The Battalion
March 10, 1998
The French Connection
limned by Texas’ new coach, former Longhorn closer Eric French finds new life and chance for redemption with Aggies
By Chris Ferrell
Staff writer
sa Eric French’s story is one that runs deep through
state of Texas. It is a story of a rivalry, two
ools and two ways of life. In the state of Texas
re are Aggies and there are Longhorns — there is
ibnn-between.
Trowing up in Austin, Eric French was a Longhorn,
i kid he went to University of Texas baseball games
h his father and brother and dreamed of one day
:hing for the Longhorns.
\fter earning All-State honors as a senior at Austin’s
wie High School, his dream of came true when he
9 offered a scholarship to play baseball for Texas.
Tt was probably my dream to pitch at Texas,”
nch said. “I didn’t think I would accomplish that,
t going there was a great achievement on my
1.1 was very happy.”
r French made an immediate impact for the Long-
ns and by his sophomore year he had solidified his
>t as one of college baseball’s top closers. He earned
■Southwest Conference honors as a relief pitcher,
Lting nine saves and leading the nation in strikeouts
nine innings pitched.
He followed that with an equally impressive ju-
«fir campaign in which he recorded 10 saves while
. 'ding the staff’s lowest ERA. ^ '
But as French prepared for his senior season, a
ic son which would have seen him make a run to be-
E naUT’s all-time saves leader, everything changed.
Coach Augie Garrido, who took over for Cliff
ut stafson prior to the 1996 season, made the decision
®: to renew the scholarships of several Texas players,
luding French, so that he could go out and recruit
e yers who fit his style of play.
T “We had our meetings after the year and it was ex-
e :ssed to me that they really didn’t want me,” French
sfr'd. “There was a chance that I could have come back
ve: l walked on, but that was kind of a blow to me. A lot
^ juys got the ax as well and there are some guys do-
P well for other teams too.
“Maybe it wasn’t the players, maybe he just
nted the scholarships. But that’s his job. His job
s(: m the line. He’s going to do what he has to do to
i! i, and that’s what he thought was going to win. I
n’t have time to be bitter towards him. I’m just
' tng my own thing.”
French was left in an unusual position. He had the
desire and talent to be one of college baseball’s best
closers — he just did not have a team.
Then in August, lamie Smith, who was slated to be
the closer for Texas A&M, signed a pro contract with
the Chicago White Sox, leaving the Aggies with a void
at the closer position. When French got word of this he
contacted A&M Coach Mark Johnson about the possi
bility of pitching for the Aggies.
“I never even thought about it (bringing French to
A&M),” Johnson said. “I knew that he was one of the
guys that was not invited back at (he University of
Texas. But I never really gave it much thought.
“We had Jamie Smith with us and then he signed a
pro contract in August. Eric found out about it and
called me and said, ‘Are you interested? I’d like to play
ball.’ We talked at length because it's a little bit differ
ent transferring from the University of New Mexico to
Texas A&M than it is coming from the University of
Texas to Texas A&M. We talked about the feeling of dis
loyalty that Texas and Austin would have towards him.
He said, 1 don’t have a lot of teammates. They cut just
about eveiybody. It’s not like 1 have a bunch of team
mates who are going to hate me.’”
So French did what was once unthinkable and
traded in his burnt orange uniform for a maroon
and white one.
However, the transfer was not that simple. French
wanted to transfer to College Station for good so that
he could finish out his degree plan and graduate from
A&M. But while going through the process he was told
that he would lose several hours of credit because they
were not going to be accepted from Texas.
“I wanted to come over and stay over here,” he
said. “We struggled with everything from admissions
to getting into the right college. When I found out I
was going to lose a lot of hours I was disappointed,
but the coaches brought it up that I could just come
over here for a year and then transfer back to finish
up my degree at Texas. I want to stay here but the sit
uation doesn’t allow it. I’m just happy to have the
time I have here with the team.”
There was also a matter of the NCAA. Athletes who
transfer from one school to another to play football
or basketball are required to sit out a year before they
can compete for their new school. However, athletes
in all other sports can play the next season provided
that they are in good academic standing at the school
they came from, their former school clears them to
play and the conference clears them to play. French
met each of these requirements and was granted per
mission to play for A&M this season.
All of the paperwork was out
of the way but there was still
the matter of emotions to be
dealt with. Despite all of his
talent and willingness tQj
play for A&M, there wouj|
be some who would still
view French as a Longhorn,
as an outsider.
French wondered how peo
ple would react to him and I
he would be welcomed
open arms.
That question was quickly
answered once French ar
rived at A&M and was
taken in by his new
teammates.
“He’s one of the
biggest additions*^
we have this year,”
senior pitcher
Ryan Rupe said.
“I thank the Lord
that Augie got rid
of him because
for us to win
games in the
Big 12, we need
an eighth-
ninth inning
guy who can
come in and
strike people
out and get
the job done.
“He’s our
closer, and he’s 1
a good closer —
he has been his
whole college career.
We kind of knew
French before. He’s a
good guy, he was a
Longhorn, but he
was laid back. He’s '
an Aggie now.”
J
French said he was amazed at how easy the tran
sition from Longhorn to Aggie actually was.
“It was no problem coming over here and com
bining with this group,” French said. “It’s a great
group of people and they’re very friendly. It doesn’t
take long after you talk to people to see how they are.
A&M’s supposed to be the friendliest campus in the
world and that’s how they were to me. I’d walk
around campus and people would say ‘howdy’ to me.
They get on your side from the get -go.”
The fact that French has continued to come up big
on the pitching mound since arriving has not hurt
his relationship with his teammates either. A&M’s
pitching staff combined to post only seven saves
last season. French has already earned three.
He has also picked up a win and has not
allowed an earned run in six appear-
ances this season.
But the fact remains that
Eric French has some unfin
ished business. He has
something to prove to a
school and most of all
to a coach who did
not feel he was
good enough to
play for him.
French is
already look
ing ahead to
the week
end of April
17-19, when
Texas A&M
and Texas meet
on the baseball
field. That is when
French would like to
make his statement about
the way he was treated at the
University of Texas.
“If I get in there and it’s a close
game and I do my job, it will be one of
the biggest thrills of my life,” French
said. “Especially if it was at Disch-Falk
Field in front of a coach that let me go,
to show him that I’m not as horrible as
he thought I was.”
m
isappointing Big 12 season for the Aggies finally put to a close
[ hate to say I told you so,
but I did. In my last note
book I predicted that A&M
ild upset the Baylor Bears in
last home game in G. Rollie
te Coliseum. The Aggies
ed out G. Rollie with an 80-
fin to give them their first Big
ictory. However, they could
double-up the Bears with a
in the first round of the Big
fournament. The Bears hit
r free throws down the
tch on the way to a 66-63 vic-
over the Aggies.
eason In Review
9kay, so this was not the best A&M basketball
n in history and contrary to popular belief, this
not the worst either. This was the what-could-
e-been season. Imagine what the Aggies could
Jeff
Schmidt
asst, sports
editor
have accomplished if Calvin Davis, Dario Quesada
and Chris Clayton had been healthy all season and
Jerald Brown had a better season. Also, imagine the
enthusiasm if the Aggies had played in Reed Arena
like they were supposed to.
Offensive Player Of The Year
This is really a no-brainer. Shanne Jones was the
most consistently brilliant player this year. He led the
team in scoring by a wide margin at nearly 19 points a
game. He scored double-figures in 30 straight games.
He is an All-Conference player on a team that should
have played in the SWAC.
Defensive Player Of The Year
Steve Houston was named to the Big 12 All-De
fense team and led the team in steals, averaging 2.6 a
game. Houston is also ranked 21st nationally in that
category. His superior strength allows him to match
up against taller opponents.
Newcomer Of The Year
Despite the contributions of Chris Clayton and
Aaron Jack, there is really only one player to consider
for the award — Michael Schmidt. The true freshman
from Toronto came on strong in the second half of con
ference play and ended the regular season with a ca
reer-high 26 points against Baylor. Schmidt provided a
fresh face for the fans to rally around, and his enthusi
asm was excellent.
The Unsung Hero
Brian Barone’s hustle and tough play has made him
a fan favorite. Barone’s will to win must have come from
his father. He dives after loose balls and pressures de
fenses like it is his last game on Earth. If the Aggies are
lucky, Barone will stay at A&M even after his father’s de
parture.
Most Annoying Player
This award goes to Texas forward Nnadubem
Muoneke. After squeaking by the Aggies in College Sta
tion, Muoneke proceeded to rip into the Aggie fans with
a tirade of obscenities. Runner-up to the “I’ll-never-
play-in-the-NBA-but-I-think-I-will,” is the Colorado’s
Ronnie DeGray, who punted a basketball into the
stands and kicked Reveille.
Most Annoying Inanimate Object
Texas guard Luke Axtell’s hair. Who does this guy
think he is, the fifth Beatle?
A Look At The Future
The Aggies lose inside player Larry Thompson but
gain Joe White next year. White is a 6-foot-10-inch
center from San Antonio Taft High School. He is
ranked as the best center in Texas and one of the top
20 in the country.
White will team with returnees Jones, Davis, Jack
and Chris Richards to form an impressive frontcourt
for the Aggies.
Assuming Brian Barone does not leave, he teams
with Houston, Schmidt, Clayton and Brown for a
solid backcourt.
Also, Reed Arena hopefully will bring in the fans and
generate enthusiasm for the program.
\
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