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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 1994)
Friday • October 21, 1994 § PORTS The Battalion • Page 7 Beating tough t.u. team good for Aggies STEWART DOREEN You see the phrases on T-shirts all over campus. They say “My fa vorite team is A&M and whoever is playing t.u.” It sums up the attitude that pre vails here at A&M. Beating t.u. is more important than the well-being of our beloved Aggies. We sing it in the War Hymn, we burn it in our bonfire and show it on our T-shirts. I guess in theory there’s not too much harm in hating those folks in the capital city. But when I hear people say how glad they were to hear the Longhorns lost to Colorado and Rice, I am thoroughly confused about who Aggies really root for...the Aggies or whoever is playing t.u. Now before you start asking “Who the hell is this guy questioning my loyalty to A&M,” think about this. The Aggies are ranked sixth in The Associated Press poll. That is the good news, but the odds of the Aggies going much higher are not as good. Why? Voters have been outspoken about an Aggie schedule that at first glance looked tough but has softened throughout the season. For example, Oklahoma University was ranked 15th when the Aggies kicked their butt at Kyle Field. Since then, OU has fallen out of the top 25, and things are looking worse with Kansas State and Ne braska on their schedule. Does the OU victory seem a little less impor tant? To Aggie fans, it is probably not, but to the pollsters, it is. Another top 25 victory happened last week against the Baylor Bears. Odds are against the Bears making it back to the top 25 due to their lack of wins over quality opponents. So the combined record of A&M opponents played to date is 16-19. For those who argue that it is be cause of the weak conference, the record of non-conference teams is 8-11. For your information, the record of future A&M opponents this season is 13-15. This is why Auburn is ranked higher than A&M. They play in the Southeastern Conference and have defeated Florida, a former number one team in the nation (a team that probably remain in the top ten through the end of the year). The Tigers still have to go up against an other top ten team the eighth- ranked Crimson Tide of Alabama. This is why it was so important to have the Longhorns in the top 10 when the Aggies travel to Austin for the Nov. 5 showdown. A win over a top 10 team so late in the season would have given the Aggies more recognition and the team’s schedule See Doreen/Page 8 Stewart might Volunteer for A&M By David Winder The Battalion Ever since high school quarterback Mark Farris spurned Texas A&M for the riches of professional baseball, the Aggies have had a problem with depth at the quarterback position. That all could change if University of Tennessee reserve quarterback Bran- ndon Stewart decides to transfer to A&M. Last spring, Stewart, who played at Stephenville High School, chose Ten nessee over Texas A&M because of the Volunteers’ quarterback situation. “As far as we are concerned, there is a lot to discuss, nothing has been decided,” Fledge Stewart, Branndon’s father said. “I know he is not happy with the situation. I don’t think he’s being treated fairly.” Tennessee head coach Philip Fulmer has been under fire this season for his use of Stewart and another freshman quarterback Peyton Manning. Stewart is playing behind Manning, even though he has out performed him. “All the Ten nessee coaches will say is that they are doing what they feel is best for the team,” the elder Stewart said. “I’ve had discus sions with them, but they never want to go into detail or elaborate. It seems like a majority of the Tennessee fans want Branndon to play.” In an interview with Greg Auman of the Independent Florida Alligator, Art Briels, Stewart’s high school coach said Tennessee is not giving Stewart a fair chance. “In Branndon’s home, the word from them (Tennessee) was that he was the best quarterback in the nation,” Briels said. “Now, that’s dropped to him to being only the number two freshman quarterback on their team in just sev en to eight months.” Redge Stewart said if Branndon chooses to transfer, Texas A&M would be high on his list. “I can’t say he will probably trans fer,” Stewart said. “But I think he would be very interested in moving back to Texas and playing in the South west Conference or whatever it is now. “A&M has a great reputation and the coaches have always been real straight with him. A&M is a good possibility.” Aggie head coach R.C. Slocum said he knows nothing of Stewart trying to transfer to Texas A&M. “It’s strictly a rumor as far as I’m concerned,” Slocum said. “I think it is more speculation than it is accurate.” Redge Stewart said whatever hap pens something will have to change. “Peyton is a knowledgeable player but I always felt that Branndon would out perform him if he was given the opportunity,” Redge Stewart said. “I’ve tried to be neutral and impartial for as long as I can but I can’t see their rea soning anymore.” Stewart Probation bowls over AP poll AIM 4rm. j J> • * mi w Texas A&M Auburn Washington Record: 6-0 AP Rank: 6th AP Opponents: 1 Opponents W-L: 16-16 Record: 7-0 AP Rank: 4th AP Opponents: 1 Opponents W-L: 15-16 Record: 5-1 AP Rank: 9th AP Opponents: 3 Opponents W-L 17-14 "Look at Auburn, who plays East Tennessee State and people like that. Miami is playing West Virginia this weekend. West Virginia is not worth a flip." "It (probation) should not affect AP standings. At this point it is premature (to speculate about finishing the season undefeated and ranked first.)" "We have absolutely zero control (over voters). The fact that Miami jumped ahead of us shows the unpredictability of the poll." R.C. Slocum Head Coach Terry Bowden Head Coach Jim Lambright Head Coach By Drew Diener ii The Battalion Cheaters never win, but maybe : they should. Going into this weekend of college |! football action, three schools currently |i on NCAA probation rank among the Top 10 in the Associated Press poll. | Fourth-ranked Auburn, 6th-ranked |i Texas A&M, and 9th-ranked Washing- ; ton each have a legitimate chance of i being voted national champion despite |i their ban from post-season play. The last probation-afflicted team to win the national championship was ■ Oklahoma, who split the title with H Southern California in 1974. |i Houston Chronicle sports writer || Fran Blinebury said teams on proba tion should not be considered con- , tenders for a national championship. “When you’re ineligible, you’re ineli- || gible,” Blinebury said. “What is the sense of probation? A penalty is sup- || pose to hurt in some way.” Auburn head coach Terry Bowden, whose team defeated then top-ranked || Florida 36-33 in Gainesville last weekend !i disagrees with that way of thinking. “It (probation) should not affect AP || standings,” Bowden said. “At this || point it’s premature (to speculate I I about finishing the season undefeat ed and ranked first).” Bowden said an AP voter who has a || problem with voting for a team on pro bation has no business participating in the poll in the first place. Last season, after finishing 11-0, a probation-stricken Auburn finished fourth in Bowden’s inaugural season. The Tigers are 7-0 this season and have this weekend off before playing host to 3-4 Arkansas October 29. Dallas Morning News college football writer Ken Stephens, an AP voter, said being ineligible for post-season play lim its the chance for probation teams to win the national championship. “They lack one opportunity that oth er teams have to impress the voters,” Stephens said. “(It is conceivable) that an undefeated team on probation could be ranked number one at season’s end and be bumped (out of first place) after New Year’s Day by an 11-1 team.” Stephens said A&M’s weak sched ule hurts their chances of finishing the season ranked first, even if they remain undefeated. “The UT loss (to Rice last Sunday) hurts A&M’s ability to move up in the polls (should they defeat UT No vember 5),” Stephens said. “(Other wise), OU is the only ranked team that A&M has beaten this season.” Oklahoma, who was ranked six teenth when they lost to A&M Septem ber 10, dropped out of the Top 25 this week after losing to 2nd-ranked Col orado 45-7 last Saturday. A&M head coach R.C. Slocum said a bias exists among writers who deem that his team’s schedule is weak. “Look at Auburn, who plays East Tennessee State and people like that,” ;| See AP poll/Page 8 Lady Aggie soccer team hosts Post Oak Mall Soccer Classic By Stewart Doreen The Battalion Repeat is the word going around the Aggie Soccer Complex as the Aggies look to defend their title' at the Post Oak Mall Soccer Classic this weekend. "We’re on a bit of a roll coming into this weekend,” A&M head coach G. Guerrieri said. “We are now looking forward to defending our tournament championship.” The Aggies, the South region’s eighth-ranked team, will host the University of Texas, Texas Chris tian University and Northern Illinois University this weekend. The tournament has each team playing two games and following a format that gives six points for a win, four points for a tie, one point for a shutout and one point for every goal scored. Tournament play will open up Friday when the Texas Long horns, 10-3-2, come to the Aggie Soccer Complex to battle the Northern Illinois Huskies, 8-7, FYiday at 1:00 p.m. The Aggies,9- 2-2, will begin play on Friday against TCU, 8-5-1 at 3:00 p.m. The Aggie Soccer Complex has been a graveyard for opponents in the facility’s inaugural season. The Aggies have a 5-0 record at home this season and have a 12-0 career home record. Sunday’s games feature the Aggies hosting the Huskies 1:00 p.m. at the Aggie Soccer Complex. The Longhorns and the Lady Frogs will travel to Austin for Sunday’s 12:00 p.m. match. The Aggies are lead on the offensive side of the ball by leading scorer sophomore Kristen Koop and freshman midfielder/forward Bryn Blalack. The defense is coming of last weekend’s three-shutout performance from each of the Aggies’ three goal keepers. Junior sweeper Corie Hammers and sophomore defender Allison Buckley are others to watch in the Aggie defense. With two victories, G. 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FORMERLY COMEDY SPEED RELIEF * 9 NIGHT AND WEEKEND CLASSES AT THE COLLEGE STATION HILTON ACTION USA FORMERLY COMEDY SPEED RELIEF j darpe Xlate’em i 0eize a Mate J Switch-Off for Kick-Off I October 22 Watch the Aggies beat the hell outta Rice & then bring this coupon to the Texas Hall of ^ tu Irrita. Fame for 2 for 1 admission I fl Council p 1 W StrUDEl L GOVERNTME1 » Sponsored by Traditions Council rEX/ T, A ?r UM 4.0 and Go with Located at 700 E. University Drive, Suite 108 Across from the Hilton, next to Golden Corral, Blockbuster Video and Sidepockets ‘Rebates to Carpoolers This Week Sun 10/23 Mon 10/24 Tue 10/25 Wed 10/26 Thur 10/27 3-5 p.m. ACCT 230 ACCT 230 ACCT 230 ACCT 230 5-7 p.m. MATH 151 MATH 151 MATH 151 MATH 151 7-9 p.m. ACCT 229 ACCT 229 ACCT 229 ACCT 229 9-11 p.m. MATH 151 MATH 151 MATH 151 MATH 151 w/ Vince ENGR 109 ENGR 109 ENGR 109 Tickets go on sale Sunday at 4:00 p.m. For questions call: 846-TUTOR (846-8886) '». »— •*" "i MSC Political Forum Presents: Rep. Candidate for Lieutenant Governor . : Tex Lezar 4v Tuesday, October 25,1994 7:00 p.m. MSC 292 Persons with disabilities please call us at 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. We request notification three (3) working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to tile best of our ability.