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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