Thursday, January 25,1990
The Battalion
Page 3
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Firing raises many questions
EDITOR:
The reassigning of Shelby Metcalf brings to light many
questions. Why did it happen in the middle of the season?
Why did it not happen at the end of last season? Why did
John David Crow act in an unprofessional manner? These
questions can only be answered by one man, and he keeps
dodging the questions.
Metcalf was a good basketball coach, but there needed to
be a changing of the guard.
John, please listen. If you want a truly great basketball
program I would not suggest anymore negative press toward
A&M. Deloss Dodds hired Tom Penders and immediately
turned the program around at the University of Texas. I
hope you find that type of guy to lead our basketball team
into the national spotlight. We need a big-name coach from
outside this university and a new basketball arena if we want
to attract the top basketball recruits.
Let’s all remember that there is a basketball game
Wednesday night and let’s attend it to show this team some
support when they need it most. For those of you who have
not seen a game this year, you are missing some good young
talent like Brooks Thompson and David Petersen.
Lloyd Cole ’91
Ron Novak ’91
Crow’s move had no class
EDITOR:
Attention Jerry Jones, (whoops) I mean John David:
What a classy move! How could anyone just sweep a class
act like Shelby Metcalf under the carpet? I hope it wasn’t his
honest approach that prompted this decision. If it was, is
Coach Slocum next to go? Who is going to replace Dr. Met
calf? Jim Valvano? Maybe the athletic director should go. I
hear there’s an opening selling cars in Baytown.
Scott Wilson ’88
Firing of Metcalf the right move
EDITOR:
Shelby Metcalf has been fired (all right, he is due to be re
assigned) from his position as head coach at Texas A&M Uni
versity. John David Crow should be applauded for making
this move, and it is long overdue.
Evaluation of this decision must be done on an objective,
professional basis not a personal one. Such an evaluation
clearly indicates that Crow was more than justified in his deci
sion.
Much has been written about the fact that Metcalf is the
winningest coach in the history of the Southwest Conference.
So what? This only reflects his longevity, not his coaching
Mail Call
ability. Granted, some ability is needed to survive 27 years.
Yet based on wins and losses, his record of 438-306 is medio
cre in my book.
It is obvious that Crow has decided that mediocrity will no
longer be tolerated in the Texas A&M basketball program.
And let’s face it — fans haven’t exactly been flocking to G.
Rollie White Coliseum to support the program either.
Texas A&M now has the opportunity to upgrade its bas
ketball program. The University of Texas was in a similar po
sition a few years ago when it hired Tom Penders, one of the
top young coaches in the country. Now the program is on the
verge of being in the Top 20, and the attendance at home
games has increased dramatically. The same situation could
occur here at A&M if it hires the right coach and replaces ar
chaic G. Rollie White Coliseum with a real basketball facility.
Barney Olson III
Graduate Student
Hats off to Shelby!
EDITOR:
Hats off to you, Shelby. You are a real class act. Hey, who
in the heck thinks you can win every game you play? Not me!
You know, you should have hired all those freshman and
sophomore general studies majors. They really know the
game. They never lose.
Kudos to you for speaking up when you were backed into
a corner. It seems to me that John David Crow didn’t want to
play ball anymore so he picked it up and went home. I guess
you shouldn’t have said his momma wears combat boots.
Don’t get me wrong, I like Crow. My gripe: What is it with
these power mongers nowadays? Do we always have to show
off like a big bully?
Seems as though Crow will get a phone call from Jerry
Jones congratulating him on his style. Of Jerry will remind
him to keep his next firing underfive minutes because time is
money, right? Right.
All kidding aside, I honestly thought that we could act in a
manner more fitting a nationally respected institution of
higher learning.
What is it today? It doesn’t mean diddley-squat. You
worked 27 years for someone. When you’re finished they say
“Don’t let the door hit you in the *!#$.”
By the way President Mobley, please don’t further humil
iate Dr. Metcalf with some trivial, meaningless task. Remem
ber, he wants to get the hell out of Dodge. I would too,
Shelby.
Douglas K. Butterworth ’90
Dedicated coach was a blessing
EDITOR:
To Mr. Crow: You have broken many hearts of which
mine is only one. You have taken away a symbol of honesty,
hard work, dedication and loyalty. It is hard to find a coach in
any sport at any school with more than one of these character
istics. Texas A&M was blessed with a coach that had all these
qualities and more. It’s a shame that you seem to have over
looked these qualities when you let him go.
So now Shelby Metcalf is gone. But why? Sure the team
has struggled lately but you need to look at the larger picture.
Metcalf was a basketball coach at a school which pours most of
time, money and support into the football program. It must
have been hard for Metcalf to compete with that for all those
years. He is the winningest coach in SWC history and still had
the lowest salary of any SWC coach after 27 years! That’s not
the definition of gratitude in my book. He had only three los
ing seasons in 26 years. I challenge you or any other critic of
Shelby Metcalf to be in his position 26 years ago with the re
sources he had and accomplish more than he did. Think long
and hard before you answer that challenge.
He poured his life, heart and soul into A&M basketball
and you repay his loyalty by firing him. Can you blame him
for saying some of the things he said to the press? His job se
curity was being threatened. His whole life was being threat
ened!
But somehow, Mr. Crow, I find myself able to forgive you
for your dirty deed. After all, the hiring and firing of college
coaches is now ruled by the Janet Jackson philosophy of
“What have you done for my lately?” I know you were just
trying to jump on this bandwagon and use your power.
To the “Dean” of the SWC I say goodbye. As an A&M stu
dent I am ashamed of the way my school treated you and I am
sorry. I know all you wanted to do was retire here. You will be
missed but your memory will live on forever!
Paul G. Brunell ’90
Metcalf is to Crow as ...
EDITOR:
A simple multiple-choice analogy:
Shelby Metcalf : John David Crow
A. Tom Landry : Jerry Jones
B. Winston Churchill : England’s electorate in 1945
C. Julius Caesar : Marcus Brutus
D. All of the above
James F. Tucker III, ’91
Have an opinion? Express it!
Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words in length. The editorial staff reserves
the right to edit letters for style and length, but will make every effort to maintain the
author's intent. Each letter must be signed and must include the classification, address
and telephone number of the writer. All letters may be brought to 216 Reed McDonald,
or sent to Campus Mail Stop 1111.
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“Survey said...
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500 A&M students were surveyed and this was how
they ranked five questions pertaining to the Chris
tian faith by order of importance to them
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#1 Why is there hypocrisy among those who
call themselves Christians?
#2 Why would a loving God allow evil and suf
fering to occur?
#3 How could a loving God send someone to
hell?
#4 Is Jesus the only way to God/heaven?
#5 Did Jesus really rise from the dead?
If you have ever wondered the answer to these questions and
others about the fundamentals of the Christian faith, you are
invited to attend Campus Crusade for Christ’s weekly meet
ing this Friday night at 7:00 in Harrington 108.
There will be a short presentation by a panel of five students.
The floor will then be opened up for questions on the Chris
tian faith like the ones above. This is open to skeptics so we
invite you to come if you have questions that you would like
answered.
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4
MSC VARIETY SHOW
COMMITTEE
Come Have .
Your Night Under the Stars
UNDER
night the
Audition Applications may
be picked up in the
Student Programs Office
Rm. Z16T MSC
Application Deadline:
February 9,1990
Auditions: February 21 & 22
STRRS
When you finish reading The Battalion pass it on to a friend, but please... don’t litter!
^•^MSC BAG and OPAS presents
The BOYS CHOIR of HARLEM
On February 15, 1990
The Black Awareness Com-
^ mittee (BAC) and Opera and
Hf|j Performing Arts Society
(OPAS) will be bringing THE
BOYS CHOIR OF HARLEM to
Texas A&M University. The
choir has proved that they
have a universal appeal, hav
ing traveled throughout the
United States and Europe.
Their tours have included
concerts at Orchestra Hall in
Chicago, Avery Fisher Hall,
Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie
Hall in New York, and Or
chestra Hall in Minneapolis. Millions of hearts have been captured during their concerts.
Under the direction Dr. Walter J. Turnbull, the Choir has delighted audiences with a
repertoire ranging from classical music to popular songs, gospel, jazz and spirituals,
highlighted by spirited choreography. An ensemble of 35, the Choir features tenor and
bass voices as well as treble, allowing for great musical versatility. "An adventure in ex
traordinary music. We understand why these young artists are called "Children of the
Sun” is what the Classique Paris had to say about this group.
THE BOYS CHOIR OF harlem will be in concert at 8:00 P.M., Rudder Auditorium, Texas
A&M University. Tickets are available at any ticketron outlet. For ticket information call
845-1234.