HUSKERS AGGIES on RECEIVING YARDS RECORD ASSOCIATED PRESS — No
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2003 TEXAS A&M FOOTBALL NEBRASKA (5-1, 1-1 BIG 12) TEXAS A&M (3-3, 1-1 BIG 12) VS. TAYLOR SETS SIGHTS HUSKERS AGGIES ON RECEIVING YARDS RECORD ASSOCIATED PRESS — No. 18 ASSOCIATED PRESS — Not ranked With just 25 career games under his USA TODAY/ESPN — No. 14 USA TODAY/ESPN —Not ranked belt, senior Jamaar Taylor is poised to become Texas A&M’s career leader in receiving yards. Taylor goes into the Date Opponent Result/Time Date Opponent Result/Time Nebraska game needing 36 receiving 08/30 • Oklahoma State (ABC) .................... W, 17-7 08/30 ARKANSAS STATE (PPV) ............. W, 26-11 yards to break the record. 09/06 Utah State (FSN) ............................. W, 31-7 09/06 UTAH (PPV) ................................... W, 28-26 <<GO TO PAGE 2, COLUMN 1>> 09/13 Penn State (ABC) .......................... W, 18-10 09/18 at Virginia Tech (ESPN) ................... L, 19-35 TEAM EFFORT KEYS 09/25 at Southern Miss (ESPN) ................ W, 38-14 09/27 PITTSBURGH (ABC) ...................... L, 26-37 AGGIES’ RUSHING 10/04 Troy State ..................................... W, 30-0 10/04 • at Texas Tech (FSN) ...................... L, 28-59 GAME RENAISSANCE 10/11 • at Missouri (TBS) ............................ L, 24-41 10/11 • BAYLOR ..................................... W, 73-10 Led by a two-headed tailback, its (FSN) (FSN) most mobile quarterback since Bucky 10/18 • Texas A&M ....................... 11:40 a.m. 10/18 • at Nebraska ..................... 11:40 a.m. Richardson and an improved offensive 10/25 • Iowa State ......................................... TBA 10/25 • OKLAHOMA STATE .......................... TBA front, the Aggies have experienced a 11/01 • at Texas ............................................. TBA 11/01 • KANSAS ............................................ TBA renaissance in its running game in 2003. <<GO TO PAGE 2, COLUMN 2>> 11/08 • at Kansas .......................................... TBA 11/08 • at Oklahoma ...................................... TBA 11/15 • Kansas State ..................................... TBA 11/15 • at Missouri ......................................... TBA (ABC) (ABC) O-LINE SHINES 11/28 • at Colorado ............................ 11 a.m. 11/28 • TEXAS ........................................................ 2:30 p.m. AGAINST BEARS A&M’s youthful offensive line ALL TIMES ARE CENTRAL AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE produced its best game of the season against Baylor last week, both in terms of production and coaches grades. <<GO TO PAGE 3, COLUMN 1>> MCNEAL MOVES INTO PASS EFF. TOP 20 Texas A&M AGGIES (3-3, 1-1 B12) at Nebraska CORNHUSKERS (5-1, 1-1 B12) Fresh off the most complete game KICKOFF --- 11:40 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003 of his career, sophomore signalcaller SITE (CAPACITY) --- Memorial Stadium/Tom Osborne Field, Lincoln, Neb. (73,918) Reggie McNeal has put his name among the nation’s leaders in pass RADIO INFORMATION --- The game will be broadcast by the 60-plus station Texas A&M Radio efficiency rating. Network. For a complete list of stations, go to: AggieAthletics.com. Calling the game on the A&M <<GO TO PAGE 3, COLUMN 1>> Radio Network are Dave South (play-by-play), Tim Cassidy (commentary) and Chris Valletta (side- line reports). PLACEKICKER TV INFORMATION --- The game will be regionally televised by Fox Sports Net. Calling the game PEGRAM IS SOLID IN will be Bill Land (play-by-play), Dave Lapham (commentary) and Jim Knox (sideline reports). SECOND SEASON SERIES INFORMATION --- The Cornhuskers lead the all-time series between the two schools, 8-2 Sophomore placekicker Todd … Nebraska has won two straight since A&M’s 1998 victory at Kyle Field, which is the Aggies’ most Pegram has been a consistent force recent victory in the series … In 1998, the Aggies surprised the No. 2-ranked Cornhuskers with a for the Aggie in 2003 after a shaky first 28-21 victory, which spurred A&M to its only Big 12 Championship … A&M Director of Athletics Bill season in 2002. Byrne and Senior Assoc. A.D. for External Operations Jeff Schmahl both came to Aggieland from <<GO TO PAGE 3, COLUMN 1>> Nebraska within the last year . TAYLOR SETS SIGHTS ON AGGIES HIT ROAD FOR GAME 7 HIGH OCTANE AGGIES --- RECEIVING YARDS RECORD --- AGAINST CORNHUSKERS --- A balanced rush-pass offensive attack by With just 25 career games Game 7 for Texas A&M has the Aggies the Aggies is in the midst of the most pro- under his belt, senior Jamaar traveling to Lincoln, Neb., for an 11:40 a.m. lific three-game span in school history. In Taylor is poised to become tilt with the Top 25-ranked Nebraska their last three games against Pittsburgh, Texas A&M’s career leader in Cornhuskers (No. 18 Associated Press / Texas Tech and Baylor, the Aggies have receiving yards. Taylor, who No. 14 USA Today/ESPN). The game will rolled up 1,752 yards of total offense, which has caught at least one pass be regionally televised by Fox Sports Net. is the most in school history. The previous in every game he’s played, Fans should check their local television list- three-game span came in 1996 when the goes into the Nebraska game needing 36 ings for broadcast information. Aggies piled up 1,677 yards in consecu- receiving yards to pass Bethel Johnson’s The Aggies (3-3 overall, 1-1 vs. Big 12) tive games against North Texas, Colorado (1999-2002) school record of 1,740 yards. are coming off a record-setting 73-10 vic- and Louisiana Tech. Taylor’s career stats stand at 108 catches tory over Baylor at Kyle Field, while Ne- A model of rush-pass balance, the for 1,705 yards and 10 touchdowns. braska (5-1, 1-1) fell to Missouri, 41-24, in Aggies are averaging 217.3 rushing yards Johnson set the existing receiving yards Columbia, Mo. and 224.3 passing yards in 2002. Of its 24 mark in 35 games over a four-year span. touchdowns, 14 have come via the rush A&M’s All-Time Receiving Yards List TEAM EFFORT KEYS AGGIES’ and 10 have come through the air. Rk Player, Years Rec. Yards RUSHING GAME RENAISSANCE --- Best Three-Game Totals (Total Offense) 1. Bethel Johnson, 1999-02 ................ 1,740 Led by a two-headed tailback, its most Year Opponents Total Offense 2. Jamaar Taylor, 2000- ..................... 1,705 mobile quarterback since Bucky 2003 Pittsburgh, Texas Tech, Baylor 1,752 3. Tony Harrison, 1989-93 ................... 1,576 Richardson, and an improved offensive (544 / 489/ 719) 4. Albert Connell, 1995-96 ................... 1,525 1996 North Texas, Colorado, Louisiana Tech 1,677 5. Shea Walker, 1983-86 ..................... 1,411 front, the Aggies have experienced a re- naissance in its running game in 2003. (624 / 447 / 606) 1990 SMU, Arkansas, TCU 1,636 A&M’s All-Time Receptions List The Aggies are averaging 217.3 rushing Rk Player, Years Catches (670 / 429 / 537) yards per game with an impressive 5.5 1985 Northeast Louisiana, Tulsa, Texas Tech 1,622 1. Bethel Johnson, 1999-02 .................... 117 yards per carry average through six games (539 / 702 / 381) 2. Keith Woodside, 1983-87 ................... 110 this season. It is the Aggies’ best per game 1991 TCU, Arkansas, SMU 1,528 3. Jamaar Taylor, 2000- ........................ 108 rushing average since 1996 when they (594 / 367 / 567) 4. Rod Bernstine, 1983-86 ...................... 105 gained 230.3 yards per game on the 5. Albert Connell, 1995-96 ........................ 98 ground and it’s the best per carry average AGGIE DEFENSE SHUTS DOWN Career Game-by-Game Statistics since 1990 when the Darren Lewis-led BIG 12 RUSHING LEADER --- Opponent Rec. Yds. TD LG Aggies gained 5.8 per tote. While the Aggie offense received most McNeese State ........................... 3 51 0 37 Redshirt freshman Courtney Lewis and of the praise from last Saturday’s 73-10 at Wyoming ................................. 4 74 0 33 junior Derek Farmer have combined to give victory over Baylor, the A&M defense Oklahoma State .......................... 4 36 1 19 the Aggies 779 rushing yards from its run- Notre Dame ................................. 2 24 0 14 sought to “regain its swagger” by shutting ning back position, while sophomore quar- Baylor ........................................... 5 72 0 34 down Baylor’s Rashad Armstrong. terback Reggie McNeal has emerged as at Colorado .................................. 9 146 2 64 Armstrong came into the game as the Big at Kansas State .......................... 3 16 0 7 a rushing threat with 237 yards on the 12 rushing leader and left it bruised. Iowa State ................................... 2 13 0 12 ground. Much credit also goes to a youth- The Aggies limited Armstrong to just 22 at Texas Tech .............................. 6 49 0 16 ful offensive front that features just two at Oklahoma ................................ 1 8 0 8 yards on 18 carries, which was 95-plus returning starters. Texas .................................... (DNP) yards below his season average of 117.8. *TCU (galleryfurniture.com) ...... 1 15 0 15 Year by Year Rushing Average Armstrong came into the game with a 2001 Total (10 games) ........... 39 489 3 64 Year Rushes Yards Avg/G Avg/P history of getting stronger in the second 2003 237 1,304 217.3 5.5 La.-Lafayette ............................... 4 80 0 33 half, averaging 83.8 yards and 6.0 per at Pittsburgh ................................ 5 51 0 15 2002 421 1,771 118.2 3.4 carry in the final two quarters this season. 2001 387 1,541 114.0 3.2 Virginia Tech ............................... 5 56 0 18 Last Saturday, Armstrong gained no yards 2000 421 1,830 146.4 3.8 Louisiana Tech ............................ 5 118 1 38 on six second half carries. Texas Tech .................................. 6 128 1 82 1999 467 1,892 145.6 3.4 at Baylor ...................................... 4 48 0 23 1998 594 1,985 152.7 3.3 at Kansas..................................... 5 131 1 69 1997 492 2,465 205.4 5.0 AMAZING APPEL --- Nebraska ..................................... 3 59 0 23 1996 565 2,764 230.3 4.9 Only a season and a half into his A&M at Oklahoma State .....................