August 27, 2007
Game notes for Saturday's season opener against Montana State at Kyle Field (PDF link to the right)...
GAME 1:
Montana State BOBCATS (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky)
at
Texas A&M AGGIES (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
GAME INFORMATION
| GAME INFO |
| Saturday, Sept. 1, 6 p.m. (CDT) Kyle Field (82,600), College Station |
| 2006 RECORDS |
| Texas A&M: 9-4, 5-3 Big 12 Montana State: 8-5, 6-2 Big Sky |
| RANKINGS |
| A&M is ranked 25th in both major polls. MSU is ranked 22nd in the preseason Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) poll. |
| TELEVISION |
| The game will not be televised. |
| RADIO |
| WTAW-AM 1620 (Local) Dave South, play-by-play Dave Elmendorf, commentary Tom Turbiville, sidelines (broadcast time 5 p.m. CDT) |
| INTERNET |
| Live Audio (Free): (Aggies All-Access) Live Stats: (aggieathletics.com) Live Postgame Press Conference Video (Free): (Aggies All-Access) |
| SERIES |
| first meeting |
| UP NEXT |
| A&M hosts Fresno State Saturday, Sept. 8, 2:30 p.m. (CDT) Kyle Field, College Station TV: FOX Sports Net |
It will be the first-ever meeting between Texas A&M and Montana State ... Under Dennis Franchione, the Aggies are 2-2 in season openers and 4-0 in home openers ... In 24 previous season openers, Franchione's team have compiled a 16-7-1 record ... The Aggies have won 20-straight home-openers dating back to a 17-3 decision to LSU in 1987.
AGGIE STORY LINES
- Big back Jorvorskie Lane credits the reading program READ180 and Lufkin High School teacher Betty Lewing for his academic success in high school and subsequent improvement on his SAT score. The SAT score improvement allowed him to utilize his scholarship to Texas A&M and become one of the nation's most feared short-yardage backs. After Lane scored a school-record 19 touchdowns last season, Lewing attended the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl as his guest.
- Most people can't envision the 268-pound Lane as ever being small, but he was actually born premature and weighed just four pounds at birth. The J-Train's grandmother says she could hold him in one hand.
- Coach Fran and defensive coordinator Gary Darnell have started calling the linebacker tandem of Mark Dodge, 26, and Misi Tupe, 25, the "Geritol Gang". The tandem's combined 51 years of age make them the oldest pair of starting linebackers in the nation. Dodge served in the military before enrolling in college, while Tupe served a Mormon mission before arriving in Aggieland.
- Speaking of Geritol, noted geriatric linebacker Mike Flynt served as Texas A&M's head strength coach in 1979-80. At the age of 59, Flynt has made the football roster at Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas.
- Four of the Aggies' five projected offensive line starters - Cody Wallace, Kirk Elder, Corey Clark and Chris Yoder - were members of Coach Fran's initial signing class. The foursome has combined to start 95 career games.
- Forty-five of the Aggies' 64 multi-year scholarship players had the benefit of a redshirt season (69 percent). Every scholarship offensive and defensive lineman redshirted.
- The Aggies' safeties coach, Bill Clay, is entering his 40th season as a football coach. Clay's first coaching job was at Ganby High School in Norfolk, Va., in 1965.
- Quarterback Stephen McGee, a junior in football eligibility, graduated with a degree in marketing earlier this summer -- just three and one-half years after arriving on campus as an early enrollee in January 2004.
- McGee and tight end Joey Thomas were two of 14 current or past Aggie gridders to receive their diplomas at the August commencement ceremonies. Other notables receiving their sheepskins were 2006 seniors Alex Kotzur, Brandon Leone, Layne Neumann, J Pond, and Blake Steadman.
- Wide receiver Howard Morrow and linebacker Matt Featherston were the football winners of the 2007 "Off-Season Warrior" competition implemented by A&M director of performance nutrition Amy Bragg. Morrow added seven pounds of muscle while dropping 6.8 percent of body fat. Featherston shaved 15 pounds of body fat while adding eight pounds of muscle.
- There are a pair of brother tandems on the 2007 roster: Michael and Martellus Bennett (Alief, Texas) and Jamie and Terrence McCoy (Midland, Texas).
- Other Aggie bloodlines include: Chris Harrington (Uncle Dave Elmendorf was an All-American in 1970 and currently serves as the analyst for Aggies' radio network); Jerrod Johnson (father Larry Johnson was a wide receiver/defensive back for the Aggies); Nick LaMantia (brother Michael was a walkon linebacker in the early 2000's); Earvin Taylor (brother Jamaar grabbed 108 catches from 2001-03).
- Offensive center Kevin Matthews' father, Bruce, was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame last summer. Matthews was a 14-time Pro Bowl selection as an offensive lineman for the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans.
- Coach Fran's son, Brad Franchione, is the head coach at Blinn College, which is located in nearby Brenham, Texas. Last season, Brad Franchione's Buccaneers won the NJCAA Championship and he was named NJCAA Coach of the Year.
ROSTER UPDATES
- Nick LaMantia, the Aggies' main 12th Man in 2006, is seeing action at fullback this fall.
- Former linebacker Jodie Richardson also made the move to fullback during the 2006 season and is listed as Chris Alexander's backup.
- David Tufuga, a defensive lineman from West Jordan, Utah, was a late addition to the Aggies' 2007 signing class. Tufuga transferred from Snow College in Utah.
- Jordan Pugh, a backup cornerback in 2006, shifted to the "Whip" during the spring and is listed as the starter going into the 2007 season.
- Johnathan Batson,who was a safety in 2006, is battling for playing time at cornerback this season.
- Chris Smith moved from defensive end to defensive tackle during the spring and is pushing for playing time at the position this fall.
- True freshman Billy Chavis has used his 6-foot-5, 226-pound frame to turn heads at weak safety during fall camp.
THUNDER & LIGHTNING
Texas A&M was one of seven schools with a pair of running backs ranked among the NCAA's top 100 rushers in 2006. Four of those running back duos return to action in 2007. The Aggies' Thunder & Lightning duo of Jorvorskie Lane and Mike Goodson ranked No. 95 and No. 69 nationally, respectively, last season.
NCAA's Top Returning RB duos Player School '06 Yards/RK TD Mike Goodson Texas A&M 847/ #69 4 Jorvorskie Lane Texas A&M 725/ #95 19 Darren McFadden Arkansas 1,647/ #10 14 Felix Jones Arkansas 1,168/ #34 6 James Davis Clemson 1,187/ #28 17 C.J. Spiller Clemson 938/ #52 10 Lance Ball Maryland 815/ #79 8 Keon Lattimore Maryland 743/ #93 3
DO-IT-ALL QBS
Stephen McGee was one of just four 2,000/500 quarterbacks in the nation, and all four of those signal-callers return in 2007.
Nation's 2,000 / 500 QBs Player, School Passing Rushing Stephen McGee, Texas A&M 2,295 666 Matt Grothe, South Florida 2,576 622 Chris Nickson, Vanderbilt 2,085 694 Bobby Reid, Oklahoma State 2,266 500
TOTAL QUARTERBACKS
Three of Texas A&M's four top season total offense outputs have been produced by quarterbacks during the Dennis Franchione era, including Stephen McGee's 2,961-yard effort in 2006. McGee's output ranked No. 2 in school history behind only Reggie McNeal's 2004 total of 3,509 yards.
Building Quarterbacks (A&M's Top Single Season Total Offense Leaders ) Rk Player, Year Yards 1. Reggie McNeal, 2004* 3,509 2. Stephen McGee, 2006* 2,961 3. Mark Farris, 2000 2,667 4. Reggie McNeal, 2005* 2,627 5. Dustin Long, 2002 2,522 * Fran era quarterbacks
CONCENTRATING THEIR EFFORTS
Tight end Martellus Bennett and quarterback Jerrod Johnson both gave up Aggie basketball last spring, so they could concentrate on football.
Bennett, one of the favorites for the John Mackey Tight End Award, played in four basketball games last season, while Johnson saw action in three contests. As a freshman in 2005-06, Bennett was the first Aggie to letter in football and basketball since Billy Bob Barnett in 1969.
While two dual-sport athletes decided to concentrate on one sport, the Aggie football team added a dual-sport athlete in Justin McQueen, who ran the 200 and 400 for Pat Henry's Aggie track team last spring. McQueen was the Class 4A state runner-up in the 400 as a senior at Dayton High School.
2006 TRENDS
- The Aggies' average score in conference play in 2006 was 24.1 - 21.8 in favor of A&M. A&M outscored the opposition by just 19 points (193-174). Seven of the eight Big 12 games were decided by a touchdown or less.
- Three of eight conference games were decided by a single point.
- In conference play, the Aggies ran an average of 67.9 plays per game, while the opponents ran an average of 57.9 plays.
- The Aggies scored a Big 12-best 25 rushing touchdowns in the red zone.
- The Aggies were one of just five teams nationally to post an undefeated road record during the regular season.
- The Aggies led the nation in time of possession with an average of 33 minutes, 35 seconds per game in 2006.
- The offense converted 50.3 percent of its third-down tries, which led the Big 12 Conference and ranked No. 4 nationally.
- The Aggies' offensive front allowed just 1.46 quarterback sacks per game (19 in 13 games), which tied for No. 24 nationally and No. 3 in the Big 12.
- A&M lost just 13 turnovers in 2006, which ranked in a tie for No. 2 in the nation and led the Big 12 Conference.
- A&M's 13 turnovers (9 fumbles, 4 interceptions) tied the school record for fewest in a season that was originally set by the 2004 Aggies.
- The Aggies tied for the NCAA lead with just four passes intercepted in 330 attempts. A&M tied with Air Force and Navy, who combined for 258 pass attempts.
- The Aggies tied for the Big 12 lead in turnover margin with plus-0.69 per game in 2006.
- Texas A&M ranked No. 3 in the NCAA in kickoff return average with 26.1 per return. Kerry Franks was the Big 12 kickoff return leader with an average of 27.7 yards per return.
- Franks was the Big 12's most explosive player, averaging a conference-best 25.6 yards per touch (among players with 50 or more all-purpose yards/game).
- The Aggies averaged 397.4 yards of total offense per game, which ranked No. 18 in the NCAA.
- A&M's rushing attack ranked No. 8 in the NCAA. A&M averaged 206.9 yards on the ground per game. The Aggies' 2,689 rushing yards were their most in a decade.
- Quarterback Stephen McGee set the school record for season completion percentage with 62 percent on 194-of-313 passing.
- McGee was one of just four 2,000/500 quarterback in the NCAA. McGee passed for 2,295 yards and rushed for 666 yards in 2006. McGee was the nation's first QB to hit 2,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards. He is just the second 2,000/500 QB in school history, joining Reggie McNeal who did it in 2004.
- McGee threw just two interceptions in 313 attempts, which was the fewest in the NCAA by a starter. His interception percentage of .64 was an NCAA best.
- Running back Jorvorskie Lane led the Big 12 in scoring and touchdowns with 114 and 19, respectively.
- Lane's 19 rushing touchdowns matched the second-oldest record in the Aggie record book (19 rushing TDs by Joel Hunt in 1927).
- Mike Goodson was the Big 12's top freshman rusher with 847 yards on 127 carries. Goodson's 6.7 rush average led the Big 12 among all runners.
- Goodson's 847 rushing yards were the third-most by an A&M freshman behind Greg Hill (1,216 in 1991) and Courtney Lewis (1,024 in 2003).
TURNOVER ADVANTAGE
During the Dennis Franchione era at Texas A&M, the Aggies are 18-3 in games with a turnover margin advantage. In games with an even or minus turnover margin, the Aggies are 7-20.
Games with Turnover Advantage, Fran Era Opponent Year Turn Take +/- Result Baylor 2003 -2 +4 +2 W, 73-10 Kansas 2003 -1 +3 +2 W, 45-33 Wyoming 2004 0 +3 +3 W, 31-?0 Clemson 2004 0 +4 +4 W, 27-?6 Kansas St. 2004 -1 +4 +3 W, 42-30 at Iowa St. 2004 0 +2 +2 W, 34-?3 at Oklahoma St. 2004 0 +2 +2 W, 36-20 Colorad
DOMINATING THE CLOCK
After operating at a time of possession deficit through the first three games of the season, Texas A&M became the nation's top clock-chewing team over the final 10 contests of 2006. During that span, the Aggies posted five games with a plus-10-minute bulge in time of possession, including a whopping 23-minute advantage in the win over Missouri.
For the season, the Aggies averaged a plus-7:10 time of possession advantage. Over the final 10 games, the Aggies enjoyed over a 9:00-plus advantage in T.O.P.
NCAA Time of Possession Leaders Rk Team Top 1. Texas A&M 33:35 2. Michigan 33:27 3. Wisconsin 33:26 4. Arkansas State 33:03 5. Nebraska 32:41 Time Management Skills Opponent TOP A&M / Opp. Margin The Citadel 29:24 / 30:36 -1:12 UL-Lafayette 30:23 / 29:37 +0:46 Army 29:30 / 30:30 -1:00 La. Tech 33:39 / 26:21 +7:18 Texas Tech 37:18 / 22:42 +14:36 at Kansas 33:16 / 26:44 +6:32 Missouri 41:30 / 18:30 +23:00 at Okla. State 35:22 / 24:38 +10:44 at Baylor 36:52 / 23:08 +13:44 Oklahoma 31:24 / 28:36 +2:48 Nebraska 27:08 / 32:52 -5:44 at Texas 35:58 / 24:02 +11:56 Cal (Holiday) 34:55 / 25:05 +9:50 Total 33:35 / 26:24 +7:10
COUNT ON THE J-TRAIN
When the game is on the line, Jorvorskie Lane has proven that he can be counted on to get the tough yard.
The "J-Train" produced either a first down or a touchdown 26 times on 29 carries on third or fourth down in 2006.
In all, Lane pounded his way to 43 first downs and 19 touchdowns on his 166 carries in 2006. His 19 rushing touchdowns matched A&M's second oldest school record - Joel Hunt's 19 rushing TDs in 1927.
"$ Money Plays" for Lane Train Situation 1st Down TD $ Attempts 1st down rush 13 6 19 97 2nd down rush 9 6 14 40 3rd down rush 18 7 23 25 4th down rush 3 0 3 4 Total 43 19 59 166 $ - "Money Plays" are defined as plays resulting in a first down or a touchdown
3rd DOWN TURNAROUND
The Aggies made huge strides in third-down situations from 2005 to 2006, both offensively and defensively.
On offense, the Aggies led the Big 12 with an impressive 50.3 success rate on third-down tries (89-177), which was a significant improvement over 2005's 35.4 percent success rate.
Defensively, the Aggies also led the Big 12 while limiting their opponents to a 28.8 percent success rate on third-down tries (44-153) in 2006. The previous year, opponents converted 47.9 percent of their third-down situations against the A&M defense.
In the NCAA rankings, the Aggies ranked No. 4 in third down efficiency and No. 6 in third down defense.
Aggies Stay On ... Get Off the Field Third Down Sit. 2006 (Big 12) 2005 (Big 12) 3rd Down Offense 50.3% (#1) 35.4% (?#6) 3rd Down Defense 28.8% (#1) 47.9% (#12)
EXPLOSIVE FRANKS
Kerry Franks averaged 25.6 yard per touch of the football, which was tops in the Big 12 among players averaging more than 50 all-purpose yards per game.
Franks had three of the Aggies' five longest plays in 2006 and a team-best 13 plays of 20 yards in length.
Taking It to the House (min. 50 A-P yards/G) RK Player, School Yds/Touch 1. Kerry Franks, Texas A&M 25.6 2. Marcus Herford, Kansas 24.2 3. Adarius Bowman, Oklahoma State 19.4 4. Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State 18.1 5. Limas Sweed, Texas 17.5
RETURN IMPROVEMENT
Led by Kerry Franks and Pierre Brown, the Aggies improved from one of the nation's worst kickoff return units in 2005 into one of the nation's best in 2006.
In 2005, the Aggies ranked No. 109 of 117 teams nationally with a 17.5 kickoff return average. In 2006, the Aggies averaged a lofty 26.1 yards per return and ranked No. 3 nationally.
Starting Point Kickoff Returns 2006 2005 Kickoff Return Average 26.1 17.5 Big 12 Rank No. 2 No. 12 NCAA Rank No. 3 No. 109
COMPLETION PACE
Quarterback Stephen McGee smashed A&M's 20-year old record for season completion percentage in 2006. McGee completed 62.0 percent of his passes on 194-of-313 passing.
Texas A&M Season Completion % List RK Player, Year Cmp. % 1. Stephen Mcgee, 2006 62.0 2. Kevin Murray, 1986 60.7 3. Dustin Long, 2003 60.6 4. Mark Farris, 2000 59.9 5. Corey Pullig, 1994 59.9
DUAL THREAT McGEE
Quarterback Stephen McGee was the nation's leader in passing yards among quarterbacks that rushed for at least 50 yards per game in 2006.
McGee rushed for 50 or more yards in five games, including a career-best 142 vs. Army, and passed for 200 or more yards six times, including a career-best 318 vs. Louisiana Tech.
Nation's Top Pass/Rush Threat (Top passers among 50-yard/G rushers) RK. QB, School Rush/G Pass/G 1. Stephen McGee, Texas A&M 52.9 176.5 2. Chris Nickson, Vanderbilt 57.8 173.9 3. Julian Edelman, Kent State 59.8 169.1 4. Patrick White, West Virginia 101.6 137.9 5. Andy Schmitt, E. Michigan 51.2 131.3
STINGY WITH INTs
With just two pickoffs among 313 pass attempts, Stephen McGee led the Big 12 and NCAA in interception percentage (interceptions/pass attempts) in 2006.
NCAA Fewest INTs/Attempt RK QB, School ATT./INT Pct. 1. Stephen McGee, Texas A&M 313 / 2 0.64 2. Kevin Kolb, Houston 432 / 4 0.93 3. Perry Patterson, Syracuse 300 / 4 1.33 4. Brady Quinn, Notre Dame 467 / 7 1.50 5. Chase Holbrook, New Mexico St. 567 / 9 1.59
KING OF THE ROAD
Quarterback Stephen McGee was 5-1 in starts away from the friendly confines of Kyle Field in 2006. Prior to McGee's ascension to starting quarterback, the Aggies were 3-13 in games away from Kyle in the Dennis Franchione era.
BRANTLY'S BEST
Punter Justin Brantly averaged an impressive 44.3 per punt, which ranked No. 4 in the Big 12 and No. 10 nationally in 2006. Brantly boomed a whopping 21 punts of 50 yards or more and put 14 punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
Season Punt Average List RK Player Year Punt Avg. 1. Shane Lechler 1997 47.0 2. Shane Lechler 1999 46.5 3. Justin Brantly 2006 44.3 4. David Davis 1992 43.8 5. Cody Scates 2002 43.7 Career Punt Average List RK Player, Years Punt Avg. 1. Shane Lechler, 1996-99 44.7 2. Justin Brantly, 2005- 43.8 3. Todd Tschantz, 1984-86 42.4 4. Phil Scoggin, 1964-65 41.9 5. David Davis, 1991-92 41.8
WRECKING CREW RETURN
Under the direction of new defensive coordinator Gary Darnell, the Aggies made significant improvement on the defensive side of the football in 2006.
The Year After Category 2006 (NCAA RK.) 2005 (NCAA RK.) Total Defense 322.6 (#46) 443.8 (#107) Rush Defense 132.1 (#55) 139.2 (#44) Pass Defense 190.5 (#44) 304.6 (#117) Pass Eff. Def. 118.3 (#39) 142.66 (#104) Scoring Defense 20.5 (#44) 31.2 (#94)
PAYDIRT FOR J-TRAIN
Jorvorskie Lane pounded his way to a Big 12-best 19 touchdowns and led the conference in scoring with 114 points in 2006. In the NCAA rankings, Lane ranked in a tie for No. 5 nationally in touchdowns and No. 7 in points scored.
NCAA Touchdowns Leaders RK Player, Team TD 1. Ian Johnson, Boise State 25 2. Ahmad Bradshaw, Marshall 21 Jarett Dillard, Rice 21 4. Ray Rice, Rutgers 20 5. Jorvorskie Lane, Texas A&M 19 Garrett Wolfe, N. Illinois 19 NCAA Scoring Leaders RK Player, Team Pts. 1. Ian Johnson, Boise State 152 2. Ahmad Bradshaw, Marshall 126 Jarett Dillard, Rice 126 4. Arthur Carmody (PK), Louisville 123 5. Ray Rice, Rutgers 120 6. Garrett Wolfe, N. Illinois 116 7. Jorvorskie Lane, Texas A&M 114 8. Pat McAfee (PK), West Virginia 113 Justin Medlock (PK), UCLA 113 10. Three players 108
ACTIVE TACKLERS
The Aggies have nine defenders with more than 50 career tackles, including Chris Harrington and Devin Gregg, who are nearing the century mark in career tackles.
A&M Active Career Tackles Leaders RK Player Pos. Yr Tackles 1. Chris Harrington DE Sr 98 2. Devin Gregg DB Jr. 95 3. Danny Gorrer DB Jr. 82 4. Red Bryant DL Sr. 81 5. Marquis Carpenter DB Sr. 54 Misi Tupe LB Sr. 54 Michael Bennett DL Jr. 54 8. Mark Dodge LB Sr. 51 9. Cyril Obiozor DL Jr. 50
STARTING POINT
The Aggies have 30 players with at least one career start to their credit, including 14 with double digit starts. Leading the way is four-year starter Kirk Elder, who has made 35 straight starts at offensive guard.
A&M Active Career Starts Leaders Player Pos. Year Starts Kirk Elder OL 2004- 35 Red Bryant DL 2004-. 31 Chris Harrington DL 2004- 24 Corey Clark OL 2004- 24 Cody Wallace OL 2004- 24 Earvin Taylor WR 2004- 21 Martellus Bennett TE 2005- 18 Danny Gorrer DB 2005- 18 Devin Gregg DB 2005- 16 Jorvorskie Lane RB 2005- 15 Yemi Babalola OL 2004- 15 Stephen McGee QB 2005- 14 Chris Yoder OL 2004- 12 Jordan Peterson DB 2005- 11 Travis Schneider OL 2005- 9 Misi Tupe LB 2004- 8 Joey Thomas TE 2004- 7 Marquis Carpenter DB 2005-. 6 Mark Dodge LB 2006- 5 Chris Alexander FB 2004- 5 Michael Bennett DE 2005- 4 Pierre Brown WR 2005- . 4 Howard Morrow WR 2005- 4 Cyril Obiozor DL 2005- 3 Arkeith Brown DB 2005- 2 Kerry Franks WR 2005- 2 Mike Goodson RB 2006- 1 Amos Gbunblee TE/DE 2005- 1 Matt Featherston LB 2006- 1 Johnathan Batson DB 2006- 1