Coaches come and go. They get hired. They get fired. It’s that kind of movement that Texas A&M’s R.C. Slocum just can’t stomach.

Slocum has spent almost his entire career in College Station. This will be his 30th season with the program and his 14th as the Aggies' head coach.

"There is something very special about Texas A&M," Slocum said. "I’ve had opportunities throughout my career to move on to other colleges and the NFL, but I chose to stay at Texas A&M. I am honored to serve as the head football coach at such an outstanding university."

Slocum has been critical of Oklahoma’s ouster of Gary Gibbs and Baylor’s dumping of Grant Teaff. It was only a year or so ago that Slocum became the target of a few of the Aggie faithful.

Team Info Location:   College Station, TX   Conference:   Big 12 (South)   Last Season:   8-4 (.666)   Conference Record:   4-4 (t-3rd)   Off. Starters Returning:   10  Def. Starters Returning:   7  Nickname:   Aggies   Colors:   Maroon & White   Home Field:   Kyle Field (82,600)   Head Coach:   R.C. Slocum (McNeese State '67)   Record at School:   117-41-2 (13 years)   Career Record:   117-41-2 (13 years)   Assistants:   Kevin Sumlin (Purdue '86) Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers      Dino Babers (Hawaii '84) Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks      Mike Hankwitz (Michigan '70) Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers      J.B. Grimes (Northeast Louisiana '70) Offensive Line      Ken Rucker (Carson Newman '76) Running Backs      Shawn Slocum (Texas A&M '87) Defensive Backs/Specialists      Alan Weddell (Houston-Victoria '87) Inside Linebackers      Buddy Wyatt (TCU '89) Defensive Line      Tam Hollingshead (Sul Ross State '79) Tight Ends   Team Wins (last 5 yrs.):   9-11-8-7-8   Team Rank (last 5 yrs.):   22-9-15-25-29   2001 Finish:   Beat TCU in galleryfurniture.com Bowl.

After the Aggies went 7-5 in 2000, there were some grumblings in College Station. The Aggies finished out of the top 25 for only the second time in Slocum’s tenure.

They finished with three straight losses, including an Independence Bowl loss to Mississippi State, coached by former A&M coach Jackie Sherrill. It was the Aggies’ fourth straight bowl loss, and it dropped Slocum’s bowl record to 2-8.

After beating Iowa State in the eighth game last season, the Aggies entered the toughest stretch of their schedule with a shot to win the Big 12 South.

The Aggies, however, didn’t get it done the next three weeks.

Texas Tech put the first dent in the Aggies’ title hopes, handing them a 12-0 loss. It was the Aggies’ fourth straight loss in Lubbock and their fifth loss in the last seven games against Texas Tech.

It was a major disappointment for the then-No. 24 Aggies, who were shut out by a team that ranked 10th in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing 28.4 points per game at the time. The Aggies finished with 18 first downs and 372 total yards, but got a zero where it counts the most.

Still, the Aggies’ Big 12 title hopes were still intact heading into the last two weeks.

The Aggies’ fortunes, however, went south early in the against No. 3 Oklahoma. Starting tailback Derek Farmer , who had been held out of practice all week with a sore knee, tried to play but left the game midway through the first quarter. And dominant defensive lineman Ty Warren also left in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and didn’t return.

They were the latest in a series of injuries to the Aggies, who lost starting receiver Bethel Johnson in the second game.

As a result, A&M limped through a 31-10 loss to Oklahoma -- which held the Aggies to five first downs and 132 total yards -- and entered the season finale against No. 5 Texas.

A&M mustered only 10 first downs and 165 total yards in a 21-7 loss. After losing their last three games of 2001, the Aggies entered the bowl season with the possibility of losing four straight for the first time since the 1970 season.

It was far from the New Year’s Day bid for which the Aggies had hoped when they accepted a spot in the galleryfurniture.com Bowl against TCU. And the Aggies weren’t facing another Big 12 power as they had in the late stages of the regular season. Instead, they were playing a team that finished in a tie for fifth place in Conference USA.

The Aggies’ 28-9 victory over TCU won’t go down as one of the highlights in the program’s storied history, but it provided a big lift for a team that battled adversity throughout the season.

In their first season under offensive coordinator Dino Babers, the Aggies’ offense was inconsistent at best, ranking 11th in the Big 12 in total offense with 305.7 yards per game. They were ninth in rushing offense (114 yards per game) and eighth in passing offense (191.7 yards per game).

They scored 220 points during the regular season, their lowest output since 1983.

Senior quarterback Mark Farris (6-2, 212) returns after starting the last two years. In 2001, Farris completed 58.5 percent of his passes for 2,094 yards and eight touchdowns. He was intercepted nine times. He has thrown for 4,698 yards and 18 touchdowns with 18 interceptions in his career.

Despite those impressive numbers, Farris’ job is not secure entering the fall.

Farris will get competition from sophomore Jason Carter (6-0, 190) and freshman Reggie McNeal (6-3, 190), who will join the team for two-a-days. Carter worked with the squad team last season.

In a scrimmage late in the spring, Farris suffered knee and ankles sprains and missed valuable time. That gave other quarterbacks a chance to show what they could do.

In the Maroon and White spring game, Long completed 6-of-10 passes for 94 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted twice.

Carter was 2-of-7 for 27 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted once.

For the Maroon team, which won the game 34-27, Farris was sharp, completing 11-of-14 for 178 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted once.

Farmer (5-11, 192), a sophomore, returns after leading the Aggies in rushing last season as a freshman.

Farmer rushed for 546 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. In his first college start, Farmer rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries and scored a touchdown against Notre Dame. His best game of the season was against Iowa State when he rushed for 133 yards on 17 carries and scored on a 65-yard run.

Farmer is the first freshman to lead the Aggies in rushing since Roger Vick in 1983.

Sophomore Keith Joseph (6-1, 232) rushed for 105 yards on 21 carries against Wyoming. He was the team’s second-leading rusher with 371 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns. More of a power runner, Joseph averaged 3.7 yards per carry.

Junior Oschlor Flemming (5-10, 206) will also be in the running back mix. Flemming was third on the team in rushing last season with 216 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.

Wide receiver Dwain Goynes (5-10, 181) moved to tailback in the spring and adjusted well. He caught 24 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown in 2001. Running reverses from the slot, Goynes also had six carries for 48 yards. In the spring game, Goynes rushed for 25 yards on nine carries and scored a touchdown.

Keith Joseph (6-2, 221) has moved from tailback to fullback.

Senior Joe Weber (6-0, 233) started at fullback last year and was fourth on the team in rushing with 117 yards and a 2.8-yard average. Weber led the team in rushing touchdowns with six. He also caught 16 passes for 67 yards.

Only one receiver from the 2001 team, Mickey Jones, has departed. Jones caught 14 passes for 143 yards in 10 regular-season games. His only catch in the bowl game was an 82-yarder for a touchdown.

The two returning starters are junior Jamaar Taylor (6-1, 192) and sophomore Terrence Murphy (6-1, 185). Taylor was the team’s leading receiver last season with 39 catches. He had 489 receiving yards and tied for the team-high with three touchdowns. It was his first full season with the Aggies; he sat out 2000 after transferring from Notre Dame.

Murphy, a converted quarterback, led the team with 518 yards on 36 catches. He also caught three touchdown passes.

Johnson, a senior, returns after a medical red-shirt season in 2001. Johnson (5-11, 188), who suffered a ruptured spleen in the second game of the season, caught 42 passes in the 2000 season and had at least one catch in every game.

At tight end, the Aggies were thin in 2001 because of injuries to four scholarship players.

Sophomore Thomas Carringer (6-4, 264) was recruited as a defensive linemen but moved to tight end last season because of the injury situation. He didn’t catch a pass in the regular season but had two for 57 yards in the bowl game.

Four starters return to the offensive line, but the one departed lineman was the best of the bunch.

Seth McKinney, a four-year starter at center, was chosen to the All-Big 12 first team as a junior and senior and was a second-team All-American last season. He was chosen in the third round of the NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins.

His replacement will be Geoff Hangartner (6-5, 287), a sophomore. Hangartner played well in limited snaps behind McKinney last season.

After an outstanding career at New Braunfels (Texas) High School, Hangartner was red-shirted in 2000. He didn’t earn a letter last season, despite playing in the season opener against McNeese State and Oklahoma State. He has gained 25 pounds since high school.

Seniors Taylor Whitley (6-4, 308) and Billy Yates (6-2, 292) will be the starters at guards. They have a combined 38 starts between them. Both started every regular-season game last year.

Junior Andre Brooks (6-4, 304) should hold down the right tackle spot after starting seven games in 2001. At left tackle, Jami Hightower (6-3, 314) played in every game last season as a backup, starting six times. Hightower enters the fall slotted as the starter.

Junior tackle Alan Reuber (6-6, 302) and junior guard Alan Kirk (6-4, 287) should also work their way into the two-deep lineup this fall.

Todd Pegram (6-0, 180), a standout kicker from Plano (Texas) West High School, is expected to take over the place kicking duties this year.

Pegram was rated as one of the top kickers in the nation last season. Rivals.com listed him as the No. 2 high school kicker. He earned All-America honors from PrepStar after making 9-of-12 field-goal attempts in 2001, including a game-winning 42-yarder to beat rival Rockwall. His long field goal was 48 yards, and he made all 28 of his PAT kicks. As a junior, he made 9-of-11 field-goal attempts.

Both starting ends have departed, but the Aggies will be strong in the middle with the return of senior Warren (6-4, 295).

Warren earned All-Big 12 first team honors last season. Despite being slowed by injuries, Warren started every game last year. A big, physical lineman, Warren will be among the top linemen in the Big 12 again this season. Last year, he had 41 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss and four sacks. He led the team with 28 quarterback hurries.

Sophomore Marcus Jasmin (6-4, 317) was a backup at nose guard last season and could emerge as another leader on the line. Last season Jasmin had 33 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. With a long reach, Jasmin also blocked two kicks.

Junior Linnis Smith (6-4, 280) will also be a factor on the line. Smith played in nine regular-season games and had 21 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack.

Three players who spent their freshman years as red-shirt players will also contribute -- David Ross (6-2, 268), Donny Stringer (6-5, 246) and Lawrence Hooper (6-3, 271).

Filling the two end sports will be a priority this fall for defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz.

Three of the four starting linebackers return, but the Aggies must replace Chistian Rodriguez, who signed a free agent contract with the Colts in the spring.

Rodriguez, an outside linebacker, finished 2001 with 35 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He played in 10 regular-season games.

Senior Jarrod Penright (6-2, 228) returns as the starter at the other outside linebacker spot. Penright, however, missed time in the spring while rehabilitating from surgery for an abdominal strain.

The Aggies are counting on that. Last season, Penright was was sixth on the team in tackles with 66 and had 19 tackles behind the line, 10.5 sacks, four pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, and a fumble return for 17 yards.

Returning inside linebackers are senior Brian Gamble and junior Jared Morris. Gamble has 35 career starts and started every game in 2001 and Morris started 10 games in 2001 before suffering a knee injury. Morris missed the spring while recovering.

Last season, Gamble (6-2, 225) was fourth on the team in tackles with 71 and had four tackles for loss and two sacks. Morris (6-3, 250) was third on the team in tackles with 73 and had three tackles for loss and two sacks.

Players competing for the opening at outside linebacker include senior Jesse Hunnicutt 6-3, 255) and junior Everett Smith (6-2, 211).

Hunnicutt played in nine regular-season games and had 23 tackles last season. Smith played in 11 games and had eight tackles.

Two players who played as freshmen, Brandon Johnson (6-1, 235) and Randall Webb (6-3, 220), could be more of a factor this season. Both played special teams and outside linebacker last season. Junior Toron Woolridge (6-0, 226) was on the practice squad last season, but may get playing time this season.

Two of the better defensive backs in the Big 12 return for the Aggies.

Senior cornerback Sammy Davis (6-0, 185) was chosen to the coaches’ All-Big 12 first team and senior safety Terrence Kiel (5-11, 201) was on the third team.

Davis, a candidate for the Thorpe Award, started at right corner and led the team with 10 pass breakups and was second on the team in tackles with 74. He has 33 pass breakups for his career, tying him with Aaron Glenn for second in career breakups for the Aggies. The record is 36 set by Derrick Frazier from 1989-92.

Davis led the team with five interceptions. He finished in a three-way tie for second in the Big 12 in interceptions per game (.45).

Kiel has made 23 career starts in the secondary and is known as one of the team’s hardest hitters. He led the team in tackles last season with 92 and had three tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and five breakups.

The Aggies must replace free safety Jay Brooks and his backup, Wes Bautovich. Brooks was a solid player, finishing with 50 tackles last season. He had five tackles for loss, two sacks and four breakups.

The starter at left cornerback will be junior Sean Weston (5-9, 173), who has made 22 career starts. He had 34 tackles, seven breakups and one interception last season.

Sophomore Byron Jones (5-10, 182) will push Weston for the starting job. Jones was chosen as the most valuable player in the bowl game when he intercepted there passes. He had 33 tackles in the regular season.

With Pegram taking over the place kicking job, senior back-up kicker Cody Scates will be able to concentrate on punting this season.

As a sophomore last season, Scates (6-0, 182) ranked seventh in the Big 12 in punting, averaging 40.7 yards on 71 punts in the regular season. He had 15 punts inside the 20 and his long punt was 64 yards.

The Aggies landed one of the nation’s top place kicking prospects when they got Pegram, and Scates will benefit from the lessened workload.

Senior deep snapper Chance Pearce (6-2, 240) returns this season along with his backup, Muhlbach. The Aggies had two punts blocked last season.

Pearce has delivered 359 snaps in his career and has been credited with only one error in those snaps.

Gentry was the top punt returner last season, averaging 12.4 yards on 16 returns. Gentry would have ranked fifth in the Big 12 in return average but didn’t have enough returns to be in the league’s statistics.

Mickey Jones, who averaged 7.4 yards on eight returns, has departed. Thomas, the wide receiver, averaged 8.2 yards on five returns last season.

Davis returned the most kickoffs last season, averaging 18 yards on nine returns.

Jones had the second-best average (23.3 yards) on six returns.

Look for Gentry to be in the running for the job of No. 1 kick returner. He averaged 23.6 yards on five returns last season.

Slocum signed 21 players, including one of the top quarterbacks in the nation.

McNeal (6-3, 190) was SuperPrep’s Offensive Player of the Year after leading Lufkin (Texas) to the a 15-1 season and the Class 5A Division II state championship. He rushed for 159 yards and threw for 223 yards in the title game, rallying Lufkin from a 21-3 deficit to a 38-24 victory.

McNeal rushed for 856 yards and 10 touchdowns and threw for 2,385 yards and 24 touchdowns during the 2001 season. He also played defensive back in critical situations, once returning an interception for a touchdown in a victory over Killeen that clinched a playoff berth. He had seven interceptions last season. He earned second-team all-state honors by the Texas Sports Writers Association and was on the first team by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine.

Defensive lineman Julian Parks (6-1, 320), a teammate of McNeal’s at Lufkin, also signed with the Aggies. Parks was one of McNeal’s key blockers but will play defense for the Aggies.

McNeal was the only quarterback signed. The class also consisted of three tight ends, two offensive linemen, three wide receivers, one fullback and one running back.

Defensively, Slocum signed four linemen, four linebackers and one defensive back.

All of the signees are high school players.

Courtney Lewis (5-11, 175) of Madison High in Houston was the running back. He was rated the No. 17 all-purpose running back by Rivals.com after rushing for 1,874 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2001. He also caught 33 passes for 869 yards and 11 touchdowns and averaged 32 yards on kickoff returns and 16 yards on punt returns.

Two of the top linemen are Aldo De La Garza (6-4, 315) of New Braunfels (Texas) High School and Brandon Falls (6-3, 305) of Heritage High in Colleyville, Texas.

With 10 starters returning from the 2001 offense, the Aggies should be improved in 2002. They need to be in order to make a run at the Big 12 South title.

Last year, the Aggies’ offense faded late in the season, in large part because the competition got a lot better. Still, the offense was inconsistent under first-year coordinator Dino Babers. The 2001 offense lacked game experience, and several key injuries didn’t help either.

Farris returns for his senior season, but talented sophomore Carter and incoming freshman McNeal will push him for the job.

If the Aggies can replace center McKinney, the line could be equal or better than last year. There are skill players returning, including tailback and leading rusher Farmer.

A&M lost a couple of those players, but also returns a couple. Warren will be one of the best linemen in the Big 12, and cornerback Davis and safety Kiel will be among the league’s top defensive backs.

When the Aggies beat TCU in the galleryfurniture.com Bowl, it broke a four-game losing streak in bowl games. Slocum wants to take a step up in the 2002 bowl season, and that might be possible with this team. However, the Aggies must go through some stiff competition to win the Big 12 title, and their chances of doing it seem pretty slim.