Aug. 13, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas--Mike Sherman put the Aggie football team through the first day of a full pads practice at the Coolidge grass practice fields south of Kyle Field.
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"Overall, I was pleased," Sherman said. "They bounced around and there was a lot of contact. I think we are more physical so far and I believe that has more to do with competition and guys fighting for spots."
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"Biggest thing I challenged them on was being good at the end of practice," Sherman explained. He called the team together before the last period of practice. "We lost some games in the fourth quarter. I told them to stay engaged and I thought they did a good job of that. I was fairly pleased today,  wasn't perfect by any stretch, made some mistakes, but as long as they keep working hard we will be able to correct those mistakes."
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Sherman explained the offensive unit won the day, but the defensive unit did not have to run due to a small competition at the end of practice. Defensive lineman Rhontae Scales (from Killeen) and offensive lineman Jarvis Harrison (from Navasota) were each asked to catch a punt from a machine. Scales caught the ball for the defense and Harrison dropped his attempt so the defense did not have to run.
Current Aggie football players receiving their degrees on Friday were defensive lineman Lucas Patterson from Kingsville, defensive back Chris Caflisch from San Antonio and defensive lineman Cody Williams from Longview. They join four other current players who will be former students playing this fall including pre-season Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Jerrod Johnson, linebacker Michael Hodges, wide receiver Cody Beyer, and defensive back DeMaurier Thompson.
Other former football players receiving their degrees on Friday also included Arkeith Brown, Pierre Fleurinor, Howard Morrow, Matt Moss, and Antonio Perry.
The 18th Annual Kickoff Camp welcomed 112 participants to campus on Friday and will conclude on Sunday. The Kickoff Camp started with Coach R.C. Slocum and has continued each year since 1993. Over $1 million in proceeds have gone to various groups including the Evans Library, the Aggie Band and others since the formation of this camp.
"Paint Your Town Maroon!" is a promotion that will be held Saturday (Aug. 14) in the Kyle Field parking lot on the press box side of Kyle Field off of Wellborn Road. The event runs from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and fans can pick up free schedule cards, posters and schedule magnets for football, women's volleyball and soccer. Fans are encouraged to pick up as many as they like and distribute them to friends and family as well as businesses.
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The first event of the season will take place later that evening (Aug. 14) as the Fightin' Texas Aggie soccer teams takes on Rice in an exhibition match beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Aggie Soccer Stadium. The Aggies are once again one of the top ranked teams in the country coming off of a NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. A&M is ranked #8 in the pre-season polls. This will also be the first chance to get a stamp or scan for the 12th Man Rewards team for the 2010-11 school year. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
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In addition to the first soccer match of the season, the women's volleyball squad finished 2009 by reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 and the squad will open the 2010 campaign at home on Friday, Aug. 27 against Siena at 10 a.m. and then will face Pacific at 6 p.m. at Reed Arena.
The men's and women's cross country squads will host the Texas A&M Invitational at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 10 at the Penberthy Fields on the west campus of Texas A&M.
The Aggies open the 2010 season on Sept. 4 against Stephen F. Austin with kick scheduled for 6 p.m. at Kyle Field. For ticket information, call 1-888-99-AGGIE (888-992-4443) or go to AggieAthletics.com and click on tickets.
The upcoming schedule is as follows:
Saturday, Aug. 14        8:25 am     Coolidge Practice Fields (OPEN PRACTICE--REGULAR POLICY)
                         4 pm        Inside the McFerrin Athletic Center (CLOSED PRACTICE)
Sunday, Aug. 15          10:30 am    Kyle Field (OPEN PRACTICE--REGULAR POLICY)