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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1994)
November 29,19). Tuesday • November 29, 1994 ing of the Chapel with Voice< ( t the All Faiths Chapel. /Club: General meeting i# Ti Texas Tech PT Schoolall llle White. For more nnifer Crouch at 696-4320# 96-6611. general meeting will be heklj ier. For more informational at 764-1520. - Society: A general meeting p.m. in 404 Rudder. For all Michelle at 847-2113. ;mic Enhancement:Atesi ill be held at 6:30 p.m ; session explores the ciety and gives strategies!# nal: Be a positive role me® ■ Boy's and Girts Club in formation call Niki Zacharias iceanography professorwt bout sea turtles and reef 0 p.m. in 302 Rudder. ; on developing successful ues will be held at 4 p.m. in ore information call Julie i Alexander at 845-5139. g HelpLine: Interviewslo for the new Student i are now being scheduled liable in 104 Henderson Hat Engineers: Agues! zes at 7 p.m. in 128D ormation call Samantha I Society: Officer eld and a discussion of lliis ) p.m. in 202 Francis Hall, call Michelle at 823-4085. romen: A general mealing i in 123 Kleberg. Formers eny Stone at 846-1136. itudent Organization: all '94 to be held at 7:30 Slide show and pizza. For Nubia at 696-3824. und of the NCAA Volleyba! in G. Rollie White. The lichigan State. For more Metcalf at 847-7584. sociation: A general from 8:30-10 p.m. in information call Hal on service that lists d faculty events and ltd be submitted no later zance of the desired run dlines and notices are >t be run in What’s Up. ions, please call the 3. * .1 , The Battalion • Page 7 ¥ Oilers’ mishaps especially hard on Old Ags TOM DAY Sportswriter T he plight of the free-falling Houston Oilers seems to be of little concern to most people these days. But it is of great dis tress to a few distinguished individ uals who once thrilled fans in this neck of the woods. The Oiler’s boat is sinking fast, and much to the disdain of Aggie fans, it’s taking former A&M phe- noms Ray Childress and Bucky Richardson with it. Aggie great Jack Pardee was the first casualty, as his tenure as head coach came to an un merciful end a couple of weeks ago. Pardee was a well-respected leader on the field in his glory days at A&M and for four and a half sea sons, he was an admirable leader on the Oilers’ sideline as well. With a cool head and a steady hand, Pardee guided the team to two division titles. Despite their regular-season suc cess, the Oilers could accomplish very little beyond that. As a fine col lection of talented individuals, their failure to unite as a team would ulti mately cost Pardee his livelihood. Bucky Richardson’s maroon blood must surely be boiling at this point. The second-string quarter back could do nothing but watch last Sunday, as starter Billy Joe Tolliver made a joke of himself and his position in the Oilers’ latest set back. Tolliver couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, as he failed to complete 50% of his passes. It would seem that Bucky would be the more suited quarterback for new head coach Jeff Fisher’s offen sive scheme. With fewer receivers to throw to than in the run-and- shoot, the more mobile and agile Richardson could scramble and cre atively open things up for the stag nant Oilers’ offense. Based on what Bucky showed as a starter earlier this season, he can throw the ball with just as much, if not more velocity and accuracy as Tolliver. But for now, Bucky is wasting away on the bench. It truly breaks an Aggie’s heart to see all-pro defensive tackle Ray Childress suffer through the lean times. Childress is a winner who has given his soul to the game, and he definitely deserves better. This season hasn’t been easy on Childress, who has been adversely affected by the off-season depar ture of defensive ends Sean Jones and William Fuller. Without ei ther Pro bowl end accompanying him on the line, he has had to bat tle through double-team blocks every week as opposing offenses now concentrate on him alone. As an unselfish, team-oriented player, it’s sad Childress has to be a part of his team’s demise. With not too many years left in his ca reer, it would be a tragedy if Chil dress left the game with his team at the bottom of the NFL ladder. As members of the league’s worst team, Richardson and Chil dress are in the wrong place at the wrong time and it seems this sea son just can’t end quick enough. Sadly, it breaks the hearts of Ag gies everywhere to see these fierce competitors suffer through the agony of losing every week. For players like these two Ag gies, it’s devastating to be losing so badly and to not be able to do any thing about it. Playing football for the Houston Oilers is quite simply a no-win situation. New coach brings new era to A&M By Stewart Doreen The Battalion When Laurie Corbelli took over as the head coach of the Lady Aggie volleyball team in 1993, the NCAA tournament was not commonplace for Texas A&M. Two seasons later, the program is making back-to-back tournament appearances for the first time since 1986. Large steps when you consider the transition 1994 Texas A&M Player Honors All-SWC, First Team Jennifer Bronner, Senior Kristie Smedsrud, Freshman Suzy Wente, Junior SWC Freshman of the Year Kristie Smedsrud that comes with a new coach. “When I came, I saw a lot of tal ent and physical potential,” Corbel li said. “I saw players who need-' ed more repeti tion in their drills, in their in tense training and positive feed back. It was a change for the girls to hurdle.” The players see Corbelli’s positive nature as a key factor in the team’s improved performance. “She’s a great teacher,” junior setter Suzy Wente said. “She’s positive with our team explaining what you did wrong, telling you how you can fix it and how not to do it the next time.” Corbelli calls training a small portion of what is needed when building a successful volleyball pro gram. She lists recruiting as the top aspect of build ing a nationally-respected program. “Your program is based on recruiting,” Corbelli said. “If you don’t have the athletes to train, you are going nowhere. The top players want to go to the top teams in the country.” This year’s team is a product of a strong recruit ing class and a tough schedule. After losing four starters from last year’s team that went 27-8, the Lady Aggies welcomed a talented group of fresh man to help fill the large void. Key newcomers in cluded two California products, freshmen Kristie Smedsrud and Cindy VanderWoude. “She (Corbelli) recruited players that are phe nomenal,” Wente said. “With players like that, our program will be so much better.” The schedule has also been an important factor in developing the talent and showing where the pro gram stands compared to the rest of the country. “We saw wins and tremendous efforts against teams that have been traditionally strong for many years,” Corbelli said. “You don’t get the top kids un less you start performing like a top team. Success is not something new to Corbelli. She was a member of the U.S. National team from 1978-84, and was a two-time member of the Olympic team. Corbelli came to A&M in 1993 after coaching at Santa Clara (California) University where she post ed a 61-35 record and was named the West Coast Conference coach of the year twice in three years. “I think I can bring to them the joy of being the best,” Corbelli said. “Especially with what I’ve achieved, I can say to the team, T’ve been there.’” Corbelli’s philosophy is getting the players to trust their teammates. Her experience as a player has taught her that scare tactics and verbal chal lenges are not the way to connect to her players. “I took offense to being treated that way,” Cor belli said. “I show great respect and demand re spect in return.” When asked about the future, Corbelli considers herself “patient, yet aggressive.” Corbelli sees the future of A&M volleyball connected to the quality of recruiting classes and the steady improvement in the performance of the team. “I perceive consistent climbing in the polls,” Cor belli said. “Getting to the third round and working into the Sweet 16 and Final Four. So much de pends on who comes to Texas A&M. You see the same teams at the top every year, but it took them some time to get up there. That’s where we are.” Head coach Laurie during a game. Photo courtesy of A&M Sports Information Department Corbelli calls a play to the Lady Aggies Young leads 49ers past New Orleans 35-14 victory secures playoff spot, home-field advantage for San Francisco NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers are back at their accus tomed spot, NFC West champions for the 11th time in 14 years with more — they hope — to come. So what if there were a few stumbles and fumbles on the way. Steve Young threw for 281 yards and four touchdowns Monday night, overcoming a pair of seemingly costly fumbles as the 49ers beat New Orleans 35-14 to become the first NFL team to clinch a playoff spot this season. More important, it kept the Niners (10-2) on top of Dallas (10-2) for the home-field advantage on their in evitable course toward a third straight NFC title game. San Francisco, which won for the seventh straight time, would get the home field if both teams win out because it beat the Cowboys two weeks ago. Young, who had completed 68.2 percent of his passes entering the game, was 24 of 30 as he hit four TD passes in a game for the fourth time this season. He threw first-half touchdowns of 4 yards each to Brent Jones and John Taylor, found Jones again from 6 yards out on a drive that consumed 9:02 at the start of the second half and capped the scoring with a 43-yarder on a slant to backup Nate Singleto. That was enough to negate Tyrone Hughes’ 86-yard return of a fumble by Ricky Watters for the Saints (4-8) and a second-quarter fumble by Young at the Saints’ 12 that held the Niners to a 20- 14 lead at halftime. San Francisco now has won 10 or more games for 12 straight seasons and qualified for the playoffs in 11 of them, missing only in 1991 despite a 10-6 record. This year’s team, however, is one rebuilt by the signing of a half-dozen veterans to bolster a defense that can stop Dallas. The latest newcomer, Tim Harris, got a sack Monday night in his first game under a contract that pays him $5,000 each time he dumps the quarterback. The Niners led 20-14 at the half, but it might have been more if not for those two San Francisco fumbles. But Hughes also contributed to San Francisco’s scoring, fumbling a punt on his own 7 late in the first quarter, a play that led to the Niners’ first TD. San Francisco took a 3-0 lead on its first possession on Doug Brien’s 40- yard field goal. The Niners’ made it 10-0 with 10 sec onds left in the first period on Young’s TD pass to Jones after Hughes’ fumble and appeared to be heading for a 17-0 lead when Young fumbled as he was scrambling to the Saints’ 12 and Jimmy Spencer recovered. Foundation to host scholarship shootout By Tom Day The Battalion Fresh on the heals of successful seasons, the Texas A&M men’s and women’s basketball teams are returning to the court this season with high expectations, giving Aggie bas ketball fans much to look forward to. But fans will have an other reason to pack G. Rollie White Coliseum this season. During both men’s and women’s conference home games, halftime festivities will include the 12th Man Foundation Half-court Full-scholarship Shootout. In the contest, an A&M student will get one opportunity to sink a shot from mid-court. If the shot falls, that lucky fan will receive a full scholarship for the 1995 fall semester. Mike Caruso, the assistant athletic director for promo tions and game operations, said the school is ready to award several scholarships. “Theoretically, we could give away 14 scholarships equal in dollar amount to an athletic scholarship,’ Caruso said. All registered A&M stu dents are eligible to be a con testant by signing up before tip-off in the front lobby of G. Rollie White Coliseum at any home conference game. Since contest officials will draw from the same names all season, students can increase their odds of being picked by register ing at non-conference games as well. Frank Shannon, executive director of the 12th Man Foun dation, said the shootout’s purpose is to help boost atten dance at A&M home games. “We’re really excited about the opportunity to help stimu late attendance at Aggie basketball games,” Shannon said. “We’ve got to get more people out to watch men’s and wom en’s games.” As a bonus, any winning contestant who is a member of the 12th Man Foundation, wins a full scholarship for the en tire 1995 school year. By the end of the season, if no scholarship has been won, a drawing will be held at the last home game of both the men’s and women’s season. Shannon said the contest is part of the 12th Man Foundation’s commitment to helping out the ath letic program. “As a support organization for Aggie athletics, the 12th Man Foundation wants to help out,” Shannon said. “We’re delighted to be a part of it.” Stanford head coach steps down STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Bill Walsh, who returned to Stanford “to find my bliss” after coaching the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl titles, resigned Monday after two straight losing seasons. Walsh, who had two years re maining on a five-year contract, will become a special assistant to Stan ford athletic director Ted Lei and. The departure of Walsh, who turns 63 Wednesday, had been rumored in recent weeks. He often seemed distracted this season, and repeatedly had trouble remem bering the names of his players and opponents’ players during his news conferences. “I just felt that this was an ap propriate time to move to another stage of my life,” Walsh said. “Any one who looks at my chronological age can understand that. I love foot ball and have thrived on it. But the job of head coach is an exhausting job, and at this stage in my life it’s time for somebody else to do it.” Lei and said Walsh now will focus on fundraising, as well as creation of a coaching development program and a sports research institute at Stanford. But Walsh said he’ll also be available to advise his successor. Leland, an assistant coach un der Walsh at Stanford in the late 1970s, said a nationwide search for a new coach already has begun. Terry Shea, the current offensive coordinator, is expected to be among the candidates. Walsh returned to Stanford three seasons ago after compiling a 102- 63-1 record in 10 years as coach of the 49ers, including Super Bowl crowns in 1981, 1984 and 1988. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993. He spent three years as a pro football analyst for NBC, through the end of the 1991 season, before deciding to return to coaching. Study Abroad in Puebla or Guadalajara as a Reciprocal Exchange Student: 1995-96 • All majors eligible for this program • Must be a TAMU student for at least two (2) semesters prior to application • Must attend TAMU for at least one (1) semester after the exchange • Must have a 3.0 GPR • Must have proficiency in Spanish (2 or 4 semesters of college Spanish) • Must be a U.S. citizen • Must have Junior classification by beginning of exchange Attend an informational meeting held in 251 Bizzell Hall West, speak to past and present Reciprocal Exchange Students, and pick up a program application: I Tuesday, November 29 4:15 - 5:30 pm Study Abroad Programs • 161 Bizzell Hall West • 845-0544 Texas A&M University Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Informational Session Tuesday, November 29th 5:30 pm Blocker 114 The College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Business W Come shoot some hoops for a good cause and. "mwmp ii7 mjp pm pi pimp) mp mm mm 3-ON-3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT DECEMBER l, 1994 SELF-OFFICIATED DOUBLE ELIMINATION READ GYM Applications can be picked up in the Student Government Office, MSC, and at KORA All proceeds benefit the Brazos Valley United Way $30 Entry Fee -- REGISTRATION DEADLINE: November 30, 3:30 p.m. Door prizes and prizes for winners! Tor more information, please contact Jennifer Waldnor at 693-2765 or Jennifer Opland at 693-3013 KORA COPY S 1 -—CORNER