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Page 16 • The Battalion
Sports
Friday • September 1, 1995
1-900-255-5463 Pin# 1035
S15 18+ITI 305-537-3003
Personal goals secondary for Allen
□ Deemed "too small" in high
school, the senior safety is now
a leader on the Aggie defense.
“Play A Part In The Big Picture!”
An Presentation
By Kristina Buffin
The Battalion
tPENH
September 3, 1995
2-6 P.M. In The MSC Hallway
More Than 250 Organizations Will Be Represented
Entertainment And Other Events Planned
Organization Sign-Up Ends On August 30
PR
Sponsored by the MSC
Public Relations Committee
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HEWLETT
PACKARD
48G / 48GX
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48G $ 99.95
48GX $215.00
University Bookstores
Three Off-Campus Stores For You
Northgate • Culpepper Plaza • Village
Now Accepting Aggie Bucks!
“Your Source for Hewlett-
Packard Calculators”
If there was a collegiate award for the foot
ball player who has steadily improved
throughout his college career and exceeded ex
pectations, A&M senior safety Dennis Allen
could be preparing his acceptance speech.
“He is right on schedule,” A&M Head
Football Coach R.C. Slocum said. “He is a
program guy, one who didn’t dazzle us his
first year, but has gotten better. We have
been able to win with his leadership and sta
bility that he provides the team.”
When Allen was recruited out of Hurst’s
L.D. Bell High School, Slocum was worried
about his small size and lack of speed.
However, Allen has proven doubters wrong
with his steady improvement over the last
three years.
“I think trying to get bigger and strong
has been one of my biggest improvements,”
Allen said. “I went from a 174-pound fresh
man to a 195-pound senior. I’ve put on
weight for speed and quickness, and I’ve got
ten used to the type of athletes that play at
the college level.”
Allen was redshirted his freshman year,
but served as a backup to All-American safe
ty Patrick Bates in his sophomore year.
Allen attributes his improvement to the
longstanding A&M tradition of being able to
follow in the footsteps of players that go on
to play in the NFL.
“It has helped a lot to come in with great
people in front of you and to see what they
have done,” Allen said. “(Patrick) Bates and
Chris Grooms were players that showed me
what it took.”
Although Allen had trouble adjusting to
the increased athleticism among college
teams, his fondest memory comes from a
game during his sophomore year where he
made a game deciding play against the Uni
versity of Texas.
The Aggies were clinging to a 15-9 lead
with less than five minutes to play in the
ballgame. On a fourth-and-two play from the
A&M three-yard line, Allen picked off a pass
from Longhorn quarterback Shea Morenz to
seal the Aggies’ victory.
“The Texas interception in the fourth
quarter was the turning point in my ca
reer,” Allen said. “Making a play in that
big of game brought it all out. I was only
getting playing time late in games when
the game was sealed, but this was a tight
Battalion File Photo
Texas A&M senior safety Dennis Allen attempts to break free from a Texas Tech player during
last season's game at Kyle Field. Allen picked off a career-high four passes last season.
some, but he is always in the right directions.”
As a fifth-year senior, Allen feels that it
game and I was able to play it out.”
In 1994, Allen took over the starting safety
position following the Aggies’ 36-14 victory
over the University of Oklahoma, and used
this opportunity to showcase his talent.
“Last season was just a continuation of his
development,” Slocum said. “Through his
steady improvement and his personality, he
only continues to get better.”
As a result, Allen received second-team,
All-Southwest Conference honors after mak
ing 65 tackles and four interceptions, includ
ing two interceptions in the Oklahoma game.
Allen’s hard work and personality have
earned him the respect that the coaching staff
believes he deserves.
“The entire secondary looks up to Dennis
and respects him,” Slocum said. “He is a tough
guy and a playmaker. He always ends up in
the right spot, and has the respect of the
team. He may not be as fast and talented as
is his time to give back to the A&M program
by being a leader for the younger players.
“I’ve developed the reputation for being
an intellectual leader,” Allen said. “I like to
lead by example and help coach the younger
players along. It is something expected from
the seniors as a way of giving back. I got a
lot out of it, and I want to do what I can to
help out and help younger players learn the
system.”
Allen said he has decided to put aside all
personal goals and accomplishments in his
last season and work towards the ultimate
goal, helping the Aggies win a title.
“My main focus is winning the national
championship; it is my only goal” Allen said.
“Anything else is extra. Any personal
awards will follow with the team award of
winning the national championship.”
Lack of line depth has a Houston solution
□ As a top national recruit, Bran
don Houston is expected to see
immediate playing time.
By Philip Leone
The Battalion
Not getting redshirted is a big honor for any
freshman college football player. It is the coach
ing staffs way of saying, “Hey, this kid can play
now.” Although offensive lineman Brandon
Houston is One of the few A&M freshmen to be
so honored this season, the possibility exists
that no one on the Aggie staff wanted to tell the
6-foot, 6-inch, 290-poimder anything different.
“I’ve been sort of a big guy all my life,” Hous
ton said. “My very first day of Pee-Wee football
practice, they took one look at me and stuck me
on the line with the rest of the kids who were
going to have problems making the weight lim
it. That’s where Tve been ever since. It’s not
like I was built to play tailback.”
A combination of size and quickness made
Houston one of the nation’s bluest blue-chip
prospects after his senior season at Katy Taylor
High School.
College recruiters from around the nation
drooled at the thought of grabbing Houston on
signing day, but the Texas native decided to
stay close to home.
“I went to Notre Dame, Colorado, Florida,
and Michigan on recruiting visits,” Houston
said. “All those schools have great programs
and facilities, but I found what I was looking
for here at A&M. Coach Slocum and the rest of
the coaching staff made me feel welcome and
were just genuinely good people.
“Playing here also gives my parents and
my brother a chance to come to our games at
Kyle Field.”
After spending his high school career terror
izing opposing defenders, Houston found the
action to be strikingly different in his first few
weeks as a college lineman.
“Two-a-days were a big learning experience
for me,” Houston said. “Everything — the in
tensity, the pace, the blocking schemes — is at
such a higher level. I knew things would be dif
ferent, but 1 was still surprised.”
But Houston watched fellow linemen, in
cluding sophomore tackle Chris Ruhman and
junior guard Calvin Collins, and credits them
with helping him learn some of the finer points
of playing at the college level.
Going into Saturday’s contest with
Louisiana State, Houston is penciled in as
Ruhman’s back-up at left tackle. A&M Head
Football Coach R.C. Slocum said he expects
Houston to have a solid impact this year for
the offense.
“He's a big guy who has quick feet,”
Slocum said. “Last season we didn’t have a
whole lot of depth on the line, and he will be a
part of this team.”
Houston said although he is unsure how
much he will play Saturday, he is feeling all of
the typical pregame emotions.
“I’m excited and nervous about the LSU
game,” Houston said. “We re all ready to get the
season going. I feel really fortunate to be play
ing for a team that has the ability to win the
national championship, and it all starts with
this game.”
Xf l%\
LEONARD L.
BERRY
{ Mfm€S
on- epuc c&ccCct
'tenict £&t&!
Come and visit with the Author!
Autograph signing before the L.S.U. game at the MSC Bookstore
1:00 - 2:00 with Leonard L. Berry
WHERE:
In Villsl^e Shopping Center
Behind Golden Corral and
Hilton on University
Tutoring With ARPS TEAM
hove the SOLUTION!
vour This Week...
CHOICE--
A
Mon Tue Wed Thu
(HEM 101 pApr
5-7 pm ™'
SANA 303
pm
7-9
(HEM 102
9-11 pm
PARTI
PARTI 1
PART 11
PART 111
PART 111
Practice
TESTS
Practice
TESTS
PARTI iPARTII PARTIll P f“^ e
QUESTION?
Who was the first couple to
appear in bed in prime-time?
(ANSWER THURSDAY)
Texas A8JVI Bookstore
In The Memorial Student Center
'ZC/& tut***'
• Accounting; 229,
230, 327, 328
• Sana 303
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- Finace 341
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