August 15, 2006
The Texas A&M football team went through a pair of workouts on Tuesday ?- a shorts and helmets practice in the morning and shorts and shells session in the evening as the Aggies continued preparations for the Sept. 2 season-opener against the Citadel.
?This morning, which was in shorts and helmets, we did a lot of correcting problems (from Monday?â„¢s scrimmage), and that was good,? Aggie head coach Dennis Franchione said. ?This afternoon was in pads and we had a lot of good situations. It was a pretty warm day but they pushed through it well. I thought we got a lot done.?
Franchione was asked about which of the young linebackers were pushing for playing time behind 2005 Big 12 tackles leader Justin Warren and projected starter Mark Dodge.
?I think it?â„¢s very clear that (Matt) Featherston and Misi Tupe are making a move,? Franchione said. ?Misi had a great interception on the goal line today. You can see Matt taking steps every practice, and every day his confidence level goes up. You have to feel pretty about the way they?â„¢re headed.?
Franchione also touched on the healthy return of veteran wide receivers L?â„¢Tydrick Riley, Earvin Taylor and Chad Schroeder.
?Those three guys were a little bit of our heart and soul last year,? Franchione said. ?They?â„¢re not extremely vocal but, man, you knew they were team guys, they were good workers, they were going to know the gameplan, they weren?â„¢t going to make mistakes, and they were going to be good leaders for others to follow. When you lose all three of them, you lose quite a bit right there. Not just at the position, our whole team lost a little bit when we lost those three.?
Former Aggie head coach Jackie Sherrill, now an analyst for Fox Sports, was in attendance at Tuesday?â„¢s afternoon workout.
?I think a lot of Jackie and I respect him a great deal as a coach,? Franchione said. ?This is a home for him here at A&M. It?â„¢s always good to talk football with Coach Sherrill. He?â„¢s a very intelligent guy and he knows a lot about a lot. It?â„¢s always great to have him come around.?
The Aggies return to the practice field with a single workout at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday. All practices are closed to the general public.