mi
rnber 22, 1994
information call
or 764-8329.
j of Christian
\dults: RC1A
:30 p.m. at the
at Center. The
sed is Christian
icsday
iJroup: Will
i the St. Mary's
ihrary.
dent Associa-
iculty and staff
a.m. at the St.
enter.
Counseling
iews to become
ic new Student
ine are now be-
.pplications are
lenderson. For
call Dr. Kerry
, ext. 113.
; a Battalion
ts non-profit
culty events
Items should
10 later than
Jvance of the
te. Applica-
and notices
and will not
’s Up. If you
tions, please
■oom at 845-
ic expertise or
ecessary to im-
1.
al university is
^riel. However,
I provide train-
traries as they
:ontract, A&M
i will also work
iblic university
n actual card,’
e more of an
ards from oth-
|
ibout the inno-1
is contract,
nt of this con
ossible for fac
irmation when
ley are,” Put
saving money
ng resources
1, 1994
s
d Women
50 a.m. - 7 p.m.
ointment only
Suite D
TX 77840
; Center, iK-xt to
BUFFET)
/N
GOOD!
m Kit
>n
>piy
D.m.
Tuesday • November 22, 1994
The Battalion • Page 7
Football season proves A&M still top SWC team
By Nick Georgandis
The Battalion
On January 6, 1994, the NCAA
handed down probation to Texas A&M
for the school’s scandal involving play
ers paid by an A&M alumnae for sum
mer jobs they did not perform. The im
mediate punishment called for the
1994 season to be played without the
rights of television coverage or post
season appearances.
On April 15, 1994, running back
Greg Hill, defensive lineman Sam
Adams and cornerback Aaron Glenn
were all selected in the first round of
the National Football League’s annual
draft. Football
forecasters be
gan to call
A&M’s upcom
ing 1994 cam
paign as a “re
building year”.
On Novem
ber 19, 1994,
the Aggies
SWC), 'We took the
challenge, and when
all the smoke settled,
trounced Texas we'd let all of yOU
Christian Uni- /-• i ^ r ■
versity, 34-17, Tight for SCCOnd
d f/ ing ^ S e place/"
odds and the r
experts by fin
ishing with an
will be noticed.”
As the season approached however,
A&M players paid no heed to what was
being written about them.
“We are the SWC champions and will
be until someone knocks us off,” senior
inside linebacker Antonio Armstrong
said before the Aggies’ season opener.
“Probation or not, we are still going out
with the idea to win every game.”
The Aggies very nearly accom
plished that goal, winning every game
but one, a stunning 21-21 tie with
Southern Methodist University at the
Alamodome in San Antonio on Oct. 29.
Up until the tie, A&M had been incon
sistent, despite
putting togeth
er a 7-0 record.
At times, the
team played
brilliantly, such
as in wins over
Oklahoma (36-
14), Southern
Mississippi (41-
17) and Baylor
(41-21).
But inter
spersed with
the big wins
were struggles
Texas Afootball head coach against seem-
"It was like we told
everyone else (in the
—R. C. Slocum,
undefeated mark of 10-0-1, the best by
an A&M squad since 1956.
Although the Aggies were presea
son consensus top 25 picks, most pub
lications felt that A&M’s reign as
king of the hill in the Southwest Con
ference was over, and that the year of
probation would only weaken the
Aggies’ standings in the eyes of the
national media.
“Texas A&M has become a solid
program, but the Aggies aren’t at the
Notre Dame level,” wrote Craig Ellen-
port of Sport Magazine in his presea
son report. “Texas A&M has pro
duced six first-round draft picks in
the last three years and the losses
ingly lesser op
ponents. The Aggies escaped disaster
twice at Kyle Field, first when a
Texas Tech “Hail Mary” pass fell in
complete in a 23-17 squeaker, and
again when the “Wrecking Crew”
thwarted a late Rice Owl drive in a
7-0 defensive struggle.
The tie against SMU canceled out
any A&M hopes for a national champi
onship. The week after the non-win,
Aggie players had a no-coaches allowed
meeting to assess their situation and
rally around each other.
“I think back to that tie, and I think
what’s important is who we’ve be
come,” senior cornerback Michael
Hendricks said. “We’ve played as hard
as we could. All the goals we’ve had,
we’ve achieved. After the tie. I’m glad
the guys responded the way they did.”
The Aggies responded by thrashing
arch-rival Texas, 34-10 in Austin.
Much was made of the big win as being
the Aggies’ “bowl game” for the year,
but Armstrong dismissed such talk.
“My Cotton Bowl is every game,”
Armstrong said. “Today we proved that
Texas A&M is still Texas A&M.”
Had the Aggies not been on proba
tion, the win over Texas would have
clinched them their fourth straight
SWC championship. Although they
have no official title, senior linebacker
Reggie Graham said just knowing
who’s the best is worthwhile to him.
“We know the second-best team is
going to the Cotton Bowl,” Graham
said. “We can’t say officially that we
are the SWC champs, but when they
look back in the history books, they’ll
see who was the best.”
Head coach R.C. Slocum agreed with
Graham, saying that the team had to
See Season/Page 8
An Open Letter to McElroy
TOM
DAY
Sportswriter
Dear Leeland:
Now that the football season is
over and A&M’s first undefeated
campaign since 1956 is in the bag,
it’s time to end the suspense. Your
teammates, fans and fellow Aggies
realize you have a decision to make
soon, and a tough one at that.
Will you turn pro next season, or will
you return to A&M to help lead the Ag
gies back to the Promised Land?
There are several advantages in
heading to the NFL right now, Lee
land. You’re healthy and would most
likely be an early pick in the first
round of the NFL draft next spring.
With that comes the big bucks and
financial security for life. But, there
are Aggies everywhere who would
love to see you stay and could proba
bly give you just as many reasons to
don the Maroon and White garb once
again next fall.
Imagine, Leeland, you would be
the featured back on a team with na
tional championship aspirations.
This season, in a limited role, you
ran for over 700 yards behind an in
experienced offensive line. Starring
behind a more seasoned line next
season, you could be a legitimate
Heisman Trophy Award candidate.
More importantly, your team is
going to need a star player who can
step up and help guide his teammates
past all the obstacles that lie ahead.
As a player that is capable of chang
ing the flow of a game in one play, you
would be the most qualified man for
the job.
With next year being the Aggies’
Southwest Conference farewell tour, it
would be fitting that they go out on
top. You would be the man to help the
team climb to the top of the hill one
last time and finally get that elusive
Cotton Bowl victory. After everything
is said and done, you will have
achieved Aggie immortality.
To top everything off, A&M games
will be back on television next
season, further enhancing your na
tional image as a premiere back.
With more exposure on the college
scene, your stock will rise along with
your future position in the NFL
draft. This adds up to a more lucra
tive contract offer before you even
step foot on the NFL gridiron.
So come back next year, Leeland,
and be a part of something special.
Your team and your school are counting
on you and there would be nothing
sweeter than to see ol’ No. 34 in the
backfield again next season.
Sincerely,
Your Fellow Aggies
Aikman, Peete recover from injuries
Garrett to lead Cowboys against
Packers in Thanksgiving match-up
IRVING (AP) — Jason Garrett will start at quarterback
for the Dallas Cowboys against the Green Bay Packers on
Thanksgiving Day while Troy Aikman and Rodney Peete re
cover from injuries doctors have decided weren’t as serious as
first feared.
The Cowboys also brought in veteran quarterbacks Mike
Page! and Tommy Hodson, and team spokesman Rich Dal-
rymple said they’d decide Tuesday which of the two
would be signed as a backup.
Pagel, a 12-year-veteran, has played for Indi
anapolis, Cleveland and the Los Angeles
Rams. He played under Dallas offensive co
ordinator Ernie Zampese with the Rams in
the early 90s.
Hodson, 27, played three seasons for the
New England Patriots before he was cut in
August 1993. He signed as a backup for the
Miami Dolphins last season when Dan
Marino went on the injured reserve.
To make room for the quarterback and of
fensive lineman Frank Cornish, both free
agents, the Cowboys put offehsive lineman Erik
Williams on the injured reserve, and cut defensive line
man Toddrick McIntosh and practice squad player tight
end Coleman Bell.
Aikman, who suffered a left knee ligament sprain in Sun
day’s 31-7 victory over Washington, walked with a limp
around Valley Ranch on his 28th birthday.
“I’m still stiff and sore but it feels better than it did last
night,” Aikman said. “I’ll just have to see what my body tells
me on this one. I’m going day to day and see how it goes. It
could be two weeks or it could be five weeks from now. I’d be
shocked if I felt good enough to play on Thursday. I don’t see
that as a possiblity but I’m not going to rule it out.”
Aikman had a sprained knee ligament in 1991 and missed
five games.
There are only a few spots
LEFT
for Puebla Summer.
YOU CAN SPEND SUMMER SESSION 1 IN PUEBLA,
Mexico and receive credit for Spanish 221
(201) and Spanish 222 (202) while experienc
ing THE EXCITING CL1LTL1RE OF MEXICO.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT!
Professor Slisan Dennis
Academic 219 845-2124
Study Abroad 161 Bizzell Hall West 845-0544
[Here, last month, 922 good people
got a pin prick, and earned
themselves $46,000 cash
....and helped people they never knew!
They sat back on big leather lounge chairs and
relaxed or studied for exams. They exchanged
recipes, talked about love, children, life,
happenings, boys, girls, politics, tomorrow, french
class, car repair, baseball, fishing,
and delivering kittens. In 60 minutes they were up
and away, cash in hand, feeling good.
You have never opened a door on a
friendlier place and the regular
extra money is very nice.
Everybody needs you.
It s that easy
Westgate Plasma Center
4223 Wellborn Rd.
846-8855
DUE TO CURRENT & PENDING LEGISLATION
IS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS
A GREAT X-MAS GIFTS! A
/7.62 X 39 A
SHOOTERS VISE
20 Rounds
$42.50
•223 FMJ $q 40
Reg. 49.95 y
^50 Rounds ^
RAD-CO Guns & Ammo
Sale Continues thru December or until our stock is out!
Chinese SKS Rifles
$130
Russian SKS Rifles
$150
Register for a FREE SKS to be given away every 2 weeks
ALL SALES FINAL
AR 15'$
s 1150
14K GOLD aTm Charms
Re 9 .’ss/ Now *24 95
>m
lass
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9am - 9pm • Sunday 1pm - 7orr
Downtown Bryan Between Los Nortenos & Acme GL
409-779-8103
Mastercard, Visa, Discover Accepted (Prices reflect 5% discount for cash.
Stew Milne/THE Battalion |
Senior running back Rodney Thomas makes a move to run around a Longhorn defender in A&M’s 34-10 victory over the
University of Texas.
“I was suited up for the second game and could have
played,” said Aikman, still miffed that former coach Jimmy
Johnson went with Steve Beuerlein into the playoffs. “It was
n’t my choice but I could have played.”
Coach Barry Switzer said Garrett would start and added “I
believe in fairy tales. I believe in Disneyland and Tinker Bell
and Captain Hook. I like situations like this. We could have
us a new hero.”
Peete’s ligament damage in his right thumb wasn’t as se
vere as first feared.
“Peete was not as a bad as the doctors through he might
be,” Switzer said. “It won’t have to be operated on. He might
be back for the Philadelphia game on Dec. 4. ”
Owner Jerry Jones said “we thought Peete might
be gone for the year but he just has a strained lig
ament. He could get back quick.”
Switzer said the team has confidence in
Garrett, who has been on the active roster for
two years and has completed 10 of 23 passes
for 65 yards.
“He’s an extremely intelligent player like
most Princeton kids are and he knows our
offense as well as any quarterback,” Switzer
said. “He has the ability to do certain
things. He doesn’t have a lot of arm
strength. He’s not like Aikman or Peete
who can throw the deep cuts. But he won’t
get you beat.”
The Cowboys picked up Cornish, whom
they cut earlier in the year, because of nag
ging injuries to the offensive line. Guard
Derek Kennard has a toe injury that could keep him out of
the Packer game.
“We had to get some help,” Switzer said. “We’ve got a real
depth problem.”
The Cowboys listed 15 players on an injury list, includ
ing running back Emmitt Smith, who is bothered by a
sprained shoulder.
“The injury is there and it’s going to hurt but I’m going to
play,” Smith said.