August 19, 2004
Training camp continued for the Texas A&M football team Thursday afternoon with one workout in full pads at the grass practice facility.
A&M coach Dennis Franchione moved the scheduled workout from the morning to the evening to aid his team entering its 14th practice.
"Mentally it helped," Franchione said. "Like any division one football team we are grinding through August. You have to practice when you are sore, but as a coaching staff we have to be smart on how far we take them. We're just two weeks out from our first game."
Friday will mark the Aggies' fourth of five two-a-day workouts.
Part of the Aggies' heralded recruiting class last February was a pair of junior college linebackers in Lee Foliaki (Euless, Texas/Butler Co. CC) and Renuel Greene (McCalla, Ala./East Miss. JC).
Franchione said that while the pair may not be the starters on opening day at Utah, they have already made an impact on the team after 14 workouts.
"Lee and Renuel are very quick learners," Franchione said. "Much faster than I anticipated. Will they start? I can't say that today, but will they help us? Yes.
"They've helped out this football team in a number of ways. They may not run out for the first series, but they are making an impact on this team that is not seen on the surface."
Franchione said Greene has caught the eyes of the coaching staff because of Greene's "ability to flash, his speed, and quickness."
Franchione describes Foliaki as a player "with a great nose for the football."
Projected starters at linebacker entering training camp were Justin Warren, Archie McDaniel, and Nurahada Manning.
"They have all raised their game," Franchione said. "The competition has been good for them. Competition helps us all raise our game."
The Aggies continue to prepare for the season opener at Utah on Sept. 2 in a game being televised by ESPN.