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I'riday • September 5, 1997
FILE PHOTO/The Battalion
Senior placekicker Kyle Bryant was a 1996 Lou Groza Award semifinalist.
Kyle’s Field
Senior kicker does not let anything faze him
By Matt Mitchell
Staff writer
O ne would think that a man placed in
the most glaring spotlight in football
would be a bit more anxious at the
advent of a fourth and final season. But for
senior placekicker Kyle Bryant, nothing
could make him feel more at ease.
“This is my last year, and I’ve thought that
in the middle of January I’m going to look
back, and there’s not going to be a single
thing I can do about this football season,”
said the 5-foot, 7-inch College Station native.
“Anything I want to reflect on in January as a
good performance, I need to take care of
now. Basically, I’m just looking forward to
having fun and enjoying this.”
And why not? There is not a whole lot
left for Bryant to prove, as he ranks among
the top returning placekickers in the coun
try.
As a 1996 Lou Groza Award semifinalist
and top 10 ranking in numerous categories,
Bryant’s junior campaign catapulted him in
the A&M record books to within striking dis
tance of several school records.
The majority of those records are held by
former A&M standout Tony Franklin, but
Bryant is closing in on two of the most presti
gious.
With 42 career field goals to his credit,
Bryant is just 14 behind Franklin’s 19 year-
old record of 56 career three-pointers. And
with 223 career points scored, he may also
break Franklin’s school career scoring total of
291 points.
It is not beyond the realm of possibility to
think Bryant may become A&M’s only 300-
point scorer.
“Those records don’t totally own my con
centration, but they are a goal I have set for
myself,” Bryant said. “I don’t think about
them every day. I think if I was to do that, it
would be more of a distraction.
“If I take care of those little things, as far as
records and other goals are concerned, those
things will taker care of themselves.”
With thoughts of a record-setting season
swirling in his head, Bryant’s not in any hurry
to change a good thing.
Please see Bryant on Page 12.
Special teams should not be taken lightly
By Kristina Buffin
Staff writer
They are the unit on the field
that no one really pays attention to
unless a punt or kickoff return is
fumbled or a point after attempt or
field goal is missed. This distinction
goes to the Texas A&M Football
Team’s special teams unit.
Heading up this year’s squad is
senior placekicker Kyle Bryant.
Bryant raged onto the scene four
years ago by earning second team
All-SWC honors after connecting
on 17-of-25 field goals and 31-of-34
extra points. Since then he has
been a solid starter for the Aggies.
Bryant said that this year the
Aggies’ unit will be huge.
“A lot of momentum swings
come with special teams play,” he
said. “If you get a kickoff or a punt
return for a touchdown, even a field
goal, can change the momentum
and give one team an advantage.”
While the Aggies had a young
teams last season, but this season
the Aggies return Bryant, the place
kicker and punter, the deep snap
per and holder, as well as the kick
returners.
“The first thing we try to ensure
is the possession, that is the objec
tive in most special teams play,”
said Shawn Slocum, A&M’s special
teams coach. “It is all about team
play because, for example, if we
have a good punt recovery then we
give the offense a better average.”
Sophomore punter Shane
Techier battled a leg injury this
summer, but he will be ready for
the Sept. 6 game against Sam
Houston State University.
Techier averaged 42.7 yards per
punt last season on 72 kicks, which
ranked 29th nationally and the top
average by a freshman. He also had
a 76-yard effort against Iowa State
University.
His performance earned him
freshman All-America honors but
Techier said there is still much
room to improve.
“I did earn freshman All-
America honors but I don’t think I
had a good year,” he said. “The first
four games were not too good but I
think I finally settled down.”
Slocum, however, is not so hard
on Techier.
“He can change the field position
in one play,” Slocum said. “He has the
leg strength and a lot of athleticism.
He can get the ball off on one play.”
Leading the return team will be
muti-talented sophomore Dante
Hall and junior Sirr Parker. Hall
returned 43 punts for an average of
13.3 yards per return and broke a 69-
yard return for a touchdown against
Iowa State. Parker returned one kick
off 100 yards for a touchdown against
the University ofTexas last season.
Settin’iton fire like Dante's inferno
Sophomore Hall has knack, instincts for offense, special teams
By Kristina Buffin
Staff writer
L ooking at Dante Hall in his ‘civilian
wear,’ evokes an image directly
opposite of the image he displays on
the field — a bullet train with the pigskin
tightly tucked away, barreling towards the
end zone and setting it on fire like Dante’s
inferno.
Instead, A&M’s 5-foot 8-inch running
back does not look like a prototypical
football player — a 6-foot 4-inch, 250
pound man.
This sophomore, who piled up 642
yards and three touchdowns in his fresh
man outing, is smaller, has a lower center
of gravity and is quick, agile and always
looking for a hole to break through.
“He is a young guy and a gifted guy,”
,, , - — ' - -
i “All good running backs have
| them [instincts] because that is
i what helps you get the ball and
i find the open holes.”
DANTE HALL
SOPOMORE RUNNING BACK
said Steve Marshall, offensive coordinator
for the Aggies. “But he must be an all-
around back. We try to get the best athlete
on both sides (offensive and special
teams), like we did with Leeland
[McElroy]. We are fortunate to have Dante
on our team.”
The Aggies are indeed fortunate to
have a history of talented running backs
and the most recent back to graduate to
the NFL is Leeland McElroy.
Hall’s number, 34, which he says is
purely coincidental, invokes visions of
greatness in Aggie fan’s minds. Both split
duties on special teams and offense and
A&M running backs coach Ken Rucker
said there is a certain intangible entity
that both backs have.
“Both have a knack for the position,” he
said. “They just know where and when to
run and being a punt returner is not easy
so the knack is essential. Kickoff returns
are easier to handle but overall it is that
knack.”
Hall says he has a type of knack but
instinct also enables him to do what he
does on the gridiron.
Please see Hall on Page 12.
FILE PHOTO/The Battalion
Sophomore Dante Hall is the multi-talented player
the Aggies will rely on for a variety of duties this fall.