Tag Archives: texas a&m wrecking crew

NFL

Smith, Kevin “Pup”

Card: Classic 1992
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1992

I got Kevin Smith and Patrick Bates autograph at the same time during Cowboys Training Camp in 1992. They were chatting up a storm about ‘future plans’ and it was obvious that they were good friends since they were members of Texas A&M’s Wrecking Crew during the late 80s and early 90s.

Kevin Smith is the all time leader at A&M with 20 picks and he earned All American Honors at the end of the season. The Cowboys were looking for solutions at defensive back and grabbed Smith with the 17th pick of the first round. He’d start 6 games and make 2 picks as a reserve defensive back. He’d take over the starting role in 1993 making 6 interceptions and 90 tackles which would all be career highs. After a subpar 1994, Kevin’s 1995 would be completely derailed by an Achilles injury and after starting one game his season would be over.  He’d return in 1996 and make 5 interceptions, but nobody ever recovers back to top speed after an Achilles tear.  Kevin would play through 2000, and while it would be the downside of his career, Smith’s career probably would have been more stellar if he hadn’t lost his 1995 to an injury.

G/Gs 103/93   Tac 334   Sac 0   Int  19   Yds 190   Avg 10.0   Td 1    Lg 32

 

NFL

Coryatt, Quentin “Q”

Cards: StarPics 1992, ActionPacked Rookies 1992, GameDay 1992
Received: TTM 1992, 1993, C/o The Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts in 1992 had certainly positioned themselves well in the draft possessing the #1 and #2 pick overall after receiving the Buccaneers #1 pick (second overall) after trading them with Chris Chandler. The Colts would take Steve Emtman #1 and then get Coryatt #2 in the draft. – Neither of them would ever make the Pro Bowl over their career, while a lot of talent was left on the board with Sean Gilbert, Troy Vincent,Marco Coleman, Chester McGlocton, Dale Carter and Robert Jones all coming off the board in the first round alone after these two.  (Overall probably the most recognizable name from this draft would probably become wide receiver Jimmy Smith.) Coryatt would be a devastating linebacker at A&M especially when paired with Aaron Wallace in the famed ‘Wrecking Crew’. A vicious hitter, Quentin received recognition as the SWC defensive player of the year in 1991.

After being taken by the Colts second overall he’d find himself moved around the middle three over the next 6 seasons for the franchise and play in every position. Injuries would limit his contributions in 1992, starting 7 games and making 54 tackles at LILB. While 1993 would show perhaps a glimpse of his talent as Quentin racked up 150 tackles at MLB, he’d move to RLB the next two seasons and make roughly 140 tackles. Another injury plagued 1996 would limit his contributions to 7 games and 32 tackles, and while he’d play 15 games in 1997 and have a pretty good season with 2 picks, 2 sacks, 2 FF and 59 tackles- he’d be allowed to leave via free agency in 1999 and play 4 games with the Dallas Cowboys in 1999 and retire.

I remember when I got Quentin’s autographs through the mail. I really wanted to get the Action Packed Rookies 1992 card signed and sent back for that and the Game Day. After I got the autograph back- a year or two later he sent me a form letter indicating that he was forming his own fan club called the “Q Club” for all his fans, but by this point I was pretty much done for a bit collecting TTM.

Unfortunately Coryatt had flashes of brilliance and indeed was a worthy draft choice- but probably at not such a lofty number. There was a sense the Colts drafted him based on his highlight tape- not on if he fit their defensive scheme as Coryatt was constantly being moved around the linebacking corps. I think Quentin would be remembered differently if he had been drafted in the 3rd round perhaps, but his performance certainly doesn’t necessarily quantify him as a bona fide bust. Quentin however is still considered a local legend at Texas A&M, and recently reunited with many of his former teammates at the school as honorary captains.

G/Gs  82/77      Tac  442       Sac  8.5       Fum   7      Int 3       Yds 9        Avg 3.0       Td 0         Lg 6

One of Coryatt’s vicious hits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1vCZ6zt4Es&feature=related

 

NFL

Bates, Patrick

Card: Classic 1993
Acquired: In Person 1993, Dallas Cowboys training camp

I got Patrick’s autograph his rookie season with the Raiders when he was drafted by the then Los Angeles Raiders as a Junior in the first round of the 1993 Draft. A member of  Texas A&M with Kevin Smith and the “Wrecking Crew”, Bates was a hard hitting specimen coming out of college and from the #1 college defense.

In his first season Patrick was not allowed to start, (something that would get his ire) but would post an interception and 16 tackles. The coaches then kept playing with the lineup in 1994 when he started 9 games, recovering 2 fumbles and made 53 tackles. Bates was miserable however, (claiming it was because of he was unsatisfied with first contract, and how things were done in the organization,) and quit after the 1995 preseason, sitting out the entire season. It was reported the Cowboys and Falcons really wanted him, and so during the 1996 draft, the Raiders traded Bates to the Atlanta Falcons. He’d last one season there before a bizarre incident where he was charged with assaulting his pregnant girlfriend, kidnapping his child, and pistol whipping the mother of the baby, got him cut by the team.  Afterwards he tried a comeback in 1998 with of all teams – the Raiders, but it was short lived as he failed the physical because of a fractured dislocation of the elbow.

Patrick did have a difficult life, losing both his parents and his grandmother and a brother before he was 21, but he tried to own up to it, and was thankful for his foster family who raised him. He got homesick after he lost his grandmother and transferred from UCLA to Texas A&M to be closer to his family.  Unfortunately Patrick Bates goes down as another in a long line of drafting disasters by the Silver and Black organization and harshly in 2008 was ranked # 37 on ESPN’s greatest draft busts. At last glance, in 2006  he was living in the Houston area and was a fan of the Houston Texans, approving of the team’s signing of Gary Kubiak as head coach- however at this time where he is remains to be seen. As a fan I really wish for Patrick’s well being and the best.

Games 18    Tac  106    Sac 0     Fum 3
Int 1     Yds 0     Avg -.-      Td 0       Lg 0