COLLEGE STATION -- The Texas Aggie football team picked up a 41-6 season opening win over New Mexico last Saturday night. A&M Head Football Coach Mike Sherman used 13 true freshman in that game and Christine Michael's 93 rushing yards against New Mexico were the most by an Aggie true freshman in his debut game since Bucky Richardson rushed for 102 yards on five carries against Southern Mississippi in Jackson, Miss.

The Aggies had a pair of true freshmen over 100 yards in that game - Richardson and Darren Lewis (6-103). The duo led the Aggies to a 27-14 victory over the Brett Favre-led Golden Eagles.
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True freshman rushing debuts
2009: Christine Michael, 11-93 yards vs. UNM
2008: Cyrus Gray, 3-24 vs. Arkansas State
2007: none
2006: Mike Goodson, 5-43 vs. The Citadel
2005: Jorvorskie Lane, 11-54 vs. SMU (DNP in season opener vs. Clemson)
2004: none
2003: (Redshirt Courtney Lewis had 13-74 in his debut)
2002: Reggie McNeal, 2-12 vs. La-Lafayette
2001: Derek Farmer, 10-50 vs. Oklahoma State (DNP vs McNeese, Wyoming)
2000: none
1999: Joe Weber 13-54 vs. Tulsa (DNP in season opener vs. La. Tech in Shreveport)
1998: Ja'Mar Toombs, 0-0 vs. Florida State
1997: Burnest Rhodes, 7-35 vs. Sam Houston
1996: Dante Hall, 14-93 vs. North Texas (this was his first game with a rush, had served as return man in first two games of season however)
1995: Sirr Parker (5-18 vs. LSU), Tiki Hardeman (0-0 vs. LSU, 7-64 vs. Tulsa)
1994: none
1993: (Redshirt Leeland McElroy had 6-30 vs. LSU in debut)
1992: none
1991: Rodney Thomas, 12-81 vs. LSU (Redshirt Greg Hill set NCAA freshman debut record with 212 vs. LSU)
1990: none
1989: none
1988: Robert Wilson, 0-0 vs. LSU
1987: Darren Lewis, 6-36 vs. LSU, Bucky Richardson, 5-102 vs. USM (DNP vs. LSU and Washington)

Sherman also used several 'red-shirt' freshmen in the game including middle linebacker Kyle Mangan. The Brenham product recorded 4 tackles including a sack. The start was huge for Kyle, not only because it was his collegiate debut, but having grown up as an Aggie fan he always wanted to play in front of the 12th man and Saturday that dream came true.

"I can't describe the feeling," said Mangan. "I thought it was going to be emotional, but it wasn't that much."

The Aggies have an open date this Saturday and will host Utah State in an All-Aggie Showdown September 19th. Kick-off is set for 6pm.