August 07, 1998
Texas A&M Head Football Coach R.C. Slocum welcomed the varsity football players back to campus on Friday.
"It's exciting to have the varsity back on campus," Slocum said. "Actually, a majority of our players stayed here this summer to workout together. It looks like they are in good shape, but we will be able to tell more in the next few days. Everyone reported on time and after a couple of days of physicals and compliance meetings, we will hit the practice field on Monday."
As the varsity reported, the Aggie freshmen football players joined approximately 800 classmates at the first session of Fish Camp, a freshman orientation held near Palestine, Texas. A total of 4,800 freshmen will attend the six sessions of Fish Camp this summer. The freshmen football players will miss several workouts, but the benefits outweight the negatives according to Coach Slocum.
"I hate to lose time away from football, but this is an opportunity for these youngsters to fit in with the rest of the freshman class," Slocum said. "Over the period of their collegiate careers, from an academic and social standpoint, attending Fish Camp is a good, long-term investment toward their success."
In addition to the 64 scholarship veterans, 17 veteran walkons joined the group on Friday including two of three placekickers battling for that position. Russell Bynum, a sophomore from LaMarque High School, and Terence Kitchens, a sophomore from Lumberton High School, will battle junior Shane Lechler from East Bernard for the plackicker position.
Workouts are closed to the public. Media representatives should contact Alan Cannon at the Sports News Office at (409) 845-5725 to schedule interviews.
TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL WORKOUT SCHEDULE:
Monday, Aug. 10
8 am First Practice/Simpson Drill Field
11:30 am Best Time for Interviews/Cain Hall
6:15 pm Second Practice/Simpson Drill Field
Tuesday, Aug. 11
7:15 am First Practice/Simpson Drill Field
10:45 am Best Time for Interviews/Cain Hall
6:15 pm Second Practice/Simpson Drill Field