Page 7 • Wednesday, September 15, 2004
NATIC
BATTALU
Sports
The Battalion
SIDE LINES
ON PG. 9
Right-hand man
After 50 years of service, Billy Pickard still helping Texas A&M
The volleyball team kicks off
Big 12 play against Iowa State
in Ames. A look at both teams
as they enter the matchup.
COMING THURSDAY
Jon Gilbert examines the
recent NCAA football upsets
across the country, such as
Notre Dame's win over Michi
gan State and Kansas State's
loss to Fresno State.
After a second place finish
at the Los Lobos Invitational
Tournament, the A&M cross
country team looks to fare
well in its own tournament
this weekend. Look for a
preview of the team and the
others participating.
BRIEFLY
The Texas A&M women's
golf team finished eighth out of
17 teams in the Dick McGuire
Invitational Tournament.
A&M soccer junior Laura
Probst and freshman Ashlee
Pistorius were named the Big
12 Offensive Player of the
kkeefc and Newcomer of the
Week, respectively.
By Shawn C. Millender
THE BATTALION
Texas A&M football head coach Dennis Franchione
had no idea what he was about to let loose on his players
on the first day of preseason drills in August.
At the end of practice, he unleashed a sinewy, grizzled
ball of motivation and hellfire in the form of associate
director of athletic facilites Billy Pickard.
“1 didn’t realize it, but Billy was pretty fired up when
he got out there,” Franchione said.
The ceremony that honored Pickard’s 40 years of ser
vice to the program was followed by a fiery speech to
the team that had the 105-man group stirred up like an
anthill by its end.
“It was good to honor him, anyone who has done as
much for the University as he has,” Franchione said. “Es
pecially our Athletic Department; he’s meant a great deal to
me here, and our football program since I’ve been here.”
Franchione introduced Pickard to players who didn’t
already know the legend, and went on to present him
with a 12th Man jersey with Pickard’s name on the back.
Little did he know of the firestonn that would ensue.
Upon receiving the honor, Pickard immediately
set out upon the players.
“You should be determined,” said Pickard in a tone
reminiscent of Kenneth Brannagh’s King Henry V just
before the battle of Agincourt, “that nothing will get in
our way this fall.”
In a voice that gradually increased in volume and con
viction, Pickard said, “it’s not that big a deal if you go out
determined every day to get better, and the first time we put
that uniform on in Utah there’s nobody...” whereupon he was
drowned out by a jubilant, fired-up throng of football players.
Upon graduation from Central Catholic High in San
Antonio in 1952, Pickard came to A&M and started
serving as a student trainer.
“My intent when I came here was to study to be a high
school football coach," Pickard said. “But after working
as manager for the freshman team, I realized that if
you didn't play college ball that you’d have a
hard time being a coach.”
Pickard worked under legendary coach Paul
"Bear” Bryant when he took the team to Junc
tion for preseason drills. The entire team, includ
ing Pickard, was honored at Kyle Field during
Saturday's game against Wyoming.
“That was tremendous,” Pickard said. “Some..
of those guys I haven’t seen since 1956.”
Lawrence Winkler, a senior football player on
the Junction team, said that even after 50 years, the team
remembers Pickard’s hard work.
“Billy’s been a great guy throughout the years,” Win
kler said. “Especially supporting the teams like he did.
We have a warm spot in our hearts for him.”
In Pickard’s career, he has seen nine head coaches,
hundreds
assistant
coaches
Will Lloyd • THE BATTALION
thousand of players come and go.
“1 always try and avoid saying this one or that one was my
favorite,” Pickard said. “No matter what you say, someone
will always feel like they got the short end of the stick.”
One of the people he worked with the longest is former
head coach R.C. Slocum, who came to A&M as an assis
tant coach in 1972 under then-head coach Emory Bellard.
Slocum took over as head coach in 1989, where he served
for 14 years before stepping down at the end of 2002. All
told, Slocum worked with Pickard for 31 years.
“I don’t know anyone who has made a bigger contribution
than Billy, he’s been here so long,” Slocum said. “No one’s
worked harder than him; he’s the first one up here in the morn
ing and always the last one to turn the lights off at night.”
Slocum said he used to call him “Nine-man Pickard”
because “if I ever lost him. I’d have to find nine guys to
replace him.”
Slocum recalls just one time when things didn’t run so
smoothly under Pickard’s control.
“I believe it was 1974 and we flew from here to Aus
tin to play Texas. We left here and the weather was
comfortable, but in a matter of hours a cold front came
through; it was sleeting and I believe the wind chill was
around 15 degrees,” Slocum said. “Well, Billy hadn’t
packed any heavy coats or anything for the players or
coaches. Billy learned a lesson that day and he always
said it’d never happen again. At one point I remember my
headset was iced to my cap. All I had was my shirt and
windbreaker; I’ll never forget it.”
One error in 40 years is still a pretty decent track re
cord — even if it wasn’t his fault.
“We didn’t even own any sideline coats when we
went to Austin that year,” Pickard said. “But the next
day Coach Bellard called me into his office and made
sure we ordered some.”
There is no end in sight for Pickard, who turns 71
this Halloween. He lives and breathes Aggie football.
“If I wasn’t doing this,” Pickard said, “I think I’d end up
like a lot of the people I see in the obituaries, the ones that
work for so long and are dead six months after they
retire. I've been very fortunate that (former athlet
ic director Wally) Groff and (Athletic director Bill)
Byrne have allowed me to continue to work.”
Pickard said he knows exactly when he’s go
ing to hang up his roll of tape.
“As long as my health and job performance
are good,” Pickard said. “Am I hanging on and
letting someone else do my job? You never
want to be someone who just hangs''on. Pd
much rather be known as a worker.”
No one knows what the future will bring
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