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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 1994)
Thurssday • October 13, 1994 12th Man must support all sports STEWART DOREEN Sports writer F or those of you who claim to be real fans of A&M athletics, you ". ill be thoroughly enter tained this weekend. It should sep arate the die-hards from the wanna he’s. It should test the real spirit of the 12th man. I know what you’re thinking right now. You’re probably saying, “Hey, I got my ticket to the football game.” Well, if I’m right the spirit goes much further than the three hours in the midst of Kyle Field. For instance, how many of you are going to see the women’s soccer team play this Friday and Sunday? This is the same second-year team that is ranked eighth in the South Region and staring an NCAA bid right in the face. Well, you are probably going to see the A&M women’s volleyball then. Yes, that Corbelli-coached team that qualified for the NCAA Championships last year for the first time in school history. The Aggies will be going up against the 12th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. How about viewing the cross country team? You have the oppor tunity to see them run in their first home meet, The Texas A&M Invita tional, this Saturday at 10:00 a.m. The runners will be working hard to improve on their Region VI rank ing against top talent from around the state. I can’t imagine that you would blow the chance to see some of A&M’s best athletes do their thing this weekend. Then again, I try to think about when Aggies do support 'their teams. Texas A&M does support their football team and probably will do so forever. That’s about where the pats on the back should stop. The Aggies’ attendance figures in other sports could be considered embar rassing. Tony Barone, the SWC and Region VI coach of the year, took his team to the post-season National Invitational Tournament, but he can never say he saw G. Rol- lie White filled to the capacity (7,000). The average attendance last year was 3,652. The women? Well, that’s another tale about how support is getting better, but has a long way to go. (Random thought: How will all this look in the Big 12?) Now, Olsen Field is a place that has seen its fair share of sell-outs. Unless, you’re talking about last year when the disappointing finish led to smaller and smaller crowds. Does A&M only support winners? Maybe that’s the theory? Then, I shouldn’t even mention the winning sports of the winter and spring. The support shown to the golf, softball, swimming, tennis and track teams was pathetic. For get that the softball team was among the nation’s best and went to the NCAA tournament. Just disre gard the track team and their group of All-Americans and the national champion mile relay team. Don’t even think about the NCAA-qualify ing men’s tennis team that tied for the conference title, and the wom en’s team that went to the finals of the SWC outdoor championships. Now before you pick up that pen and paper and write the Battalion telling the editors that Stewart Doreen is full of it, count to ten and think about it. There are over 42,000 people at Texas A&M University. Nine thou sand students live on campus, prob ably plenty of whom have all-sports passes. Shouldn’t there be more people filling the stands at A&M athletic events? I thought so too. SPORTS Baylor focuses on running game Reedy compares Bears' style of offensive, defensive play to Aggies By Nick Georgandis The Battalion In just his second full year as the head football coach of the Baylor Bears, ranked 19th in the CNN poll, Chuck Reedy wants what Texas A&M has. “They’re the Southwest con ference champions and they’ve been to the Cotton Bowl, “ Reedy said. “I want to see how close we’re coming to getting to that level.” Reedy and his Bears will get a first-hand look at how close they are to A&M’s level when they travel to Kyle Field this Saturday to lock horns with the seventh-ranked Aggies. It will be Baylor’s second road game against a ranked team this season. The Bears traveled to Los Angeles to play the University of Southern California three weeks ago, and received the only blemish on their record this season (5-1 overall), a 37- 27 loss. Saturday’s game will be a match-up of teams that use similar styles to overpower their opponents. Like the Aggies, Baylor uses a strong running game and an intimidating defense to shut down opposing offenses. While Reedy said running the ball will be Baylor’s prime focus on Satur day afternoon, he admits the Bear at tack is not yet at the level achieved by the Aggies. “There will be two great running backs at the game, but they’ll both be lining up in maroon, “ Reedy said. “We’ve got four pretty good backs and we’ll try to get 100 yards against (their defense) since no on else has done that against them this year.” Reedy said he thinks the game will be decided at the line of scrim mage, especially when the Aggies have the ball. “I think the strength of our team is our defensive front, “ Reedy said. “But I see them being solid on the offensive line. No one is better in the league than (center) Calvin Collins. Except for Ruhman, all those guys have been around, they’re all juniors and seniors.” A subplot to Saturday’s match-up will be the homecoming of Baylor’s freshman quarterback Jeff Watson. Watson, who graduated from A&M Consolidated last spring, has started all six of Baylor’s games this season after beat ing out sophomore Lamont Moore for the job. At Consoli dated, Watson won 40 games during his three years as a starter, including the Texas 4A Championship in 1991. Last season, Watson threw for over 2300 yards while accounting for 37 touchdowns through the air and on the ground. Although Reedy acknowl edges that Watson is. viewing this week’s game as a big one, he and the other coaches are attempting to keep Watson from trying to do more than he is capable of. “It will be a very big game for Jeff, and we know he will be excited to be back in his home town, “ Reedy said. “But we’ve talked to him and told him he just has to execute, not win the game for us. We’ve tried to minimize the T)ig game’ approach.” "We've got four pretty good backs and we'll try to get 100 yards against (their defense) since no on else has done that against them this year." —Chuck Reedy Baylor Bears’ football coach The Battalion • Page 9 B SPORTS RIEFS Men’s basketball program offer walk-on tryouts Are you prepared to strut your stuff on the basketball court and hoop it up for Texas A&M? If you think you would like to participate in walk-on tryouts for the Texas A&M Men’s basketball team, attend the mandatory medical history meeting on Friday, October 14th at 3:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Men’s Training Room at G. Rollie White . Coliseum on the campus of Texas A&M. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call (409) 845- 4531. Martinez, Tori get second chance in Austin Texas A&M’s doubles team of Bernardo Martinez and Carlos Tori will open play todgy, in the first round of the ITA Men’s AHI' American Championships at the Penick- Allison Tennis Center on the University of Texas campus. The team lost in the first round of the tournament’s qualifying round, but were awarded a spot in the main draw after South Alabama’s team dropped out. Head men’s tennis coach David Kent thinks the duo will use the second chance in the tournament to accomplish some big things. “Without question it’s new life for us," Kent said. “Bernie and Carlos didn't play at all on Tuesday, but I know they’re going to be fired up for this second chance.” Swedish golfers give team foreign flavor Glen Johnson/SPECiAL to The Battalion Freshman Isabella Rosberg is the second golfer from the Swedish National Team to play for the Aggies. Rosberg, Edfors leave homeland for Aggieland By Stewart Doreen The Battalion When Texas A&M women’s golf coach Jeanne Sutherland goes looking for talent, she doesn’t mind going out of the way, even if it means going all the way to Norrkoping, Sweden. “It is easier to get one of the top five players in Sweden(than an American player), ” Suther land said. “They(Swedes) don’t go on school reputation as much as what they hear now (about a school).” Freshman Isabella Rosberg is the second golfer from the Swedish National team to make thevtrip to Aggieland following NCAA qualifier jhftlott'’KH^ihh i Bdf<brrs; , a‘ Kttngsbacka native. The Swedes left their home country, because it was not possible to continue in education and athletics. Being gifted golfers, they had two op tions: college in Sweden or golf in Sweden, but not both. This made the move to the United States is the only choice for the two. “I wanted to combine sports and studies, and we can’t do that at home,” said Edfors. The move to the United States to attend A&M didn’t come without a sacrifice. Rosberg, an aerodynamic engineering major, is feeling the hardships of being far from home. Rosberg, who was influenced by Edfors in her decision to attend A&M, has found ways to get around those feelings caused by the absence away from her country. “You can’t think about them (family and friends) too much, because it makes you home sick,” Rosberg said. “Of course, you miss the peo ple back home. You have so much to do here with practice, work and studying. This is such a' great opportunity.” Besides being far from home, the pair has had to adjust to the culture at A&M, a way of life the two agree is unlike anything else. “Aggieland and College Station are not at all ' like any other place,” Edfors said. “It’s a lot different,” Rosberg said. “We had^ many traditions at my high school, but nothing ’ like this. This is the way it should be.” Edfors says that the openness Aggies demon- q strate has helped her get to know people and make the transition a little easier. It has also'* made her more critical of her beliefs. “I am starting to realize the things I believed , in back home things people think are important might not be as important here,” Edfors said. “At , home, fashion and money and those little things are really important. “When you go back home, you say ‘What' is this?’ This is not what I want to be a part of. ’' It is interesting to see why people act the way they do.” Edfors and Rosberg agree that most common ; element they share with Americans is golf. On the golf course, there are no culture differences. It is a place where they feel comfortable. “The only thing that is alike is the golf - courses,” Rosberg said. “That’s when you feel at home.” Both Swedish national team members arh- among the many Swedish golfers playing in the United States. One thing that has helped the v two adjust to competing in America is learning all about pressure from the highly competitive ju-U niors program in Sweden. « Sweden’s junior programs for sports are not; like the high school programs found in the Unit-; ed States. The athletes are taught to specialize , See Golf/ Page 10 Kennedy axed by Rangers’ new general manager ARLINGTON (AP) — Texas Rangers manager Kevin Kennedy, whose team led the AL West despite a losing record when the strike started, was fired Wednesday, two days after the hiring of a general manager. “My gut feeling was that I wanted to start with a clean slate in prepara tion for next season,” general manager Doug Melvin said. “I’m hoping to heck that Kevin lands somewhere. He shouldn’t have to go back to the minor leagues.” Kennedy was the fourth manager to be fired since the players went on strike Aug. 12. Hal McRae of the Kansas City Royals, Butch Hobson of the Boston Red Sox and Johnny Oates of the Baltimore Orioles were dis missed earlier, and only the Royals have filled their vacancy. “I wasn’t surprised,” Kennedy said. “I understand change, it’s part of the business. I have no regrets. I wish the best for Doug Melvin and the Texas Rangers, except when they’re playing against us — whoever I may be.” Rangers farm director Marty Scott, who had spent the last 10 years as director of player development, also was fired. Texas was 52-62 and in first place in the weak AL West when season stopped. The Rangers had lost six in a row before the strike, and their lead over Oakland had been cut to one game. Kennedy, 40, became a major league manager for the first time in 1993 and guided the Rangers to an 86- 76 record and a second-place finish in the AL West. He leaves with an over all 138-138 record. Melvin has a list of candidates, but would not reveal any names or say how many people he had in mind. He did not deny reported possibilities such as Oates, Orioles dugout coach Jerry Nnrron, Indians pitching coach Phil Regan and Pittsburgh coach Bill Virdon. Melvin insisted he had not planned on bringing in a new manager when he was hired Monday from Baltimore. He spent several hours Tuesday meet ing with Kennedy, and said his deci sion had little to do with Kennedy and everything to do with wanting to put his own people in the organization. “I leave here with a good taste in my mouth and I was told that by own ership as well,” Kennedy said. “I’m a better manager today than I was two years ago. I walk out of here very proud.” Kennedy leaves with one year left on his contract at a salary of $250,000. Melvin joked he planned to begin looking for a new manager after lunch. He gave no set timetable other than to say he wants to get it done as soon as possible. Melvin admitted he didn’t want a sit uation like the Orioles had a few years ago when Roland Hemond came in as general manager and retained manager Cal Ripken Sr., only to fire him seven games into the following season. “I think if you have a manager that doesn’t have the full confidence of the general manager, then you’re really in an untenable situation,” Rangers pres ident Tom Schieffer said. “It perme ates the whole organization.” As for Kennedy’s six coaches, Melvin said they’ve been told they’rp free to look for jobs elsewhere. None have been fired, although their statua may be in doubt when a new managed is hired. v Scott had been with the Rangers* since 1977 as a player and executive, q r Adorable brunette, in shorts and running shoes standing outside a restroom at a Diamond Shamrock across from a Dairy Queen in Groesbeck, accompanied by other Aggie Wranglers - headed to perform at the fair in Dallas on Friday, October 7th Call Dave (Aggie cap, sunglasses, mazda truck) at 260-2654 Study Abroad in Mexico and Earn TAM.U Credit Nutrition, Health and Culture of the Indigenous People of Mexico Come to the reference tables in the MSC on Thursday, October 13, from 10-2. Study Abroad Programs 161 Bizzell Hall West 845-0544 StaqeCenter Et Celercf* presents "LEGENDS" October 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 & 22 at 7:30 p.m. October 16 & 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets $10 • $8 students, seniors • $5 children • $7 season ticket holders Sonq & Dance Music mode in heaven " C. memories of ite qreal names in stow LusinesS'JJ Directed by M.A. Sterling Information 823-4297 701 N. Main, Downtown Bryan7 Supported by the Arts Council of Brazos Valli and the Texas Commission on the Arts >XMipp X