November 10, 2003
Game notes for Saturday's regionally-televised contest at Missouri...
Texas A&M AGGIES (4-6, 2-4 vs. Big 12)
at
Missouri TIGERS (6-3, 2-3 vs. Big 12)
KICKOFF --- 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003
SITE (CAPACITY) --- Faurot Field (68,349 capacity), Columbia, Mo.
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 regionally televised by Fox Sports Net.
SERIES INFORMATION --- The Aggies hold a 6-1 advantage over the Tigers in the all-time series between Texas A&M and Missouri * The Tigers' lone victory came last season in an 33-27 overtime victory over the Aggies at Kyle Field ... The Aggies are 2-0 in previous trips to Faurot Field with victories in 1992 (26-14) and 1999 (51-14) ... The Aggies are 2-1 against the Tigers since the formation of the Big 12 Conference.
AGGIES' NON-LOSING SEASONS STREAK IN JEOPARDY --- The Aggies' school record streak of 20 consecutive non-losing seasons is in jeopardy as A&M enters the final two games of 2003 with a 4-6 record. The streak ranks as the nation's sixth-longest active string of non-losing seasons, and the 24th-longest in NCAA history. The last losing season for the Aggies was 1982 when A&M finished 5-6 in Jackie Sherrill's first season in Aggieland.
AGGIES SEEKING FIRST ROAD WIN OF 2003 SEASON --- The Aggies will be seeking the first road win of the 2003 season when they face off against Missouri on Saturday. The last time A&M went winless on the road for a full season was 1982 when the Aggies went 0-4 at Houston (L, 20-24), at SMU (L, 9-47), at Arkansas (L, 0-35) and at Texas (L, 16-53). The last time the Aggies were still looking for their first road victory this late in the season was 1999 when A&M took an 0-3 road mark to Columbia and emerged with a 51-14 win over Missouri.
LEWIS REMAINS ON PACE FOR 1,000-YARD SEASON --- Despite a season-low rushing effort against Oklahoma last week, redshirt freshman Courtney Lewis remains on pace to be A&M's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1998. Lewis, who could manage only 16 yards on 8 carries against the nation's top-ranked defense, is averaging 88.4 yards per game and will rush for 1,061 yards if he maintains that pace. With 884 yards to his credit this season, Lewis needs 116 yards to reach 1,000. The last Aggie to rush for 1,000 yards in a season was Dant? Hall, who rushed for 1,024 yards for the Aggies' 1998 Big 12 Championship squad.
APPEL STILL ON PACE FOR DB TACKLES MARK --- Sophomore Jaxson Appel remains on pace to break Carl Grulich's 26-year old A&M record for tackles in a season by a defensive back. With 114 tackles this season, Appel is on pace for a 137-tackle season, which would edge out Grulich's long-standing record of 132 tackles in 1977. Appel has produced double-digit tackle games six times this season, including a career-high 18 stops vs. Virginia Tech. He has posted nine or more stops in nine of 10 games, and his lowest tackle effort was seven against Baylor.
MURPHY NEARS MCELROY'S KICKOFF RETURN RECORD --- Junior Terrence Murphy needs just 67 kickoff return yards to break the school record for season kickoff return yards set by All-American returner Leeland McElroy in 1993. The Big 12 leader all season, Murphy has gained 524 yards on 17 returns and ranks No. 2 behind McElroy's school record of 590 yards on 15 returns.
AGGIES' SCHEDULE RANKS AMONG NATION'S TOUGHEST --- For the first time in five weeks, the Aggies' cumulative schedule isn't rated the nation's toughest by the NCAA. A&M's overall schedule is rated the nation's second-toughest by the NCAA, just behind Alabama. The Aggies' past opponents rate as the fifth-toughest schedule. The Aggies' closing schedule against 6-3 Missouri and 8-2 Texas ranks in a tie for eighth-toughest future schedule.
9 OF 12 OPPONENTS ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR BOWLS--- Nine of A&M's 12 opponents this season have already reached the requisite six victories and are eligible for bowl participation. Another A&M opponent, Kansas, is one win shy of bowl eligibility.
TEAM EFFORT KEYS AGGIES' RUSHING GAME RENAISSANCE --- Led by a two-headed tailback, its most mobile quarterback since Bucky Richardson, and an improved offensive front, the Aggies have experienced a renaissance in its running game in 2003. The Aggies are averaging 189.8 rushing yards per game with an impressive 4.8 yards per carry average through 10 games this season. It is the Aggies' best per game rushing average since 1997 when they gained 205.4 yards per game on the ground. Redshirt freshman Courtney Lewis and junior Derek Farmer have combined to give the Aggies 1,187 rushing yards from its running back position, while sophomore quarterback Reggie McNeal has emerged as a rushing threat with 325 yards on the ground. Much credit also goes to a youthful offensive front that features just two returning starters.
MURPHY CONTINUES CLIMB UP AGGIES' RECEIVING CHARTS --- Junior Terrence Murphy is on pace to break A&M's school record for career receptions and receiving yards.
A&M'S OFFENSIVE FRONT SHOWS UNCOMMON CONTINUITY --- A&M's starting offensive line fivesome of center Geoff Hangartner, guards John Kirk and Aldo De La Garza, and tackles Alan Reuber and Alex Kotzur have started in nine straight games for the Aggies. The last time the Aggies were able to start the same five linemen for six straight games or more was 1998 when the starting five of Seth McKinney, Cameron Spikes, Semisi Heimuli, Rex Tucker and Andy Vincent started all 13 games for the Aggies.
MONTGOMERY IMPACTS AGGIES' DEFENSIVE FRONT --- Junior Mike Montgomery, a transfer from Navarro Junior College, is making his presence felt on the Aggies' defensive front. In the past six games, Montgomery has compiled 31 tackles, including six for a loss of 16 yards. Montgomery missed the first two games and had just two stops in the next two games.
MAKING A PUSH --- The Aggies' defensive line has started to make its presence felt in the opposing team's backfield. In the past five games, A&M defensive linemen have accounted for 26 tackles for loss of yardage.
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 75. He is the team leader in tackles for loss of yardage with 10 for minus-33.
MURPHY NO. 2 NATIONALLY IN YARDS PER TOUCH --- Wide receiver/kickoff returner Terrence Murphy ranks No. 2 nationally in average gain per touch with an impressive 20.9 per touch average (among the nation's top 100 all-purpose yards producers). Murphy has 17 kickoff returns for 524 yards, 29 catches for 456 yards and 8 carries for 150 yards.
MURPHY MAKING HIS MARK IN RETURN GAME --- Junior Terrence Murphy, who came into 2003 with just one career kickoff return, has emerged as one of the nation's best return men. Murphy ranks No. 3 nationally and leads the Big 12 with a 30.8 average.
LATE ADDITION YOUNG SHINES AT PUNTER FOR AGGIES --- A late addition to the Aggies' fall camp 105-player roster, junior walkon Jacob Young has been one of the biggest surprises on the A&M squad in 2003. Young received a phone call from the Aggie coaching staff in August when preseason All-America punter Cody Scates had surgery for a sports hernia. When Scates wasn't ready for the season-opener against Arkansas State, Young calmly averaged 59.5 yards on two punts against the Indians. He's gone to see action in nine of 10 games, and he's been the Aggies' starting punter in six games. Young, who only started punting as a senior at Fairfield High School and had just 10 game-action punts prior to this season (all in high school), is averaging a respectable 37.8 yards on 36 boots and has deposited 10 punts inside the opponent's 20. He has a net average of 36.3 Of his 36 punts, only 13 have been have been fielded and just six have been returned for positive yardage. Opponents have gained 53 yards after fielding a Young punt for an average return of 4.1 yards per return. In a "Up Close" questionnaire from last spring, Young's answer to the question: Which teammate will surprise people next fall? was "Hopefully me."
BLACKCAT TRIO BOOSTS DEFENSIVE UNIT --- For the first time in anyone's memory, Texas A&M had three defensive starters from the same high school in the same game against Nebraska. The trio of former Bay City Blackcats - junior cornerback Byron Jones and sophomore linebackers Nurahda Manning and Archie McDaniel - combined to make 21 tackles, including 3 for loss of yardage, and forced a fumble. Another Blackcat, wide receiver John Roberson, made the trip but did not play. Earlier this season, another threesome from the same high school - Tyler Lee's Cody Scates, Derek Farmer and Justin Warren - started together at punter, running back and linebacker, respectively.
PLACEKICKER PEGRAM IS SOLID IN SECOND SEASON --- Sophomore placekicker Todd Pegram has been a consistent force for the Aggies in 2003 after a shaky first season in 2002. Pegram has righted the ship after starting off his A&M career just 5-of-12 in field goal attempts through the first six games of 2002. Since then, Pegram has connected on 20-of-27 field goal attempts, including 13-of-18 in 2003. Pegram ranks No. 3 in the Big 12 and No. 34 nationally in field goals per game with a 1.30 average.
CAREER-ENDING INJURY CLAIMS THIRD FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR --- The Aggies lost their third fifth-year senior to injury when Jamaar Taylor suffered a career-ending knee injury against Nebraska on Oct. 18. Taylor was just 10 catches and 36 yards short of breaking the career school record in both categories. Taylor joins linebacker Jared Morris and offensive lineman Andr? Brooks on the career-ending injury list. The Aggies' leading active tackler, Morris started the first two games before suffering a knee injury against Utah. Brooks, who started 15 games over the past three seasons, retired due to recurring knee problems during fall camp. The Aggies also lost junior Jami Hightower, a two-year starter at offensive tackle, due to a severe infection contracted during fall camp.
INJURY ENDS TAYLOR'S RUN AT RECEIVING RECORD BOOK --- A season- and career-ending knee injury on Oct. 18 ended Jamaar Taylor's assault on the Aggie receiving record book. In just two-and-a-half seasons, Taylor was poised to become Texas A&M's career leader in receptions and receiving yards. He needed just 10 catches and 36 receiving yards to pass Bethel Johnson's (1999-2002) school records of 117 catches for 1,740 yards. Taylor's career stats are 108 catches for 1,705 yards and 10 touchdowns.TAYLOR HIT CENTURY MARK SCHOOL RECORD SIX TIMES --- Senior Jamaar Taylor finished his career with a school record six games with 100-yards-plus receiving.
A&M PRODUCES NFL TALENT --- With 34 former players on National Football League rosters, Texas A&M ranks as the most prolific producer of NFL talent in the Big 12 Conference, according to the AlumniTracker on CBS Sportsline.com.
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 159-79-2 as a head coach, Coach Fran ranks as the seventh-winningest active Div. 1-A head coach in college football (by total wins). His 66.7 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.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARS --- Thirty-four members of the Aggie football team received Texas A&M/Verizon Athletics Scholar Awards at the annual CHAMPS Awards Banquet last spring. To be considered for the award, the student-athlete must achieve a cumulative GPR of 3.00 or higher or a semester GPR of at least 3.00.