• Football Home
• News
• Schedule/Results
• Statistics
• Statistics (PDF)
• Roster
• Depth Chart
• Coaches
• Support Staff
• 2009 Gameday Central
• Game Notes
• Mike Sherman's Virtual Guide
• 2009 Media Supplement
• History
• Aggies in the NFL
• Radio Network
• Facilities
• Big 12 Standings
• Camps
• Aggie Youth Experience
• Kyle Field Panoramic Images
• Letters from Coach Sherman
• Player Policy Manual
• 12thManOnline.com
• Aggie Seat Cushion
• HS Coaches' Ticket Request
• Mike Sherman Radio Show
• PSA Questionnaire
• Usher Application
• Gate Attendant Application
• 
  
  

RANK: N/A (ESPN/USA TODAY)

6-7, 3-5 [BIG 12]

UP NEXT
N/A	Off-Season

Sept. 5, 2009

Recap |  Final Stats |  Notes |  Photo Gallery  |  AP Photo Gallery 

TEXAS A&M HEAD COACH Mike Sherman

"We were fortunate to win this game today. I'm very happy that we did. There's a lot of things we can learn from this game, and a lot of areas that we need to improve in, but I thought one area was that the kids really came to play. In spite of many, many mistakes that we will fix Monday morning, I'm very pleased with their effort and their passion that they brought to the game. They were excited about playing, excited about playing New Mexico. I take my hat off to Coach Locksley and his staff. They were well-prepared, but we were able to hit them on a couple of things. Things kind of went our way. We've got to fix the things we need to fix, and understand this was just one ballgame and we've got a long way to go."

On the impact the true freshmen had and their significance:  "I think we had around 15 first-year players play in this ballgame, and five redshirt freshmen. There were no turnovers, which is a good thing. We did have numerous penalties. In this game we had 14 penalties for 123 yards, and we have to look hard at that. But I think the story is not about the freshmen as much as it is about the older guys that have embraced the freshmen, and brought them into the fold, and made them feel part of things. It could easily be an environment of a hierarchy around here, where the kids have to wait to feel accepted. We have unselfish group and they really help the freshmen along. There's a lot to be said about the guys that allowed them to be able to be in those positions."

On the team's tempo:  "I was pleased with that. Overall I thought we were able to wear them down. That was the idea offensively when I went with this system. We run them every day. We get them in great shape, and that's how we have to break the people that we're playing down. We were in pretty good shape (tonight). When you run 90 offensive plays and no one really is gassed on our side of the ball, that is a great testament to our conditioning."

On the play of the defense:  "We didn't have many three-and-outs last year (defensively), and I think we had four consecutive three-and-outs tonight. They surprised me a little bit today. I was really impressed with the way they tackled. We don't tackle full speed all the time (in practice). As a coach you always worry in the first game whether you'll be able to tackle. They did good job of wrapping up people. I was impressed with our defense. Keeping them out of the end zone at the end of the half and forcing a field goal was huge. The defense showed up to play tonight."

JUNIOR JACK Von Miller

"Over the off season and summer, Coach told everyone to play every down and snap as if it is the last one. Tonight we did that. It felt good to win. That's all that we were worried about was getting a few W's on the board. Last season wasn't a good season so we just went out there and played to win."

SOPHOMORE DB Terrence Frederick

"Last year we struggled in many areas and wanted to make a statement. Coming out and playing the way we did tonight showed improvement from last year."
On difference on this year's team:  "It was very noticeable went through camp and we knew we had to do well as a team. Last year everyone was just running around. This year, we knew what we have to do."

FRESHMAN DL Spencer Nealy

On a season-opening win: "It feels great to be a part of. We still have a lot to do. We played well as a team tonight. The older guys helped make it a lot easier on us. It's nice to have our first win, but with the bye this week, practice will be tough."

JUNIOR QB Jerrod Johnson

"A lot of veteran guys tried their best to help the younger players. The freshmen came in and accepted everything and did great working together. A lot of it they did on their own. Hats off to the freshmen." 

"We didn't really get to scout New Mexico. They had a different coaching staff this year than they did last year. I think the biggest difference between this year's and last year's team is that we improved the most on making adjustments on the field. We need to improve on our penalties. They will kill you if you continue to make them."

FRESHMAN WR Uzoma Nwachukwu

On first experience on Kyle Field:  "At first, I was getting my juices going, my heart started beating a little bit. It was a good experience because of the 12th Man. It was amazing to see them twirling their towels around." 

"We did great coming together. The veterans embraced us and did a good job getting us ready. I just went out there and caught the ball."

SOPHOMORE WR Jeff Fuller

"We definitely had to set the tone tonight. We played with a chip on our shoulder. We told everybody that we are here. We have a lot of things that we need to work on. We will spend some time watching film to look at what we need to work on and what we need to build on as a team." 

On chemistry between Johnson and Fuller :   "Jerrod and I are friends on and off the field.  He and I connected on some big plays tonight. We have really good chemistry, and it's only going to get better. He and the rest of receivers will gain that chemistry too."

"My hat is off to (Associate AD Tim) Cassidy and Coach Sherman for getting the young guys ready to play. When I was a freshman, they got me ready to play and I had a good freshman year. They're just going to keep on stacking the freshmen like that every year. It's a beautiful thing. It just shows that they know how to seek talent."

SENIOR LINEBACKER Matt Featherston

"We were excited to play our first game. It was nice to play against someone other than each other. We played hard and they played hard as well. We just got the better of it today. We played with a lot of excitement and the result was a win. Coach emphasized to us to give it our all each time out there. He had us switching out about every four plays to rest and get rejuvenated. That contributed to our excitement and speed."

SOPHOMORE RUNNING BACK Cyrus Gray

"It seemed like it had been forever since we had played last. It took us a little bit to get in our rhythm but once we did, everything seemed to fall in place."

SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN Lee Grimes

"These last few weeks of practices have really helped us jell together as an offensive unit. The coaches did a real good job of coaching us up on the stuff they would run. We didn't run into a lot of surprises."

FRESHMAN RB Christine Michael

On his first game and the newcomers' performance:  "We are all blessed. God does things in mysterious ways. He blessed us tonight with a victory. The freshmen all came into this together. We look up to the older guys. They really took us in as their own."

"I took a big play or two and getting banged up to realize what they (New Mexico) had. I got a feel for the first part. After that first hit, you're ready to go."

"As far as the future, no one really knows what is going to happen. We just take it one game at a time. The freshman made big plays. Jerrod (Johnson), the linemen, and the upperclassmen did a good job. We are thankful for those guys."

NEW MEXICO

HEAD COACH MIKE LOCKSLEY

"I thought we would come out and play a little better, especially offensively. We had a couple of third-and-shorts early in the that we didn't convert. we put our defense in some tough situations early on. We can get this corrected. There wasn't much out there we can't correct. You usually make your biggest strides from game one to game two. I thought we played all four quarters. I don't think the score is indicative of the type of team we have. Give credit to A&M. Those guys wore us down a little bit. We have to go watch tape and get some things corrected."

SENIOR QUARTERBACK DONOVAN PORTERIE

"I think early on we made a few mistakes but these things can be corrcted by watching film. We did a lot of good things but we didn't capitalize on others. It was a learning experience. Give credit to a good team (A&M). I think if we would have come out and performed on all cylinders, it would have been different. Our scheme was to get it to the open guy depending on what coverage A&M was in."

SENIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN ERIK COOK

"Texas A&M is a good team. We came out here expecting to play a good Big 12 team and that's what we got. We threw the ball and some things went right and some things went wrong. We're past A&M and now we're looking forward to Tulsa."

SENIOR SAFETY FRANKIE SOLOMON

"We didn't execute as well as we would have liked on defense. They were more prepared. We've got some stuff we've got correct. We had a lot of missed tackles and some balls we could have knocked down. We're going to have to get more in sync. All credit to A&M; they were more prepared. The team that was better prepared won tonight."