Published: April 19, 2008 01:24 am         

A&M-Commerce prepares for intrasquad scrimmage

COMMERCE — The Texas A&M University-Commerce football team has the chance to showcase what it’s learned throughout spring practice and show fans what they can expect for next season with an intrasquad scrimmage at 2 p.m. today at Memorial Stadium.

Spring has allowed the 46 returnees and 13 newcomers a chance to mesh and build off of a share of the Lone Star Conference North Division championship last season.

“We’ve gotten a lot of things accomplished,” said Lions head coach Scotty Conley. “Every year there may be some different objectives. This year what we wanted to do was challenge our players to compete for playing positions and then in turn, once they did that, they compete offense against defense.”

Some players were unable to participate in the spring practices, which has opened the door for many new players.

“What that allowed us to do was spend a lot of time with some players that are new or might possibly be in backup roles next year, ” said Conley. “But they got a lot of work, a lot of experience through spring practice.”

The extra practice reps can only be a plus for a team that lost 17 seniors, including linebacker/defensive end Garnet Smith and the LSC Receiver of the Year, JaMichael Palmer.

Defensive lineman Ander Magee could help fill the shoes left by Smith. The 6-4, 240-pounder previously attended Glendale Community College (Calif.) where he earned honorable mention all-conference honors.

Conley also pointed out wide receiver Willie Thornton as a guy who could catch some fans’ eyes. Thornton and quarterback Terry Mayo may already have some chemistry, as the two met during their time spent at Central Florida.

As a sophomore for the Golden Knights, Thornton caught 19 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns.

Quarterbacks Mayo and Trent Miller return as the team’s leading passers and will be featured in the scrimmage today as well.

The two split time last year as Mayo had trouble with injuries.

“Terry is healthy,” said Conley. “That’s the first thing. The strength in his hand, his thumb, the surgery, everything’s been a very good recovery. He’s throwing the ball the way he did all last spring ... so he’s got a lot of confidence back.”

Conley also said that Miller has enjoyed a good spring. “Just another year of knowing the offense, so that’s been good too.”

The scrimmage will pit ones against ones and twos versus twos. The offense will wear blue jerseys and the defense will wear white. There will be a running clock throughout the game and any adjustments will be made at halftime.

“The biggest issue is we have a couple of players that won’t get any break, so they’ve gotta go with ones and twos,” said Conley. “That’s the only issue that I’ll make an adjustment [on] when we stop for halftime to determine if we need to shorten the quarters for the second half.”

Referees will work the game, which Conley said “benefits us every time they’re here.”

This is also the first spring game in Conley’s five years as head coach of the Lions. While numbers have usually been the issue, the Lions found a way to make it work this year.

“We’re looking forward to it,” said Conley. “ It’ll be, I think, interesting and entertaining for the people that are here.”

Blackjack BBQ will be available after the game for $10.