Page 6 Sports Wednesday. Novi THE BATTALION Rivalry Revived 'l Nation’s third longest rivi^ returns to old form for 2 TOOMBS RLE PHOTOArhe Battalion Texas A&M defensive lineman Ron Edwards and the Wrecking Crew defense put the pressure on Texas' highly touted freshman quarterback Chris Simms in 1999's 20-1 6 Aggies victory. This season Simms will draw the start again and the Wrecking Crew is just as ready. UT talk provides extra incentive for Ags (AP) — So much for a friendlier, kinder Texas A&M- Texas rivalry. After a year of softened opposition caused by the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse at A&M that killed 12 and injured 27, Longhorn linebacker D.D. Lewis got things back on track when he observed that the best way to stop jumbo A&M fullback Ja’MarToombs was to hit him in the mouth. Tuesday, it was the Aggies’ turn. “Right back at him, let’s go get hit in the mouth a few times,’’ Toombs said. “I laughed at it. It’s sort of like he’s issuing a challenge and I gladly accept. I plan to get hit in the mouth but I don’t think I’ll fold.’’ Toombs came up big for the Aggies in last year’s emo tion-tinged game, rushing for 126 yards and scoring two touchdowns in a 20-16 victory for A&M. That was a year ago, when Toombs weighed 265 pounds. At a slimmed-down, more agile 255, he rushed for 72 yards against No. 1 ranked Oklahoma last week and scored on a thrilling 27-yard run, carrying three Sooners into the end zone. “He’s.(Lewis) is trying to say last year was a fluke and it really wasn’t,’’Toombs said. “1 played a good game last year. T carried 37 times and I didn’t fold.” Toombs’ teammates thought it unwise to rankle their big fullback. “1 wouldn’t be calling Ja’Mar out,” said injured line backer Jason Glenn. “He almost ran over me and I’m on crutches. You place your bets. There isn’t anybody who can stop Ja’Mar right now. He’s been on a rampage lately.” Coach R.C. Slocum read Lewis’ comments to the team after Monday’s practice and suggested a more subdued response. “I’ve always had a philosophy, based on experience or my personality, before a game the guys who are the real winners are so concerned about game preparations they don’t have time to talk a lot,” Slocum said. “During a game, he’s so concerned about doing his job he doesn’t have time to talk. After the game he doesn’t have to talk because he’s won the game.” . Slocum is hoping his philosophy will ring true again. FILE PHOTO/The Battalion Ja'Mar Toombs ran over the Texas defense for 126 yards in 1999's win. By Blaine Dionne The Battalion The defrosting of turkeys has be gun, families are reuniting for the holidays and, capping off the im pending Thanksgiving feeding fren zy, is the annual Texas A&M vs. Texas matchup. While the No. 12 Longhorns (8-2, 6-1 Big 12) are ahead in the all- time series by 33 wins, the rivalry has become much more competitive recently. The No. 22 Aggies (7-3,5-2) have taken 12 of the last 16 meetings, win ning last year’s emotional Bonfire game, 20-16, in front of the then- largest crowd to witness a football game in Texas. For a rivalry that has been punc tuated over the years by the supposed hatred between the two schools, even bubbling over intopregame brawls at times, the last few meetings have been surprisingly civil. At Austin in 1998, feelings were close to brotherly as Ricky Williams stole the show, breaking Tony Dorsett’s all-time NCAA rushing record en route to winning the Heis- man. In the week preceding that game, the Aggies all but conceded the record to Williams and ended up losing the game on a last-second field goal. Last year, the aftermath of the 1999 Aggie Bonfire collapse put football into perspective, according to offensive lineman Chris Valletta. “Last year put everything in per spective for both the schools, you know, what football really is. It’s not a life or death thing,” Valletta said. “The Bonfire tragedy changed that reality for all of us.” This year, things are starting to get back to normal, evidenced by Texas linebacker D.D. Lewis’ comment about A&M fullback Ja’Mar Toombs. Lewis told the Associated Press, “All you got to do is hit him in the mouth and he’ll fold.” Toombs had little to say in return. “We’ll just see whatli the field,” Toombs said. Talking or not talking.: ? special to both sides.This] the l()7th time the Aggies, horns have squared offoij placing the rivalry atNo.li football’s all-timematdiu?] This year’s game pits lite No. 1 scoring defense against the conference’s Si* scoring offense in the Lo:: U co Texas running badlf Mitchell leads the confetrM*’ purpose yards, averagingi'Bj 1 1 L ' c . ( per contest and drawinge 0Vl to that other famous Texi Ricky Williams. “Not to take anythingai Ricky, because he wasag but I think Hodges raightlj quicker to the comer,"s linebacker Harold “Mitchell’s a real good bail 66 ■Allyougotmj Ki is hit him (/aBsh the Toombs) iiil£s™. c mouth fold." University of Texas:' curate cot no choice I ^ Bn sh mai nor wool vltes — 66- We'll /MStS®Harris what happ<4tz the field,. ’ partial rei ■ The si Aggies make final bid for tourney with holiday stretc Longhorn rivalry provides emotional finish to season By Bree Holz The Battalion The longtime University of Texas-Texas A&M rivalry will con tinue Saturday night when the Aggie volleyball team hosts the Longhorns at G. Rollie White Coliseum in its fi nal home match of the season. First serve is set for 7 p.m. Seniors Christy Clark, Claire Har vey and Heather Marshall will be honored Saturday night when they play their last match at G. Rollie White. “I’m ready to leave it all on the floor,” Marshall said. “I just want to have fun and finish strong and try to en joy these last few weeks of volleyball.” Clark said she is excited to finish her career against Texas at home. “It’s pretty much the icing on the cake,” she said. “Also, I think it’s go ing to help the team out because of all the emotion that’s going into this particular match. I’m really looking forward to it.” Texas holds an 8-10 Big 12 record and sits in seventh place in the con ference. The Longhorns have not won in College Station in the last two seasons. “Texas has a young team, but they will come armed,” said A&M coach Laurie Corbelli. “But anything can happen, and we’re going to have to play very well to beat them.” The Longhorns and Aggies have battled 68 times dating back to 1974. Texas leads the series, 53-15, and de feated the Aggies last season in Austin. “We’re definitely going to be fired up for this match because it’s Texas,” said outside hitter Michelle Cole. “It’s going to be a battle.” A&M defeated the Longhorns in Austin earlier this season, 3-1, for the first time since 1979. “We’re playing with a lot of con fidence right now, and playing at home is going to be great,” Cole said. “We’ve been playing very consis tently, and we’ve been focusing on our own game.” The Texas trio of receiv®^ I al >on, freshman phenomRoyfPk'cthe j wideout heavily recruitedbwpitol i out of Odessa Permian Hi w “Acc< will present problemsfortli< :e F cl ion :s injury-depleted backfield ln accorc ' The 6-5, 210 pound*of Floric now holding UT ffeshmaiiftorge ’ for most receptions, yardsatw’s 25 e downs in a season andisfrf Debt ing one of Texas’favoriteta®>'self-: lubt w pe mosi possible %ir ch; County, fiassee Janie Kansas State offers chamfi to rebound from loss toll By Bree Holz FILE PHOTO/The Battalion Texas A&M senior Heather Marshall will play her last two regular season games in G. Rollie White against Texas and Kansas State during the holiday. The Battalion After a crucial loss to Texas Tech on Saturday, the No. 25 Texas A&M volleyball team will battle No. 24 Kansas State University today at G. Rollie White Coliseum at 7 p.m. Kansas State boasts a 14-4 Big 12 record and a 20-6 overall record and sits in second place in the conference behind No. 1 Nebraska. A&M sits in fourth place and holds a 12-6 league record and a 17-8 overall mark. In the Preseason Big 12 Coaches Poll, the Wildcats were picked to fin ish in fourth place and currently hold a six-match winning streak. Kansas State defeated A&M ear lier this season, 3-2, in Manhattan, Kan. However, the Wildcats have never won in College Station. “A&M is known for playing well at home, and I think that’s really go ing to help us,” A&M coach Laurie Corbelli said. “But Kansas State is going to come in tough and ready to get a win.” fflent la ■Hint £ fepeatei Corbelli said the teani'f He s dence has not been tainted' under tf loss to Tech. ti ( >n Da “The team is not disced angec Corbelli said. “Tech played bounce- ing volleyball, so we havefWlled ^ be down about. The team isrfourts - fident and they’ve gotalotof#t of la Kansas State was victoriwhe U.S the University of Colorado(ij 0l 'al arg day, 3-0. Outside hitter Liz''1 “At was awarded Big 12 Playei jpre,” \ Week because of hercontriwfow mu the Wildcats’ win overCotetjU hom “I’m expecting a greatf, “We mance tomorrow night,” fftme to said. “We’re going to haveFor great defense and serve tooeTubsoL Outside hitter ChristyC®e U.j the team will have to focusoaThe stat game to be successful. L the t “Kansas State is goingtoi'ftnd ha really strong, and we reaKjLichir Clark said. “We’ve just gottof^Jeanint game and not worry about wM'A; ‘ going to do. It’s a lot easier to W home, in front of our hometf';», - 4^ Congratulations ^ tUhA/ HAIR DESIGN Graduating Seniors! 694-9755 Bring this ad in for a free gift jp when you order announcements ^ or purchase a cap & gown. Color Correction Specialist m ' ROTHER'S fr 118 Walton Dr. TT BOOKSTORES Across from Main Entrance to Texas A&M IF YOU ORDERED a 2001 Aggieland and will not be oncaiffty next fall to pick it up, you can have it mailed. To ^ ] Wh e B t yearbook for the '00-01 school year mailed, stop byOISfl j n ^ McDonald Building or telephone 845-2613 (credit cards • | Us st between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday an