COLLEGE STATION, Texas --- The No. 9-ranked Texas A&M football team donned full pads for the first time on Saturday and face the first two-a-day practice of the 2011 fall camp on Sunday.
“I thought they came out ready to practice,” fourth-year head coach Mike Sherman . “It was longer that we usually spend out there, but there were things that I wanted to get done. We were out there a good amount of time at a pretty good pace, but they hung in there. They fought through it.”
The Aggies' defensive front has been boosted by the healthy return of sophomore Kirby Ennis (Huntsville, Texas), who sat out last season while recovering from a knee injury suffered in the 2009 Independence Bowl.
“(Taking first-team reps) is a reflection on what he did in the spring,” Sherman said. “He had a very good spring, and we were giving him a chance to show what he can do. He's very deserving of every opportunity. He's worked very hard. He came off that knee injury in the bowl game two years ago, and last year was kind of a wash for him. He wasn't physically ready. This year he's doing a great job. He's a great technician, tough kid, works hard. I think he'll really give us some extra beef (at defensive tackle).”
The crowd of observers watching from the sidelines was larger than normal as the 19th annual Kickoff Camp got underway this weekend. This year's edition of the Kickoff Camp, which began in 1993 under then head coach R.C. Slocum, will put the camp over $1 million in donations to Texas A&M University since its inception. There are 125 participants at the 2011 Kickoff Camp, which is a record. Three of the participants are over 80 years in age, while the youngest is 19. There are numerous father-son combinations and even a grandfather-grandson combo.
PRACTICE GUIDELINES
· PRACTICES TIMES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
· Practices inside the McFerrin Indoor facility are closed to the public due to fire codes.
· Practices are open to players' families, lettermen, current students, former students, faculty and staff with TAMU ID and 12th Man Foundation members.
· No cameras, cell phones or note pads allowed.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, Aug. 14
8:25 – 10:45 am - Practice #6
4 – 5:15 pm - *Practice #7 (McFerrin Indoor Facility)
* — Closed to the general public due to fire codes
MONDAY, Aug. 15
8:25 – 10:45 am - Practice #8 (Probably Kyle Field)
TUESDAY, Aug. 16
8:25 – 10:45 am - Practice #9
4 – 5:15 pm - Practice #10 (McFerrin Indoor Facility)
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17
8:25 – 10:45 am - Practice #11
THURSDAY, Aug. 18
8:25 – 10:45 am - Practice #12
4 – 5:15 pm - Practice #13 (McFerrin Indoor Facility)
FRIDAY, Aug. 19
7:30 – 9:45 am - Practice #14
SATURDAY, Aug. 20
6:35 – 8:30 pm - Practice #15 (Kyle Field)
SUNDAY, Aug. 21
Possible day off from practices.
MONDAY, Aug. 22
7:30 – 9:45 am - Practice #16
TUESDAY, Aug. 23
7:30 – 9:45 am - Practice #17
4 – 5:15 pm - Practice #18 (McFerrin Indoor Facility)
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 24
4:05 pm - Practice #19—NO MEDIA ALLOWED
“Countdown to Kickoff Dinner”
THURSDAY, Aug. 25
8:25 – 10:45 am - Practice #20
FRIDAY, Aug. 26
8:25 – 10:45 am - Practice #21
First Day of Full Pads for Aggie Football
The No. 9-ranked Texas A&M football team donned full pads for the first time on Saturday and face the first two-a-day practice of the 2011 fall camp on Sunday.