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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1994)
japui/w piABQ Aa J3TJJBq JO^OD 5[B3jq JA^7§V ^PM SJ33uo ]d . ' .>,>» ~-'i— .•- - . -r ' - ' " ' ,7 ^ n tititi I •>- Hi-HIIMIMIIM Page 12 • The Battalion A Century of Greatness November 3, I 994 Bryant builds Aggie into national power Photo courtesy of the Texas A&M University Archives Texas A&M’s Ed Kachtik scores a touchdown against Texas in 1954. The Longhorns went on to win 22-13 giving the Aggies a 1-9 record. By David Winder The Battalion The 1954-1963 decade was dominated by one man, Paul “Bear” Bryant. After going 1-9 in 1954, Bryant’s teams then went 24-5-2 over the next three years, in cluding bringing home the 1956 South west Conference title. “The man didn’t care about who you were. If you couldn’t perform, he would get rid of you,” said Darrell Brown, who played from 1954-1955 and in 1957. “One day, we were scrimmaging, and the guy ahead of me was just going through the motions. He stopped practice and made us switch jerseys. He was just like a dad dy to me.” Bill Cranberry said Bryant cared for his players more than he showed. “One day, it was either (Robert) Easley or (Lloyd) Hale and me were late to prac tice,” Cranber ry said. “We were always late to practice because we were coming back from a pe troleum lab. We were run ning to prac tice when I no ticed we weren’t run ning on the ground any more. “Coach Bryant had grabbed both of us by our pants. He looked at us apd said ‘You boys better not be; running fill ing stations.’ He even knew our majors.” In 1956, A&M took on the defending SWC champion TCU Horned Frogs in the famous “Hurricane Game.” Winds bent Kyle Field light towers while tor rential rains drove many fans under the stands. A&M won 7-6 on a half back pass to John David Crow from Don Watson. Tornadoes were reported in the area throughout the game. The Aggies ended the season ranked fifth in the nation after a 34-21 victory over Texas at Memorial Stadium. Jack Pardee, Dennis Goehring and Charles Krueger were all named All-Americans. In 1957, John David Crow became Bryant’s only Heisman Trophy winner. “His (Crow) best year was probably my senior year, 1956,” Pardee said. “He was a big back for those days. He was good blocker and a good receiver with good speed. When it came his turn to do some thing besides run, he was just as good at that. I think he should have won the Heisman in ‘56 as well as ‘57.” In 1962, Texas Tech hit a field goal with five seconds left to give the Red Raiders a 3-0 lead. The Aggies Dan Mcllhany returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and a stun ning 7-3 victory. The Decade in Review Decade record: 42-52-7 (.451) Best record: 9-0-1 (1956) Worst record: 1 -9 (1954) SWC Championships: 1956 Highlights: J.D. Crow wins the Heisman Trophy (1957) Worlds Largest Selection of Frozen Daiquiris ’'‘Large Covered Outdoor Patio * Great Live Bands Join Fat Tuesday & KLBJ 93.7 before and after the game for the Best Tailgate party in Town! *Free continental breakfast * Free bus ride to the game *$1.00 off Cajun Marys *$1.75 Draft Starts at 10:30, bus leaves at 12:30 Mon. - Thur. 5pm - 2am Fri.. - Sat. . Noon - lam Sun. 2pm - lam ABM's Statistical Leaders Career Rushing Leaders: Darren Lewis 1987-90- 5,012 yards Curtis Dickey 1976-79 - 3,703 yards Greg Hill 1991-93 - 3,262 yards Career Passing Leaders: Kevin Murray 1983-86 - 6,506 yards Edd Hargett 1966-68 - 5,379 yards Gary Kubiak 1979-82 -4,078 yards Career Receiving Leaders: Tony Harrison 1990-93 - 1,576 yards Shea Walker 1983-86 - 1,411 yards Rod Harris 1985-88- 1,395 yards Total Offense Leaders: Kevin Murray 1983-86 - 6,455 yards Edd Hargett 1966-68 - 5,411 yards Darren Lewis 1987-90 - 5,162 yards Career Punt Return Leaders: Rod Harris 1985-88 - 971 yards Carl Roaches 1972-75 - 916 yards jimmie Hawkins 1982-85 - 749 yards Career Kickoff Return Leaders: Rod Harris 1985-88 - 1,209 yards Carl Roaches 1972-75 - 1,087 yards Larry Stegent 1967-69 - 814 yards Career Punting Leaders: Todd Tschantz 1984-86 - 42.4 yards per kick Phil Scoggin 1964-65 - 41.9 yards per kick Steve O'Neal 1966-68 - 41.8 yards per kick Career Interceptions Leaders: Kevin Smith 1988-91 - 20 Lester Hayes 1973-76 - 14 Pat Thomas 1972-75- 13 Career Scoring Leaders: Tony Franklin 1975-78 - 291 points Darren Lewis 1987-90 - 270 points Terry Venetoulias 1990-93 - 265 points Career Field Goal Leaders: Tony Franklin 1975-78-56 David Hardy 1979-82-43 Terry Venetoulias 1990-93 - 42 508 E. 6th Street (512)474-0632