The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, October 23, 1998, Image 5

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    The Battalion
Sports
Page 5 • Friday, October 23, 1998
io Fourth time’s a charm?
A&M tries its luck at breaking Texas Tech's three-year stranglehold on state rivalry
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i
BRANDON BOLLOM/The Battalion
Bshman fullback Ja’Mar Toombs breaks through the Nebraska defensive line en route to his 71-yard run.
BY JEFF SCHMIDT
The Battalion
Call No. 25 Texas Tech University
the “little football team that could.”
Although not blessed with great
athletes. Tech has had Texas A&M’s
number the last three seasons. But
just barely. Tech’s victories have
come by a total of 13 points.
“I have, and our players have, a
healthy respect for Texas Tech,”
A&M coach R. C. Slocum said. “Tech
has been ready to play us. We’ll have
to beat them this weekend. They
don’t beat themselves. I think
they’re extremely well-coached.”
“They’re scrappy,” senior tight
end Daniel Campbell said. “That’s
why they win games because they
play so hard. They’re not any more
talented than we are. They play 100
percent the whole game. ”
Despite recent dominance over
A&M, Slocum said Tech has not re
ally beaten A&M as much as the
Aggies have beaten themselves.
“Part of the problem is they’ve
done a good job,” Slocum said.
“The other part is we’ve had
some turnover problems and
some injury problems.
“We had the deal out there [in
1995] where we had two touch
downs called back. We felt really
concerned about that. Then we
throw an interception on the last
play of the ballgame, and that’s a
frustrating thing for you. That’s not
to take anything away from Tech.
They put themselves in the posi
tion to win those games.”
A&M hopes this year will not be
deja vu all over again.
The last time A&M was ranked
eighth [1995], Tech beat the Ag
gies. A&M was coming off a heart
breaking loss to the University of
Colorado and was ambushed by
Tech in Lubbock.
Tech linebacker Zach Thomas
intercepted A&M quarterback
Corey Pullig’s pass and returned it
for a touchdown with 30 seconds
left in the game.
In 1996, A&M lost a tight game
to Kansas State University at Kyle
Field and followed it with a loss to
Tech when Tech reserve fullback
Sammy Morris slipped out of the
backfield unnoticed and scored on
an 81-yard pass. Morris was de
clared academically ineligible two
weeks after the game.
In 1997, A&M was pistol-
whipped by No. 20 Kansas State.
The Aggies went to Lubbock with
starting tackles Chris Ruhman and
Cameron Spikes and starting run
ning back Dante Hall out with in
juries. The result was the same.
Tech kicker Tony Rogers
sneaked in a field goal with 19 sec
onds left on the clock to beat A&M.
This year may be different. The
Aggies are coming off victories
over then-No. 2 University of Ne
braska and Baylor University. The
35 points scored against Baylor
are the most A&M has scored
since last year’s 51-7 victory over
the University of Oklahoma.
Campbell said the offense final
ly clicked against Baylor.
“Everybody did their assign
ments,” Campbell said. “You just
do what you’re supposed to do and
good things will happen. It finally
happened Saturday and we were
pleased with the way it turned out.
“We know what they’re [Tech]
capable of. We know they’re go
ing to try to sneak up here and
take a win from us at Kyle Field.
We’re not going to let that hap
pen. We’re sick of it.”
BRANDON BOLLOM/The Battalion
Senior linebacker Warrick Holdman sacks the Nebraska quarterback.
Aggie soccer team hosts Missouri and Kansas
GREG MCREYNOLDS/Tiii: Battalion
Reynolds kicks the ball in an early-season match.
BY DOUG SHILLING
The Battalion
For the second time this year, the Texas A&M
Soccer Team was all dressed up with no place
to go.
Wednesday night, the Aggies were sched
uled to play the University of Texas to make up
a game that had been canceled earlier in the
year. However, heavy rains postponed the
game once again.
This weekend the Aggies will bounce back into
action as they host the Nike/Big 12 Challenge.
Friday night the Aggies will take on the Uni
versity of Missouri Tigers at 7 p.m. at the Aggie
Soccer Complex, and Sunday afternoon they will
square-off with the University of Kansas Jay-
hawks at 1 p.m.
This weekend’s games are the start of the fi
nal homestand of the year for Texas A&M,
where they have uncharacteristically struggled
most of the year.
After going 34-3 the previous four years at the
Aggie Soccer Complex, the Aggies have fallen to a
3-5 record there this season.
All five losses, however, have come at the hands
of top-25 opponents.
Texas A&M (8-6, 3-2 in Big 12 play) is looking
to improve its chances of qualifying for the Big 12
Tournament as it moves deeper into its schedule.
The Aggies are currently in 5th place in the
conference, with the top six teams qualifying for
the tournament.
In their previous 13 games, Texas A&M has
faced seven teams in the top 25, including three
teams in the top 10.
“They [Missouri] are a well-
coached, disciplined team,
and they have been playing
very good soccer all season/'
— G. Guerrieri
A&M soccer coach
The five remaining Big 12 opponents for the
Aggies are not ranked in the top 25.
“We hated to reschedule the game against
Texas for a second time, but the field just was
n’t safe to play on,” A&M soccer coach G. Guer
rieri said.
“We turned our atention quickly to the
weekend at hand though, and are prepared to
take on the challenge that Missouri will present
to us.
“They are a well-coached, disciplined team,”
Guerrieri said, “and they have been playing very
good soccer all season.
“I think our athletes know that, so we should
come into this game very well prepared to match
up against them.”
Missouri (8-5-1, 4-3 in Big 12 play) comes into
the match currently in 3rd place in the Big 12.
The Tigers are enjoying their best season in
school history, winning eight games for the first time
in Central Region and have climbed to No. 6.
The offense relies heavily on sophomore for
ward Nikki Thole who leads the conference
(and is 7th in the nation) in points per game
averaging 2.7.
The Jayhawks (5-9-1, 1-5-1 in Big 12 play),
however, are coming into College Station on a
downward spiral.
They have only one win in conference play and
are riding a six-game winless streak.
The Aggies lead the all-time series 2-0, winning
last year’s game in Lawrence, Kan., 5-0.
The Aggies will resume play Wednesday as
they try to play the University of Texas for the
third time this year.
The game is scheduled for 7 p.m at the Aggie
Soccer Complex.
Smith’s job in doubt after performances
V0
JRVING, Texas (AP) — Kevin
fflith’s starting job is either in
l>pardy or not, depending on
( ho is talking, but all agree he
Nds a lucky break.
■Dallas Cowboys coach Chan
Qiley sidesteps questions about
Aether he is contemplating a
|ange. But that’s been a topic
ong coaching staff at Valley
ch headquarters during a
week.
I think I’ve said it about as
an as I can say it,” Gailey told
£ Dallas Morning News in
ursday’s editions. ‘‘He’s got the
lent. He just needs something
d to happen to him, to get a lit-
confidence back.”
|Five of the nine passing touch-
wns the Cowboys have al-
ved this season have been at
lith’s expense.
The cornerback has just one in
ception in the last 27 regular-
ison games.
Chicago’s Erik Kramer complet-
seven of 11 passes for 81 yards
da touchdown against Smith in
e Bears’ 13-12 win Sunday.
Smith was beaten badly by
'ars receiver Bobby Engram on
liat would have been a 73-yard
touchdown in the first quarter, but
the ball was overthrown.
Defensive backs coach Mike
Zimmer, Smith’s most ardent ad
vocate, said the cornerback had
one of his better games Sunday.
Zimmer says Smith was more
aggressive than in recent weeks,
showed better
technique and
almost came
away with two
interceptions.
Gailey and de
fensive coordina
tor Dave Campo
agreed.
‘‘I think we’re
making too much
of an issue of it, personally,” Cam
po said. ‘‘I don’t want to talk a lot
about it. All I’ll say is this.
‘‘Kevin Smith, in my mind, is
one of the outstanding football
players in the league. As far as I’m
concerned, he’s our corner, and
that’s it. That’s the bottom line.”
Smith worked with the first-
team defense in Wednesday’s
practice. But he is not guaranteed
a spot in that lineup when the
Cowboys play the Philadelphia
Eagles on Nov. 2.
SMITH
Zimmer believes that a sort of
Larry Brown mentality has formed
around Smith.
Smith’s detractors, Zimmer
said, “don’t have any clue what
they’re talking about,” and
laments that they tear him down
when he’s trying to build him up.
“It’s the old deal, when pushed
back into a corner, you can either
fight your way out or quit,” he said.
“I’m not going to let him quit.
“We will do what’s best for the
football team and him. If it ever
gets to the point where we need to
make a change, then we’ll do that.
But I believe in the guy.”
Smith was a four-year letterman
at Texas A&M University from
1988-91.
He was a consensus All-Ameri
ca selection at cornerback and was
named a semifinalist for the Jim
Thorpe award that goes to the na
tion’s top defensive back.
His all-time school record of 20
interceptions in a career still
stands.
Smith also was a three-time All-
Southwest Conference selection at
defensive Ipack.
The Cowboys drafted Smith in
the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft.
New York fans devour paraphernalia
from Yankees’ World Series victory
NEW YORK (AP) — Fans are pumped.
After whooping it up in bars, on streets and out
side an empty Yankee Stadium all night, Yankee root
ers spent the morning getting ready to welcome the
World Series champions home.
The Clubhouse, a Manhattan store that sells Yan
kee paraphernalia, was doing a huge business.
Manager John Camilleri said he showed up at 6
a.m. and found a dozen people waiting for him at the
door. “It’s amazing,” he said.
Camilleri was so sure the Yankees would beat the
San Diego Padres and clinch their 24th champi
onship, he put all the new merchandise out Wednes
day night. He opened an hour early at 7 a.m., antic
ipating an anxious crowd.
Yankee championship T-shirts and hats were fly
ing off shelves as a steady stream of smiling fans
came and went.
A lot of the Yankeeswear is sure to be on display
Friday during a victory parade up the Canyon of He
roes on Broadway.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said the parade was ex
pected to start at 11:30 a.m. and a ceremony for about
4,000 invited guests would follow outside City Hall.
Though billed as a tickertape parade; there is no such
thing anymore. Shredded computer paper and con
fetti is used instead.
In the shadow of Yankee Stadium in the Bronx,
people spilled into the streets early today banging
pots, blowing whistles, ringing cowbells and gener
ally making as much noise as possible.
“This is where it’s at,” said 26-year-old Jay Justi-
no of the Bronx. “Just to think, if they were home.”
Bernard Rhodes of Manhattan watched the
game with his fiancee near the stadium at the Yan
kee Tavern.
“This is the greatest team ever,” he said. “The Yan
kees showed they are true champions.”
At Mickey Mantle’s bar and restaurant in midtown
Manhattan, about 60 fans, including former New
York Met Bud Harrelson, crowded around a big
screen television to watch the game.
“This is a team that if it didn’t win, everyone
would be disappointed,” he said. “And they’re meet
ing expectations. That’s the true mark of greatness.”
Longtime Yankee devotee Tony Magro, of Larch-
mont, said the team ranks with the dominant clubs
of the early 1960s, which featured Roger Maris and
Mickey Mantle.
“Awesome,” he said. “It reminds me of the early
60s teams because they’re unbeatable. Even when
they’re losing, you expect them to win.”
Before the game even started, Harrelson, a mem
ber of the 1969 world champion Mets, paid the team
perhaps the ultimate compliment.
“If we were amazin’, they’re just incredible,” he said.