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J. DOUGLAS
FOSTER
Sports Editor
I t's the best
against the
best. A bat
tle between
those that are
looked up to by
all the rest.
The top-
ranked pass of
fense on the
face of the
earth, maybe in
the entire
galaxy, will take
on the South
west Confer
ence's top-
ranked pass de
fense.
Houston, and its run-and-shoot
gadget offense, will be hosting Texas
A&M and the "wrecking crew" de
fense, one which thrives on offenses
that try and spread the field. Those of
fenses, of course, play right into the
hands of the Aggie "D," allowing it to
use its main weapon, its speed, to pur
sue, chase and swarm all over any man
who has the ball.
So finally, the pressure is off A&M
offensive coordinator Bob Toledo. It's
defensive coordinator Bob Davie's day
on the hot seat. Step into the dunking
booth, Davie, the pressure is now on
your back. After nine weeks of won
dering when the A&M offense was go
ing to take off, now Davie has to an
swer to "How you gonna stop them?"
One question. Why should we even
ask him? This guy has shown over the
past few seasons that he can stop
Houston better than anyone else. And
he stops them in a different way.
While the entire world tries the
bend-not-break plan to stopping the
Cougar offense, they are not really
trying to stop the Cougar offense.
Everyone else's scheme: put in all
your defensive backs to keep from get
ting burned deep, but let them have
the nine-yarder all night long.
Davie doesn't buy this one. Line
backers, linebackers. Davie loves
them. He lives by them, he will die by
them. But he probably won't die by
them anytime soon. Not when he has
so many that can run the way the
A&M linebackers can.
It has to be a pride thing. Nobody,
but nobody, would actually play four
or five linebackers against Houston,
forcing them to have to cover the
Cougars' speedy receivers at times.
But then again, nobody else has
Marcus Buckley, Steve Solari, Jason
Atkinson, Reggie Graham and Jessie
Cox playing linebacker for them. With
linebackers who run like receivers, a
game against Houston just opens up
the "wrecking crew" to go out and
play the fun game they like to play.
"A lot of people don't have the kind
of players we have on our defense,"
Davie said. "We're not a bend-don't-
break defense. We like a pressure, at
tack-type scheme.
"We like to put it out there on the
line, put our guys against their guys
and see who has the best athletes. I
think that's the way our players like
it."
It's the truest of tests. Last season
the Aggies had the top-ranked defense
in all the nation, and when the
Cougars brought their potent offense
to town, A&M held that offense to 277
total yards, with 247 of those yards
coming through the air. The Aggies
sacked Houston quarterback David
Klingler 11 times for 90 yards. Not
only that, Klingler did not have a
touchdown pass for the first time in his
career as a starter at Houston.
In '89, the Cougars came to Kyle
Field with, do we need to say it again?
The number one pass offense in the na
tion. That year, Houston was averag
ing 62 points-per game, carrying an
undefeated record. Final score: Texas
A&M 17, Houston 13.
Funny, since '88, every time the Ag
gies and Cougars have hooked up,
Texas A&M has come away with more
yardage, and all but one or those times
came away with more points. As a
matter of fact, since 1987, the Houston
offense has averaged less than one
passing touchdown per game against
the "wrecking crew-."
And people questioned A&M's of
fensive prowess?
You can pretty much expect the
same kind of results tonight. Hous
ton's offense hasn't changed in five
years, and neither has A&M's defense.
It's only gotten better.
Basically, what it boils down to is
Houston does have a potent offense
when they are playing the right oppo
nent. But it doesn't matter how good
you system is when you are playing a
team with 11 athletes that are better
than your 11 athletes. And, A&M's 11
defensive athletes are as good as any.
Especially when a team like Hous
ton plays right into their hands.
#4 TEXAS A&M VS. HOUSTON
A&M, Houston face off on national television
Aggies try to end jinx
of playing in Dome
By CHRIS WHITLEY
Sports Editor of THE BATTALION
Just when Texas A&M's offense gets
into tip-top shape, it finds itself facing the
third-best offense in the country.
The run-and-shoot that has become an
institution at the University of Houston
will be in full effect tonight at 7 p.m.
when the Cougars host the fourth-ranked
Aggies (9-0, 4-0 in Southwest Conference
play) at the Astrodome in the first of two
Thursday night appearances for A&M.
Unfortunately for Houston head coach
John Jenkins, his high-powered offense
has been one of the few things the
Cougars (3-5, 1-3 in SWC) have had to
brag about lately.
Houston is trying to recover from a
humiliating 41-16 loss on Saturday to
Southern Methodist. For the Mustangs, it
was vindication for a 95-21 pounding that
the Cougars levied on them in 1989.
A&M head coach R.C. Slocum said
that he expects a much better effort from
Houston this time
around.
"That will be a
different team that
plays Thursday
night in the As
trodome than the
one that played at
Ownby Stadium
last week," Slocum
said. "As much as
they threw that
ball, if a couple of
those were caught,
it could have been a
different story.
"It looked to me
like they had a
bunch of chances to
make some plays,
and they didn't
quite make them.'
The Aggies made the plays on offense
they needed to make last Saturday in
their 40-18 win over Louisville. Part of
the offensive rejuvenation can be attrib
uted to Corey Pullig, the freshman quar
terback who started for the first time
against the Cardinals.
Pullig will get the nod again on Thurs
day. It is a rare thing for a 19-year-old to
be at the helm of
an undefeated top-
five team, yet Pul
lig said he takes
the responsibility
in stride.
"It's a day-by
day thing, and to
morrow it might
all be taken away,"
Pullig said.
"Whatever the
Lord gives me. I'm
blessed."
He noted that
his performance
against Louisville
was a far cry from
the six plays that
he ran in the Ag
gies' season opener
against Stanford.
Although he had received other
chances at playing time before the SMU
game on Oct. 31, it wasn't until then
when Pullig said that he truly felt at
home behind center.
"I felt comfortable knowing that I
wasn't going to get taken out if I did
something wrong," Pullig said. "Now, I
feel like I'm settled in, and I can just go
out and have fun."
Houston's explosive offense has been a
concern for opposing defenses all year
long, but A&M linebacker Marcus Buck-
ley said that the Cougars' offense suits
him just fine.
"We like to fly around the field, and
they do things that allow us to do that,
like throwing the ball all the time," Buck-
ley said. "It gives me a chance to pass
rush. That's what I like to do."
Buckley said that Houston quarterback
Jimmy Klingler might want to get his
track shoes ready because the improved
play of A&M's defensive line might cause
Klingler to be on the run a great deal.
"If I was an opposing team, and I had
guys like (defensive lineman Lance) Te-
ichelman coming at me, I wouldn't stay
in the pocket," Buckley said.
However, A&M has had a history of
frustration in the "Eighth Wonder of the
World." Two years ago, the Aggies came
into the Astrodome riding high until they
committed eight turnovers. They blew a
24-7 lead and lost, 36-31.
That loss ruined their chances at^a trip
to the Cotton Bowl, and the Aggies don't
want that to happen again. Currently,
See Houston/Page 8
1
Time: 7:00 p.m., Thursday
Place: Astrodome-Houston
TV/Radio: ESPN (Cable channel
32)- KTAM 1240-AM
Records: A&M (9-0, 4-0), Houston
(3-5, 1-3)
Line: A&M by 10 1/2
The Long Hard Road
A&M free safety Patrick Bates tries to elude LSU running originally left for UCLA but transferred to A&M in 1990 after
back Odell Beckham after intercepting a pass during the the death of his mother and grandmother made him realize
Aggies’ 45-7 win in 1991. Bates, a junior from Galveston, he should be back in Texas near his family.
Bates handles transfer,
trauma to become one
of nation's top safeties
By J. DOUGLAS FOSTER
Sports Editor of THE BATTALION
Like lifelong dreams, shots at each big-
time, high-impact recruit come only once
for college coaches.
But for coaches at Texas A&M, Galve
ston Ball's Patrick Bates was the rare star
that offered them a second chance. And
when the Aggies got that second chance,
they made sure they didn't let Bates-gebr
away again.
Bates, now a junior free safety for (he
Aggies and one of the top-ranked safeties
in college football, took possibly the
longest and most difficult route from
Galveston to College Station. And that
trip opened his eyes to where his heart
really was.
After the onslaught of recruiters final
ly backed off Bates and his family in the
spring of 1989, he made his decision
about where he was going to play college
football. His choice: The University of
California at Los Angeles. The NCAA in
vestigations and continuous probation
plague that was sweeping through the
Southwest Conference had cost the Ag
gies one of the top defensive players in
the state.
"A&M recruited me out of high
school, but there was so much going on
in this conference, I didn't think it was a
good idea to stay," Bates said. "They lost
a lot of good players that would have
come to the schools in this state but
didn't because of the trouble the schools
were getting in."
So off to UCLA Bates went. Heading
to the PAG 10 just as his hero Ronnie Lott
had done more than ten years earlier at
use.
And it didn't take long for him to
make an impact on the Bruin defense.
Before the season was over, he was one of
only two true freshmen to start a game,
and he had gained national attention by
making the treshman All-America team.
Not bad for someone who didn't turn 19
until the regular season was over.
Yet, during his time in Los Angeles,
Bates never really felt he was in the right
place. UCLA was a big place that was a
long way from the Gulf Coast of Texas,
and he didn't feel the same, hometown
atmosphere he noticed in the Lone Star
State. And, he always kept Texas A&M
in the back of his mind.
"I was very quiet when I was at UCLA
because it was a big place in a big city,
and I didn't really know anyone," Bates
admitted.
A happy man, he was not. But when
the spring of 1990 rolled around, some
thing would happen that would make
UCLA seem even farther from home.
Within a span of a few months. Bates'
mother and grandmother both died, tak
ing two of his closest loved ones during
the same school semester. Right then, he
decided he didn't want to be away from
Texas any longer.
To hear him tell the story, to see how
emotional of an experience it was for
him, no one would realize he is a danger
ous, 225-pound defensive back who flies
all over the field in a manner so violent
that he could seriously injure an oppos
ing receiver.
"UCLA is a great school and a great
place to play football, but after that first
season I felt I wanted to come closer to
home and play," Bates said. "Some un
fortunate things happened to me con
cerning my family that told me that then
it was time to come home. My mother
and my grandmother both passed within
about a two-month span that spring, and
that was the final push that made me
come back home.
"After all that had happened to me, I
knew I needed to be close to home. I
wanted to be near my family. I wanted
my family to see me play every week.
"I wanted to be back in Texas."
Bates had his release signed by the
UCLA administration, then talked to
A&M recruiting coordinator Tim Cassidy
about returning to Texas and playing for
the Aggies. When Cassidy asked Bates to
visit the A&M campus. Bates reassured
him that Aggieland was where he wanted
to be.
"Even when I went to UCLA, I said if I
went to school in Texas, it would be at
A&M," Bates said. "Once I decided I was
coming back, I knew it was A&M. I nev
er wanted to go to Texas. I had watched
A&M play Notre Dame in the Cotton
Bowl, and when I visited, it was a great
atmosphere. Anyone who visits here will
tell you they are amazed by the atmos
phere."
So, the freshman All-American was on
his way to College Station. And no one
was happier to hear that he would have a
safety with big-game experience than
A&M defensive coordinator Bob Davie.
"When I heard he was coming, I felt
like I was getting a starter for our football
team," Davie said. "It's not like when
ou take a high school player and bring
im in, you're really not sure. But when
you get a young man who was a starter
in the PAC 10 and that we knew so much
about from high school but couldn't get,
it is really exciting for you."
Because of NCAA requirements. Bates
had to sit out the 1990 season after trans
ferring. But in 1991, he was primed and
ready to be the Aggies' starting free safe
ty. He took the job, and made his mark
quickly. Bates led the nation's top-
ranked defense in interceptions (4) and
fumbles caused (3). But, Bates said, the
season was not all a highlight film for
him. He also said he has been a better
See Bates/Page 8
Lady Aggies fall to Baylor in final home game
By K. LEE DAVIS
Sports Writer of THE BATTALION
The Texas A&M Lady Aggies were
outhit, outblocked and outplayed
Wednesday night at G. Rollie White Coli
seum as they dropped a four-game
Southwest Conference match to Baylor, 7-
15,16-14, 9-15, 9-15.
A crowd of 673 came out to watch the
final home game for the Lady Aggies.
A&M (14-13, 3-7) had defeated Baylor
earlier this season in Waco, but the Lady
Aggies were not able to get going in any
facet of the game this time around.
A&M managed to hit only .062 for the
entire match, and hit a mere .053 in the
fourth and deciding game.
A&M head coach A1 Givens made no
excuses for his team, and stressed that
they must come together and regroup be
fore the season is over.
"It's hard to beat people when you hit
.062," Givens said.
Junior setter Genny Wood had the
highest hitting percentage on the night at
.200, as she posted seven kills and 20 as
sists.
"Baylor's a good ballclub, and tonight
they beat us," Givens said. "They played
better than we did, and we have to termi
nate more balls and eliminate our hitting
errors."
Junior outside attacker Amy Kisling
agreed that the Lady Aggies were going
to have to improve their team play.
"We just didn't have it tonight,"
Kisling said. "I know this is the lowest
point of our season. We needed to speak
to each other, we needed to do something
to get some momentum, but we didn't."
Senior outside attacker Elizabeth Ed-
miston, who led the team with 15 kills,
was upset with the teams performance
and her own after playing the final home
match of her career.
"We were dead, and I don't think we
came into the match overconfident, or
that we were taking Baylor lightly," Ed-
miston said. "But we absolutely, positive
ly, did not execute on our side of the
court."
Givens said he did not know why his
team had broken down so completely.
"I really thought we were ready to
play to tell ydu the truth," Givens said.
"We had good practices and we were pre
pared, but we struggled to get into a
rhythm and t 1 '■' r really frustrating.
"No excu e got beat tonight and
we need to a if we're going to com
pete harder."
Baylor head coach Tom Sonnichsen
said blocking and team defense were the
keys to victory for his team.
"I think we gained the advantage in
blocking this evening," Sonnichsen said.
"The key was that we did block better
than A&M did, and we played pretty
good defense behind the block."
"They were ready for us, but we
weren't ready for them," Kisling said.
Sonnichsen added that while his team
won, the Lady Aggies could have been
successful if a few more balls had fallen
in for them.