There's a train a-coming: the recruiting class that changed college football

I was on the faculty at Texas A&M for 27 years and taught sociology of sports. Now my son and I are writing a book about the 1972 recruiting class and the fascinating story of the integration of Aggie sports.

That recruiting class - Bubba Bean, Ed Simonini, Pat Thomas, Jackie Williams, Carl Roaches, Garth TenNapel, Skip Walker, Alvin Bowers, Richard Osborne, Edgar Fields, Bucky Sams, and other Aggie legends - was arguably Texas A&M's best ever.



It was also one of the most important in college football history, and it accelerated desegregation in the sport across the South.

We've interviewed many of the players and coaches. We've watched the games and read the press reports. Now we need to hear from you, the ordinary students and fans who saw it all happen.



How do you rank the top five wins of the Emory Bellard era? Where do you put the wins over LSU in 1974 and 1975? Texas in 75 and 76? How about the big wins over Arkansas, Texas Tech and Baylor?

Put your rankings and reasons in the thread below, and tell us your best stories. Where did you watch the game, who were you with, what did you do?

Don Albrecht
Mathew Albrecht '03

Not going to do any ranking but was at G Rolly when they were introduced at halftime of the basketball game. The crowd went wild.

Gric said:

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Not going to do any ranking but was at G Rolly when they were introduced at halftime of the basketball game. The crowd went wild.

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In 72?

Don't know, but uniforms were spot on!

I wish I could remember wins number two thru five. I agree with Steve. The 20-10 win over tu in 75 was the best, and most memorable win of any game In my lifetime (I was a freshman and stood in the horseshoe).

And…words don't do justice to how we felt after A&M's loss at Arkansas several days later.

Wish you could interview Simonini. Also, have you interviewed Mad Dog Robinson? Surprised he's still alive.