Mike Sherman: Man with a game plan

By Rick Gosselin / The Dallas Morning News
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 - Added 6 hours ago

Bear Bryant should be a source of inspiration to Texas A&M as the Aggies prepare for a future in the SEC.
Bryant proved that quality coaching can succeed in any conference. He won big at Texas A&M in the Southwest Conference, then won bigger at Alabama in the SEC.
That’s a reason to be bullish on Texas A&M this fall in the Big 12 and in future seasons when the Aggies step up in competition in the SEC. Texas A&M has a quality coach in Mike Sherman who can take the Aggies where they want to go.

The proof is in his game tapes. As the football adage goes, the film doesn’t lie.
In 2002, Sherman’s Green Bay Packers traveled to New England to play the defending Super Bowl champion Patriots [team stats]. Tom Brady [stats] was the trigger of the AFC’s best passing attack, averaging more than 300 yards per game. The Packers limped into Foxborough that day minus three defensive-backfield starters because of injury.
Green Bay was forced to line up a secondary with one player signed off the streets that week, another promoted from the practice squad and another making just his eighth career start.
So Sherman crafted a game plan that called for pass-happy Brett Favre to spend the afternoon handing the ball off, controlling the clock and protecting an overmatched pass defense. The Packers won in a shocker, 28-10.
In 2000, when Minnesota captured the NFC Central in Sherman’s first season as an NFL head coach, his Packers swept the two-game season series from the Vikings. In 2001, when Chicago won the NFC Central, the Packers swept the Bears that season as well.
Clearly Sherman has the know how to beat football’s best teams – and he’ll see plenty of "best" teams in the SEC in Alabama, Auburn, Florida and LSU.
In all, Sherman spent six years as a head coach in the NFL. He strung together five consecutive winning seasons from 2000-04 before faltering at 4-12 in 2005. That one losing season cost him his job. He left the Packers with a winning percentage of 59.4 – better than that of Bill Parcells, Mike Holmgren and Mike Shanahan.
Sherman also enjoyed better coaching success at the game’s highest level than did SEC icons Nick Saban and Steve Spurrier. Both spent two failed seasons in the NFL before sprinting back to college campuses. Also, Bobby Petrino didn’t last a single season in the NFL before bolting for Arkansas.
Sherman won three consecutive NFC North titles in Green Bay and fielded four playoff teams in his first five seasons. The man can coach. Now Green Bay’s loss is A&M’s gain.
Sherman overcame a credibility-rocking home setback to Arkansas State in his A&M debut in 2008 plus two losing seasons at the outset of his tenure with the Aggies. Then he gave A&M a glimpse of its future in 2010 when the Aggies rolled over Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Nebraska on the way to a 9-4 finish.
Sherman now has four recruiting seasons in the books to stock the A&M roster with his players of choice. Coaching and talent equals expectation – and the Aggies are oozing with all three this fall. Texas A&M has been pegged as one of the 10 best teams – No. 8 in The Associated Press poll – in the nation in the preseason polls.
Sherman’s presence should translate into achievement. That will give the Aggies a chance in the SEC.
___

(c)2011 The Dallas Morning News Visit The Dallas Morning News at www.dallasnews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

A&M To Seek Other Athletic Conference

Texas A&M University today officially notified the Big 12 Conference that the institution will submit an application to join another athletic conference.

Courtesy: Texas A&M Athletics

Courtesy: Texas A&M Athletics Release: 08/31/2011

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M University today officially notified the Big 12 Conference that the institution will submit an application to join another athletic conference. Should this application be accepted, Texas A&M will end its membership in the Big 12 Conference effective June 30, 2012.
"After much thought and consideration, and pursuant to the action of the (Texas A&M University System) Board of Regents authorizing me to take action related to Texas A&M University's athletic conference alignment, I have determined it is in the best interest of Texas A&M to make application to join another athletic conference," President R. Bowen Loftin wrote to Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe in the letter dated August 31, 2011.
"We appreciate the Big 12's willingness to engage in a dialogue to end our relationship through a mutually agreeable settlement," Loftin added. "We, too, desire that this process be as amicable and prompt as possible and result in a resolution of all outstanding issues, including mutual waivers by Texas A&M and the conference on behalf of all the remaining members."
Texas A&M has participated in intercollegiate athletics as a member of the Big 12 since the conference's founding 16 years ago. Last season, the Aggies claimed nine Big 12 championships and four national team titles, both of which were school-bests. Since joining the Big 12 prior to the 1996-97 athletic season, Texas A&M has won 55 conference championships, including 32 in the last five years.
Texas A&M finished eighth in the prestigious Learfield Sports Director's Cup all-sport rankings a year ago, tallying its most points ever and leading all Big 12 schools. In the inaugural Capital One Cup, which rates teams' final rankings, the Aggies were the top-ranking university from the Big 12. The Aggie women finished second with five top-10 finishes, while the Aggie men finished tied for third with five top-10 finishes.
"As I have indicated throughout this process, we are seeking to generate greater visibility nationwide for Texas A&M and our championship-caliber student-athletes, as well as secure the necessary and stable financial resources to support our athletic and academic programs," Loftin said. "This is a 100-year decision that we have addressed carefully and methodically. Texas A&M is an extraordinary institution, and we look forward to what the future may hold for Aggies worldwide."
While Loftin did not specify an application timeline in his letter to the Big 12, he previously indicated that he does not intend to prolong the application process for an extended period of time.
Texas A&M at a glance:

• Located in College Station, Texas.
• Home to more than 49,000 students, ranking as the sixth-largest university in the country, with more than 360,000 former students worldwide.
• Holds membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities, one of only 63 institutions with this distinction.
• Has an endowment valued at more than $5 billion, which ranks fourth among U.S. public universities and 10th overall.
• Conducts research valued at more than $630 million annually, placing it among the top 20 universities nationally and third behind only MIT and the University of California at Berkeley for universities without medical schools.
• Recognized as Home of the 12th Man, where students stand during football games to show support for the team - and for fellow Aggies - a personification of the Aggie Spirit.
• Corps of Cadets is recognized among the nation's largest uniformed student bodies at more than 2,000 strong. Texas A&M commissions more officers than any other institution outside of the nation's service academies.
• Named second in the nation by The Wall Street Journal among all universities, public and private, in a survey of top U.S. corporations, non-profits and government agencies, based on graduates that recruiters prefer to hire.

NCAA Football Preview - Texas A&M Aggies

Updated 8/29/2011 Courtesy of NCAAFootball.com

By Frank Haynes, Senior College Football Editor

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Sports Network) - The Aggie faithful finally saw a return in their investment in Mike Sherman, as the third-year coach returned A&M to relevance in the Big 12. The Aggies posted their first winning campaign under Sherman, finishing 9-4 overall and a stellar 6-2 mark in-conference.

The team finished 3-1 outside of the Big 12, with a three-game winning streak to open the year against the likes of Stephen F. Austin (48-7), Louisiana Tech (48-16) and FIU (27-20). The team followed that with three straight losses to Oklahoma State (38-35), Arkansas (24-17) and Missouri (30-9). The Aggies could have packed it in being in an early 0-2 conference hole, but played the best football in recent memory down the stretch, winning its last six games (all in conference play), including a marquee victory over eventual Big 12 champion Oklahoma (33-19) in early November.

The team's strong finish earned it a spot in the Cotton Bowl, but the Aggies could not end on a winning note, falling to SEC power LSU (41-24), the team's fifth straight bowl loss.

2011 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: There is plenty to build off of from last season and even more to be excited about in College Station, with the return of 10 starters on the offensive side of the ball this year. Last year, the unit was extremely balanced, averaging over 440 yards of offense per game. Gone is QB Jerrod Johnson, but this became Ryan Tannehill's offense for a good portion of last year and the six starts and 1,638 yards passing can only help the senior as he is the top signal-caller to start the 2011 campaign.

Sherman thinks he has a special player in Tannehill.

"He's never wavered in his confidence and his ability to do the job. What he brings to the table besides confidence I think is a tremendous intellect. His athletic ability. I think he gets rid of the ball quick, makes quick decisions."

It also helps to have an explosive tailback to carry the load. Senior Cyrus Gray is coming off a 1,133-yard campaign in which he averaged 5.7 yards per carry and scored 12 TDs. The return of a healthy Christine Michael (631 yards, four TDs) won't hurt either. Michael was the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2009 but was limited due to injury in 2010.

Sherman likes the mix in the backfield.

"I think in the context of the way we play the game now where we're getting between 85 and 95 snaps a game, this is going to be plenty of opportunities for those guys to have opportunities with the football in their hand, whether catching it or being handed it. I think they both are a great one-two punch. They're so different type of runners that I think the defense will have to really know who is in the game because they both possess different things and have different strengths."

Tannehill also benefits from nearly everyone returning to the receiving corps, highlighted by WRs Jeff Fuller (72 receptions, 1,066 yards, 12 TDs), who earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors a year ago, and Ryan Swope (72 receptions, 825 yards, four TDs).

Plenty of talent returns along the offensive line as well, with four starters back, including sophomore tackle Luke Joeckel (6-6, 305), who was a Freshman All-American in 2010.

DEFENSE: The defensive unit for the Aggies returns eight starters, but Sherman must find new leaders with the exit of Butkus Award winner Von Miller (10.5 sacks, 17.5 TFLs) and last year's leading tackler Michael Hodges (115 stops).

Finding adequate pass rushing skills won't be easy, although someone like sophomore end Damontre Moore (6-4, 250) will give it a try. Moore was tabbed a Freshman All-American in 2010, recording 40 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Senior linebacker Garrick Williams recorded a whopping 112 tackles a year ago and his veteran presence in the linebacking corps will help a lot. Also, look for Sean Porter (74 tackles, 7.0 TFLs) to have more of an impact.

Senior CBs Coryell Judie (57 tackles, four INTs) and Terrence Frederick (57 tackles, one INT) should solidify the play in the secondary. Judie was an All- Big 12 Honorable Mention in 2010.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Julie will also reprise his role as kick returner after averaging just over 30 yards per return in 2010 with two touchdowns. The kicking game is a proven commodity as well with the return of PK Randy Bullock and P Ryan Epperson. Bullock connected on 16 of his 21 field goal attempts with a long of 50 yards. Epperson averaged nearly 38 yards a punt last season.

OUTLOOK: The Aggies haven't posted double-digit wins since 1998, but that drought could end this season. The team returns plenty of veteran leadership and that could be half the battle after tasting success a year ago.

The team opens with a pair of non-conference games against SMU and Idaho. The Mustangs won't go quietly, but A&M should outlast them in College Station. The last non-league game comes against Arkansas in the third Southwest Classic from Arlington. Before that however, the team opens Big 12 play at home against Oklahoma State. The team also catches a break with home games against Baylor, Missouri and Texas. A November 5th date in Norman against Oklahoma looms large, especially with the Sooners seeking some revenge for last year's defeat.

It isn't the easiest of schedules this year, but the Aggies should be up to the challenge and could be in the conference race right to the finish.

Its a unique dynamic in College Station this season with so many returning players. Sherman understands the expectations heading into the season.

"Expectations, you know, I don't notice a change in my expectations. I always expect to win, put a good product out there. But this year, what we have coming back, the kids, I feel like we've been in this system now from just a football program system for three years, they understand the culture and structure and they understand how I want things done."

The Battalion: Aggies excited for opener

By Adrian O’Hanon III

Published: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 The Battalion

Updated: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 02:08

Football players and coaches spoke to the media on Monday about preparation for Texas A&M's 2011 season opener against Southern Methodist University.
A&M returns 18 positional starters for this season, making for an experienced team that head coach Mike Sherman said is focused on the opener. He said the team improved in many areas in the offseason and is challenged with planning for SMU's run-and-gun offense and similar defense.
"They are like us—they have some pretty good receivers, a good run game and a very experienced offensive line," Sherman said. "They have about 158 career starts among them, more than anyone in the country. So they have a good group coming back."
Mustangs making preseason award watch lists include quarterback Kyle Padron (O'Brien, Manning), running back Zach Line (Maxwell, Walker) and defensive end Taylor Thompson (Lombardi, Nagurski). Those three players were also named to the All-Conference USA preseason team.
Aggie defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said SMU's high-profile offense creates problem areas for any defense. In the second installment of his defensive scheme, DeRuyter feels the players have transitioned more smoothly and are prepared for the Mustangs' air attack.
"This is not a ‘warm-up game' by any stretch," DeRuyter said. "You look at what they did last year against TCU and Texas Tech, they were ballgames all the way through. So our guys know the kind of challenge they will bring, and we'll be ready for them."
In the offseason, the team named senior safety Trent Hunter a team captain, an honor he cherishes. He said his responsibility as captain is to keep the defense focused on the Mustangs' high-powered offense.
Offensively, senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill is looking forward to the start of another season. He said the team worked hard in spring practices and summer camp to exceed expectations.
"You're always excited no matter what the year, going into the first game," Tannehill said. "You prepare all year for basically 12 or 13 days. This being the first week, we're definitely excited for it.
The raised expectations do bring a higher excitement. We do realize the talent we have, and now it's our job to prove that."
In injury news, junior wide receiver Ryan Swope's back is fully-healed and defensive lineman Tony Jerod-Eddie said his recovery from breaking his foot last season has gone smoothly.
The Aggies kick off the season at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 4 at Kyle Field against the Mustangs.

Aggie Football Weekly Press Conference

Head Coach Mike Sherman and players on the 8th-ranked Texas A&M football team met with the media this afternoon to talk about the upcoming game against SMU.

Head Coach Mike Sherman

Courtesy: Texas A&M Athletics

Release: 08/29/2011

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Head Coach Mike Sherman and players on the 8th-ranked Texas A&M football team met with the media this afternoon to talk about the upcoming game against SMU.
Coach Sherman's Aggies (0-0, 0-0 Big 12) are scheduled to open the 2011 season against SMU (0-0, 0-0 C-USA) September 4th at Kyle Field. Sunday's game will be broadcast live on FSN.
Individual game tickets are now available for the SMU and Idaho games. Conference game tickets, subject to availability and excluding the Texas game, go on sale to the public Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. online and by phone and at the ticket windows on Sept. 7 at 8 a.m. 12th Man Foundation members are able to purchase conference games (excluding Texas). A $150 entry level contribution gains fans access to conference games currently. For membership or ticket information, visit our website, www.12thmanfoundation.com or call the AT&T Aggie Ticket Hotline, 888-99-AGGIE (888-992-4443).

The 12th Man, the Texas A&M student body, will begin student ticket pull on Monday, Aug. 29 at 7 a.m. at the windows in the Zone Plaza. The Student Sports Options brochure is available at http://mysportspass.tamu.edu and should answer most questions regarding Pull as well as Road Game Pull. Students can register for sports options at http://mysportspass.tamu.edu. Camping for the SMU ticket pull may begin at 8 pm on Saturday, Aug. 27.
A full transcript of Coach Sherman's press conference, along with selected quotes from players, are available below. Audio clips are available in MP3 format to the right.

HEAD COACH MIKE SHERMAN
What impresses you most about Jeff Fuller?
"Probably the most impressive thing is the improvement he's made from his first year to right now. I think his willingness to continue to work on his craft and try to be best he can be is the single most impressive thing that I've noticed with him. He constantly tries to get better."
How good can he be?
"I think he can be very good. There's some things he works on every year. We have him work on different things every single year. Just watching him from the time early in camp, some of the things we asked him to work on, as far as his releases from the line of scrimmage, he's really improved on those things from a year ago. I think he can be very good.
Is there still a pretty good battle going on between Coryell Judie and Dustin Harris at cornerback?
"We have confidence in both of those players. Coryell being the senior and Dustin being the underclassman, I think we could play with either one of them. Coryell is coming off shoulder surgery so he's going to have to have some breaks in the context of the game. We'll start with Coryell and then go with Dustin. But Dustin could start anywhere, on either corner, and again he'll play some offense for us obviously."
Have you named a backup quarterback?
"For this game will be Jameill Showers as the backup quarterback. I think we have three backups and they are all capable, with (Matt) Joeckel and (Johnny) Manziel as well. But if Ryan were to go down Jameill would play."
What was it that separated him from the other two?
"I think they all understand the offense pretty well. Jameill I thought when the play broke down made some plays with his feet, was able to extend the play and create time to allow us the opportunity to make another play."
How has Caleb Russell emerged this fall and separated himself at the Joker position?
"Well, he's had a bit of an intestinal virus for a little part of camp, so he's been out a little bit. He kind of picked up where he left off in the spring. He has a tremendous burst off the line of scrimmage. He's using his hands extremely well and he's very difficult when he's playing over a tight end-he causes our tight ends a lot of havoc-because he's so strong. He still has a ways to go as a football player, but he's made so much progress, it's not even funny how far he's come."
What's your rotation at wide receiver? How deep do you think you can go in a normal game situation?

"I would hope that Nate Askew would be ready to play. Brandal Jackson would be ready to play. Kenric McNeal will play in some of our packages. Mike Evans is emerging but he's still a young kid. We have to make a decision this week whether we would in fact play him if we were in that position, with an injury or what not. But I feel good about our backups. They can go in the game and help us. It's something that we probably didn't do enough of last year. Jeff (Fuller) and (Uzoma) Nwachukwu and (Ryan) Swope got a major bulk of the snaps. It would help us if we could rest players just a little bit, particularly with the elements we'll be dealing with this time of year."
On why the national trend has been to go to fast, up-tempo offenses...
"I couldn't answer that question. We went up-tempo after my first year just because I thought we needed an edge. I knew we were playing with bunch of young kids and I thought we could condition the heck out of them and get them ready to play. I thought by going with a faster tempo we could get an edge where we could wear some people down and win the third and fourth quarter, because we were still young and undersized at times, so I thought we could beat them with some effort. That was the year we went 6-6 in regular season. So that was the reason and the genesis of it here. I can't talk about other places."
Do you see some similarities in SMU's defense and what you guys do? I know Tim and their DC are buddies and they kind of share defensive ideas...
"Hopefully not this week (laughter). There's a lot of similarities in the sense that they were a 4-3 team. Tom Mason came in and has done a heck of a job there. They really ramped up their defense and they played a lot better, very similar to the same turnaround we had here when Tim came in and was able to do the same thing. There are a lot of similarities between the two packages. Their defensive guys play extremely hard. They're very aggressive. They will come after you with all kinds of pressure. So there are a fair amount of similarities between the two."

Read more at AggieAthletics.com

This Aggie joke is on the Longhorns

By RICHARD JUSTICE, Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle

Updated 10:26 p.m., Sunday, August 28, 2011

• 
  Longhorns fans gathered on the UT campus at Austin on Friday to celebrate the Longhorn Network launch.
  Photo: Associated Press, Ricardo B. Brazziell / Austin American-Statesman

I'm guessing there are plenty of Longhorns feeling just a little bit envious about how things are turning out for Texas A&M.
Oh, they'll never admit it because, well, you know how some people are just too proud to give the other guy credit. They'll puff up their chests and tell you about their little television network and how the world still revolves around them.
Two or three of them may still believe it. When they say these things, be kind to them. These are tough times. They're used to having their way. They thought they had surrounded themselves with schools happy to be in their shadow.
They just never counted on someone getting uppity, and that's the bottom line in all of this. Texas thought A&M was another Baylor.
The Longhorns never thought the Aggies would actually leave for the Southeastern Conference. Actually, they believed the SEC would take Texas A&M only if it brought Texas along. That has been their mantra for the last year.
Now they're watching the Aggies about to leave for a great adventure and thinking, "That sure looks like fun."
It ticks them off to know the Aggies outsmarted them, and it kills them to think the Aggies are moving into a better neighborhood.
All the things the Aggies think they're getting from the SEC - a unique identity, more prestigious conference and greater stability - might be true.
The Aggies are trading Waco, Lubbock and Stillwater for Athens, Oxford and Tuscaloosa, and who wouldn't make that swap?
I have no idea how competitive A&M will be, and I still think its easiest path to a BCS bowl is to remain in the Big 12. But as they like to say in Austin, it's about the branding.
The SEC is forever. Regardless of how many times college football's cards are shuffled over the next few years, A&M knows where it will be.
Meanwhile, the Big 12 remains a house of cards. When Oklahoma finally joins the Pac-12, the Big 12 is toast.
If you're an Aggie, you're looking at trips to some of college's football's iconic addresses: The Swamp. Death Valley. Neyland Stadium. Bryant-Denny.
School of choice: BYU
The Longhorns will tell you the Aggies are going to get their heads handed to them in the SEC, and maybe they will. But that's part of the challenge.
If you're wondering what's next for the Big 12, that's easy. Brigham Young is the least threatening choice to Texas, and so Brigham Young it's likely to be.
When that happens, it'll re-enforce many of the gripes A&M and Nebraska had about the Big 12.
First, it's a Texas production. As long as there are enough schools thrilled to be satellites of Texas, nothing will change.
That's why TCU won't be getting a call. Neither will SMU or Houston. Those three schools are threats to UT. They've all rebuilt their programs, hired terrific coaches and gotten themselves competitive on the field and off.
And that's the last thing Texas wants.
All three have the potential to cut into UT's recruiting dominance in a way BYU never will. Remember those beatings SMU and UH delivered to Texas in the Southwest Conference? The Longhorns sure do.
And forget that talk about television markets. Texas and Oklahoma drive the ratings wagon regardless of who else is in the conference. If TCU is put on a bigger stage, TCU will do just fine in the ratings game. Likewise, SMU and Houston are exciting teams. If America tunes in once, it'll tune back in.
Legislators powerless
But there's too much risk to Texas, so the Longhorns may talk up Notre Dame and Arkansas, but they'll end up with BYU.
There are state legislators saying they will press Texas to take SMU and/or Houston. They're wasting their breath. Texas listens to no one.
Besides, whatever Texas decides to do with the Big 12 is only temporary. The conference will be held together by the thinnest of strings.
Texas isn't compelled to do anything to strengthen it - say, make it a 12-team conference - because Texas is bulletproof. When the Big 12 collapses, UT will go independent and leave the others scrambling to find a rung on the ladder.
Texas A&M decided not to wait for that day. When the Big 12 blows up, the Aggies will have the upper hand on Texas. This time, the Aggie joke is on the Longhorns.
richard.justice@chron.com
twitter.com@richardjustice

A&M football sets record for ticket sales

By BRENT ZWERNEMAN, COLLEGE STATION BUREAU 
Updated 12:58 a.m., Sunday, August 28, 2011 
Courtesyof The Houston Chronicle

• 
  Talk of a potential move to the SEC has energized the Aggie fanbase.
  Photo: Chronicle, Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M this weekend cut off season-ticket sales for football at a school-record 44,250. The boon in sales stems from a heavy dose of anticipation. For this year - and apparently for next.
The eighth-ranked Aggies enter this season with their highest preseason ranking in 12 years. And, if A&M gets its way, the Aggies will enter next season in a new conference - the one considered the nation's best for football.
"We sold 1,400 tickets in the last two weeks alone, since all of the SEC talk started," said Miles Marks, president of the school's 12th Man Foundation. "We've sold out of season tickets for the first time in history."
A&M on Saturday steadfastly moved forward in its plans to exit the Big 12 and enter the Southeastern Conference, preferably for the Aggies by the 2012 season.
A&M's brass has privately said all along that the Aggies hoped to have the move wrapped up by the end of this month, and that appears to be on the verge of happening. A&M president R. Bowen Loftin took part in a Big 12 board of directors teleconference on Saturday - at least the first part, according to an A&M insider. Loftin excused himself later in the call as the remaining members discussed A&M's impending exit, the insider said.
The only sticking point concerning the Aggies' impending exit appears to be the amount of a Big 12 exit fee. And while an A&M insider said to compare what A&M intends to pay to Nebraska's exit fee ($9.25 million), other media reports claim A&M's exit fee might reach $20 million or more.
Whatever the final exit number, it doesn't appear it will keep the Aggies from their plans at this point.
"I think the Aggies have made a decision that in their opinion is irreversible," Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance said. "It's kind of like a divorce. When somebody makes up their mind, there's usually not much you can do about it."
brent.zwerneman@chron.com

Post Camp Depth Chart: Offense

Courtesy of Gigem247 Sports
Quarterback
 
1 - Ryan Tannehill
2 - Jameill Showers

There’s not much drama on the offensive side of the ball, but the biggest position of interest all fall has been the battle for backup quarterback. Though Mike Sherman isn’t expected to make it official until Monday, look for it to be Jameill Showers.
Showers has a good grasp of the offense and has incredible arm strength, but more importantly he gives the Aggies the best chance to win a football game if Ryan Tannehill goes down. He’s also similar to Tannehill in that he’s mobile and can effectively move in the pocket and extend plays with his legs.

Running Back 
 
1 - Cyrus Gray
2 - Christine Michael
3 - Ben Malena
The Aggies may have not only the best back in the Big 12, but they might have the best two. Michael and Gray have both had solid falls, and both look like they’re 100% healthy to start the season. The duo will probably each see 15-20 touches per game, which won’t be hard with the tempo that Mike Sherman likes to run the offense at.
The biggest issue at the running back position is going to be watching how the two backs get into the flow of the game and how Sherman chooses to sub them in and out.
Despite his fumble problems earlier in the camp, Ben Malena had a strong effort overall and will be the third back heading into the season. Malena isn’t a gamebreaking back, but he rarely makes mental mistakes and he’s an asset out of the backfield.

Wide Receiver
 
1st Group - Jeff Fuller - Ryan Swope - Uzoma Nwachukwu
2nd Group - Nate Askew - Kenric McNeal - Malcome Kennedy
3rd Group - Mike Evans - Lekendrick Williams - Brandal Jackson
The receiving unit is extremely deep, with six different players who all have big playmaking ability. There’s also a lot of flexibility with positions as Nwachukwu, Kennedy, and Jackson can all move around.

A couple of notes on this position:
Evans is the third teamer at that position, but unless there’s an injury to Fuller or Askew early in the season, we expect that Evans will likely redshirt. Evans is still extremely raw and has a long way to go, and you wouldn’t want to waste a potential huge season down the road because of a few plays as a freshman. If Fuller or Askew were to go down late the season, Nwachukwu, Kennedy and Jackson are all capable of sliding over in filling that role so that Evans wouldn’t have to burn a shirt late in the season.
Chance Nelson would probably be ahead of LeKendrick Williams on a true depth chart, but Nelson will likely redshirt this season. With the depth of talent on the inside, there no real reason to burn the shirt of Nelson for a few plays when Williams is available.

Tight End
 
1A- Hutson Prioleau
1B - Michael LaMothe
3 - Nehemiah Hicks
Despite his ability to make plays up field and his athletic ability, Hicks just hasn’t been consistenty enough to be a part of the starting line up. Depending on what type of plays Sherman has scripted for the beginning of the game, you could see either LaMothe or Prioleau.
While tight end may not be one of the strengths of the A&M offense, the good news is that it doesn’t have to be. The unit just has to be able to make blocks out of the backfield, and hold on to the ball when their time is called.
That’s why Prioleau and LaMothe will likely split most of the reps. That duo has been very consistent with their assignment pick ups, and they rarely drop the ball.

Offensive Line
 
First Group (Left to Right):
L. Joeckel - B. Thomas - P. Lewis - S. Klinke - J. Matthews
Subs: C. Ogbuehi, E. Eike, J. Harrison

The situation on the offensive line isn’t a true depth chart, as certain injuries would cause position moves. For example, if Patrick Lewis were to go down it’s likely that Brian Thomas would move to center and Evan Eike or Jarvis Harrison would take his place at guard.
The good news over a year ago at this time is that the Aggies know who their starting unit will be, and it doesn’t seem very likely that it will change at any time. That group has really started to come together over the last several practices.
Sherman also feels comfortable that they have eight players who could step in and be effective along the offensive line.
The offense line certainly had it's struggles early on in the camp, and we'll be watching closely to see how the group performs early on. Remember, the Aggies only have two games to prepare for top ten Oklahoma State coming to Kyle Field on September 24th.

Punter
 
Drew Kaser
Ryan Epperson
This position battle may be the only one on the team that goes into the final days leading up to the game against SMU.
Kaser was hurt for the majority of the fall camp, and as a result we haven’t seen much out of him. However in the last couple of days he did look to have a stronger leg than Epperson, and looked like he could control his kicks a little better.
Ultimately, expect Kaser to win out, but the question is whether or not he’ll win out before the Aggies open up next Sunday.

Texas A&M Football Ticket Update-- Season Ticket Sales have Concluded

Reporter: Texas A&M Sports Information

COLLEGE STATION, Texas—One week away from the 2011 Texas A&M season opener in football, the Aggies continue to set records in ticket sales with season tickets reaching a new high of 44,250 at the end of business on Friday.
Season ticket sales have concluded for the 2011 season. Combined with the anticipated student ticket sales of 29,000, a total of 73,250 have been sold in the 83,002-seat Kyle Field.

Individual game tickets are now available for the SMU and Idaho games. Conference game tickets, subject to availability and excluding the Texas game, go on sale to the public Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. online and by phone and at the ticket windows on Sept. 7 at 8 a.m. 12th Man Foundation members are able to purchase conference games (excluding Texas). A $150 entry level contribution gains fans access to conference games currently. For membership or ticket information, visit our website, www.12thmanfoundation.com or call the AT&T Aggie Ticket Hotline, 888-99-AGGIE (888-992-4443).
The 12th Man, the Texas A&M student body, will begin student ticket pull on Monday, Aug. 29 at 7 a.m. at the windows in the Zone Plaza. The Student Sports Options brochure is available at http://mysportspass.tamu.edu and should answer most questions regarding Pull as well as Road Game Pull. Students can register for sports options at http://mysportspass.tamu.edu . Camping for the SMU ticket pull may begin at 8 pm on Saturday, Aug. 27.
The Road Game Pull began Saturday, Aug. 27 at 8 a.m.
To pull road game tickets, students must present their TAMU Student ID and one valid sports card per ticket that they want to pull (limit of four tickets per game per student ID). Students may pull any or all of the road games, but the limit of four per game will be enforced.
The ticket prices for the road games are:
Oct. 1 vs. Arkansas (Arlington) $50
Oct. 8 at Texas Tech $98
Oct. 22 at Iowa State $65
Nov. 5 at Oklahoma $89—ALREADY SOLD OUT
Nov. 12 at Kansas State $65
The 12th Man Foundation Ticket Center is located at the Zone at Kyle Field. Normal hours of operations are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays.
Sports cards may be picked up with a current Texas A&M University ID at Windows 11 and 12 in the Zone Plaza. The Ticket Center will have extended hours this weekend only for sports card distribution and road game pull. The Ticket Center will be open from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 28)
If any road game tickets remain available for purchase after Saturday and Sunday, the tickets will be available for purchase at the ticket windows inside the Ticket Center doors located next to Aggie Locker. (The front windows facing the Zone Plaza will be handling the SMU tickets.)
The Aggie football team, ranked #8 in the Associated Press and #9 in the USA Today pre-season polls, opens the 2011 season next Sunday, Sept. 4 at Kyle Field against the SMU Mustangs. Kick is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be nationally televised on FSN.

Selfless approach has Gray running with conviction for Texas A&M

By Chuck Carlton  The Dallas Morning News

The Cyrus Gray who enrolled at Texas A&M before the 2008 football season bears little resemblance to the player preparing for what could be a showcase season for him and the No. 8 Aggies.
“I don’t think I was a running back when I first arrived,” Gray said. “I was a running quarterback that was trying to play running back. My game has evolved. The understanding of the game has changed.”
More important, Gray said, his mind-set has changed dramatically. The senior from DeSoto sees the big picture now, as well as his place in it.
If there was one defining moment that has marked Gray’s career so far, it came when friend and fellow running back Christine Michael suffered a broken tibia midway through last season. Gray adopted the philosophy that he was running for two people and finished the season with seven straight 100-yard games.
In the process, he excelled against three defenses that finish the season ranked in the top 12 nationally: Nebraska, Texas and LSU. His 223 yards rushing against Texas were the most ever by an Aggie against the Longhorns. Once viewed as a change-of-pace back, Gray proved he could churn out tough yardage between the tackles on game-changing drives.
He finished the season with 1,133 yards rushing with an impressive 5.7 yards per carry and 12 touchdowns.
“The older you get, the more realize that you have a team, a family you have to play for out there,” Gray said. “You first play for a starting spot or to establish your identity. Now it’s bigger than that.”
Teammates confirmed Gray’s selfless approach.
“He’s not one of those guys that needs all the spotlight,” Michael said. “The things that he’s good at, he gives to us younger players. There’s going to be a time when he’s not here, and he tries to give us as much as possible.”
While Gray is a formidable talent, he’s just one part of the most loaded A&M offense since R.C. Slocum was on the Aggies’ sideline.
Michael, healthy and running hard, looks fully healed from an operation that left him with a rod in his leg.
For now, coach Mike Sherman isn’t concerned about Gray and Michael getting enough touches.
“I think in the context of the way we play the game now, where we’re getting between 85 and 95 snaps, there are going to be plenty of opportunities for those guys to have the football in their hands, whether catching it or being handed it,” Sherman said. “I think they both are a great one-two punch.”
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill seems ready to transform from a game manager to a playmaker in his first full season as a starter. The receiver corps, led by Jeff Fuller and Ryan Swope, is remarkably deep and accomplished.
On the offensive line, sophomore tackles Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews survived and then thrived as freshman starters in a league with some impressive pass rushers.
But it’s impossible to ignore Gray given the way he finished last season.
Gray has added about 10 pounds and weighs 206. He said he’s just as quick, maybe even faster.
Bigger and faster?
“I believe it,” Swope said with conviction. “Heck, yeah. He wouldn’t lie.”
Actually, Gray might be the only one who believes he still has something to prove.
“I don’t even look at that,” Gray said of his strong finish to 2010. “I have to play better than I did last year if I want to be successful and if our team wants to be successful.
“I was pretty good, but I don’t think I have played my best football yet.”
———
On a major roll
Breaking down Cyrus Gray’s streak of seven consecutive 100-yard rushing games:
Opp. Att. Yds TD Final
Kansas 13 117 1 W, 45-10
Texas Tech 16 102 2 W, 45-27
Oklahoma 21 122 1 W, 33-19
Baylor 28 137 4 W, 42-30
Nebraska 26 137 0 W, 9-6
Texas 27 223 2 W, 24-17
LSU 20 100 0 L, 41-24

Texas A&M Football: 2011 Team Breakdown by Position

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

 

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: Running back Cyrus Gray #32 of Texas A&M holds off University of Texas defensive end Sam Acho #81 during the second half at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

It is the final week of Fall camp before game preparation starts. Mike Sherman and all of the assistants have had multiple practices and a couple of scrimmages to evaluate all the players. The 2011 version of the Texas A&M Aggies will be the most talented squad that A&M has put on the field in over a decade. It is time to take a look at this team position by position so we can understand why so many Aggies are excited about the potential for a special season in 2011.

Quarterback
Ryan Tannehill returns as the starter after completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,638 Yard 13 TDs with 6 interceptions. Tannehill led the Ags to a 6-1 record. Two years ago, Mike Sherman told anyone who would listen that Ryan Tannehill would play quarterback in the NFL and he was laughed at. No one is laughing now. Tannehill averaged 233 yds per game passing last year. That converts to a little over 3,000 yards in a 13 game season. Tannehill had a great spring and summer. If he can play with the same kind of consistency he displayed last year, the Ags should be in line for a big season.
Jameill Showers, Matt Joeckel, and Johny Manziel continue to fight it out for the backup spot. Expect Showers to go into the season at number two and Manziel to redshirt. If the Ags get comfortable leads in ballgames this year, expect to see both Showers and Joeckel under center to get some experience.
Running Back
Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael return to form arguably the top RB duo in the country. Gray is coming off a breakthrough season in which he rushed for 1.133 yards and 12 TDs. Michael rushed for 653 yds at 5.0 yds per tote before breaking his leg halfway through the '10 season. Michael added 12 pounds of muscle in the off season and reportedly got faster. Either of these two backs would start for any other team in the Big 12.
Ben Malena returns for his sophomore year after receiving spotty playing time once Michael was injured. Malena lost some bad weight over the summer and has some wiggle.
Mister Jones has impressed in the coaches during two-a-days with his strong running, but has struggled to hold onto the football.
True freshman safety Howard Matthews is expected to see some time at RB when the Ags are in their goal line offense. Matthews rushed for 937 yards and 15TDs in 2010 at Houston Clear Springs High School.
Michael Lamothe will split time between FB and TE. When the Ags need a lead blocker in the backfield you will see Lamothe on the field.
Wide Receivers
Jeff Fuller returns after an record breaking junior season in which he earned first team All Big 12 honors. Fuller tied the A&M season record with 72 passes and set a new record with 1,066 receiving yards and 12 TDs. Fuller holds the career receiving TD record at A&M with 28 and is a candidate for All American honors.
Ryan Swope tied the season reception record with 72 along with Fuller. Swope had 825 yards and 4 TDs as a sophomore. Swope also averaged 5.3 yards per carry rushing in '10.
Uzoma (EZ) Nwachukwu battled through a sophomore slump with 36 receptions for 407 yards and 4 TDs after a very promising freshman year. EZ rededicated himself to football in the off season and seems poised for a big junior campaign.
Junior Kenric McNeal fought through some nagging injuries to catch 23 passes for 202 yds with 2 TDs. McNeal is also a big difference maker in the punt return game.
Nate Askew played mainly on special teams in '10 but impressed the coaches and his teammates with his improved play over the summer. The 6'4" 220 sophomore gives the Ags another big WR along with Fuller.
Redshirt freshman Malcome Kennedy should round out the WR group in '11. It seems that Kennedy and Askew have passed up Brandal Jackson in the WR pecking order.
Junior CB Dustin Harris may also see some time at WR in 2011.

Tight Ends
Nehemiah Hicks led the teams TEs with 11 catches for 141 yards as a true freshman in '10. Hicks has NFL talent but the coaches are waiting for the light to go on. If he ever gains the consistency that the coaches are demanding, Hicks will be a major weapon for the Ags.
Hutson Priouleau is a workmanlike blocker and receiver for the Ags. He has one receiving touchdown in '10. Expect to see him in the two TE sets.
Michael Lamothe is the Ags best blocker at TE and spend a lot of time at FB. Lamothe had only six receptions in '10 but two went for touchdowns.

OL
The starting OL from left to right is LT Matt Joeckel, LG Brian Thomas, C Patrick Lewis, RG Shep Klinke, RT Jake Matthews.
Joeckel will compete for All Conference honors as a sophomore and is one of the best young linemen in the nation. It is nice to see Lewis finally accept a move to center and focus on that position. He likely has a future at center in the NFL. Shep Klinke is a true sophomore who has held off Evan Eike and Jarvis Harrison at the RG spot.
The coaches believe that Joeckel, Matthews, and Harrison are all future first round draft picks. It speaks to the depth on the OL that Harrison is so well thought of by the coaches yet he cannot beat out Thomas or Klinke.
RS Freshman Cedric Ogbuehi will back up Joeckel at LT. If Joeckel suffered a significant injury you would likely see Matthews switch to LT and Ogbuehi move to RT.
Danny Baker has starting experience at LT and center, and will back up Lewis at center.
It looks like Rhontae Scales will be the backup at right tackle.

DL
The starting defensive ends in A&M's 3-4 are Tony Jerod-Eddie and Jonathan Mathis. The starting NG is still up in the air right now. Kirby Ennis has impressed the coaches enough to earn first team snaps ahead of returning starter Eddie Brown. My guess is that Ennis gets the start against SMU.
TJE should earn All Conference honors this season. If he plays close to his potential he will be a top three round draft pick. Mathis should also play on Sundays. It will be interesting to see what Ennis brings to the equation. He was a good pass rusher when he played as an undersized true freshman in '09. He has gained 40 pounds and a lot of strength since then. Eddie Brown was overpowered against LSU in the Cotton Bowl but fared well against Big 12 opponents.
Ben Bass is the second team DE. He had his lone sack of the season last year against Texas. Steven Barrera, Ivan Robinson, and Gavin Stansbury take turns backing up the DE and NG position.
Spencer Nealy is a backup DE who offers great effort. Shayvion Hatten will redshirt this year but has been described by coaches and being the most physically gifted DL on the roster.

ILB
This is the one position where there is the most uncertainty, even the week before the opening game. If you go with experience, then you have to believe that senior Garrick Williams will be starting at the Sam ILB and junior Jonathan Stewart will be starting at the Mike ILB spot. Williams was second on the team in tackles in '10. Williams registered 112 stops with five for loss. Williams had a great first half of the season, but faded down the stretch.
Freshman Donnie Baggs graduated from high school in December and participated in spring practices. Baggs has impressed the coaches with his ability to quickly pick up the defense. Baggs will not redshirt and has seen some snaps with the first team. If Williams does not play like the LB he was the first half of the season, do not be surprised to see Baggs take his starting spot.
Stewart was a very highly though of recruit out of Shreveport, LA who has never played up to his billing. If Stewart does not play to the coaches expectations, expect juco transfer Steve Jenkins to take Stewart's spot. Do not be surprised to see the coaches use the SMU and Idaho games to sort out the ILB position.
Junior Kyle Mangan should see the field on passing downs. He is still not strong enough against the run to warrant every down play.
Charlie Thomas may also see some time at ILB. The former safety has practices both inside and outside during the fall camp.

OLB
The outside linebackers have been cross trained at both positions but for this breakdown, we will look at them as jokers and drop OLBs.
After an intense battle during the fall camp, expect to see sophomore Damontre Moore starting at the joker against SMU. Moore exploded on the scene as a freshman with 40 tackles and 5.5 sacks to earn Big 12 defensive freshman of the year honors from some outlets.
Some of the field issues planted Moore in the doghouse and senior Caleb Russell moved into the starting spot. Moore has played at a consistently high level during fall camp and has grabbed ahold of the first team spot.
Freshmen Tyrell Taylor, Shawn Ward, and Brandon Alexander will all see action at the joker too, Taylor is 6'4" and only 200 pounds. The coaches wanted to redshirt him but no one can block him so Taylor has forced the coaches to play him now. Alexander will also get some time at the drop OLB spot.
Junior Sean Porter returns at the drop OLB spot. As a sophomore Porter had 74 tackles, 7 TFLs, half a sack, and 6 passes broken up. Expect Porter to improve on those numbers and compete for first team All Conference honors as a junior. Porter worked hard in the S&C program with Coach Dave Kennedy and added 10 pounds of muscle in the off season. Porter will be out of Von Miller's shadow and come into his own as an upperclassman.
Charlie Thomas is a 6'1" 220 pound former safety from Beaumont. Thomas and Brandon Alexander will back up Porter at the drop spot. Thomas' experience at safety helps him in coverage against TEs and RBs.

CB
Both starters return from the 2010 season in seniors Terrance Frederick and All American candidate Coryell Judie. The cornerbacks should see their sack numbers increase this year as DC Tim Deruyter uses more exotic blitzes to generate a pass rush.
Junior Dustin Harris returns as the 3rd CB. When the Ags move to a nickel, Harris will play corner while Fredrick will move to the nickel back. Frederick, Harris, and Judie should all play on Sundays.
 Sophomore Tony Hurd returns after gaining a lot of experience as a freshman. With the prevalence of spread offenses in the Big 12, you need more than three CBs and Hurd gives the Aggies coaches a great option as the 4th CB.
Freshman Floyed Raven has impressed his teammates over the summer in 7-on-7 pickup games with his tight man coverage. Raven will not redshirt. The 6'2" 187 pound freshman will see a lot of playing time as the coaches prepare for '12 when Frederick and Judie will graduate.

Safety
Senior Trent Hunter and Junior Steven Campbell return after starting last year. Campbell has been described as the best overall athlete on the team. If the 6' 201 junior can stay healthy he will be a top three round draft pick when he finishes in Aggieland.
Hunter struggled in coverage last season but is strong against the run. Hunter is a vocal leader of the team and was voted as a team captain this year.
Freshman Howard Matthews has pushed Hunter for playing time. Like Raven, expect the coaches to get Matthews a lot of experience to ready him for Hunter's graduation. Matthews and Campbell on the field at the same time would give the Ags size at the safety tandem that they have not seen since Patrick Bates was roaming the secondary in the early 90's.
Junior Steven Terrell started the first half of last season while Campbell recovered from injury. Terrell gives the Ags quality depth at the safety position.

Punter/Kicker
Drew Kaser wowed his teammates with booming punts during the summer. He is the most consistent punter on the roster. Unfortunately Kaser has been injured almost the entire fall camp so his status is still up in the air.
Randy Bullock was 16 for 21 on FGs last year and perfect in all 40 extra point attempts. Bullock is a dependable kicker inside 40 yds.

Kick/Punt Return
Coryell Judie is one of the top kick returners in the nation, averaging 30.2 yds per return and scoring two TDs as a junior. Kenric McNeal and Dustin Harris will both return punts for the Ags in 2011. Harris had a 52 yard punt return for a touchdown in '10.

On An Island

After surgery to remove kidney tumor, A&M assistant Chuck McMillian shows toughness he preaches to his players

Charles McMillian

Courtesy: Texas A&M Athletics

Courtesy: 12th Man Magazine Release: 08/26/2011

By Rusty Burson
12th Man Magazine One of the primary reasons Texas A&M enters the 2011 football season with such high expectations is the full return of its starting secondary and several key reserves from last year. In the era of the spread offense-and especially in the predominately pass-happy Big 12-poised and proven defensive backs can often make the difference between a good season and a great one.
The A&M defensive backs, however, are more than merely experienced veterans. Defenders like Coryell Judie, Trent Hunter, Steven Campbell, Terrence Frederick, Lionel Smith and Dustin Harris have proven to be gridiron warriors. They are tough, tenacious and resilient. As individuals and as a unit, they've dealt with adversity and battled through it, transforming setbacks into comebacks.
In that regard, they also happen to have an outstanding role model. Defensive backs coach Chuck McMillian is not just a masterful strategist and mentor of young men. His impact on the A&M defensive backs also goes well beyond teaching techniques.
McMillian, who will turn 40 in December, has provided his players with quite a life lesson on staying strong in the midst of storms and conquering fears with faith. Last October, McMillian faced a foe much more imposing and intimidating than anything he'd ever encountered on the football field.
It knocked him to his knees. It rocked his world. It forced him to look into the mirror where he clearly witnessed the reflection of his own mortality.
Ultimately, though, the rare form of cancer that suddenly was detected in his kidney prior last fall strengthened McMillian's faith and renewed his commitment to live each day with courage and conviction.
"Throughout the process (last year), I would get on the Internet-probably the worst thing I could do-and I read that after surgery, I would probably have something like a 65 percent chance of living," said McMillian, who has three children, including two who have not yet started grade school. "So, I'm thinking there was at least a 35 percent chance I was about to die. When it was all said and done, the entire ordeal certainly strengthened my Christian faith because when you talk about the end, you never know when it's your time. I just want to make sure I'm doing things the right way because I have a very recent reminder that your perspective on life can change in the blink of an eye."
Or something as routine as a trip to the bathroom.
On the night of Oct. 7, 2010-two days prior to the A&M-Arkansas game in Arlington's Cowboys Stadium-McMillian tucked Mykayla, his then 4-year-old daughter, and his son, Isaiah, who was 2 at the time, into bed (he also has a college-aged daughter, Cherrelle, from a previous marriage). He then kissed his wife, A&M Consolidated High School head volleyball coach Cydryce Carter-McMillian, goodnight and drifted off to sleep.
Before the alarm clock sounded the next morning, McMillian awakened at about four in the morning needing to go to the bathroom. A couple hours later, he awoke to find blood on his body and on the sheets of his bed. He initially thought one of his kids had left a toy in the bed that had pierced him, but he could not find a cut or wound on the surface of his body. Then, when he went to the bathroom again, he was shocked to discover blood in his urine.
"I knew something was wrong right then," said McMillian, who grew up in Bryan and played for Merrill Green at Bryan High in the late 1980s. "I went to the doctor and they ran every test from A to Z. I'd been planning to take off that (Friday) morning to go to Dallas to do some recruiting. But those plans changed, and after they did an ultrasound on me, they came in and told me, 'Mr. McMillan, you're healthy. Everything looks good.'
"I said, 'Well, completely healthy people just don't urinate blood. The doctor wanted me to stay through Saturday, but Dr. (Richard) Smith, our team doctor, had come with me and told her I had a football game on Saturday, and we had plenty of doctors if something went wrong. For two and a half days, I urinated blood. The following Monday I went through some procedures that weren't fun, and on Wednesday, I went through a CAT scan in Dr. Smith's office. Dr. Smith came out to practice and told me they found a possible tumor in my kidney. When he said that, it was a shock. We went to M.D. Anderson in Houston, and the doctor told me that when a tumor is found in the kidney, there is an 80 percent chance it's malignant."
Further tests soon revealed McMillian's tumor was, indeed, malignant. After receiving that news, the typically upbeat and optimistic McMillian visited with his pastor in Bryan. They prayed together, and he says he began to experience a sense of peace about the diagnosis.
"At that point, I knew I was going to be fine and I was putting all my faith in God," said McMillian, who played defensive back for two years at San Jose City Junior College before transferring to Utah State for his final two years of eligibility (1993-94). "I didn't know the size of the tumor at that point, but the blessing was that it was very small, less than the size of a centimeter (in diameter). Usually, a tumor in the kidney does not appear until it's the size of a softball. We went from talking about removing the whole kidney to where, after surgery, the doctor was able to save 95 percent of the kidney."
McMillian continued coaching the secondary throughout the rest of the season, and the blood in his urine disappeared in the week after the Arkansas game as mysteriously as it had first appeared. He says his doctors are still not sure why the blood appeared in the first place. But McMillian is grateful it did, as that is what sent him to doctors and hospitals in search of answers.
Those answers saved most of his kidney.
Shortly after the Aggies returned to Cowboys Stadium to face LSU in the Cotton Bowl, McMillian underwent successful surgery to remove the tiny tumor. His surgeons commended McMillian for being in outstanding shape, which was a blessing and a curse. The doctors said the most difficult part of the surgery was cutting through McMillian's clearly defined abdominal muscles.
While the surgery was a success, the recovery process was agonizing. Because surgeons sliced through his abdominal muscles, McMillian could barely move without enduring severe pain. He stayed in the hospital for four days after the surgery, and he stayed in his bed as much as possible in the ensuing weeks.
"It was really rough," said McMillian, who coached previously at TCU, Indiana, Cincinnati, Navy (twice) and Boise State before being hired by Mike Sherman at A&M prior to the 2008 season. "I really didn't lose much weight, maybe something like seven pounds, but it was very painful to even move after the surgery. I recovered enough to go through spring ball, but when I raised my voice, I found myself grabbing my stomach.
"(In July), I finally felt good enough to begin playing basketball again. For the most part, I'm back to normal and just need to get myself back in shape. I try not to take my health for granted anymore. I know I'm blessed to be in this physical condition less than a year after being diagnosed with cancer. I'm very grateful for that."
McMillian is also grateful to be coaching again. He is passionate about working with the young men in the defensive backfield, and he is obviously a tremendous coach. McMillian was the only defensive coach Sherman kept prior to the 2010 season when he hired a new defensive coordinator (Tim DeRuyter), two new linebackers coaches (Dat Nguyen and Nick Toth) and a new defensive line coach (Terrell Williams).
McMillian, who grew up in a big family of five sisters and two brothers, says he is excited about the 2011 season for many reasons. He believes A&M is capable of making this season a particularly memorable one, and he is excited about working with a defensive backfield that is loaded with potential postseason award winners.
Most of all, he's excited about the opportunity to coach this season with a clean bill of health. McMillian says doctors are still not sure of the form of cancer he battled. It was so rare that the surgeons declared it a new form of cancer.
Regardless of what the cancer is called, McMillian feels called to incorporate the cancer scare of 2010 into his overall story of faith and football.
"My strength as a coach and a man comes from putting God first and that is one thing that Coach Sherman also stresses to the players," McMillian said. "Obviously, we can't tell our players what to believe in, but I personally believe in Jesus Christ, and I am going to put him first in my life in the good times and the tough times.
"I sure didn't ask to go through cancer, but I do feel like it tested me and strengthened me. I always want to be honest with my players. I'm not going to pretend I'm a perfect coach or that I was a perfect student back in my days. I'm not going to pretend that I've never had fears or setbacks, either. I know there will be some guys who are going to miss class and do stupid things, so I tell them my story so that I can relate to them better and they know what I've been through."
Surviving cancer is now part of what McMillian's gone through. And he has the battle scars to prove that he can handle "gut-check" time...on the field and off.

Close Fall Camp, Gear up for SMU

Courtesy: Texas A&M Athletics Release: 08/26/2011

Article Audio/Video      Watch Mike Sherman Interview 8-26-11

COLLEGE STATION --- The Texas A&M football team finished fall camp with a single workout on Friday and now will focus its attention on the Sept. 4 season-opener against SMU at Kyle Field. The rare Sunday meeting between the Aggies and Mustangs kicks off at 6:30 p.m., and will be televised nationally by Fox Sports Net. The two old Southwest Conference rivals have played 77 times previously with the most recent meeting being a 66-8 Aggie win in 2005. A&M is 9-0-1 against Mustangs over the last 10 meetings, and the last SMU win in the series came in 1984. The Aggies are coming off a 9-4 season in 2010 that included a share of the Big 12 South Division title and a trip to the AT&T Cotton Bowl. The Aggies have 60 lettermen returning from that squad, including an impressive 18 offensive or defensive starters. A&M will go into the 2011 season as a consensus top 10 team for the first time since 1999. The Aggies are ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press media poll, No. 9 in the USA Today head coaches poll and ESPN.com’s Power Ranking and No. 10 in the Football Writers Association’s Grantland Rice Super 16.

Thursday Thoughts - Roster Reflections

Courtesy of I Am the 12th Man

by Beergut on Aug 25, 2011 4:22 AM CDT in Texas Aggies Football

• If I had to guess right now, I think our starting OL will be Patrick Lewis at Center, Brian Thomas at RG, Evan Eike at LG, Luke Joeckel at LT, and Jake Matthews at RT. Jarvis Harrison and Shep Klinke might be our swing players, the first two guys off the bench to give the starters a breather. It is hard to say who the second-string is at OL with the limited video we get online.
• Jameill Showers looks like a terrific practice player who has yet to translate his play to games. This means he may well win the backup spot to Ryan Tannehill, but I expect Matt Joeckel to push him for the spot. Joeckel looks mediocre to bad in practice footage I've watched, but he simply gets it done on gameday.
• Everyone talks about replacing Michael Hodges and Von Miller, but the spot I'm keeping an eye on is strongside DE. While I criticized him often for his play throughout his career, Lucas Patterson was a steady presence at SDE last season, even becoming a playmaker from that position. His stellar play often resulted in Sean Porter being single-blocked or coming clean because the offense would dedicate a TE to help on Patterson. If we can get steady play from Jonathan Mathis and Eddie Brown at NG, I'd like to see us try Kirby Ennis at SDE.
• With Damontre Moore, Caleb Russell, Brandon Alexander, and Tyrell Taylor all working at Joker, we have an embarrassment of riches at that position. We should have plenty of depth to keep the pressure on off the weakside at all times.
• One play which I do not ever remember us utilizing last season, even before we switched QBs, was the speed option. I don't know if Coach Sherman was protected Jerrod early and Ryan late, but we never ran that play, and we ran it at least one or twice a game every game in 2009. I'd love to see us bring it back, especially since we have two backs in Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael who can make it a home-run play.
• I still want us to bring back the Wildcat series we had in 2009. Cyrus Gray, Christine Michael, Ryan Tannehill, we have the players to make it work.
• On the realignment front, I find it interesting that the same texas fans who are accusing A&M of "running away" to the SEC are also the most ardent about not ever playing us in any sport ever again after we leave the Big 12. While the threat to never play us again smacks of taking your ball and going home because you're upset you didn't get your way, I think if they refuse to schedule us in any sport, it will be pretty obvious just exactly who is afraid of competition. If texas actually plans on making good on this threat, I think texas' biggest boosters of A&M going to the SEC have to be Gail Goestenkors and Chris Petrucelli.
• Off-topic, I was saddened to hear about Pat Summitt's announcement that she has early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Coach Summitt is one of the reasons I watch women's basketball, because she coaches an aggressive style on defense that make games fun to watch. I am glad she intends to continue to coach as long as possible, and is bringing national attention to this disease.

Thursday Aggie Football Practice Report

Thursday saw the Aggies work out inside the McFerrin Athletic Complex as fall camp comes to a close.

Courtesy: Texas A&M Athletics Release: 08/25/2011

Article Audio/Video      Watch Cyrus Gray 8-25-11      Watch Jeff Fuller 8-25-11

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M football team took part in a spirited workout inside the McFerrin Athletic Complex Thursday afternoon as the Aggies wind down fall camp in preparation for their Sept. 4 season opener against SMU. On Thursday, several Aggies stood out including senior tailback Cyrus Gray, who had been held out of several practices during fall camp with a minor injury. The DeSoto, Texas, native broke off a pair of long scoring runs during the workout and drew praise from Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, who commented on Gray's health as well as the performance of fellow running back, junior Christine Michael. "He looked 100% to me, as did Christine Michael," Sherman said. "Both of those guys have had really good camps." Additionally, Sherman spoke post-practice about his team getting back into the routine of game week after the completion of fall camp. "We worked on SMU today and will work on them again tomorrow," Sherman said. "We'll give them off on Saturday and then workout again on Sunday before giving them off the first day of school. We are already into the SMU mode in preparation. When they come back on Sunday night we'll give them the scouting report, talk to them about it and then go out and practice." * 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. 2011 TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL PRACTICE SCHEDULE Friday, Aug. 26 6 - 8 am                Saturday-- off

A&M takes another step toward exiting Big 12

Courtesy of The Houston Chronicle

BRENT ZWERNEMAN, COLLEGE STATION BUREAU

Published 10:45 p.m., Thursday, August 25, 2011

• 
  R. Bowen Loftin Texas A&M University president 2010 school photo / HC

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COLLEGE STATION - Quarterback Ryan Tannehill fired pinpoint passes, and tailback Cyrus Gray broke multiple long runs Thursday night, meaning it was business as usual during eighth-ranked Texas A&M's daily practice. Off the field, however, it was anything but in Aggieland.
While the Aggies tried focusing on their task at hand - a Sept. 4 season opener against SMU - A&M's administration was focusing in on bolting the Big 12 and entering the Southeastern Conference. University president R. Bowen Loftin informed Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe via letter Thursday that the Aggies are "exploring our options" concerning conference alignment.
The letter - ending with, "We look forward to hearing from you" - marked A&M's first official move outside College Station in its quest to exit the Big 12 and join the SEC, preferably by the 2012 football season.
"If Texas A&M withdraws from the conference, we want to do so in a way that complies with the bylaws and is supportive of your efforts to seek a new member of the conference," Loftin wrote to Beebe in the letter provided by A&M. "We would appreciate your conferring with the other member institutions and outlining for us the process to be followed by Texas A&M should it withdraw from the conference."
The Big 12 responded in a statement: "The letter received today … will be addressed by the Big 12 Conference Board of Directors. It remains our strong desire for Texas A&M to continue as a member of the Big 12, and we are working toward that end. However, if it is decided otherwise, the conference is poised to move aggressively with options."
An A&M official dubbed the letter to the Big 12 simply part of the complex legal process in leaving the Big 12 for the SEC. The Big 12's board is scheduled to meet Saturday. Once the Aggies' exit of the Big 12 becomes official, the SEC is expected to name A&M its 13th member, an A&M insider said. The Big 12 is expected to court BYU, Notre Dame and potentially Houston if it gets to that point, the insider added.
The A&M official said the Aggies are following Nebraska's example in June 2010 in exiting the Big 12 - right down to the letter. Nebraska reached an agreement to pay $9.25 million in exit fees, and A&M is expecting to pay in that ballpark, even though Big 12 bylaws call for a much higher amount if less than a year's notice is given. The Cornhuskers split the Big 12 for the Big Ten, while Colorado left for the Pac-12.
Loftin also said in a release Thursday, "As I have indicated previously, we are working very deliberately to act in the best long-term interests of both Texas A&M and the state of Texas. This truly is a 100-year decision. While we understand the desire of all parties to quickly reach a resolution, these are extremely complex issues that we are addressing methodically."
He added, "Ultimately, we are seeking to generate greater visibility nationwide for Texas A&M and our championship-caliber student-athletes, as well as secure the necessary and stable financial resources to support our athletic and academic programs. As a public university, Texas A&M owes it to the state's taxpayers to maximize our assets and generate additional revenues both now and well into the future."
Meanwhile the football team continued its preparation for what's shaping up as its final Big 12 season, and coach Mike Sherman said Thursday night the SEC chatter isn't distracting his squad.
"It's not even part of our conversation, although I know it's hard for you (reporters) to believe that," Sherman said.
Senior receiver Jeff Fuller concurred.
"We don't talk about it at all," Fuller said. "It's not a distraction. I won't be playing in the SEC. Our main focus is SMU right now - that's all that's on our minds. There's really no time to think about the SEC."
A&M has said it would like its 117-year-old football rivalry with Texas to continue regardless of conference affiliation, but it's to be determined if the relationship will continue if the state's two flagship universities are in separate conferences.
brent.zwerneman@chron.com twitter.com/brentzwerneman