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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 25, 1993)
Page 9 Sports The Battalion Wednesday, August 25,1993 A&M catches heat by the tail; LSU next in line Ki/lc Bumett/THE Battalion By Michael Plumer The Battalion On September 4, the fourth-ranked Texas A&M football team will face Louisiana State on Kyle Field. Right now, the Aggies* toughest opponent has been the searing Texas heat, unbroken by rain for two months. Battling temperatures well over the century mark, A&M players have been trying to make the best of a sticky situa tion as they prepare to defend their Southwest Conference championship. "I know it is at least 115 degrees out there on Kyle Field but the heat is some thing to adjust to," senior outside line backer Steve Solari said. "But we have been drinking a lot of fluids to combat that and everything has been going fine. "Last season we started so early be cause of us playing Stanford, so it feels like it was hotter last year. This season, we have gotten back to a normal practice schedule and because of that we have had great concentration. "But I will be glad when school starts because then we can fall into a normal schedule and plus it cools off some." Senior center Chris Dausin said deal ing with the heat is part of the routine when preparing for an upcoming season. "Last year our legs were dead before the Stanford game, but it seems the coaches have eased up a little to allow us to recover a little bit," Dausin said. "Actually, it seemed like last year the heat was unbearable, whereas it has not been bad this year," he said. "This sum mer we have been getting quality work as opposed to the past where we were getting quantity work. "Although it is hot, it is something we have to deal with and besides, other teams are having to practice through it, too." Rain is not in the forecast, but Solari predicted that relief is on the way. "Actually, our two-a-day practices are over because we have one Wednesday morning and another practice late Wednesday when it will be cool," Solari said. "After that, the fun starts in preparing for the season." Dausin said the key to beating the high temperatures is taking proper care of one's body. "First of all, getting plenty of rest is a key," he said. "This summer I ran sprints with other guys to get used to it because it is all part of the training deal. If you don't do the necessary things, then you can pass out." "We have been lucky so far - a few guys have cramped up, but nothing ma jor. Most of it's mental because there is nothing else like Texas heat." Expanding mercury levels can also cause tempers to flare, which could cause some fighting between teammates. Solari said that while some player's fuses have been a little short, his team mates are saving their explosions for LSU. "We have had some tussles," he said. "Psychologically, the heat can be tough, but everybody has held their composure. Because of that we have gotten better as practice has wom-on. "Everybody is concentrating on beat ing LSU and trying to get focused on ac complishing that. Fighting amongst our selves would not solve anything." A&M has an intra-squad scrimmage on Friday but after that the players, Dausin said, will begin thinking about hitting somebody with an opposite col ored uniform. "Scrimmages are great because they are like game situations, but we are start ing to hone in on LSU," he said. "This might be hard to believe but we enjoy hitting on opponents more than we do each other." Solari concurred. "I am tired of hitting the same guys and I am eager to hit other people," So lari said. "(The scrimmage) is great prac tice because it will be hot when we play LSU, but still, I am ready to get the real thing going." High expectations surround A&M up coming season as evidenced by the glut of preseason magazines touting the Ag gies as runaway winners of the SWC. But Dausin suggested that all the talk will be forgotten in the heat of the battle. A&M center Chris Dausin takes a break on the practice field adjacent to Kyle Field as he listens to offensive line coach "All of that stuff is great, but right now is where the difference is made," he said. "We have been working hard this Mike Sherman. The Aggies open their season September 4 against Louisiana State at 2:30 p.m. summer to be able to pick up where we left off last season. Right now, we as a team can't wait to play LSU." Lady Aggies kick open fall soccer season By Julie Chelkowski The Battalion The Texas A&M women's soccer team was hit with big news last spring that has taken the players to a higher level in the 1993 season - an NCAA level. After narrowly avoiding the loss of the soccer program last fall, the Texas A&M athletic department resolved to recognize the women's team as a NCAA Division I program. Now, the team has a new coach, a new field, new uniforms, a new budget, and a new attitude. Head coach Gerald Guerrieri, who was brought in last March, said he was amazed at the attention the pro gram is getting, especially compared to past years. "I've seen reports and heard how i things were done in the past and it's shocking to see what the stories j were," he said. "But right now it's fantastic," Guerrieri said with tire new recog nition, his team will now be able to make a full-time commitment to ex cellence, both academically and ath letically. "Before, the girls in the program had to hold themselves up because it j wasn't being done by the athletic de- j partment," he said. "They're excited I now because they know they'll get help for their hard work " Along with the monetary benefits | that have resulted from official recog- j nition, the players are enjoying the support of their peers and fellow ath letes. "Before, if you asked anyone in athletics if there was a soccer team, they would say no," Rennie Rebe, a ! returning senior, said. "Now, they're : See Soccer/Page 1 0 Manage Your College Expenses Without Dropping A Bundle* Check Out Our Student Program. The NationsBank Student Program makes it easy to manage your money—and it doesn’t cost a bundle! • Student Checking allows you to pay an annual fee of only $36 (paid upon opening your account) to write as many checks as you want all year long. You can also pay the annual fee in $3 monthly payments. Just choose the option that fits your budget. • Your NationsBank 24 Hour Banking Card gives you instant access to your cash at more than 1,600 NationsBank ATMs in Texas and the Southeast at no extra charge. 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