I showed up at A&M the same time as those guys. August 1972. I was in suburban Philly, all set to attend Villanova as my dad did. Aug. 15, I get a call from the Navy. The Good News? I was awarded a 4 year NROTC Scholarshp. The Bad News? I couldn't use it at Villanova. I had to takew it somewhere else, so I wound up in the very first NROTC Class at A&M. I knew almost NOTHING about A&M. Guys were talking about going to "Fish Camp". I'd ask "well what did you catch"?
My dad and I had season tickets for the Philadelphia Eagles. I saw John David Crow and Bobby Joe Conrad with the then St. Louis Cardinals. I saw Charlie Kruger with the 49ers. The N. O. Saints came to town with a QB named Ed Hargett. That was it when it came to A&M Football.
1972 was the first season in College Football where freshmen were allowed to play varsity ball. And Emory Bellard, being in his first year, figured "what the hell do I have to lose..I'm playing these guys'
And they were GOOD. Right away. I've said this for years. I'll put that 72 Class up against any Class at A&M.
I was there all 4 years, saw it all. I'll get to that later.
My most interesting story involves Carl Roaches. The most dangerous man on the field when I was there. Everytime he touched the ball, he could take it to the house.
So spring 1976, we all looking at the NFL Draft. Ed Simonini to the Colts (still in Baltimore). Garth TenNapel (Lions). Richard Osborne to my Philadelphia Eagles ( Dick Vermeil's first year in Philly). But the guy I felt bad for was Carl Roaches. He gets drafted by the brand new Tampa Bay Bucs. And I knew right away that was a bad situation for him. An expansion team is generally a mess. All they're looking for is 45 warm bodies to start the season. ( The 76 Bucs, under John McCay went 0-14. McCay was asked by a reporter "Coach, what do you think of the execution of your football team? McCay relied "I'm in favor of it!!"). I knew they would take one look at Carl's size, and he'd be gone. And that's what happened. Good God..if my Eagles had that guy!!
So Carl went home to Houston, thinking his career was over....well...
In the late 1980 season, I was flying in the Navy, stationed in Jacksonville, Fla. One Friday, I got on an Air Florida flight to Tampa to spend a long weekend with my aunt and uncle. I'm sitting in coach, and this well dressed older guy sits across from me. We get to talking, and he mentions that he's flying up the next day to Detroit with"my Bucs". So I says "what do you do for the Bucs"? He says "ohh...I'm the OWNER". Ohhh really?
Yeah. It was Hugh Culverhouse. He was from Jacksonville.
It was a short flight, we had fun talking. I joked that I was still pissed about his Bucs knocking my Eagles out of the Playoffs in 79. We were pumped to go to the Super Bowl, went down to Tampa and lost 24-17. We took them too lightly. We couldn't stop Rickey Bell.
Then I said to Hugh, "You let a real good one get away a few years ago". He says "Who's that"? "My buddy from Texas A&M, Carl Roaches"
Hugh said "OMG....did you have to remind me?" Hugh said they actually tried to get Carl back but Houston had signed him.
Carl Roaches blossomed into one of the most dangerous kick and punt returners in the NFL. As I knew he would, if given the opportunity. God Bless Ya Bum Phillips!
Carl's career with the Oilers
1980- 1,130 total yards punt and kickoff returns. 5th in the NFL
1981- 1,065 total yards, 1 kickoff return TD 96 yards. 10th in NFL. Pro Bowl Selection.
1982.- 545 total return yards in 9 games. A strike shortened season
1983- 800 total yards. 1 KO return for TD 97 yards. 28th in NFL. Dreadful Season...Oilers 2-14
1984- 900 total yards. 19th in NFL.
Not too shabby a career for a guy who spent 4 full seasons out of football after he left A&M.
Good God....Dick Vermeil, you Idiot. What we could have done with that guy in Philadelphia.
