Aug. 24, 2009
8/24 Interview with Coach Sherman
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M football team began the final week of fall camp with a pair of workouts on Monday. The Aggies went for two-and-a-half hours in full pads on the Coolidge Practice Fields in the morning, then drilled for 90 minutes inside the McFerrin Athletic Center in the afternoon.
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Head Coach Sherman
Following the second session, head coach Mike Sherman said that he has come to a decision at the quarterback position for the season opener against New Mexico on Sept. 5.
"The way it finished up, we have two number ones that I'm very excited about," Sherman said. "I believe in both our quarterbacks and am equally happy with both, but the nod will go to Jerrod (Johnson) as our starter for the first ballgame and we'll go from there. They've both had an outstanding camp and their numbers are almost identical. They are great kids, they work hard each day and they keep getting better."
Sherman was asked about the possibility of moving sophomore Ryan Tannehill, who is competing with Johnson for the starting role, back to wide receiver.
"Ryan's going to be a heck of a quarterback here," Sherman said. "Are there going to be some situations where he'll be on the field? Possibly. But right now we're still focusing on the quarterback aspect of it."
Junior Lucas Patterson, who made 11 starts on the defensive line in 2008, made the switch back to that position prior to Monday's workouts. He had been working through the fall on the offensive side of the ball.
"I thought Lucas was making progress on offense," Sherman said. "I hate moving guys around, but I felt like more than anything else that the development of the young defensive linemen has been very slow. We really need to have Lucas on defense. He'll help us be better on defense, and ultimately that was the answer. I would still prefer to have him on offense if all things were even, but they weren't. We just needed a run-stopper on defense and that's what he is. He's an unselfish player and said he'll do whatever it takes to win and help us be a better football team. If he had his preference I think he'd rather be on offense, he made that commitment, but he saw the same things I saw. I'm glad we did it."
Junior transfer Coryell Judie practiced with the team for the first time this fall as well on Monday. The Marlin, Texas product is not yet allowed to don full pads per NCAA acclimation rules and went through light drills in shorts and a helmet.
The team will practice once on Tuesday outdoors beginning at 8:25 a.m. Fans are again reminded that Wednesday's scrimmage at Kyle Field is closed to the public.
Those wishing to attend practice that do not have the proper University parking permit are reminded to park in either the University Center Parking Garage across from Rudder Tower or the West Campus Parking Garage facing the press box side of Kyle Field.
Texas A&M opens the 2009 season at home against New Mexico on Sept. 5. Season tickets, discount tickets and the "Texas Three Step" tickets are still available by contacting the ticket office at 1-888-99-AGGIE (888-992-4443) or locally at 979-845-2311. For ticket information on the web, go to AggieAthletics.com and click on tickets.
REMAINING PRACTICE SCHEDULE Tuesday - 8:25 a.m., Coolidge Practice Fields (open) Wednesday - 6 p.m., Kyle Field (closed) Thursday - 8:25 a.m., Coolidge Practice Fields (open); 4 p.m., McFerrin Athletic Center (closed) Friday - 8:25 a.m., Coolidge Practice Fields (open)