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Updated: August 18, 6:01 PM ET Franchione out to reload, not rebuild By Mark Wangrin Special to ESPN.com |
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Texas A&M Aggies
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Coach: Dennis Franchione (1st season) 2002 overall record: 6-6 Conference record: 3-5 Returning starters Offense: 7 Defense: 5 Kicker/Punter: 2 2002 statistical leaders (* - returners) Rushing: Derek Farmer* (739 yds) Passing: Dustin Long* (2,509 yds) Receiving: Jamaar Taylor* (760 yds) Tackles: Terrence Kiel (95) Sacks: Jarod Penright (9.5) Interceptions: Jaxson Appel* and Byron Jones* (4 each) Outlook: Dennis Franchione knows any timetable he might have for restoring the A&M football program is irrelevant. "The seniors don't want to hear about rebuilding,'' Franchione said. "They want to hear about reloading." So do the Aggie fans. Abuzz over the hiring of the former Alabama coach who rebuilt programs at Southwest Texas, TCU and 'Bama, they're expecting a run for the Big 12 South title this year. That may be wishful thinking. The Aggies' talent level has dropped off over the past few seasons, particularly on defense, where the Aggies lost their top defensive lineman and three of four starters at linebacker. A switch to the 4-3 and the addition of freshman Justin Warren, a Parade Magazine All-America, will help ease concerns. Offensively the Aggies have a talented duo at quarterback in junior Dustin Long and sophomore Reggie McNeal, who accounted for four touchdowns in A&M's upset win over OU last fall. Franchione, who brought both players to Big 12 Media Days to take head on the questioning about who will play, plans to use both. "We'll have a Dustin package and we'll have a Reggie package,'' Franchione said. Keep an eye on: It's now or never for Linnis Smith, and defensive coordinator Carl Torbush is betting on now. Torbush has said wants Smith to be more of a playmaker in the Aggies' 4-3 instead of the occupying blockers, as he was in the 3-4 his first three seasons. Key game: The Texas series was starting to lose its sparkle with the Aggies failing to come closer than two touchdowns against the Longhorns over the last three seasons. That changed with the hiring of Franchione, who has sparked some concern among in Longhorn fans who fear he can do to A&M what Bob Stoops did to OU. A strong showing or even a win shows that day is close. It's a good year if. . .: The Aggies can rebuild their defense, particularly up front, and crack the top three in the Big 12 South. Franchione showed that Texas' days of dominating in-state recruiting are numbered with a strong inaugural class and an upset of a higher rated teams -- A&M will host Pittsburgh, Oklahoma State and Texas -- could accelerate the rebuilding process. Mark Wangrin covers the Big 12 for the San Antonio Express-News.
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