August 11, 2001
The Texas A&M football team held its first full squad two-a-day workouts Saturday, but in the process one of the team's top tight-ends was lost for the season.
The squad held two practices at the grass practice fields near Kyle Field in shorts and helmets.
During the morning workout, senior tight-end Lonnie Madison suffered a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament in his left knee, an injury that will end his season.
Madison, who is from The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston, was listed in the top position on the preseason depth chart with teammate Michael de la Torre. Madison, a former defensive lineman, had switched to the offensive side of the football last season and saw action in all 12 games at tight-end.
"That was a big, big, disappointment," A&M head coach R.C. Slocum said. "He's a fifth-year senior who is in great shape and someone who we were counting on this fall. That's a blow to our football team and a really a big, big, disappointment to a fine young man."
Madison injured his knee during non-contact drills as he was cutting from left to right to catch a short pass.
"You really can't comprehend what a blow that is to a guy coming up for his senior year, great guy, very dedicated player who has worked really hard to get ready for this year," Slocum said. "And go out there and all of a sudden now you have all this anticipation and it's out the window. He's facing knee surgery and more than likely he's lost for the entire season."
Slocum says that Madison's injury will put the tight-end position in the hands of de la Torre and sophomore Fred Spiller.
"Mike (de la Torre) is coming back off of a back surgery and we've been a little concerned about that," Slocum said . "(Fred) Spiller will have to step up now. He was our third tight end and a guy that hasn't really played for us. But he's going to have to step up and get ready in a hurry."
Other Aggies missing the workouts due to injury include punter Cody Scates with a pulled groin, defensive back Jarvis Mays with a hip flexor, and kicker Chris Sims who came down with a virus overnight.
A&M track All-American Bashir Ramzy has joined the football team as a wide receiver after completing four years of track eligibility. Ramzy has one season on football eligibility remaining. He is a six-time All-Ameican and a five-time Big 12 Conference Champion from Dallas.
"It's a longshot for a guy to come out for one year, but he's a real good athlete," Slocum said. "He might be one that could run down on kicks if he can tackle. We just don't know at this time."
The Aggies will practice once on Sunday before resuming two-a-day workouts on Monday. A&M opens the season on September 1 against McNeese State at 6 p.m. at Kyle Field.