ON THE SIDELINES : 6 Texas A&M; Gridders Charged

COLLEGE STATION, Tex. — Six Texas A&M; football players, including a starting cornerback, and one former player have been charged in connection with the alleged illegal use of telephone charge cards.

Wednesday’s arrests came as a result of a monthlong investigation by Bryan police and CallAmerica, a long-distance carrier in the Bryan-College Station area.

A&M; Head Coach R. C. Slocum said all six players will make the team trip this weekend to Fayetteville, Ark., for a game against Arkansas. Disciplinary action will be taken later only if the athletes are found guilty, Slocum said.

CallAmerica announced last month that thousands of dollars worth of long-distance phone calls had been made using illegal credit card numbers and that several A&M; football players were among the A&M; students under investigation. Arrest warrants were issued Tuesday, and the six players turned themselves in Wednesday, Slocum said. They were released on bond later.