The Battalion
SPORTS 9
Friday, March 2,1990
Sports Editor Richard Tijerina 845-2688
Clay
Rasmussen
Assistant Sports Editor
The Deegan Raffle
^inyone out there who
doesn’t want to feel lonely Sunday night
after the A&M-Texas Tech game?
Then meet Joe Deegan — collegiate
basketball stud.
OK, so maybe calling Deegan a
collegiate basketball stud is taking things
a bit too far. Or maybe way too far.
Memorizing Deegan’s stat sheet
wouldn’t be difficult. He’s played in one
game (against Michigan State), is
averaging zero points, zero rebounds,
zero assists ... you get the picture. He
has registered one turnover.
So, what’s all this hype about ?
It seems he has established a small,
cult following around campus,
especially within the sororities. And
A&M basketball coach John Thornton,
the Aggies’ most ardent public relations
man, found a way to drum up some
support.
Raffle off Deegan’s body.
Actually, Lanie Thornton, the coach’s
wife, can be credited with the idea.
Lanie called up a sorority and talked to a
friend of Deegan’s, and asked her if she
could get the sororities to come out to the
games, just talk it up a little bit.
Deegan’s friend responded that the
sororities already came out for the
games, or at least to watch Deegan and
freshman guard Brooks Thompson.
Then a lightbulb flashed.
Lanie mentioned the idea to Thornton,
and soon Deegan was presented with the
proposal.
“With all the stuff that was happening
with the transition from coach Metcalf to
coach Thornton, the interest of the
student body was down,” Deegan
recalled. “Thornton was trying to get
See Love Raffle/Page 11
Milton’s shoes
big for a ‘tiny monster’
Photo by Jay Janner
A&M senior point guard Tony Milton has been on a tear in 1990, either re
bounding (above) or providing the Aggies an offensive spark (right) they need.
Battalion file photo by P. Ebenhack
By NADJA SABAWALA
Of The Battalion Staff
Texas A&M point guard Tony Milton is
more than just Indiana basketball coach
Bobby Knight’s “tiny monster.” He’s a
dream come true for A&M coach John
Thornton.
But that dream is about to end.
With the Aggies’ regular season ending
Sunday, so too ends the college career of
the 6-0 senior from Florida.
“It’s going to be disappointing because
it’ll be the end of my college career,” Milton
said. “I just love playing at A&M, and I’m
sorry it will be over.”
Milton has performed well for the Aggies
this season, and his play in the Hoosier
Classic prompted the Indianapolis Star to
call Milton a “tiny monster” after his game
against Knight and the Hoosiers in the
championship game.
This past Wednesday, Milton broke a
school record for single-season assists, pre
viously set by Darryl McDonald in 1987-88.
Before the season started, Milton said he
had set two goals for himself. One was to
break the record, the other was to he
named Southwest Conference Player of the
Year.
“I know now that at least one of them
came true,” Milton said. “But I don’t know
about the other one.”
He may be unsure of winning Player of
the Year, but Milton is on the right track.
After being nominated nine times in the
past 12 weeks, Milton finally was recog
nized as a SWC Player of tht Week. Co-
Player, that is. He shared the title with
Houston’s Carl Hererra.
“Sharing it is all right,” Milton said.
“After being nominated so much, it’s been
kind of hard.”
Milton has started in all 59 games since
his career began at A&M, and has scored in
double digits in 27-of-29 games this season.
Not bad for someone who’s only played
at A&M for two years.
Milton said one reason he transferred
from Central Florida Junior College was
because he liked the traditions of Aggie
fans.
“I love the fans and they make me play
harder,” he said. “Especially when you have
a lot of support coming out to the games."
As point guard, Milton needs all the fan
support he can get. He sets up the offense
and brings the ball up court, eyeing out the
next attack.
It’s a tough position to play, and I horn-
ton said it will be hard finding someone to
replace Milton.
“He’s crucial to our success and we re
going to have to fill his position,” Thornton
said. “It will be two big shoes to fill.”
Presently, Thornton said there are two
names being considered for point guard
position: junior Freddie Ricks and fresh
man Brooks Thompson.
Milton said he feels both are qualified to
take over.
Milton said he has a lot of confidence in
Thompson, but Ricks would have a slight
edge because of his seniority and experi
ence with the team.
In November, senior guard David Wil
liams was suspended for breaking team
rules. In January, coach Shelby Metcalf was
relieved of his duties as head coach.
“That took a lot out of the team,” Milton
said. “In the middle of a season, losing a
star player and a head coach was really hard
on us.
“I told the players they’ve got to just con
tinue to play. We just pulled together.”
As a team, Milton said, the Aggies have
talent, but the teams they lose to just have a
little more.
“We play hat'd every night — every time
we hit the court we’re getting 1 10 percent,”
he said. “But there are teams in the league
that have more talent than we do.
“We give it all we can but just keep com
ing up short.”
A&M is likely to play either Houston oi
Texas in the first round of the SWC Post-
Season Classic March 9-1 1 in Dallas.
“We’ve got nothing to lose,” he said.
“We’re going to put everything on the line
and just try to knock off some of the top
teams in the conference.”
Milton said he’d really like to get a victory
in his last regular season game Sunday
against Texas Tech. But even if he doesn’t,
Milton has two years to look back on and be
proud.
It’s been a career most guards only
dream about.
JJL
MSC ALL NIGHT FAIR
ADVANCE TO BOARDWALK
TOMORROW NIGHT
FOOD, FUN, GAMES AND FREE ENTERTAINMENT
DUNCAN DINING HALL
SATURDAY, MARCH 3 8 pm - 2 am
ADMISSION: $1
GGDGCKl££k
NOTES-N-QUOTES
LECTURE NOTES
112 N»glc Street 846-2255
MONOPOLY © GAME EQUIPMENT USED WITH PERMISSION FROM PARKER BROTHERS © 1936.