December 22, 2001
The Texas A&M football team continued its preparations for the GalleryFurniture.com Bowl with a two-hour practice in full pads Saturday at Rice Stadium's grass practice field.
Light rain became a part of the latter part of the Aggies' first Houston-based workout, but A&M coach R.C. Slocum said the practice went well.
"I thought our team had good workouts in College Station and showed good effort," Slocum said. "Today, I thought we had a good practice. The field here is in good shape and I appreciate the hospitality shown to us by the bowl and the people here at Rice."
Slocum said that wide receiver Jamaar Taylor is back at full speed from his recent ailment and running back Derek Farmer is "close to full speed."
A&M inside linebacker Jared Morris will miss the bowl game after undergoing surgery on his knee and defensive back Sean Weston is listed as very doubtful with a hyperextended knee.
Starting offensive lineman Michael Mahan will also miss the bowl game due to a back injury. He will report to Houston on Dec. 26 with some of the other Aggies who are injured.
The Aggies will take Sunday off from practice and will take a tour of SpaceCenter Houston and visit the Kemah Boardwalk area.
A&M will resume workouts on Monday as it prepares to face TCU on Dec. 28 at 12:30 p.m. in the Reliant Astrodome in a game televised nationally by ESPN.