Texas A M

Two Texas firefighters died and two others were seriously injured battling a fire that engulfed a Knights of Columbus lodge near College Station, an official said Saturday. Eric Wallace, 36, and Greg Pickard, 54, both fire department lieutenants in the central Texas city of Bryan, died fighting the blaze that broke out before midnight Friday, city spokeswoman Mary Lynne Stratta said. Wallace, a 13-year veteran, was among the first rescuers that rushed into the lodge looking for occupants.

Texas Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds and Pacific 10 Commissioner Tom Hansen discussed the possibility of Texas and Texas A&M becoming members of the Pac-10 at a recent meeting in Kansas City, Mo. "It was nothing very formal," Pac-10 assistant commissioner Jim Muldoon told the Houston Chronicle. "It was more of an exchange of information. Tom needed to know some things about Texas and Texas A&M, and I'm sure they needed some information about the Pac-10." William A.

Oregon can bask all Sunday morning and afternoon in the latest college football rankings that have the Ducks at No. 1. Alabama's home loss to Texas A&M on Saturday vaulted Oregon to the top of the  Associated Press  and USA Today polls. Oregon, however, is likely to sit at No. 2 behind Kansas State when the BCS standings are released Sunday evening. Oregon's computer index still lags in the BCS formula that uses two polls and a computer component. The Ducks would probably close the gap if they win out with a closing schedule of Stanford, Oregon State and the Pac 12 title game against either UCLA or USC. All four schools are ranked this week.

Texas A&M finally got a hit off Cal State Fullerton pitcher Connie Clark, but it wasn't enough to keep the Titans from winning the College World Series softball championships, 3-0, in Omaha, Neb. Clark (20-2), who pitched two no-hitters against the Aggies, gave up just one hit while striking out eight in leading Fullerton (57-9-1) to its first NCAA title in four trips to the World Series. "It's nice to get the monkey off our back," Titan Coach Judi Garman said.

Jamal Lewis, Tennessee's leading rusher, will miss at least the rest of the regular season after tearing a knee ligament in Saturday's victory over Auburn, Coach Phillip Fulmer said. Washington quarterback Brock Huard will miss 2-3 weeks after separating his left shoulder in Saturday's loss to Arizona. Sophomore Marques Tuiasosopo is expected to replace Huard this Saturday against Arizona. . . .

Rk. Team Rec. Result Next 1. CONNECTICUT 16-0 Did not play No. 3 Notre Dame, today 2. STANFORD 14-1 Did not play Washington, today 3. NOTRE DAME 15-0 Did not play at No. 1 Connecticut, today 4. TENNESSEE 15-1 Did not play Vanderbilt, Sunday 5. OHIO STATE 18-1 Did not play Indiana, Sunday ...

1. Texas visits Texas A&M on Thanksgiving in what could be the last meeting in a bitter series that dates to 1894. Texas A&M is leaving the Big 12 after this season for the Southeastern Conference. Texas said its schedule is booked at least through 2018. 2. Houston (11-0) isn't home yet. The eighth-ranked Cougars face a critical game at Tulsa (8-3, 7-0) on Friday to determine Conference USA's West Division champion. Houston needs two more wins to finish unbeaten and secure an at-large BCS bowl bid. 3. Arkansas vs. Louisiana State has always been a wild turkey after-Thanksgiving affair and this Friday the stakes are higher than ever as a possible national title game berth awaits the winner.

The first thing you have to know about the Southwest Conference is that every school hates at least one other school, and they all hate the University of Texas. Four years ago, when SMU's Mustangs were beginning yet another probationary period and blaming Texas for turning them in, bumper stickers began appearing on the cars in the SMU student-parking lots, which closely resemble the parking lots around Rodeo Drive, that said, "My Maid Went to Texas." When confronted by Mustang preppies, Longhorn followers would respond: "Of course.

UCLA has done nothing but mess with Texas. The Bruins take a nine-game winning streak against Texas teams into Saturday's game at Houston. It would be hard to find a better location to open a season of such importance, with Coach Rick Neuheisel's job on the line. The game looms at least as big in Houston, though, because of the Cougars' Big 12 Conference aspirations. Houston would like a little Street & Smith cred to enhance its chances of joining a conference with Bowl Championship Series ties.

Rk. Team Rec. Result Next 1. CONNECTICUT 13-0 Did not play Cincinnati, Thursday 2. STANFORD 11-1 Did not play at USC, Friday 3. NOTRE DAME 13-0 Did not play Villanova, Saturday 4. TENNESSEE 12-1 Did not play South Carolina, Thursday 5. BAYLOR 13-1 Did not play at No. 23 Okla. St., Sat. 6. OHIO STATE 16-1 Did not play at No. 19 Mich.