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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1990)
The Battalion SPORTS Friday, February 2,1990 The Battalion Sports Editor Richard Tijerina 6 845-2688 Thornton Richard Tijerina Sports Editor Thornton hoping Aggies have fun, fun, fun Tf rust me. Texas A&M Coach John Thornton knows what he’s doing out there on the sidelines of G. Rollie White Coliseum. Since taking over for Shelby Metcalf on Jan. 22, Thornton has led the Aggies to a 2-1 record. And though their overall SWC record is 4-4, which puts them somewhere in the middle of the pack, Thornton should be applauded. He’s taken control of an awkward situation at best and responded in the best way he could. And it’s paying off big dividends for Aggie basketball. But what is most surprising is how well the two-week old coach handles pressure. Thornton’s got his stuff together. His days may seem to be numbered, as Athletic Director John David Crow has indicated he’ll conduct a nationwide search at the end of the year for the permanent head coaching position. And although that list included Thornton, he’s not quite ready to start waiting for his phone to ring. He knows only one thing will save his job. Results. “I would think it would (matter how I did),” Thornton said. “I try not to dwell on it because it would take away from what I need to be focused on right now. But it’s hard because you just don’t know.” Right. What Thornton needs most of all is some kind of A&M basketball miracle — something that hasn’t happened since 1987, when a struggling Aggie team limped into the post-season SWC Tournament as the No. 8 seed and won it all. The Aggies have the talent to do it. All they need is to mesh together to where they can play on the same, high level every game. For Thornton, the most important thing is sales. He’s got to sell his basketball team to an A&M student body that hasn’t been used to a winning basketball program. That’s where the Sixth Man comes in. Thornton knows he’s got to start packing a G. Rollie White Coliseum that mostly has remained dormant all season. To do that, the Aggies need to start winning. But Thornton’s got a trick or two up his sleeve. He’s let the team loose, urging them to have fun and utilize the transition game more. And now he’s wanting the students to go to the games and have fun. Have fun: The Thornton Catchphrase. If his Aggies keep it up, keep improving, keep molding together and start some kind of winning streak, good things might be around the comer for John Thornton and A&M basketball. That’s what Thornton’s banking on. Trust me. speaks out on future, A&M basketball A&M interim Coach John Thornton reflects on the future of Aggie basketball. Photos by Phelan M. Ebenhack By RICHARD TIJERINA Of The Battalion Staff Texas A&M interim coach John Thorn ton faces the midway point of the South west Conference season Saturday against Baylor. The Aggies are 4-4 in SWC play, and Thornton said Thursday the team is at a crossroads in the conference race. Thornton, now in his second week as head coach since taking over for Shelby Metcalf, reflected Thursday on the situa tion he finds himself in, the remainder of the SWC season and the future of the A&M basketball program. How hard has it been for you to main tain your coaching concentration with all the distractions this season? “That has been tough because so many things go through your mind. The majority of it pertains to basketball, but not coaching basketball. That’s what I enjoy the most, and that’s the way I’ve tried to keep myself sane during this period — to just really throw myself into what’s best for this bas ketball team, and just look at it in the short term, game by game.” Has it been hard for the team to remain positive and upbeat? Are they looking at it as a new start of some kind? “I think a fresh start is a good term to use for them. After the original distractions and circumstances of Coach Metcalf leav ing, it shocked and hurt them. But I think now they realize that things must go on, and they want to be competitive. I think they’ve rededicated themselves to going back and going to work. They’ve given all indications that they have." When you say you want the team to ‘have fun,’ what do you mean exactly? “We’re going to try and keep it simple. We’re going to do the things that we can do to be successful, which are to play aggres sively defensively, whether that be half court or full-court. We’re going to try and run on every op portunity we have because we need to score that way. It’s the way they like to play, but it also behooves this team to get transition baskets, and that’s the way I want to keep it. But the thing that it all starts with, whether it’s running full speed or we’re playing defense full speed, it starts with ef fort. That’s the thing I want to keep harp ing on the rest of the way. I don’t know how many games we’re going to win. going tc that kind of effort, and for all intent and purposes, they want to play that way.” Has this new aggresiveness something that Coach Metcalf ever thought of doing, or is it just your coaching style? “I really can’t say. I just think it’s right for this team. I think the transition game is going to be that way in most programs now, and my whole premise from the very begin ning is that I just want these guys to have fun the rest of the way, and I want the crowd to be able to enjoy their type of in tensity.” Have you Aoticed that the team has el evated their play in some wpyj “It seems like they’re having fiiri, and it looks like a real team effort urine. W£’ve had great individual performances, but scoring’s been spread. We’ve had guys come through in differ ent situations, and I think for a team to be really successful, it’s got to be a team. I of the toughest situations to be put in. “Exactly. But the thing is, I’ve always been a hard worker. I don’t want to say that because I’ll sound conceited, but I’ve always believed in working. And when times are tough, let’s go to work. To make this atmosphere the way I want it to be, and just knowing how much I want this job, I don’t mind going out and speak ing and being as upbeat as possible — doing interviews, being on the radio, going to talk to classes — because I really believe it. I want the students to have fun. I’m to have fun. I want the team to have going fun.” So you’re going to get as involved as you can with the student body? "’“Yeah. I think the basketball program is something that they can get something out of. We’ve got outstanding individual play ers that are fun to watch, and I want them to come out if they want to.” Is 11 games fair-enough of a time frame Just a friendly reminder. Texas A&M students, alumni and supporters o4 the Aggie basketball pro gram are reminded to wear black arm- bands or black clothing at Saturday s game against Baylor in recognition of former head basketball coach Shelby Metcalfs commitment and devotion not only to the basketball program, but also to the University. After coaching A&M basketball for 27 years and taking the Aggies to six South west Conference title and five NCAA Tournament appearances, Metcalf was removed as the Aggies head coach. Al though the University was divided on the issue of whether Athletic Director John David Crow should have removed Metcalf, some said that Ctow could have handled the situation with a little more finesse. Metcalf, considered the “Dean of SWC Coaches,” was relieved of his coaching position Jan. 21 by Crow after he accused Crow of publicly a incizing him at. the NCAA Convention in Dallas. Crow denied ever publicly criticizing Metcalf, replaced hnn with assistant coach John Thot nton. Under Thornton, the Aggies are 2-1. Saturday night, A&M will host Baylor at G. Rollie White Coliseum at 7:S0 p.m. think we have that cohesiveness. At least, it’s beginning to come around a little bit.” Do you think much about next year? Is your performance the rest of this season going to determine whether you’re head coach here at A&M in 1991 ? “I would think it would. I try not to dwell on it because it would take away from what I need to be focused on right now. But it’s hard because you just don’t know. However, I made a promise to these guys as well as myself that we’re not going to let anything stand in the way of us finishing up as strong as we can and have as much fun doing it.” But being an interim coach has to be one for you to prove yourself as a coach? “I don’t know how you can judge that. All I know is that it’s a fact. But I can’t change it, so why worry about it? I’ve got that much time to do a job that I think I’m qualified to do, and I’m comfortable in this position. I’m enjoying it. I’d like to have the whole recruiting sea son under my belt, and all those practices and non-conference games, but what the heck, let’s just do what we can do.” You’ve been a head coach before, but has being the head coach here at A&M any different than you thought it would be? “They’re the same responsibilities, but of course they’re more difficult and more complicated. But I’ve been involved in tht? program, so it’s not like I’m coming intOil place where I don’t have any clue as t j what’s happening. I feel comfortable with the people 1 won! with. I’ve gotten great help from (assistant coach) Larry Cockrum. When you don i-Q2 ( have that kind of support, you’re in troublf|g u j^ £ but he’s a great coach. We’ve hung togetheiK through this, and we’re enjoying it.” Have you gotten much support from ike I student body? P Boa “I think the team has been well received] |& Study have G Patie poniti To pa Ip evl pre E^igib lolun As far as I’m concerned, all I know is that I’m going to do the best I can and I thinl people will appreciate it. That’s all you can do I want to stress that Sixth Man idea. Id like to see a Sixth Man that can participate in the game, and also have fun participai ing. They can help the team through rourii spots of the game, and they can also actual determine sometimes what’s happenitif through the course of it.” Do you feel the team has rallied around you in any way? “No. I think they’ve really rallied around themselves. I think they’ve realized they’rt a good basketball team, and are capableofj accomplishing more than what they'd done. That’s all I’m asking for. 1 wanttheni to achieve at the highest level they can." How would you describe yout relationship with the Athletic Depan ment? “It’s good. Right now, I’m not really it volved except for coaching. That’s thejol I’m here to do. I don’t read any moreintoi: other than the way it is. I’m the headcoaci in this period, and 1 do my job day in and day out.” Do you talk to Coach Metcalf often? “I’ve talked to him four or five times since he left. He’s the kind of guy that does not want to interfere with a situation asdif ficult as that. He’s going to be as supportive as he can, he’s behind the players 100 per cent, he’s behind me 100 percent. Hes going to do what he can, but he doesn: want to cause any distractions. Have you sat down with John David Crow and discussed the entire situation? . “No, not really. I think I know that he’s got things that he’s got to look after. 01 course, myself, I think I’m doing the things I need to be doing. The things we talked about were pretty general. He told me he knew it was a lough situation, and that he hoped I would take the job and carry on the rest of the season. He said he was behind me. It was very cordial.” What can be done to A&M basketball to make it more exciting to the fans? “I think enthusiasm is the main thing- enthusiasm toward the entire program as far as basketball is concerned. We’re getting the players every year that are exciting to play with and watch. Once you get that, you have to let even body on campus know that it’s a viable, ex citing product that they can partake. 1 think just getting that message across is going to help, big time. You’d like to do a lot of things with pro motion and so on, and you can, but it startsLmm out with just getting out, being upbeat,stay-Bro pk ing honest and showing a product that the R, people will enjoy coming out to watch, think we’re working toward that.” jP^ N11 At the Rice game, there was a high stu Li '. _ dent attendance but the reserved section P' wasn’t even half-filled. What can bedone|^u f ^ to attract more community members, fac ulty and staff to attend Aggie games? ■woki “I think there was a cloud hanging over pfa,,,,,, our program because of all the things thai had happe ★F napid Vol G Profe: Papi rienti 272-33 JSIN ippened, and that has to hurt ustoa« m [yp certain extent. Bpra?' But that’s all in the past. The type of has i ketball these guys are playing has more to do with getting them excited than anything A lot of people' are enjoying the games more now. And that makes me feelgood. I’d like to win every game, but as longas people are enjoying the competition and are seeing things they’d like to see, there! half the bat tle right there.” What has the problem been with A&M attendance in the past? “We haven’t Been battling for the championship or anything like that, and you need to do that to get that interest See Thornton/Page 8 U Presented by MSC Black Awareness Committee and MSC Opera and Performing Arts Society Thursday, February 15 1990 8:00 p.m. in Rudder Auditorium Unforgettable, vibrant, and enthusiastic entertainers . THE BOYS CHOIR OF HARLEM is a major performing arts insti tution of international reputation, featur ing a repertoire which ranges from classical music to contemporary songs and placing emphasis on the works of Black composers. Tickets are $13.00, $10.50, and $8.50 for students and $15.00, $12.50, and $10.00 for adults. If 10 or more tickets are purchased, a 15% discount will be given. 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