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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1989)
The Battalion SPORTS 7 0^ Friday, September 22,1989 Aggie quarterback Bucky Richardson Battalion file photo hurdles a TCU defender in last year’s game. Richardson waiting. .. Aggie QB hopes to regain starting form By Richard Tijerina Of The Battalion Staff PART TWO OF TWO With Bucky Richardson as the starting quarterback, Texas A&M went 13-2, including a Southvv'est Conference championship and a Cotton Bowl victory. Aggie fans held their breath at his style of play — often keeping the ball himself and either hurdling defend ers or running through them on his way to the endzone. He was the pro ven winner and, for a short time, on top of the world. But now he’s A&M’s forgotten quarterback. Richardson suffered a severe left knee injury in the Texas game last November, and his resulting knee surgery caused A&M coaches to con sider redshirdng him for the 1989 season. In the spring, Coach R.C. Slocum hired Offensive Coordinator Bob Toledo from Oregon. Toledo re vamped the Aggie offense, eliminat ing last year’s big-option attack in fa vor of a new, pass-oriented approach. Strong-armed junior Lance Pavlas was given the starting job in the spring and he has performed well this season — completing 60 percent of his passes for 496 yards and one touchdown. He has led the Aggies to a 2-1 record and the No. 21 ranking in the Associated Press’ Top 25 Poll. Last year, Richardson was looking forward to guiding A&M back to the Cotton Bowl in 1989. Now he’s been forced to sit on the sidelines and watch his team play under a new coach. During two-a-day practices in Au gust, coaches were impressed with the progress Richardson had been making after surgery. They hinted he might be able to see playing time by mid-season. Richardson, who said that his knee is about 80 percent recovered from surgery, said he is willing to sit and wait for now. “There’s a chance (that I’ll come back),” Richardson said. “I’m going to do whatever Coach Slocum wants me to do. He’s been around the game and around players longer than I have, so I’m going to leave it up to him.” However, Slocum has said that he doesn’t want A&M to become an op tion team. He’s going to stick with the pass this year. That leaves Rich ardson in a precarious position. He’s known for his running, not passing. “I I’m going to do whatever Coach Slocum wants me to do. . .I’m going to leave it up to him.” — Bucky Richardson, Aggie quarterback In his collegiate career, Richard son has completed 43 percent of his passes for 700 yards. He has thrown five interceptions and only two touchdowns. No one knows if Rich ardson would be able to step into the new pass-oriented offense. “If I were to go in there I’m sure Coach Slocum would run more plays to suit my style,” Richardson said. “I think I can throw the ball. I’m ready to accept the challenge of learning this new offense.” Toledo is A&M’s third offensive coordinator in three years. The winds of change have swept across Aggieland in 1989, bringing in new coaches, players and techniques. No change from last year has been larger than A&M’s new head coach. Jackie Sherrill resigned last Decem ber amid rumors of scandal in the athletic department. Slocum was im mediately named his successor. A&M was placed on probation by the NCAA last year, making it im possible for them to participate in any bowl games. The Aggies suf fered through a disappointing 7-5 season, and Richardson said the con troversy was a major factor in the team’s performance. “There was so much turmoil last year that everybody was thinking about everything else but football,” he said. “We knew we couldn’t go to the Cotton Bowl and that seems to take a little heart out of you. When it comes down to it, when you don’t have the heart to get it done, you won’t do it. “But this year is a lot more con centrated on football and on win ning. All the smoke’s cleared and we’re ready to go back to Dallas.” Dallas. The Aggies have been to the Cotton Bowl three of the last four years, and if they make a return trip in 1989, they most likely will be led by Pavlas — not the injured Rich ardson. Although Pavlas holds the posi tion he had for the last year and a half, Richardson remains confiderif the junior can lead the team to vic tory. “I think (Pavlas has) done real well,” Richardson said. “He knows the offense and has been making the big plays. That’s what a quarterback has to do to lead a team to a Cotton Bowl or a championship.” Richardson should know — he’s been involved in his fair share of big plays over the past two years. His two most memorable moments of his college career are the 82-yard touch down run against Southern Missis- sippi in his first game See Bucky/Page 9 :tive p at a ii! le tea: or art il’s upt ar pol When it’s the Cowboys and the , anything’s possible Not so long ago, in a land not so far aorth, vast bands of cowboys and Indians fought bloody battles. Cowboys in white aats struggled with red-skinned savages for saidi :he truly important things in life. Pride and playoff spots. Forget about the Cowboy-Steeler Super Bowls. Forget about Chicago-Detroit. The Dallas vs. Washington rivalry is the best. The Steeler Super Bowls were hyped ore, but the Redskin matchups have been ore numerous and just as intense. Dallas ruled the NFC in the 1970s. Their ominance was evidenced by their five uper Bowl appearances in the decade. The Cowboys won in the air, on the round, and with bruising defense. Roger Staubach picked defenses apart ith pinpoint passes and led the Pokes to any miraculous comebacks. The Doomsday Defense crushed quarterbacks Alan Lehmann Sports Writer itectiBlike Dixie cups. Tony Dorsett was the most successful NFC runner of the decade. Averaging almost five yards per carry, he ran around defenses with the moves of a cat and the speed of a rabbit. Washington was almost as dominant in the 1980s. The Redskins won the Super Bowl twice in their three appearances. The Redskin blueprint for success was simple: Behind a line that was often mistaken fora mountain range, John Riggins ran over the defense. When Riggins occasionally failed to pick up the first down, the latest Redskins’ quarterback got it via the airways. Joe Theisman, Jay Schroeder, and Doug Williams took turns leading the Skins to the the playoffs in the 1980s. During the 1970s and early 1980s, the winner of the Dallas-Washington wars usually decided who would represent the NFC East in the playoffs. In 1982, they even met in the NFC Championship game. Remember the 1983 season opener? The Skins grabbed a 23-3 halftime lead, but the Pokes came back to win 31-30. How about the 1987 “scab” game? Dallas played half of their starters against a Washington team made up completely of replacements. T he result was a convincing Washington win, and the Skins went on to the Super Bowl. But, there will be no such excitement this year. The game in Dallas this Sunday will decide who takes last place in the division, not first. Both teams are 0-2, and the only consolation is that one team will leave the stadium with a 1-2 record. Like all dynasties, those in Dallas and Washington crumbled. Last year the Skins’ running game was nonexistant, and they didn’t make the playoffs. Dallas finally hit bottom with a 3-13 record, luckily losing enough games to get Troy Aikman. But both teams have shown flashes of competency this season. Dallas looked good in the first half last week against Atlanta, but blew a 21-10 lead. Washington played well, but also blew a big halftime lead last week. After taking a 37-14 lead, the Skins wasted a 221-yard rushing performance by Gerald Riggs, and lost 42-37 to the Eagles. The first week of the season, Washington lost a heartbreaker to the Giants on a last- second field goal. The Skins have played well offensively, but have allowed 69 points in their two games. However, the Skins’ opponents both had quality offenses. Dallas won’t enjoy the same success. The Skins are picked to win by four points, but it won’t be that close. Washington had success rushing against the Giants and Eagles. Dallas couldn’t stop a tackling dummy against New Orleans. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the Skins will shove the ball right down the Cowboys’ throats. Unless Riggs breaks a leg and Aikman eludes Dexter Manley all day, it’s gonna get ugly. Still, it’s the Cowboy-Redskin game. Expect the unexpected. gl© 00 OFF PERM SS5 00 OFF CUTand BLOW DRY Good Monday-Wednesday Expires Nov. 30th • Official Hairdresser for MISS Texas A&M • Enjoy Wine and Cheese • Individual Rooms 846-4709 4343 Carter Creek Pky. 1 mile from the Hilton off 29th HAIR DESIGN ^ L L M U S FROM Do The Right Thing SOUNDTRA C K PUBLIC ENEMY - TEDDY RILEY fcaturin S GUY - EU • STEEL PULSE RRI • TAKE 6 - LORI PERRY - GERALD ALSTON AL JARREAU • RUBEN BLADES MUSIC likir . DO THE R\GHT THlNG uy( Featuring. 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