European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 30 the stars and stripes sports saturday August 20,1994 probation struck aggie accentuate the negative by Michael a. Lutz College station Texas a Texas am coach . Slocum consid ers it a compliment when other coaches use negative recruiting tactics. Using that definition the aggie got plenty of compliments during the most recent recruiting season their first since being placed on Mcaa probation for five years in january. That did t Stop the aggie from hav ing one of their Best recruiting seasons Ever just As no one has been Able to keep am from winning a record 22 straight Southwest conference games and the last three league titles. After a while recruits Felt like if the other schools were so concerned about Texas am obviously something must be going on pretty Good up there Slocum said. He also plans to use the same turn a negative into a positive philosophy to Deal with the other major changes facing the aggie this season. The biggest is that am can t claim a fourth straight title because of the Mcaa punishment. The aggie also Are banned from television and a bowl game this season because players got paid for summer work they did t perform. On the Field am has new offensive and defensive coordinators five other new assistant coaches six new offensive starters and eight new starters on de sense. Three of the departed players were first round picks in the nil draft. I think losing the players and coaches has created some excitement on the team Slocum said. There Are More players who realize they have a Chance to play. I know that i m As motivated As i be Ever  in recent years the aggie have tried to diversify their offence to include More passing. Each year they be had to fall Back on their potent running game to survive. This year though they be brought in Steve Ensminger from Georgia to be come the new offensive coordinator in Hopes of adding passing zip. Quarterback Corey Pullig has had his passing woes but Slocum expects dra Matic improvement in his Junior season. I thought Corey had a Good Spring Slocum said. You look at Corey two Cotton bowls ago and last Spring he was a lot  although running Back Greg Hill left school and became the no. 1 draft pick of the Kansas City chiefs the aggie never seem Short on running backs. Am has one of the country s Best Backfield tandems in senior Rodney Thomas and Sophomore Leeland Mcelroy. But they la be running behind an offensive line that returns Only one starter Calvin Collins and he s been moved from guard to Center. Tommy Tuberville who left the University of Miami to become the aggie defensive coordinator won t inherit the same unit that ranked third in the nation in total defense last season. He must replace eight starters including All three defensive linemen who were drafted into the nil. A Fate tailback Rodney Thomas. Steps into senior season offence to protect Green lion defense a me Penn state coach Joe Paterno right has handed the Ball to quarterback Kerry Collins. By Kelly p. Kissel state College a. A with so much offence at Joe Paterno s Dispo Sal it should t matter that Penn state won t have its usual dominating defense this season. The Kittany Lions who finished third in their inaugural big ten season Are settled at quarterback and have Quick experienced receivers and a Trio of Tail backs suitable for any occasion. But the offence s expected efficiency does t reduce Paterno s worries. An mistakes will put pressure of a Young de sense that lost eight starters from Las year. The placekicker and punter Are gone too.  a to i am apprehensive Paterno  concern would be that we Don t put them in a bad position we Don t punt Heball poorly and we Don t kick the Ball around offensively so that the other Guy has a 45-, 50 or 55-Yard drive a couple of times. That can get to be  Penn state went 10-2 last season including a 6-2 Mark in the big ten an finished no. 8 in the a poll after beat ing Tennessee 31-13 in the Citrus bowl. Paterno knows it will be Tough to match last year s record in the Ultra competitive big ten. Fourth in this league May be Good he said for the first time since Tony Sacca started every game in 1990 and 1991, it appears Penn state will have Only one starter at quarterback. Kerry Collins senior won the starting Job Over soph Omore Wally Richardspn. Last year col Lins took Over from John Sacca three games into the season. I feel a lot More confident coming into the season knowing i had a Good Spring and a Good end of last season Collins said. I know it s my Job. I can relax and just play  the Battle this year is at tailback where i Jana Carter Mike Archie and Stephen Pitts bring different styles to the same position. They Are All Good football players Paterno said. Carter is a very explosive kid who can really accelerate. Archie is College football 94 the smart Good athlete Back there that sees things. Pitts is kind of in Between  Carter started seven of 11 regular sea son games last season missing the last two after injuring his knee. He carried for 1,026 Yards Archie for 766 and Pitts 351.bobby Engram who set a school re Cord with four touchdown catches i Penn state s conference debut against Minnesota is Back. Paterno said Engram probably has better hands than . Mcduffie now with the Miami dolphins but riot Mcduffie s Speed. Justin Williams and Freddie Scott Are battling for the flanker spot. Kyle Brady who averaged nearly 11 Yards on 26catches last year is Back for his senior year at tight end if there is a better blocking tight ending the country i would have to see it Paterno said five of the departed defensive player started every game last year. Topping the returners is inside linebacker Brian Gelz Heiser who led the team in tackles last year. He has got to be one of our leaders Paterno said. He is one of the More experienced kids playing there and he is Ina position that has got to have leadership to begin with Brett Conway a Sophomore will kick extra Points and Field goals replacing Craig Fayak the school s career scoring Leader with 282 Points. Joe Jurevicius a wide receiver who punted in High school could pull double duty in College too. After one swing through the big ten following 106 years As an Independent Paterno believes the Kittany Lions have developed a sense of what it takes to win in a conference. It s easier to talk to them about whatsit is going to take to be successful in the big ten Paterno said. I really Felt Las year that until we played Ohio state we did t realize How Tough you had to Beeach  Ohio state beat Penn stated 24-6 Las year. The Lions Only other loss was 21-13 to Michigan