August 22, 2003
The end of two-a-day football practices at Texas A&M signal the beginning of game week and it also serves as a chance to honor the school's head Yell Leader.
Following the Aggies' second workout on Friday, coach Dennis Franchione congratulated the team for a great effort during the camp and then called on A&M head Yell Leader Tim Bailey to address the squad.
Bailey, a senior agricultural development major from San Antonio, continued the tradition of the head yell leader attending each of the squad's workouts. Before the implementation of the 105-person squad limit, the head Yell Leader would actually participate in the drills.
Franchione then presented Bailey with the traditional, and official, 12th Man jersey with Bailey's name on the back. Bailey was then presented with a football signed by Franchione. The ball is specially designed to commemorate the coach's inaugural season at A&M.
Franchione said the ending of two-a-days means the first game is near and with that he will put the team through a mock game weekend beginning Friday night.
"We'll go through a mock game," Franchione said. "We'll cover everything and have Friday night meetings and pregame meals. There will be a scripted workout with everything that can possibly happen in a game."
Entering his 20th season of holding the mock game, Franchione said even veteran players can learn from the experience.
"It's especially valuable in the first year for the whole team to go through everything," Franchione said. "After your first year, it's valuable for the returnees, but it is really valuable for the new guys to go through it."
The Aggies made it through the fall camp relatively healthy, according to Franchione.
"We have the various two-a-day bumps and bruises, and scratches and pulls," Franchione said. "Our schedule should let us start to heal a lot of those and get them back. There really isn't any thing significant other than what I gave you last week."
Franchione noted that offensive lineman Jami Hightower has left the hospital after being treated for a severe infection. Hightower remains out indefinitely.
Preseason All-America punter Cody Scates continues to be on course as he recovers from recent hernia surgery.
The Aggies will continue their mock game weekend Saturday before returning to the practice field on Sunday. The team will take Monday off.
A&M is preparing for its first game which is against Arkansas State on Saturday, August 30, at 7 p.m. at Kyle Field.