Texas A&M Notes

Sept. 20, 2008

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Five First Starts vs. Miami – The Aggies began the game with five first-time starters against the Hurricanes:

• Jerrod Johnson (So-1L) at quarterback
• Cyrus Gray (Fr-HS) at wide receiver (normally a running back)
• Danny Baker (Fr-RS) at tight end (normally a backup center, also see action at TE)
• Jeff Fuller (Fr-HS) at wide receiver
• Von Miller (So-1L) at outside linebacker

Johnson’s Start – Jerrod Johnson’s start at quarterback broke a 29-game starting streak at quarterback by Stephen McGee. Johnson became the seventh quarterback to lose his starting debut since Corey Pullig led the Aggies to a 40-18 win over Louisville at Kyle field in 1992. The others were Branndon Stewart (BYU in 1996), Randy McCown (Texas Tech in 1997), Mark Farris (Notre Dame in 2000), Dustin Long (Virginia Tech in 2002), Reggie McNeal (Missouri in 2002) and McGee (Texas in 2005).

Johnson’s 275 passing yards on 19-of-32 passing against the Hurricanes were a school record for a quarterback in his starting debut. The previous best was 243 yards (on 20-of-33 passing) by John Mazur against California in 1983. Mazur had transferred to A&M from USC. Johnson also became only the fourth quarterback in school history to throw three touchdown passes in consecutive games, joining Lance Pavlas (3 vs. SW Louisiana and North Texas in 1990), Kevin Murray (3 vs. TCU and Texas in 1985) and Gary Kubiak (3 vs. Texas-Arlington and Louisiana Tech in 1982).

• Jeff Fuller’s 18-yard touchdown catch from Jerrod Johnson marked the Aggies’ first third-quarter points of the 2008 season.
• The Aggies fell to 5-15 in games when they don’t have the turnover advantage dating back to the start of the 2005 season. The Aggies lost a fumble and an interception, while the Hurricanes were turnover-free.

Miscellaneous – Senior Nick LaMantia made his first 12th Man start of the season to extend his school record for career 12th Man starts to 25. LaMantia, from Mission, Texas, selected by fan vote to start at 12th Man in the season-opener against Arkansas State, but he was hampered by an ankle injury from August camp. Junior Derek Dumas was the 12th Man in the first two games of the season. +++ Game captains were Lee Grimes, Devin Gregg and Michael Bennett +++ Jeff Fuller Sr., the father of A&M freshman wide receiver Jeff Fuller, served as honorary game captain at today’s game. Fuller Sr. was a standout safety for the Aggies from 1980-83 and played for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers.