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Monday, August 30, 2004
2004 FOOTBALL 1
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THE BATTAI.Bg g
Murphy leads squad of talented receivers
By Jon Gilbert
THE BATTALION
Texas A&M senior wide re
ceiver Terrence Murphy started
his A&M football career with
four catches and one touchdown
in the Aggies’ 38-24 win over
McNeese State on Sept. 1, 2001.
Now, he wants to end his college
career on a positive note as the
Aggies seek to rebound from a
disappointing 4-8 season.
If Murphy, the Aggie’s re
cord holder for most receiving
yards with 1,879 yards, makes
two catches against the Uni
versity of Utah on Sept. 2, he
will add another school record
to his collection.
“It feels great to be at the top
of the list with all those great
receivers,” Murphy said. “For
me to have another year to add
to the record is going to be fun.
I wish I could get it on the first
two plays so everyone will stop
talking about it.”
Murphy is in a league of his
own. Not only is he arguably
the best wide receiver in school
history, but he is also the team
leader. He spent off-season
training urging his teammates
into a “one-heart” mode. At the
Night of Champions, the team’s
annual spring weight-lifting
exhibition, Murphy recorded a
school record vertical jump of
41.5 inches.
“It felt great to jump 41 (inch
es). But, right before two-a-days
started I broke 42, almost got
Defensive line ready
show improvement
Intinu
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By Shawn Millender
THE BATTALION
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JOHN C. LIVAS • THE BATTALION
Aggie receiver Terrence Murphy catches a pass with Kansas cornerback Donnie Amadi on his heels.
43,” Murphy said. “Everyone
went crazy. My goal was to beat
my record, and I did it. Hopeful
ly I’ll jump about 44 one day.”
Murphy said he is satisfied
with what he achieved in the off
season and that he finally under
stands the position. He was a
quarterback in high school and
has only played at the wide re
ceiver position for three years.
“I think he is better than last
year,” said head coach Dennis
Franchione, “He is playing
with more confidence. He un
derstands the game even bet
ter. Last year I would call his
hands a little inconsistent, but
he’s been far more consistent
in spring and fall practices
this.year.”
The Aggies, unlike some years
in the past, have a deep crop of
receivers that Franchione will
use in his various schemes.
Seniors Jason Carter and Ter
rence Thomas, juniors DeQawn
Mobley and L’Tydrick Riley
and sophomore Earvin Taylor
each has elevated his game and
will see significant time on the
field this season. Sophomore
Chad Schroeder is in the mix
and boasts exceptional speed in
the open field.
“Basically, I’d like to be
able say all of them are going
to have good years,” said wide
receivers coach Kenith Pope.
“You just have to wait and see
how things turn out. We hope
to spread the ball around to
all of those guys. We want to
put the ball in the best hands,
and if those guys can make the
plays, then we’re a much im
proved team.”
Pope said true freshmen Pierre
Brown and Kerry Franks have
been impressive and have stood
out these first few practices.
In the modem era of Aggie football, the strength of the
generally dependent on the strength of its defense. In turn,IP aiu
fense can only be as strong as the defensive line. I 3 0
To describe Aggie lines of yore, analysts used words liketF 50
nant,” “stingy” and “immovable” to describe former players A ai
Sam Adams, Ray Childress, Jacob Green and Ty Warren. £ et l0S(
After last year’s switch to a four-man front, though, writersfP ot:s '* , ' < :-
out new adjectives; “razor-thin,” “undersized,” “porous”atkiM'ty *°
scathingly, “ineffective,” were used to pigeonhole this group ad/antag
This season, a much-maligned but revitalized Aggiedefe|P ran y(
line seeks to return to true Wrecking Crew form. Withanii4 tu 'ty an
new talent combined with reinforcement from the ranksofaty’i^ an '
pressive redshirt freshman class, the line appears poisedtOnti at | ast y c
its stake as one of the best in the Big 12. sc<
One of the most telling statistics last year was junior strouplpichdov
ty Jaxson Appel leading the team in tackles. Besides the the clock
meaning Appel is a sure tackier, it also points to far too maddehision i
ners making it past the front seven defenders. Nc 2 du
“Someone’s got to make the tackles,” Appel said. “Peopklto the firs
smarter than me have said that the best pass defense isagooi
rush. Those guys really took offense to what people said about
last year. They're determined not to let people talk likethatii
them again.”
Defensive line coach Stan Eggen took his share of the heat
last year’s dismal performance and said the defense needsto
improvements to be effective this year. U1C1
“We need to be a much better defensive front againstfterM n | 0I
Eggen said. “It seems like we were usually behind thechains-B^
need to get teams into second and third and long. AndwefcB ons |
be able to get a four-man rush and be violent and get afterffeL
we do these things, we’ll have a chance.” 'm
In addition to new talent, the line returns two proven sit"
in junior defensive tackle Johnny Jolly and senior del
end Mike Montgomery.
Eggen said another year in defensive coordinator Carl Toi
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Stronger and faster offensive linemen prepared to protect Aggie offense
By Ryan Irby
THE BATTALION
They may not share the spotlight with playmak
ing positions like wide receiver and running back,
but the offensive line is an integral part to any suc
cessful football team. A quarterback must have
ample time to orchestrate the play from the pocket,
and that’s where the offensive line comes in.
Aggie fans certainly remember plays collaps
ing early at the offensive line in 2003. A&M of
fensive line coach Jim Bob Helduser said times
have changed.
“We are already better than we were in 2003,”
Helduser said. “I believe we’ll improve through
the season as the younger guys mature.”
This year’s offensive line features one senior
in center Geoff Hangartner, three juniors in tack
le Jami Hightower, guard Dominique Steamer,
guard Aldo de la Garza and redshirt freshman
Cody Wallace, who is currently being contested
for the final tackle position by sophomore Alex
Kotzur. The 6-foot 4-inch, 355-pound Hightower
missed the entire 2003 season with a staph infec
tion and injury, but is back and larger than life. De
la Garza, who owns the A&M bench press record
at 490 pounds, returns as a force to be reckoned
with at the strong guard position.
According to A&M head coach Dennis Fran-
chione’s system, linemen are not cemented in
one certain position. Instead, coaches
lect the five best linemen and placet!
cording to their talents and strengths. Ifcj
leaves coaches with different options inl
choices for starters.
“Our depth will give us flexibility in positioiij
Helduser said.
The true test of these men will come in
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