No Spring Game for TAMU in '14 or '15

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COLLEGE STATION — Texas A&M officials announced today spring football drills will be conducted on campus and a traditional spring game will not be held in 2014 or 2015.

“After careful consideration and in consultation with Coach Sumlin and the football coaching staff, we have decided not to play a traditional spring football game this year or next as Kyle Field is being redeveloped,” Texas A&M Director of Athletics Eric Hyman said. “We appreciate the cooperation of the SEC office in considering a waiver to play a spring game off campus, but other factors including NCAA rules and regulations regarding contact with prospective student-athletes also played into our final decision.”

NCAA rules related to an off-campus spring game would include football staff members, as well as current Aggie football players, not being able to interact with prospective student-athletes and their families. Also, the institution would not be able to provide complimentary admission to high school, college-preparatory school or two-year college prospects or their coaches because the event is not a regular-season event and would be taking place outside of a 30-mile radius from campus.

“I am disappointed we will not be able to hold a few scrimmages or the spring game inside Kyle Field the next couple of years,” Aggie head football coach Kevin Sumlin said. “Our fans, the 12th Man, have been very supportive of the Kyle Field redevelopment as we take one of the greatest college stadiums and make it even better, and louder.”

The Aggies will begin spring football drills on Friday, Feb. 28 and will conclude Saturday, Apr. 5.

Practice policies will remain the same in regard to the Coolidge grass practice fields and the McFerrin indoor football facility.

The Aggies are coming off of a 9-4 record in 2013 including a 52-48 Chick-fil-A Bowl victory over Duke.

Texas A&M opens the 2014 season on Thursday, Aug. 28 at South Carolina in the first ever football game on the new SEC Network. The first home game is slated for Saturday, Sept. 6 against Lamar at Kyle Field. Other home contests include Rice (Sept. 13), Ole Miss (Oct. 11), Louisiana Monroe (Nov. 1), Missouri (Nov. 15) and LSU (Nov. 27). Other road games include SMU (Sept. 20), Mississippi State (Oct. 4), Alabama (Oct. 18) and Auburn (Nov. 8). The Aggies have a neutral site game against Arkansas at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sept. 27.

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