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.
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