Texas A&M linebacker Dana Batiste has seen Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown and his Notre Dame teammates on film, and he can`t understand why the 12th-ranked Irish are favored by almost a touchdown over his 13th-ranked Aggies in the Cotton Bowl.
”I`m not in any way impressed by Notre Dame,” Batiste said. ”They`re an average college team that plays average college football.”
Batiste said the Irish (8-3) would have been also-rans behind A&M (9-2)
in the Southwest Conference. ”I see them as another Arkansas. They`ve got a big line, with big guards, and a passing game that won`t fool anyone. I wouldn`t say Notre Dame is as good as Texas.”
Batiste, the fifth-leading tackler on the nation`s seventh-ranked defense, said he expects no problems shutting down the Notre Dame offense. That includes checking Brown, whom Batiste called ”a good receiver” but not the most dangerous player the Aggies have seen.
”I`d rather play against Tim Brown every down than (Texas tailback)
Eric Metcalf any day,” Batiste said. ”Timmy`s a good receiver, but Metcalf . . . that dude`s a regular Houdini. He`s a much bigger offensive threat than Tim Brown.”