August 02, 2004
| All eyes on are Reggie McNeal to see if he'll have a breakout year to equal his breakout game of 2002, when he emerged from now-and-again backup status to guide a stunning 30-26 victory over No. 1-ranked Oklahoma at Kyle Field. McNeal ran for 89 yards and threw for 191 in that game, mirroring the scrambling, speedy, strong-armed abilities that had him rated as one of the premier high school QBs in the nation in 2001 out of Lufkin.
Last year he approached that kind of production in losses against ranked Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh and in a little over a half of a blowout against Baylor with outputs of 261, 263, and 260 yards, respectively, of total offense, and he blew Kansas away at Kyle with an efficient 330 yards (259 passing, 71 running) on just 18 plays. Conversely, Saturdays on the road at Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri turned out miserably. In those three games McNeal averaged six completions, 62.3 yards passing, and 14.7 yards rushing, compared to 208 yards of total offense on the average in the other nine games. Nebraska took the ball from him three times on passes and twice on fumbles. In the Nebraska game a tinge shot through McNeal's throwing shoulder. He still had a productive game after that, in the finale against Texas, but against a numb shoulder and mild concussion at Missouri the season turned sour, and during Christmas and semester break he learned he would need surgical repairs on the shoulder. McNeal came back strong through rehabilitation and started throwing in May, earlier than doctors thought he might. Coach Fran and QB coach Les Koenning challenged McNeal also to let his mind heal from the lickings of '03 and to come back ready to take charge and lead this year's team. He was limited to running play drills, but worked incessantly on huddle communication and snap exchange. They also needed him to help groom highly-touted freshman Stephen McGee rapidly. With McNeal unable to throw in the spring, McGee worked constantly with the No. 1 and No. 2 units and picked up the system quickly. "I don't think we'll be able to afford to redshirt Stephen," Coach Fran said. "The foundation given Stephen in the spring will prove valuable this fall. He is a very intelligent, quick learner who has an outstanding arm, quick feet, and great leadership potential." Ty Branyon stepped up in the spring and had an outstanding intrasquad game, throwing a game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute. "He is capable of getting us through trouble," Koenning said. Ty was elected by teammates to the Leadership Council. Jordan Chambless was a bit of a gamble in recruitment because he was a shoo-in to be selected in the baseball draft. He wants to play both sports for A&M, though, and adds depth and athleticism to the future of the quarterback position. Meanwhile, a healthy McNeal, who missed some games his freshman year with injury, would definitely be a boon to the Aggie hopes. AggieAthletics.com's 2004 football preview will bring you right up to the "beginning" of football season, when the players report to campus on Aug. 8.
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