COLLEGE STATION -- The Texas A&M football team had an intense two-and-a-half hour workout in full pads Monday afternoon as spring practice commenced. The Aggies spent the first hour of practice on the grass practice fields before inclement weather forced them into the newly opened McFerrin Athletic Complex for the final hour-and-a-half.

“If there is one area in particular that I have been impressed with, it’s the development of our second offensive line,” Aggie head coach Dennis Franchione said after practice. “There is a lot of focus at every position as each of them can continue to get better.”

“We are through the first five practices of our 44 leading up to the first game next fall,” Franchione said. “It’s nice to be able to practice without the pressure of a game coming up. As a coaching staff we can experiment and challenge and watch our players without having to prepare specifically for a game. Every group has areas that they need to improve on so right now we are just focusing on getting as many reps as we can.”

The Aggies will practice again Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and will have a practice scrimmage Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. The annual Maroon and White game is scheduled for April 16 at 2 p.m. All spring practices are open to the public.