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COLLEGE STATION, Texas --- The No. 9-ranked Texas A&M football team opened preparations for the 2011 season with a two-hour workout on Tuesday evening at the Coolidge Grass Practice Fields.
“I thought their attitudes were good. It was 100 percent football tonight,” Aggie head coach Mike Sherman told reporters after the workout. “There was no jacking around out there. They were into it. They were into the meetings, taking notes and asking questions. They remembered stuff from last year, and we threw a lot of stuff at them today. They absorbed a lot of stuff today, and from a mental standpoint they did a good job.”
Sherman said he was happy to start fall camp after a long summer of waiting.
“It seemed like this day was forever in coming,” he said. “We've been looking forward to it. It was good to get out there and take that first step.”
Sherman said the goal of the early days of fall camp is installation of offensive and defensive schemes.
“The big thing is trying to get our core offense and defense installed in the first three or four days,” Sherman said. “We're pretty much going to replicate tomorrow's practice with today's installations, so we're not putting in anything new. We're just repeating today tomorrow, and on Thursday and Friday which gives them a chance to rehearse it one more time.”
Preseason All-Big 12 running back Cyrus Gray was limited in practice due to a “tweaked” hamstring, according to Sherman. “He could have gone, but I just didn't think there was a need. It gave us a chance to work those younger guys.”
Sherman praised the work of sophomore wide receiver Nate Askew, who saw limited action last year and did not have a catch. Askew contributed on special teams with a punt return for 23 yards and three tackles on kick coverage.
“The only individual that really jumped out to me was Nate Askew,” Sherman said. “I thought he had a good day. He made some big catches.
Longtime athletic department staffer Billy Pickard kicked off his 47th football fall camp since beginning his tenure with A&M in the 1950s as a student trainer under legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
2011 TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL PRACTICE SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 10
6:30 pm Practice #2—Coolidge grass practice fields
Practice Guidelines
- Practices are open to players families, Aggie lettermen, current A&M students, Former Students, 12th Man Foundation members and Texas A&M faculty and staff with their TAMU ID card.
- No blogging or tweeting until after the conclusion of the Coach Sherman post-practice media session.
- All practices inside the McFerrin indoor facility are closed to the public due to fire code regulations.