August 15, 2003
Texas A&M Head Football Coach Dennis Franchione announced other than the usual two-a-day ailments, Cody Scates, Jami Hightower and Patrick Fleming will miss some time on the football practice field.
"Right now we're missing punter Cody Scates, offensive tackle Jami Hightower and tight end Patrick Fleming," Coach Fran said. "Cody had a surgical procedure to repair a slight hernia and the prognosis is it will take a couple of weeks for recovery. Jami will probably be out indefinitely, the doctors say, while on medication for a severe infection. On the first day of contact, Patrick reinjured the shoulder he had operated on in the off-season."
Scates, a senior from Lee High School in Tyler, is a pre-season All-America selection by many publications. He averaged 43.7 yards per kick last season and has a career average of 40.2 entering the 2003 campaign.
Competing behind Scates at the punter position are walkons Jacob Young, a junior from Fairfield High School, and Joshua Gregory, a freshman from Smithson Valley High School.
Hightower, a junior from Jacksonville High School, has started 17 straight games on the offensive line for the Aggies.
Alex Kotzur, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman from St. Thomas High School in Houston, has been working at Hightower's quick/strong tackle.
Fleming is a redshirt freshman from Heritage High School in Colleyville. He missed the spring drills as well with an injury.
Both Fleming and returning starter Thomas Carriger missed spring drills. Redshirt freshman Andy Matakis, from Flour Bluff High School in Corpus Christi, switched from linebacker to tight end to provide additional depth.
Coach Fran also reiterated that he will not discuss injuries once the season begins.
The Aggies open the 2003 season at home against Arkansas State on Saturday, August 30 with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.