College Sports

By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor

SAN ANTONIO — After the Fran Plan was not the answer, Texas A&M has looked in another direction.

Mike Sherman hopes to bring his NFL success to the college ranks as the former Green Bay Packers coach takes over in Aggieland.

The Aggies are definitely planning on just that.

Sherman, who addressed the Texas Sports Writers Association Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency-Riverwalk, is confident of turning the program around.

Although A&M is smack in the middle of a trio of teams — Texas, LSU and Oklahoma — who have recently won national titles, Sherman says there is no reason the Aggies can’t match their success.

“I think Texas A&M is in a good spot,” said Sherman, who led the Green Bay Packers to five straight winning seasons from 2000-2004. “The University is what it is. It has great tradition and great facilities that are equal or even better than those schools.

“I don’t see any reason why A&M can’t be in that same elite-type. Are we there yet? No. Can we be? Yes.”

Sherman, a Massachusetts native who most recently served as assistant head coach for the Houston Texans, says the Big 12 Conference, most notable the South Division, is among the toughest in college football.

“The Big 12 South is really like the AFC South with Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee and the up-and-coming Houston Texans. It’s quite a division,” said Sherman, who led the Packers to three division titles.

He feels the Aggies will compete in the South and he calls A&M “a sleeping giant.”

Sherman noted the offensive line is one of his biggest concerns with just eight scholarship veterans returning. He called the line a “work in progress” and will be a key to how the Aggies fare this season.

He also noted that he expects two incoming freshman to get plenty of playing time this season on the line. Although he did not reveal their names, it’s possible Jacksonville’s Joe Villavisencio could step right in on the line.

As far as the running game, he considers Mike Goodson top notch and Tyler’s Keondra Smith, a Robert E. Lee graduate, and Lufkin’s Jorvorskie Lane key players.

Sherman said Smith provides key depth for the Aggies, while Lane can be a standout if he keeps his weight under control. He said Lane will play strictly fullback this season. Sherman noted that will only help Lane in the future in the NFL.

“There’s not too many 6-foot, 285-pound tailbacks in the NFL,” he joked.

As far as quarterback, he said the position is in good hands with Stephen McGee and Jerrod Johnson, but he also noted redshirt freshman Ryan Tannehill and freshman Tommy Dorman are in the mix.

Sherman also said he thought the defense turned the corner in spring drills and that moving Jordan Peterson to safety will help solidify the defense, noting Peterson will be calling the defensive signals.

What he wants is the effort and passion that A&M showed in its final regular season win over rival Texas last year.

“I challenged them to play that way every game and not just against a rival,” Sherman said.

If Sherman gets that effort, A&M may just join the elite in college football.

Notes From Coaching School:

Fox Sports Net Southwest announced its DQ Games of the Week schedule and two East Texas games are on the slate. The first game is part of the Trinity Mother Frances Kickoff Classic, matching Lufkin against Robert E. Lee on Aug. 29 at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium. … On Oct. 24, the Winnsboro at Caddo Mills contest is the DQ game. FSN Reporter Neil Beasley and a camera crew spend Fridays at the host site and then broadcasts the segment at midnight on game night. … FSN will also have the Dodge High School Game of the Week this year once again. Ramon Alavrez of FSN said the schedule has not been set, but the first game matches defending Class 4A Division II state champion Lake Travis at perennial power Austin Westlake on Thursday, Sept. 4. Westlake handed the Cavaliers their only loss last season. Lake Travis is led by all-state quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who has orally committed to Texas, while Westlake is led by running back Ryan Swope, who has orally committed to Texas A&M. Gilbert set the state’s single-season record in passing yards last year with 4,827 yards, breaking Graham Harrell’s mark. …The 2009 Coaching Convention is scheduled for Austin with the event returning to San Antonio in 2010.