Wednesday • October 12, 1994
The Battalion • Page 5
Memories as
childhood
wrestling star
DREW
DIENER
Sportswriter
T he memories all started to
come back the minute I
climbed into the 1983 Buick
Century that the service station fix
ing my car loaned to me.
As I fastened my seat belt and
turned on the ignition, the distinct
stench of stale cigarette smoke and
other miscellaneous odors almost
knocked me out.
Where had I smelled this smell be
fore? If my olfactory lobes could talk,
they would tell me. I was perplexed.
Driving down Texas Avenue, not
at all paying attention to my dri
ving, I drifted deeply into thought.
This aroma, I had smelled it before.
But where? Then it hit me...
1985: An eleven-year old Drew Di-
ener takes his first trip to the world
famous Dallas Sportatorium to cheer
his wrestling heroes and boo their op
ponents. As he walks into the second
home of such famed grapplers as the
Von Erichs, Gentleman Chris Adams,
and Kamala the Ugandan Giant, the
distinct stench of stale cigarette
smoke and other miscellaneous odors
almost knocks him out.
That was it. That was where I
first smelled such a smell. The Dal
las Sportatorium, 1985. My first
trip to the wrestling matches, and
definitely not my last.
As I cut off the policeman in the
left-hand lane so that I could turn
onto Harvey Road, my wrestling
memories began to come full circle.
Back in the good ole days, before
puberty decimated my body and my
imind, I was a wrestling freak. Start
ing sometime in the fifth grade and
lasting through the first semester of
seventh grade, professional wrestling
maintained a chokehold on my life.
While many of my friends were
learning the art of French kissing,
I was learning the art of the fig
ure-four leg lock.
While I was trying to sneak the
latest issue of “Pro Wrestling Illus
trated” into class, my buddies were
trying to sneak the latest issue of
“Playboy” out of their dads’ closets.
Going to the local skating rink on
Saturday night was the thing to do in
the sixth grade, however, I could not
See Diener/Page 6
This day in Aggie
football...
October 12, 1940: The defending
notional champion Aggies travel
to Los Angeles and defeat UCLA.
7-0, as a star Bruin halfback
named Jackie Robinson leaves the
game early due to injury.
Ex-LSU star brings his talent to A&M
Tim Moog/THt Battalion
Huffman's skills, leadership to benefit Aggies
By Michele Brinkmann
The Battalion
When Ryan Huffman transferred to Texas
A&M this semester to play baseball, he knew
he would have to adjust to a new school and
impress the coach if he wanted to play.
Huffman thought he had done just that
when he hit a home run during the first
week of practice this fall.
“I did a normal run around the bases,”
Huffman said.
After practice however, Huffman found out
that it wouldn’t be that easy. “OK, Ryan, you
showed us what you can do,” head baseball
coach Mark Johnson said, “but you need to
speed it up when running around the bases.”
Huffman then realized his new coach’s at
titude: you always have to hustle - even in
the first week of practice.
“I thought I ran OK, but he apparently
didn’t think so,” Huffman said. “He wants
you to run everywhere.”
Johnson agrees he likes the hustle ap
proach to baseball.
“We like to move at full speed,” Johnson
said. “Good things happen with the hustle
approach.”
Huffman said the A&M coaching staff
was a major reason he decided to transfer
from Louisiana State University, where he
played football and baseball. Last April,
he decided to give up football and join the
Aggie baseball team.
Huffman decided to leave LSU because
it was too hard trying to play quarterback
in Louisiana, where fans want to see some
one from their home state play; not some
body from Texas.
“I do not think I was given the chance I
deserved at LSU,” Huffman said. “There
was just too much politics and too much
emphasis on money.”
He was also tired of the LSU football
coaching staff switching him back and forth
between offense and defense.
“I didn’t think I was going anywhere,”
he said. “I was not happy and I knew
needed to get out.”
Along with playing quarterback and free
safety on the football team, Huffman also
played centerfield for the baseball team.
He was a member of LSU’s national
championship baseball team as a reserve
outfielder in 1993, and went with LSU to the
College World Series in 1994.
Johnson said A&M recruited Huffman
out of high school, but did not hear from him
again until Huffman called Johnson asking
about transferring to A&M.
“He is adjusting well, and he is a hard
worker,” Johnson said. “He’s a quality kid,
but a quiet kid.”
Huffman thinks his experience playing on
the ‘93 College World Series championship
team will benefit the Aggies.
“I’ve been in big games and I think I
know how to win them,” Huffman said. “I
can offer advice from what I have learned.”
A&M first baseman Jason Stephens, a
sophomore and Huffman’s roommate, said
Huffman fits in with the team.
“Ryan will bring good leadership and
knowledge to the team,” Stephens said.
‘When you bring someone in with experience
on a national championship team it will help.”
Huffman, who still has two years of eli
gibility for play baseball, said although he
prefers centerfield, he would be happy
playing any position.
Huffman played football and baseball at
Clear Lake High School in Houston. Bob
Cobb, Clear Lake’s head baseball coach, said
Huffman was a leader his teammates turned
to when they needed a big play.
“He was an athlete with great speed and
See Huffman/Page 6
Volleyball team to match spike for
spike with Lady Cougars
Lady Aggies look to extend winning streak to four
Jason Holstead
The Battalion
The Texas A&M women’s volleyball
team hopes to extend its three match win
ning streak tonight against the 25th-
ranked University of Houston Lady
Cougars. After an inconsistent beginning
to the season, the Lady Aggies feel they
are beginning to truly mesh into a team>
“I think the younger players
are becoming more comfort
able with the system and
their teammates,” head coach
Laurie Corbelli said. “The
other players have wel-
floor this season.
Houston is led by their outside hit
ter, Lilly Denoon-Chester, who leads
the Southwest Conference in kill aver
age (4.67) and blocking (1.29) and is
second in hitting efficiency (.333).
Corbelli said the Lady Cougars are
a very efficient team that runs a basic
offense.
“They probably have the player
of the year on their team in
Lilly Denoon-Chester. She is
exceptional and will get her
15-plus kills per match,”
Corbelli said.
corned the younger
players into a difficult
situation because they
knew there was po-
tential(in the new
players) to take (their) spots.”
Senior outside hitter Jennifer Bronner
said the team is starting to come together.
“We are building a bond with each oth
er out there on the court,” Bronner said.
“We know where everyone is (on the court)
and who is going to get the ball. We com
municate well with each other.”
The Lady Cougars (9-3 overall and
4-0 in SWC) are currently riding a six
match winning streak, which includes
a unbeaten 4-0 record on their home
“They also have
a surrounding
cast of very strong
players for their
positions.”
The Lady Aggies are currently in
fourth place with a 2-2 conference record.
Texas A&M has not defeated Hous
ton at Hofheinz Pavilion since 1987,
losing the last six matches.
The Lady Aggies will return home
Saturday night to host the rematch
against 12th-ranked Notre Dame at G.
Rollie White Coliseum. The Irish
handily defeated A&M (4-15, 4-15, 3-
15) last month at the University of
Colorado Coors Tournament.
Carrie Thompson/THE Batfalion
Jennifer Bronner, # 9, spikes the ball against Baylor as # 14 Dana Santleben,
#13 Kristie Smedsrud, and #10 Suzy Wente look on.
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113 College Main (Northgate)
846-6620
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FALL RECEPTION
Wednesday, October 12 • 8:00 p.m.
MSC Forsyth Gallery
Featuring distinguished guests from
Washington, D.C. and American University:
*David Cortland Brown, Ph.D.
Dean, Washington Semester and World Capitals Programs
*Louis W. Goodman
Professor and Dean, School of International Service
*Ambassador A. Valdez, Class ‘64
-Meet new INTS majors, officers, and faculty
-Learn about upcoming events -Refreshments will be served
ALL INTS MAJORS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND
^Sunday Dress Recommended
Experience the Culture
of
England!
Germany!
and the
Dominican Republic!
ONLY ONE MORE
CHANCE
Oct. 13 at 5:00pm 308 Rudder
Intern and Living Abroad
Program
Informational Meetings
For more information, contact the
L.T. Jordan Institute Office at 845-8770.
Persons with disabilities requiring assistance at MSC-sponsored programs
are requested to call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs.
SPEND A YEAR IN JAPAN!
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program
If you fiave an excellent knowledge of English, hold
a bachelor's degree (or will receive one by
June 30,1995), and are a Lf.S. citizen,
the J.E.T. Program needs you!
Opportunities are available
in Japanese schools and
government offices.
Applications are now available for the program beginning in .4 ugust; IV'JS. For
more information please contact: The Consulate General of Japan, First Interstate Hank
Plaza, Suite 5300,1000 Louisiana Street, Houston, TX 77002, Phone (713) 652-2077.
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 10,1994