August 11, 2004
Texas A&M's football team donned shoulder pads for the first time in training camp Wednesday.
Despite a short retreat from the practice field because of inclement weather, the Aggies completed their entire workout of nearly three hours.
Coach Dennis Franchione said shoulder pads allowed the team some contact drills, something he said the team was looking forward to.
"The first day there is always a little bit of tenderness in pads," Franchione said. "We got things started with the Aggie Drill and I thought it went well. The guys were glad to get the pads on."
Beginning his second season as the Aggies' coach, Franchione said the team is further along this year than they were a year ago.
"We are ahead of last year in things we are doing," Franchione said, "and that's a compliment to being in year two and not year one. The older guys are kind of helping coach the young guys."
The Aggies will have a single practice on Thursday and Friday before holding their first two-a-day workout on Saturday. The squad will don full pads on Friday.
A&M will kickoff the season at Utah on Sept. 2 in a game being televised nationally on ESPN.