December 23, 2006
The No. 21-ranked Texas A&M football team drilled for two hours in full pads on Saturday on the campus of UC-San Diego in its first workout since arriving in California. The Aggies are preparing for next Thursday?â„¢s Pacific Life Holiday Bowl matchup with the California Golden Bears.
?This was good physical workout,? fourth-year Aggie head coach Dennis Franchione said. ?We worked hard today. We went in full pads to get the week started in right direction.?
The Aggies head into the Holiday Bowl with a 9-3 overall record. After the workout Franchione was asked about the significance of hitting the 10-win mark.
?There have only been 11 teams in school history to get 10 wins, so you become the 12th team,? Franchione noted. ?That?â„¢s a special place to be in Texas A&M history if you become one of those teams. It?â„¢s double digits and it?â„¢s a great season that can hopefully be a momentum builder to go into the next season. I feel good about what?â„¢s coming back next year. I want this to be a momentum builder for the offseason and spring drills, and we won?â„¢t let it be anything but, but a win certainly jumpstarts you.?
Franchione was also asked about defending Cal standout DeSean Jackson, who led the NCAA with an 18.2 punt return average and had four touchdown returns in 2006.
?You?â„¢d better kick it really high so you can cover,? Franchione said. ?You better it out of bounds. You had better kick it away from him, or you better be getting down the field, and that hard because they do a good job of blocking for him.?
The Aggies return to the practice field on Sunday with a 10:45 a.m. (Pacific time) workout at UC-San Diego.