August 22, 2005
Texas A&M senior wide receiver L'Tydrick Riley will miss the 2005 season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during non-contact drills Saturday, A&M coach Dennis Franchione said following practice Monday evening.
Riley, from Crockett, Texas, will use this season as a redshirt campaign because he played for the Aggies as a true freshman in 2002.
"We'll have the full diagnosis in a day or so, but we're 99 percent sure he's probably torn his anterior cruciate and will have surgery," Franchione said. "That's a loss for our football team. He is a good football player and he plays on a lot of special teams. He does a lot for our team. He's a good leader and a good worker. You can't help but miss L'Tydrick."
Last season, Riley was third on the team with 20 catches for 285 yards and a touchdown while seeing action in 12 games. Riley converted 12 of his 20 catches into first downs for the Aggies. He had six 20-yard-plus plays as a junior.
Riley had a season-high four catches for 49 yards against Colorado. He had a season-high 58 yards, on three catches, against Baylor and Texas.
According to the National Athletic Trainers' Association, the anterior cruciate ligament is a primary stabilizing ligament within the center of the knee joint that prevents hyperextension, anterior displacement and excessive rotation of the joint.
The Aggies practiced once on Monday after taking Sunday off from practice. The team wore full pads for the nearly two hour workout.
Franchione was not pleased with the way the team responded during the workout after having Sunday off.
"They didn't handle (the day off) at all like I hoped they would have," Franchione said. "In their defense I think there is something to being in a routine and continue to be focused on what you are doing and staying mentally sharp. I didn't think our practice today carried any of the ingredients of the other 15 or 16 we've had. There was not a 104 guys bad out there, but too many of them that weren't sharp. Every day off the next one has not been good. That's a little concerning."
The team will workout out twice on Tuesday in preparation for the 2005 season opener which is at Clemson on Sept. 3. The game will be televised by ABC Sports.