September 28, 2003
Game notes for A&M's conference opener with Texas Tech Saturday at Jones Stadium in Lubbock...
Texas A&M AGGIES (2-2, 0-0 Big 12)
at
Texas Tech RED RAIDERS (3-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Kickoff --- 9 p.m. (9:10 actual), Saturday, Oct. 4, 2003
Site (capacity) --- Jones SBC Stadium, Lubbock, Texas (55,000 capacity)
Radio Information --- The game will be broadcast by the 60-plus station Texas A&M Radio Network. For a complete list of stations, go to: AggieAthletics.com. Calling the game on the A&M Radio Network are Dave South (play-by-play), Tim Cassidy (commentary) and Chris Valletta (sideline reports).
TV Information --- The game will be televised nationally by Fox Sports Net. Calling the game will be Bill Land (play-by-play), Gary Reasons (analysis) and Jim Knox (sideline).
GAME INFORMATION --- The Aggies will be looking for their first victory in Lubbock since 1993 when A&M notched a 31-6 victory over the Red Raiders.
Over the past 10 years, Texas Tech holds a 6-4 advantage over the Aggies, including a 4-1 mark in Lubbock. A&M head coach Dennis Franchione has faced Texas Tech twice in his career (at TT 37, UNM 31 in 1994; TT 34, at UNM 7 in 1995).
AGGIES OPEN BIG 12 PLAY WITH ROAD GAME VS. TEXAS TECH ---
The Aggies open their 2003 conference schedule with a road game against Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday, Nov. 4. The game features a 9 p.m. kickoff (9:10 actual) to accomodate a national television audience on Fox Sports Net. It will be the latest kickoff for the Aggies since 1980 when the A&M-Houston game at the Astrodome began at 11:33 p.m. due a conflict with the Houston Astros-Philadelphia Phillies playoff game. The Aggies are winless in their last four trips to Lubbock, dating back to a 31-6 drubbing of the Red Raiders in 1993.
CONFERENCE OPENER OFFERS FRESH START FOR AGGIES ---
The start of the Big 12 Conference schedule offers a fresh start for the 2-2 Aggies, who have lost their last two outings. Since the formation of the Big 12 Conference, the Aggies are 4-3 in conference openers. The Aggies are 2-1 in conference openers on the road. The Aggies are coming off back-to-back losses to top 25-ranked teams, falling to No. 5/4 (AP/ESPN/USA Today) Virginia Tech, 35-19, in Blacksburg, and to No. 17/18 Pittsburgh, 37-26, at Kyle Field.
O-LINE POSTS SEASON-HIGH KNOCKDOWNS VS. PITT ---
Led by junior center Geoff Hangartner's 26 knockdown blocks, the Aggie offensive line had a season-high 88 knockdowns against Pittsburgh. Senior guard John Kirk also was over 20 in knockdowns with 21 pancake blocks. Senior offensive tackle Alan Reuber had a pair of "double-blocks" which are two knockdown blocks on one play.
JOLLY GOOD PLAYER ---
A bright spot on the Aggies' defensive front has been the play of first-time starter Johnny Jolly, who is the top tackler among the front seven and ranks No. 3 on the team in tackles with 35. The sophomore from Forest Brook High School in Houston is also tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 4 and he's batted down 4 opponent aerials.
TAYLOR GRABS SCHOOL RECORD WITH FIFTH 100-YARD GAME ---
With 6 catches for 110 yards against Pittsburgh, senior wide receiver Jamaar Taylor set a school record with his fifth 100-yard receiving game of his career. He had been tied with four other players, including teammate Terrence Murphy. Taylor, who missed the Virginia Tech game due to injury, leads the team in receptions and receiving yards with 17 for 222. His 74 receiving yards per game rank No. 11 in the Big 12 Conference.
12TH MAN IS STANDING READY ---
First-year Aggie head coach Dennis Franchione's first Texas A&M squad is receiving solid contributions from several members of the 12th Man squad, which is comprised of nearly 70 non-scholarship players. The 12th Man tradition started in 1922 when a student was called out of the stands to fortify the injury-depleted Aggie squad in the Dixie Classic bowl game. Today, A&M students stand throughout games to show their readiness to enter a game if called upon. In addition, Franchione awarded scholarships to three former walkons during the open week prior to the Virginia Tech contest.
MURPHY LEADS NATION IN YARDS PER TOUCH ---
Wide receiver/kickoff returner Terrence Murphy leads the nation in average gain per touch with an impressive 24.7 per touch average (among the nation's top 100 all-purpose yards producers). Murphy has 5 kickoff returns for 245 yards, 14 catches for 204 yards and 4 carries for 120 yards.
ALL-PURPOSE MURPHY ---
Junior Terrence Murphy has emerged as one of the Big 12's top producers of all-purpose yardage. After four games, Murphy is averaging a team-best 142.3 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks No. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 19 nationally.
MURPHY MAKING HIS MARK IN RETURN GAME ---
A relative newcomer to kickoff returns, junior Terrence Murphy has started the 2003 on a record-setting pace. Through four games in 2003, Murphy, who had one previous kickoff return in his career, has gained 220 yards on four returns for a NCAA-leading 55.0 average.
VAN ZANT SHINES IN FIRST-EVER STARTING ASSIGNMENT ---
Making his first career start with his freshly-awarded scholarship in his pocket, senior wide receiver Tim Van Zant responded with a huge game against Virginia Tech. Van Zant led all receivers with 7 catches for 102 yards and scored his first-career touchdown against the Hokies. Prior to the VT game, Van Zant had played in every game but had not tallied a reception. In fact, his career statistics were 6 catches for 67 yards. Voted a member of the Leadership Council by his teammates last spring, Van Zant was an all-district and all-South Texas pick for the Victoria Fighting Stingaree after making 53 catches for 920 yards as a senior.
AGGIES' SCHEDULE RANKS AMONG NATION'S TOUGHEST ---
Texas A&M's 2003 schedule ranks among the nation's toughest, according the NCAA. A&M's remaining schedule ranks isecond-toughest with the future opponents combining for a 27-7 record and a .794 winning percentage. A&M's full schedule also ranks in a tie for second-toughest with all 12 opponents combining for a 39-12 mark and .765 winning percentage. Among A&M's eight remaining opponents are two undefeated teams (Nebraska and Oklahoma) and three teams ranked in the current AP Top 25 (Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas), including the top-ranked Sooners.
ACTION JAXSON CONTINUES DEFENSIVE TEAR ---
Sophomore safety Jaxson Appel has been on a tackling tear this season, ranking among the national leaders in tackles with an impressive 13.5 average per game. Appel has posted a whopping 54 tackles in the Aggies' first four games, which is 16 more than A&M's second-leading tackler Ronald Jones. Appel has posted double-digit tackles in three of four games this season, including a career-best 18 stops against Virginia Tech. A do-it-all defender, Appel also leads the team in interceptions with two, has broken up other passes and forced and recovered a fumble.
MLB MORRIS INJURES KNEE, LOST FOR THE SEASON ---
Senior middle linebacker Jared Morris had surgery to repair a torn patella tendon in left knee on Sept. 7 and will be lost for the season. His loss robs the Aggie defense of its most experienced defender in its front seven. A fifth-year senior, Morris had made 21 starts at linebacker and was the team's leading active tackler with 181 career stops. Morris' loss leaves the Aggies with an inexperienced linebacker crew ?,at has just 10 career starts between them. Senior Scott Stickane, who was awarded a scholarship earlier this season, has replaced Morris in the starting lineup and ranks No. 4 on the team in tackles with 25 To shore up the position, A&M head coach Dennis Franchione has moved sophomore strongside linebacker Archie McDaniel inside to middle linebacker. Also, true freshman TaTa Thompson progressed sufficiently to warrant the removal of his redshirt and he saw action against Pittsburgh.
RECORD-SETTING DUO ---
With a combined 171 receiving yards against Pittsburgh, Jamaar Taylor and Terrence Murphy became the most prolific wide receiver tandem in school history, in terms of receiving. The duo has produced 2,792 receiving yards in their three years in the maroon and white, which passed the previous best of 2,785 yards by Bethel Johnson and Greg Porter (1999-2002). Taylor and Murphy rank No. 4 in career receptions among duos with a combined 186 catches. They trail Rod Bernstine and Shea Walker, who grabbed 203 catches from 1983-86 for the Aggies.
SCATES NAMED TO RAY GUY WATCH LIST ---
Preseason All-American punter Cody Scates, who made his 2003 playing debut against Virginia Tech, was one of 32 punters named to the 2003 Ray Guy Award watch list by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. Scates missed the first two games of the season due to hernia surgery, but returned to action against VT. Scates is the Big 12's top returning punter after averaging 43.7 yards per boot in 2002. Last season Scates also dropped 17 boots inside the opponent 20-yard line and forced 11 fair catches. Scates has a career average of 41.6 yards per punt with 55 coffin corner efforts and 35 fair catches. An excellent all-around athlete, Scates also handles kickoff duties for the Aggies and has been the primary placekicker during his career. In punt and kickoff coverage Scates has compiled 19 career tackles.
COACH FRAN RANKS AMONG THE WINNINGEST COACHES ---
The 26th head football coach in Texas A&M history, Dennis Franchione is in his first season in Aggieland and his 21st season as a collegiate head coach. With a career record of 157-75-2 as a head coach, Coach Fran ranks as the seventh-winningest active Div. 1-A head coach in college football (by total wins). His 67.5 career winning percentage ranks No. 8 among active head coaches with a minimum of five years of service. Texas A&M is the seventh stop for Franchione as a collegiate head coach, and has coached previously at Southwestern (Kan.) College (1981-82), Pittsburg State (1985-89), Southwest Texas State (1990-91), New Mexico (1992-97), TCU (1998-2000) and Alabama (2001-02).He also served as an assistant coach at Kansas State (1978-80) and Tennessee Tech (1983-84). The dean of Big 12 head coaches, Franchione has won eight conference championships and a divisional crown in his 20 seasons. Last season, Franchione's Alabama squad had the best record in the SEC West but were ineligible for the crown.