and domestics
Superior Auto Service
846-5344
111 Royal Bryan across S. College from Tom’s Barbeque
ON TRIAL
FOR
DWI...
Come see the realistic
demonstration of a
DWI Trial featuring:
Bob Wiatt, Director of Security and University Police as
The Accused
Alex Walter, Students Attorney, TAMU, and
Jim Locke, local attorney, as
The Attorneys
and Local Officials as
The Judge and Arresting Officer
The procedural aspects of the trial and the use of
an intoxilizer will be demonstrated as part of
Alcohol Awareness Week
When: Wednesday, October 19 7:00 pm
Where: 108 Harrington
s V nl ^
Sponsored by Office of Students’ Attorney
Office of Student Judlclsl Affelrs
National Collegiate
Alcohol Awareness Week
PERSONAL
PAN PIZZA*
pL«a
l-Hutfl
READY IN 5 MINUTES.GUARANTEED.
Just For One • Just For Lunch
Guaranteed 11:30 AM-1:00 PM. Personal Pan Pizza available ’til 4 PM
B-mlnute guarantee applies to our 3 selections on orders of
5 or less per table. 3 or less per carryout customer.
^35^ Personal
I Pan Pepperoni
( Limit one
per coupon
PrMerrt coupon when erdatrn). One eoo- m m ~
I pen DCf por#on per vWt. Pcr«on«l Pone ■ ■§ V
served botwoon 1 tem-jpm, Mon.-Frt. at amw e
pcrSetpodna Pine HutO rmtautent*. Otar
I CxpTrM 10-30
Cash redsrrptlon value 1/20 cent. Not valid In
combination with any other Pizza Hut® offer. 5-
I minute guarantee applies 1130 AM to 1.00 PM
to our two selections on orders of 5 or less per ta-
We or 3 or less per carryout customer.
I 01983 Pizza Hut. Inc.
Personal
I Pan Pepperoni
Limit one
per coupon _ ^
coupon whan ordwtng^ On* coupon i.. Jfle ft
Mr porsen par vlait Pareona! Pans Mrved ■ StaaS e
I por paraon par vtalt Paracnal Pan# aarvaO ■
Eetalaen 11 am-Spm. Mon Frt. alparldpatng
Pizza HulS raatauranta. Oftar aaptraa 10-30 ■
( Cash redemption value 1/20 cent. Not valid In I
combination with any other Pizza Hut® offer. 5- ■
I minute guarantee applies 1130 AM to 130 PM ■
to our two selections on orders of 5 or less per ta-1
We or 3 or less per carryout customer.
■ Cl983 Pizza Hut. Inc.
102 University
Good at both Locations
O0
<
University
501 University
A Night at
V I' V*
Think Before You Drink!
Reduced cover - $1.00
Non-alcohol and alcohol drinks
Free Food! Vj
Door Prizes! £
When: Thursday, October 20
Where: Graffiti, 313 S. College Ave
Time: 8:00 pm - close
Sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega, Graffiti,
Mission Jewelers, Garfield’s, Putt-Putt
Golf, Popabilities and
KLM t, «v.
[ Choices
' of a new
generation
National Collegiate
Alcohol Awareness Week
1988
For more information, call the
Center for Drug Prevention and
Education 845-0280