Page IB • Thursday, September 4, 2003
Sports
The Battalion
MLLUjMLjjl Fish make big splash in first game
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By Troy Miller
THE BATTALION
For most Texas A&M freshmen,
the first week of classes is a time to try
to find the right classroom and not
look lost in the process. For freshmen
Justin Warren and Earvin Taylor, this
is just another grueling week at the
office — or field, in their case — with
class on the side.
Taylor and Warren played in their
first-ever college football game at
A&M, which is unusual for freshmen
in college football. Usually a redshirt
year is needed to transition to the
speed of the college game, but these
two are already beyond redshirting.
Warren earned the starting nod at line
backer against Arkansas State and is
likely to start again when Utah visits
Kyle Field on Saturday.
“(Warren’s) been very consistent
all through the fall,” said A&M
defensive coordinator Carl Torbush.
“He’s played extremely hard and he’s
a ball of energy, and I like that. He’s
the type of linebacker you like to
recruit. He’s got some speed, he’s got
some quickness, he’s got some size
and he’s got the tools to be a really
solid football player.”
Warren was overjoyed after
learning he would start against
Arkansas State.
“1 was
shocked,” Warren
said. “I called my
best friends back
in Tyler and told
them I was start
ing.”
Warren had a
solid day on the
field against
Arkansas State,
backing up his coach’s decision to
start him. In his first taste of NCAA
football, the Tyler Lee product made
six tackles, one sack and forced a
fumble.
“Justin has closing speed and
instincts,” said A&M coach
Dennis Franchione. “He’s special
for a freshman.”
Playing time was not always the
first goal on Warren’s mind. In high
school he played defensive end, and
the transition to linebacker wasn't
without its typical bumps and bruises.
“In my second or third week I was
like, ship me back to Tyler right now,”
Warren said. “That was when I was
WARREN
really having trouble with the plays
and I didn’t know where to go.”
Warren told the coaches he needed
more repetitions in
practice so he got
them, and now he
finds himself in
the starting lineup.
Taylor, a
receiver from
Mission, Texas,
was able to transi
tion more easily
over the summer
since he arrived in
College Station early with his broth-
er.senior wide receiver Jamaar Taylor.
“He was here all summer with
Jamaar,” Franchione said. “I think
that sometimes eases the transition
process for a freshman. He has been
pretty efficient since day one.”
Even with the extra training time
with big brother, the younger
Taylor had a formidable task ahead
of him if he wanted playing time.
Receiver is easily the deepest posi
tion on the Aggie roster, and
arguably the most talented.
“There’s a lot of credit missing
there,” said sophomore quarterback
Reggie McNeal. “We have some of
the best receivers in the nation, or in
the Big 12. As an all-around group
we’ve got possession receivers and
speedy receivers, and they’ve all got
size. They are going to be a fun group
to throw to.”
Taylor has wowed teammates in
practice with his athleticism and
catching ability. Big brother Jamaar is
equally impressed.
“He’s made a lot of plays,” Jamaar
said. “I think he’s earned the respect of
his teammates and the coaching staff.
He’s been in the program for a whole
summer, got stronger, got physical and
is playing good football right now.”
Although the younger Taylor did
not get a pass thrown his way against
Arkansas State, he took a lot of great
memories from his first game in the
maroon and white. Playing high
school ball in Mission is a bit different
than playing at Kyle Field in front of
the 12th Man.
It is the same for Warren, but
playing in front of a Kyle Field
crowd is one of the reasons they
became Aggies.
“Compared to 9,000 people in high
school, and then 75,000 people the
other night,” Taylor said, “it was just
unbelievable.”
Big 12 filled with non-conference matchups
■■■■
B ig 12 fans will have to
wait a few more weeks
to see another marquee
conference matchup like week
one’s Nebraska-Oklahoma
State tilt. Week two in the Big
12 features 11 non-conference
games. Texas is the lone league
team with a bye week.
No. 23 Nebraska (1-0, 1-0 Big 12) plays its
first non-conference game of the season Saturday
when Utah State (0-1) visits Memorial Stadium in
Lincoln. Nebraska holds a 7-0 all-time record
against Utah State. Utah State is coming off a 40-
20 loss to Utah in its opener. Nebraska’s season
opening 17-7 win over Oklahoma State was the
NOTEBOOK
True Brown
Cornhuskers’ 18th straight sea
son-opening win, the longest
such streak in the nation.
Despite claiming 79 season
opening wins, two other Big
12 teams have more. The
University of Texas tops the
list with 91 and is eight ahead
of Oklahoma, which is second
on the list. Texas A&M is fourth with 78.
Nebraska's win over OSU also gave coach
Frank Solich his 50th win with the No. 23
Huskers.
Rocky mountain high
The Colorado Buffaloes, who posted a 42-35
upset win over rival Colorado State on Saturday,
own one of the league’s premier games of week
two.
UCLA will visit Folsom Field in Boulder for a
matchup that will be televised on ABC.
Colorado will turn to sophomore quarterback
Joel Klatt to try and post its first 2-0 record since
1998. Klatt grabbed headlines nationwide by
passing for 402 yards and four touchdowns
against Colorado State last week.
Colorado beat UCLA last season in the Rose
Bowl, but the Bruins lead the all-time series 4-1.
The Oklahoma Sooners will play in the Big
12’s other high-profile game, traveling to
See Big 12 on page 3B
V N
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~WJ*
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