A Welcome Return to Routine

12thman.com's coverage of fall camp is presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.

In the morning, a whistle from the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band’s new practice field could be heard across campus. It signaled hope that normalcy could return to Texas A&M. 

This particular Monday would bring its share in an otherwise tumultuous time.  

Early in the afternoon, the announcement of the football team’s season opener came.  The Vanderbilt Commodores will sail into Kyle Field to kick things off September 26th.

In the evening, the rest of the slate was released.  The highlights include a pair of back-to-back stretches.  A&M starts October with a trip to Alabama and a home contest against Florida.  They end the season with LSU at home and a road trip to the plains of Auburn.

In between, don’t forget the only portion of the schedule that sends the Aggies away from College Station for two straight weeks.  On November 7th there’s another visit to Columbia to play South Carolina.  While A&M has won six straight in the series, the last two at Williams-Bryce Stadium haven’t been without tension.  November 14th sends this team to Knoxville, Tennessee for the first time ever.  There ought to be a chill in the air on Rocky Top when the Ags take on the Vols.  There’s momentum heading into Jeremy Pruitt’s third season as head coach after eight wins in 2019, including a victory in the Gator Bowl.

A 10-game, all SEC schedule hit home on Monday.  Two less than the original slate, far more of a gauntlet.

“Big Dog Football,” grins defensive end Micheal Clemons. “Ten games in the SEC.  No disrespect to anybody else, but that’s tough.  Every single week you have to bring your very best.”

The sound most indicating a return to the daily routine came from the top on Monday night. Jimbo Fisher’s voice certainly has a presence.  It was loud and clear as he began his third season as the Aggies head man.

“You’re just going through the motions! That’s a worthless route!” he directed toward a tight end who didn’t execute properly.

He was constant with instruction to his quarterbacks.  He shouts encouragement. He notices every little detail.  Jimbo Fisher sees and teaches the game different than most.  Watching, and hearing, him further instill his culture into his team was welcome to the eyes and ears.

During the tight end-quarterback passing game session, Baylor Cupp stands out. He’s tall and lean. However, it’s possible he looks that way because the shorts he’s sporting are particularly -- short.  They’d make NBA players from the ‘70s proud.  Despite an ankle injury that sidelined him a season ago, Cupp can move.  The combination of he and Jalen Wydermyer at the position is reason enough for offensive optimism.

Then, the receivers arrive.  An influx of young talent has everyone taking notice.  True freshmen Demond Demas, Moose Muhammad III and Devin Price are here, and ready to turn heads.

“That class. They’re different,” states Jhamon Ausbon, the unit’s veteran who’s charged with leading these newcomers.  “Those guys have an extreme level of talent our class didn’t have. I’m letting them know if they combine they’re talent with study, the sky is not the limit.”

High praise from an Aggie with 147 career receptions entering his final season.

When the cornerbacks come over to provide coverage and competition, the lights on the Coolidge Practice Fields burn brighter.  There’s electricity running through the offensive half now.  The last time these players competed on purely a football level was in the Texas Bowl, when they defeated Oklahoma State in Houston on December 27.  This is what they came to A&M for…to compete.  Deep down in their core, it’s who they really are.

Muhammad shows he’s not timid at all in his first practice.  He gets physical with Josh Moten to create separation, and a reception.  The intensity is rising.  It reaches its peak when Kellen Mond connects deep downfield with Caleb Chapman.  The sophomore receiver makes a fantastic contested catch despite excellent coverage from Travon Fuller.  It stays at a height when the speedy Hezekiah Jones hauls in another deep ball.

This is what these players have needed for a long time.  Lively competition.  It has them right at home amid the chaos that’s consumed the world outside these gates.  They’re back to football, and they’re loving it.

Monday was a return to normalcy, and there was hope that it was here to stay.

Less than 10 minutes into the football team’s first practice, another sound arose from the distance.  The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band was back for its evening session.  Their notes could be heard throughout campus again.  It was the perfect music bed to the Aggies’ brisk paces on the gridiron, preparing for the 2020 season.

With a setting sun serving as the backdrop, football players and coaches were on the move, hard at work.  The din of the band playing the ‘Spirit of Aggieland’ crept in over them.

In a world full of uncertainty and turmoil, for a brief moment, everything was right at A&M.