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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 1989)
The Battalion SPORTS Thursday, August 10,1989 — Horns look for winning year after slumping in ’88 AUSTIN (AP)— l«aM vear Texas Longhorn toothall fans were dream ing anout the Cotton Bowl. This year they’re just praving for a winning season Even with the marvelous moves of Eric Metcalf, a great runner and re ceiver. Texas slumped to 4-7 in 19X8. its worst football record in 32 years. Now, with Metcalf off to the pros, a bowl game seems out of the ques tion. even though third-vear Coaih David McWilliams has had two ex cellent recruiting vears and has brought in two top assistants —Lynn Amedee as offensive toordinator and leon fuller as defensive coordi nator. McWTIliams acknowledges, how ever. that a team that gets more raves about its assistant coaches than its players could be in trouble. “There are n«M a lot of names listed on our squad as preseason picks for various (all-star) teams.'' S1< Williams. 47. said He said wide receiver Tony Jones, who set a school record with 838 vards on 42 pass receptions last vear, and punter Bobby lall|edahl. No. b nationally', are great players. "But (overall) we don't have those proem, experienced guvs that ha\e nren out there and done it.” McWil liams said. Other veterans to watch, he said, include offensive tackle Ed Cun ningham; defensive tackles Rogei Fntcher and Ken Hackemack: de fensive end Oscar Giles; and line- hacker Duane Duncum. "What we’ve accomplished the last couple of years, more than any thing, is that we now have some depth in numbers in quality players. If the nght guard gets hurt this vear. we're not going to have to take the second- team left tackle and put him ovet there," McWilliams said At 4-7, McWilliams said, he be lieves the football program bot tomed out. and will only gel better. "In the spring, thete was a lot of enthusiasm. Players were saving. Hey. we’re tired of being 4-7. that"s not 1 exas.’” What ts so im|iorlant about assis tants Amedee and Fullet. he said, is that college football has become a nine of instant adjustments and they are excellent at making those adj [ustments. Texas starts the season in rela tively good physical shape, although No. 2 Quarterbac k Donosan Forbes finished spring 'raining with an in jured knee. The starter, sophomore Maik Murdock, is "smart, tough, has a strong arm and reads (defenses) well." McWilliams said. "But he doesn't have quick feet." He mentioned as possible upcom ing stars linebackers Anthony Curl. Miral Padgett and Btian (ones, a UCLA transfer; as well as defensive end Tommy Jeter; defensive tackle I odd Hunt and safety I^ttwe Gunn A possible weak link at center has been filled bv walk-on junior Todd Smith, and McWTIliams said he is looking for a v holarship for Smith Three backs — juniors Chris Sam uels and Deon f axkrell and redshirt freshman Adrian Walker — will try to fill the gap left bv Metcalf. "They were vers impressive (in the spring) catching the ball and running, but nothing like Metcalf." McWilliams said. In addition to a Southwest (on- ference sc hedule that takes I exas on the road against defending cham pion Arkansas. Houston and 1 exas AirM. the longhorns play non-con ference games against Colorado. Penn State and Oklahoma. Is. indeed, an SWC title and the Canton Bowl out of the question? “I think it’s hard when you look at our mexjierienced plavers,” McWil liams said “To go to the Canton Bowl, you've gen to avoid injuries and have a Icn of juniors and seniors. We don’t have them.” Jackson amazed at route options Oiler receivers have before snap SAN MARCOS (AP) — Kenm Jackson isn’t surprised opposing defensive backs don’t know what Houston Oilei wide receivers aix* going to do. Jackson is an Oilers wide re ceive! and even he doesn't know what he's going to do until the play starts. “When vou watch film on most people, you can pist about decirir what they aie going to do,” Jack vm said, "Here, there's no wav in the world vouTe going to know because I don't know.” Jackson, a former Philadelphia F-agles first-round pick, came out of retirement to seek a spot on the Oilers' roster, already filled with outstanding receivers. He's ama/ed at the options that Oiler receivers have once a plav starts m their (our-wideout align ments "This svstem is so complex vou think you're a quarterback." Jac k son said “Everybody has an op tion to do something. In most places, you don’t have a chance to truly slum your talent "I’ve learned a lot more in two or three weeks with Houston than I've leat ned in a long time in pro football from a receiving stand point "Mi >st plac es. they c all a plav and that’s what you do. Othci places, mavlie one receiver has a choke. Here three reccivets had t lie t hoice.” Jacfson had to make a choice in \fav I9H8 v\fiether ot not to do doulge dutv as a restauranteui and toodtall player. He elected to tetire alter four seasons with the Eagles I knew I wanted to plav I«mm- ball again Inii I wanted to do it when everything was fine with the restaurant.*’ Jackson said "I respected Buddy (Eagles coach Buddy Kvan) too much not to he there (mentally >." Jackson was a first-round pick of the f agles from Penn State in 19X4 and made nine stalls his tcMikie season In his last lull season in 19X7. he started all 12 iron-strike games and was the second-leading re ceiver on the team. When Fagles receiver Mike Quick suffered a htoken leg i against the Oilers last Oct. 2. Jac kson hue k to plav tor the Ea-' v gles He plaved in the final seven games of the season, helping out mostly on suw< lal teams Jac kson wfcs left unprotected bv the Eagles and signed with the < tilers as\a Plan B free agent. "I had a choice and sometimes' you don’t get that chance in life. rs|>et tails m pro football." Jack- son said. "I felt with Houston I would not hr the center of atten tion but ITn past that stage of mv career any wav T |usi wanted to lie* with a team that would use everyone and have a c h.tnce to go to the playoffs," he said Jackson comes from a team that has emphasi/ed running, to one that likes to pass “Buddy would stack up his of fense with running backs and »ai rv four or five receivers." Jack- son said. "Here. 90 fierient of the time they throw the frail. If vou lose a receiver here, vou lose a valuable pan of vouEoffense.7 Jac kson ex|rects to til m as a backup. "When I do catch a pass here it s no big deal freeause they've got guvs who have Itren catching passes for three, lour years and doing it extremely well." Jackson said. JUNIORS SCHOOL GIRL BLUES JORDACHE Bowdor washed jeans with bows and zippers at the ankle. FOLEY'S MODEL SEARCH Thens ages 16-20! Apply for a chance to be a model now through August 12 in Fbley’s Juniors or Young Mens departments. Two win ners will meet with InterMedia P Models in Houston, fly to New York to interview with a top New York | agency, appear in a future Fbley’s ad, and win a 500.00 fall wardrobe. Finalists (1 girl l boy) will be chosen from each store’s applications. Win ners will be selected at the finals, to be held at Fbley’s Sharpstown in Houston on Sunday, August 27, at 1:00 pm. Good Luck! £ FOLEY' r S njSSH® ?! I, v la-rSi-S l >INY ADS. BUT REAL HEAVYWEIGHTS WHEN RESULTS REALLY COUNT. to maner whar you've go to say or sell, our Classi fieds can help you do the big job. 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