August 29, 2004
The countdown to the season opener continued for the Texas A&M football team Sunday as it returned to the practice field following a day off.
A&M coach Dennis Franchione said the day off was part of the game week preparations to aid players in getting their legs back for the Utah game on Thursday.
"We got a lot done today and practiced a lot of situations," Franchione said. "Today was like a Tuesday practice for us in a game week preparation. We still have a few things to clean up and work on before the game on Thursday."
Classes start for students at A&M on Monday and in accordance with NCAA rules the active roster will expand beyond the 105-player training camp barrier.
Franchione expects some 25 to 35 players to join the roster, but redshirt freshman running back Derrick Brown (Spring, Texas/Klein Oak) will not be one of them. Brown, who backed up senior Keith Joseph in the Maroon and White game last April for the White team, will enroll in a junior college.
"Derrick (Brown) is going to go to junior college," Franchione said. "He's going to take some time to get everything in line, academics and his life, and things like that."
Brown carried the ball 13 times for the White team at the spring game for 17 yards.
The Aggies kick off the 2004 season at No. 20-ranked Utah on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN.