Published: Sunday, January 18, 2004
HUNTSVILLE (AP) — Reveille, Texas A&M’s collie mascot, isn’t barking in the background. Dustin Long’s team colors are no longer maroon and white.
The shaggy, long hair that he once had as the Aggies’ starting quarterback has been shorn into a burr.
“I’m going for a new look,” Long explained.
Former Texas A&M quarterback Dustin Long wears his new Sam Houston State jersey as he stands on a balcony overlooking Bower Stadium on the school’s campus Friday, Jan. 16, 2004 in Huntsville, Texas. Long started just one game in 2003 for the Aggies and in the offseason decided he would have a better chance of showing his wares to pro scouts at the Division I-AA Southland Conference school, a short drive from the A&M campus.
Really. The new do is just a small part of the makeover for Long, who transferred from A&M to nearby Sam Houston State after a much-publicized duel with Reggie McNeal for the Aggies’ starting quarterback job last season.
Long started just one game in 2003 and in the offseason decided he would have a better chance of showing his wares to pro scouts at the Division I-AA Southland Conference school, a short drive from the A&M campus.
“There, I could be sitting on the bench the whole time,” Long said, ending the first week on his new campus. “I could be sitting on the bench here too, but I think I have a better opportunity to show off my talent in this type of offense.”
If Long, a senior, is disappointed at the culture shock of dropping down from the glitter of NCAA Division I-A football at 80,000-capacity Kyle Field, he’s not acknowledging it.
“Football is football,” Long said, sitting in the athletic offices on the edge of 14,000-seat Bower Stadium.
Still, it has to be an adjustment for Long, who once seemed to have a bright future in the Aggie offense.
As an Aggie starter as a sophomore in 2002, Long passed for 2,509 yards, which ranks No. 2 in Aggie history. He had four 300-yard passing games and set a Big 12 record with seven touchdown passes against Texas Tech.
New coach Dennis Franchione opted for McNeal last season. McNeal completed 113 of 221 passes for 1,782 yards and eight touchdowns.
Long started just one game and hit 63 of 104 passes for 709 yards and four touchdowns.
By transferring to a Division I-AA school, Long is eligible to play this season. He would have had to sit out a year if he moved to another Division I-A team.
Bearkat coach Ron Randleman was on a recruiting trip when he was told Long might join the Bearkats.
“It was an early Christmas present,” Randleman said. “We looked at Dustin when he was in high school and we liked him then so we’re very pleased. We think he’s a very talented young man.”
Sam Houston State is gaining a reputation as an alternative for disgruntled quarterbacks from Division I-A.
Josh McCown, now with the NFL Arizona Cardinals, transferred from Southern Methodist to the Bearkats for his senior year in 2001 and Chris Chaloupka moved from Oklahoma State in 1999.
Chaloupka led the Southland Conference in passing with 2,503 yards and total offense with 2,539 yards. McCown also led the league in both categories with 3,481 yards passing and 3,832 yards total offense.
McCown was among those who advised Long before he made the decision to become a Bearkat. He also talked with his father, Michael Long. He didn’t discuss his plans with Texas backup quarterback Chance Mock, who also was considering a move, or McNeal.
“Nobody tried to lead me one way or another,” Long said. “They just said it’s your decision and you have to make it and don’t ever look back.”
Bearkat offensive coordinator Joe Ferguson will be Long’s fourth college coordinator, following Steve Kragthorpe, Dino Babers and Les Koennig Jr. with the Aggies.
“He’s used to change,” Ferguson said. “How quickly can he assimilate? I hope quickly, but realistically, it will take all spring and part of two-a-days. A lot of things we do they’ve done. It’s mostly terminology, a new language.”
Getting to know his new teammates has been made easier by kicker Joey Price, Long’s teammate at Port Neches-Groves High School.
“He introduces me and has helped me get my foot in the door to start talking to people and getting to know them,” Long said. “I’m starting to get to know people and hang out and they’re getting to know me too.”
Ten years from now, will he be an Aggie or a Bearkat?
Long smiled. “Right now, I’m a Bearkat,” he said.
