The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-13
TEXAS ACCIES
keep CRID|RON
GREATS OF '39
Coach Norton FOresees
Conference Rivals
AS Stronger

IexaS AggleS, an aggressive rough
and ready football team that swept
all opposition aside last fall to gain
national recognition, Is going to
have to show improvement this
year to keep above water in its
own backyard-.the Southwest con-
ference.
Take Coach Homer Norton's word
for it.
You won the Southwest cham
| pionship last fall" Norton told the
squad as it gathered around him
on final day of spring practice. But
if you except to repeat this season
something no Southwest conference
team has ever done, you're going
| to have to be better, Is to Is per
cent better, than you were in win
ming"
Norton said the Aggies will have
to be stronger because the confer
ence is going to be stronger.
Rivals to Be Better
Southern Methodist, Baylor and
Texas are all going to have lots
better football teams" he told his
crew, which lost few men from the
Sugar Bowl winning team. And
just remember that we have to
play those three teams on their home
fields"
Observers believe Norton has a
good chance of putting a better
team on the field than the one
which swept the Southwest and
beat Tulane, 14-13, at New Orleans
on Jan. 1.
Back again to ram into oppos-
ing forward walls will be Earring
John Kimbrough, 21O-pound ALL
America. Also returning are the
bulwarks of the Aggies' fine line
which yielded stingy so yards
scrimmage gain game.
An besides ace blocker Jim
Thomson, passer Marion Pugh,
Splinter Derace Moser for Kim
brough's backfield companions, Nor
ton has a newcomer Of whom great
things are expected. He Is Jake
Webster, 190-pound fullback whose
punts, passes and line bucks In the
30-day spring workouts tabled him
as a probable regular.
Squad Level-Headed
Norton, a solid thinking football
strategist, isn't afraid of the 1895
success going to the heads of the
1910 group.
These boys are a fine bunch, "
he said. II haven't seen any
sWelled heads among the lot
Would you believe it, when they
come into the room where we clip
newspaper stories, they read the
comics instead of turning first to
sports pages"
A. & M. crossed up the south
west last year and used power
football to top the section where
razzle-dazzle first gained a foot
hold.
Norton replied to question
with the statement that the Aggie
offense and defense would be pat
termed along the same lines of his
1899 team. He said he would use
double-wing and box formations
generally and run a minimum OF
plays.
Keeping a firm hold on power
ground plays, with Kimbrougf
ready as. chief line FOUNDER, Nor
ton said he would have a varied
offense; easily adaptable to what
ever defens" the Aggies meet.
Strategy Not Fixed
If after scouting an opponent
and finding It Is weak on pass de-
Tense, we would be foolish to build
our whole attack on power" he
said. "ihe reverse also Is true.
What I plan is to mix up our set
of plays so we can be ready fol-
anything which shows up."
Norton said that from sprine
performance he believed he would
have two teams whose strength
would be virtually the same.
He said that If he had to play 6
game tomorrow, his starting lineur
would be the same as A. q M. hat
IN the Sugar Bowl, except jim
Sterling would replace Smith, &
spring graduate, at left end, CHR
Routt would be at right tackle To-
Boyd, also leaving. and Pugl
would play quarterback for VALE.
mon Price. only first string bacl
lost for the 1910 season.
Asked how he thought tn,
southwest would wind up this fall
Norton replied:
SINH IL the fnovn "a hoa1
Baylor Is big threat. and Texas
with the Bible-plan bearing fruit
Is the dark horse. T.G.U., Arkansa
and Rice are all In a bunch, Will
any OF them likely to cause trou
ble."
But where win the Aggies be2
Norton was asked.
Gust playing their 1910 SEIZED
ule one game at a time, like W,