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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 1996)
I Page( ' November 1,199( JED sm Ses, l v)iu. V &iMe Hoo AH>* ort This T£^t! hael You Nof :uPe/t.rteAo} ■■ — I ^<fess /'/h mt I fc/cnof*Tri sar uatro r “LIKE ANO "You] “ER... UNFGRTl;Nft!£' BVNPANCE OF awn of the BSM, 20; to raise money fo is your treasure. Fo s students can mee achry Parking Lot. ft an at 693-5228. ice Day projects wi re will be a contt 3 p.m. at the AM ner of College Mai' partner required aft 5600. on of Indian Classic th): “ Mohini Attain nanian will be held! .sion is free. For mof 6-2416. at lists non-profit sti ies. Items should fe in advance of the d* ines and notices an hat’s Up. If you ha'; iroom at 845-3313 ds. And hard work is Page 7 Friday • November 1, 1996 Aggies By Matt Mitchell The Battalion With dreams of post-season glory fading fast and a Big 12 South Division championship all but out of reach, the Texas A&M Football Team finds itself in unfa miliar territory. Pride, respect and hopes of finishing over .500 this season are on the line for the Ag gies this Saturday as they travel to Stillwater, Okla., to battle the Ok lahoma State Cowboys. The Aggies have been forced to accept the prospect of a disap pointing season after a heart breaking 13-10 loss to Texas Tech last Saturday at Kyle Field. The Cowboys are coming off a 35-28 overtime loss to the Univer sity of Missouri, in which OSU quarterback Tone Jones had a ca reer day, passing for 235 yards and four touchdowns. For the third time in four weeks, the Aggies will face one of the nation’s top running backs in OSU’s David Thompson. Thomp- visit Stillwater with pride on the line son ranks third in the Big 12 and fourth nationally in rushing with 138 yards per game and averages over five yards per carry. “I think they’re a frightening team,” A&M Head Coach R.C. Slocum said. “They have good enough players and they don’t have a lot to lose right now. They have been a team that has looked pretty good at times this year. Where we are right now we can’t take anyone lightly or for granted. Everyone looks pretty good right now.” Despite their disappointing per formance recently, the Aggies had spirited workouts this week and are looking forward to venting their frustrations on the Cowboys. “1 look at it this way — I think if we prepare well and everything we can go up to Stillwater and play a good game,” junior quar terback Branndon Stewart said. “I’m not looking at this as a turn ing point, but I definitely think it would help us to win this game and pick up a little momentum to finish out the season.” Aside from momentum, the Ag gies will be looking to wake a slum bering passing attack. After a quick start this season, there has been a no ticeable drop-off in passing offense. “As I’ve said all along, we have “Where we are right now we one lightly or for granted.” R.C. Slocum A&M head coach to make more plays in the pass ing game,” Slocum said. “We can not play against teams with large collections of guys around the line of scrimmage. We have to make them pay for doing that. And if you don’t, then it’s hard moving the football.” Questions abound as to who will get playing time on offense this week. The Aggies have reached a point in their season where they will be evaluating some of their younger talent and giving them the opportuni ty to contribute. Backup quar terbacks Shane Techier and Randy McCown may be includ ed in that group. “Based on the way the season has gone, I don’t think it’s unrea sonable at all to let McCown play some,” Slocum said. “It wouldn’t be anything negative about Bran ndon, but we’re at that stage of the season that it would make sense to let him have a series and see how he does. That very likely could happen.” The coaching staff also faces the tough decision of who to start at running back with the recent emer gence of freshman Dante Hall. “I don’t know (who we’ll start),” Slocum said. “I was im pressed with Dante. I thought he had a great ball game (against Tech). I also thought Tiki Hardeman had a great ball game and he would be a starter, so the only place there would be a question would be at the A-back position.” Whoever gets the start, Satur day’s game will be a matchup of two — for now — run-oriented teams. While the unfulfilled ex pectations may haunt the Ag gies, they are now focused on the matter at hand. “I think we’ve got a lot of pride in ourselves and I think we’re playing for pride right now to get this season over and have a positive end,” senior outside linebacker Keith Mitchell said. “I know my team mates feel the same way, and I think they’re going to come out and do whatever it takes. We need some wins.” The Aggies have a few players nursing injuries. Cornerback Shun Horn was restricted in practice this Dave House, The Battalion Freshman Dante Hall gets wrapped up by two Tech defenders. week because of a concussion sus tained last week against Tech. Horn also strained a groin muscle in Wednesday’s practice, and is ques tionable for tomorrow’s game. Of fensive tackle Cameron Spikes is doubtful for Saturday’s game with a sprained foot. On the receiving end Spiller has his own individual motive — an education By Jeremy Furtick The Battalion W ith the whirlwind of negative publicity sur rounding collegiate athletics today, it’s re freshing to cross paths with an individual who contradicts that image. While many college football players have tarnished the image of their sport with off-field misdemeanors, dealings with agents and the like, there are others who keep their heads on straight. Derrick Spiller, the Texas A&M Football Team’s 6- foot-3-inch, 236-pound tight end, has the tools to become one of the country’s top players. But more important to him, he also has the tools to graduate and start a career. Spilier, who plans on working in the field of health care administration after college, .said getting an education was his top priority coming to A&M. “On my signing day, my grandfather was on the phone with R.C: (Slocum) talking about me getting my degree,” Spiller said. “That’s my main goal — Sophomore tight end Derrick Spiller ranks third on the team with 11 receptions. to graduate.” Spiller has his act together on the gridiron, as well. The sophomore has fit nicely into an Aggie of fense that has thrown the ball more this year than in years past. Spiller’s physical skills and athletic ability make him a dangerous pass catcher from the tight end position. Spiller finished second overall, behind Larry Walker II, in the Aggies’ off-season conditioning program as a freshman. He posted marks of 4.65 seconds in the 40- yard dash and 34.5 inches in the vertical jump, both of which ranked seventh on the team. He also finished third in the squat with a lift of 525 pounds, and sixth in bench press with a 380-pound lift. Texas A&M Tight Ends Coach Tam Hollingshead said Spiller’s athleticism has been an asset to the Ag gies’ passing offense. “Derrick’s ability to get down the field vertically from the tight end position helps our passing game tremen dously,” Hollingshead said. “It opens up the whole field.” Sophomore wide receiver Donte Hawkins said the same ability that makes Spiller a receiving threat creates holes for the running game. “Derrick helps our rush offense because the line backers have to cover him on every play,” Hawkins said. “He’s quick, fast and has good hands — they have to watch him.” Spiller, who ranks third on the team with 11 re ceptions, said his role has changed from last season, when he caught one pass. “I’ve had the opportunity to catch a lot of balls this season,” Spiller said. “Last year, I was primarily a blocker.” Hollingshead said Spiller’s commitment to school shows he has his priorities set. “Derrick’s doing an excellent job in his acade mics,” Hollingshead said. “He’s here to get an educa tion first, and then do as well as he can in football.” Spiller said he resents the stereotype of college athletes as mediocre students. He said there are many players that focus on their education. “There are really a lot of guys on the team that carry a heavy school load like me,” Spiller said. “It just means a lot of late nights, early mornings and studying between classes. But if that’s what it takes, then that’s what I do.” Spiller said he has kept his focus on academics by putting everything into perspective. “When I started getting recruited in high school, I was already planning to attend college regardless of whether or not I played football,” he said. “So when I signed, it was like a bonus.” Spiller comes across as a man confident in his abilities, but also aware they might not be there for ever. He said he has dreams of playing in the NFL, but not at the expense of his education. “Playing pro football would be great,” he said. “If it happens, it happens. If not, oh well, life goes on. “I’ll still have my degree.” Hawkins steps out of shadows to bolster receiving corps By Matt Mitchell The Battalion Q uestion: Who besides Albert Connell starts at wide receiver for the Texas A&M Football Team? It is not an easy question to answer. However, sophomore wideout Donte Hawkins is usually that un noticed player lining up on the opposite side of Connell. “I understand the situation,” Hawkins said of Con nell’s ‘go-to’ status. “He’s a senior. Things are probably going to start happening for him. I think all that (atten tion) will come when it’s ready to come, like next year or my senior year. It’s fine for him to get his little spot light because I know that’s something I’m going to want my senior year, too.” But playing alongside an All-American candi date at the same position has not deterred the qui et sophomore from Round Rock from working to ward his own goals. “[Improving] is the period I’m looking at right now,” Hawkins said. “With each game, I take it and try to get better, whether it’s my blocking or my run ning or whatever.” Hawkins is only now reaching the stage in his collegiate career where he has the consistency of practice and game situations to improve. Hampered by injuries as a freshman, Hawkins still made an impact with 16 catches for 151 yards. His role would have been greater had he not missed two games early in the season because of a stress fracture in his shin. “It seemed like everything was rolling along pretty well after my injury at the beginning of the year, then I had the stress fracture in my leg; and the week of the Texas game, I actually broke my leg,” Hawkins said. Hawkins missed both the Aggies’ regular season fi nale against Texas and the celebrated Alamo Bowl vic tory over Michigan. While spring drills gave him the op portunity to review the mental aspects of his position, the lack of physical activity hampered his efforts to es tablish himself as a starter. A&M Receivers Coach Les Koenning said Hawkins had a lot to overcome. “He wasn’t able to participate in spring training, so that set him behind knowledge-wise and as far as the physical part of playing receiver,” Koenning said. “He overcame that, and he’s worked hard to get back into shape. What he needs to do is see a lot of reps.” Despite his injury woes, Hawkins has battled fellow sophomore Aaron Oliver for the starting job this sea son. Hawkins has played in all eight contests this year, hauling in 27 passes for 318 yards, an average of 11.8 yards per catch, which ranks second on the team. “He’s improving for us each game,” Koenning said. “Donte has competed. He’s been in and out of the start ing lineup throughout the year. He and Aaron push each other, and that’s what you want to have at each position.” The jostling for position among the Aggies’ tal- Dave House, The Battalion Sophomore Donte Hawkins exchanges words with senior Albert Connell at the A&M-Tech game. ented receiving corps could pay large dividends down the road. Each receiver has concentrated on giving the Aggie offense another weapon to comple ment Connell, as well as taking some of the defen sive pressure off him. “In the past games, [the ball] has gone to the backs to take some pressure off of A.C.,” Hawkins said. “I think that’ll change, though, because in practice they’ve been throwing to all of us. They know that with three people guarding A.C., some body’s got to be open.” Hawkins said he and the other receivers enjoy trying to dispel the myth that A&M is incapable of having a balanced offensive attack. “Me and Aaron and all the receivers are going to try to put that role back on ourselves, because he (Connell) led us in the thinking that we can do this,” Hawkins said. “I think we’ll definitely fill those shoes next year.” And just maybe that spotlight, too. le following positions: California, Texas, ngton. id us your e via Dr mail to: First Street, nployer. This Weekend in Sports Friday A&M Volleyball at Iowa State, Ames, IA, 7:30 p.m. A&M Soccer vs. UNC- Greenboro at Post Oak Mall Classic, Aggie Soc cer Complex, 1:30 p.m. Saturday A&M Swimming and Div ing vs. N.E. Louisiana, Student Rec. Center Natatorium. 1:30 p.m. A&M Football at OSU, Still water, Okla., 2:30 p.m. The Battalion’s 1996 Staff Picks The Match-Ups Tom Day Kristina Buffin Jamie Burch Sara Duesing Jeremy Furtick Colby Gaines Ross Hecox Matt Mitchell Dennis Ramirez Nicki Smith Consensus Texas A&M at Oklahoma St. A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M A&M: Aggies ride Cowboys into sunset Baylor at Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas Texas: With or without the agent #7 Colorado at Missouri Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado Colorado: Buffs show 'em Kansas at Iowa State Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas Kansas: Jayhawks raid cornfields #5 Nebraska at Oklahoma Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska: Huskers invade Norman(dy) #11 Northwestern at #15 Penn St. Penn State Northwestern Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn State Penn St. Penn State Penn St.: No miracles in Happy Valley Syracuse at #18 West Virginia W. Virginia W. Virginia Syracuse W. Virginia W. Virginia W. Virginia Syracuse W. Virginia Syracuse W. Virginia W. Virginia: Juice anyone? #21 Washington at DSC use use use Washington Washington use Washington use use Washington USC: Huskies can't take the heat Michigan St. at #9 Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan Michigan: Spartans kicked back a century Philadelphia at Cowboys Cowboys Philadelphia Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys Cowboys: Dallas clips Eagles' wings Oilers at Seattle Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers Oilers: McNair keeps Seahawks sleepless Washington at Buffalo Buffalo Washington Washington Buffalo Washington Washington Washington Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Washington: Redskins scalp Buffalo Last Week 7-5 8-4 8-4 9-3 10-2 11-1 7-5 8-4 10-2 8-4 86-34: Day stumbles, desk rumbles Cumulative 68-28 59-37 56-40 66-30 62-34 63-33 61-35 60-36 65-31 63-33 623-337: Colby has net Gaines