By ROBERT CESSNATim DeRuyter was hired to keep opposing quarterbacks sleepless, but the Aggies' first-year defensive coordinator doesn't expect to get many winks Friday night either. DeRuyter is eager to see Kyle Field packed, ready to explode after every Von Miller sack.
"I've seen pictures and not having been here, I can just imagine it, and I've imagined it a ton the past couple of weeks," DeRuyter said.
The best clips that DeRuyter probably saw were from the 1980s or 1990s when the fabled Wrecking Crew defense made Kyle Field a living hell for offenses. That hasn't been the case in recent years at Kyle Field with the last three defensive coordinators unable to put together a unit that could break the Top 45 in total defense.
DeRuyter plans to use an aggressive, blitzing defense to make offenses uncomfortable again. He's switched to the 3-4 alignment that the Aggies used in the 1980s and 1990s to win seven conference championships.
He welcomes the challenge of molding a defense that again will make one of college football's Top 10 venues even more electrifying.
"[Kyle Field's atmosphere] was one of the big draws for me coming here," sad DeRuyter who grew up in Long Beach, Calif., but played for Air Force. "So, I can't tell you how excited I am about Saturday. I got a lot of family coming out from California for it. It's something that I've really looked forward to since taking the job. I know the kind of crowd and the kind of support we get, it's going to be a big thrill for me."
If DeRuyter does what he did at Air Force, it will be an even bigger thrill for the Aggies. DeRuyter did pretty good in his debut as Air Force's defensive coordinator in 2007 without much sleep. The Falcons grabbed a 34-3 victory over South Carolina State, which was a FCS school picked to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, much like Stephen F. Austin which is picked to win the Southland Conference.
Air Force had six sacks, an interception and held S.C. State to 160 yards. He fine tuned Air Force's defense into one of the nation's best, admitting that he "slept pretty well the last few years."
DeRuyter wouldn't mind his defense giving Aggies some sleepless Saturday nights, talking into the wee hours of Sunday morning about the rebirth of the Wrecking Crew while celebrating another victory at Kyle Field.
"I know these guys are going to play with fire that maybe we haven't seen around here in the last few years," DeRuyter said.
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DeRuyter, who let his hair grow during fall camp and added some facial hair, was clean cut for Monday's press conference.
"My wife and daughter got tired of seeing me with that much scraggly hair," DeRuyter said. "So I got a hair cut and a shave. I don't want Dr. R. Bowen Loftin seeing me like a bum."
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A&M plans on using at least six defensive linemen, maybe eight against SFA, which threw for 4,468 yards and 44 touchdowns last season. Head coach Mike Sherman said keeping linemen fresh will be a key. He said it's scheduled to be 93 degrees at kickoff.
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Sophomore defensive lineman Stephen Barrera has been lost for the season with a hip injury. Barrera (6-5, 290) played eight games on offense last year, starting three at offensive tackle.
He has not redshirted, so he will have three years of eligibility remaining.
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Former A&M Consolidated wide receiver Garrett Smith is a walk-on at SFA. The freshman has made the team's traveling squad. His sister, Chelsea, attends Texas A&M and is doing her student teaching at A&M Consolidated.
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Starting left offensive tackle Luke Joeckel is the only true freshman starter on A&M's two-deep chart. Six others are listed as backups -- offensive left tackle Jake Matthews, offensive right guard Shep Klinke, outside linebacker Demontre Moore, inside linebacker Domonique Patterson, strong safety Toney Hurd Jr. and place-kicker Ross Gilliam.
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A&M has seven players who have graduated -- wide receiver Cody Beyer, linebacker Michael Hodges, quarterback Jerrod Johnson, defensive lineman Lucas Patterson, defensive back DeMaurier Thompson, defensive lineman Cody Williams and defensive back Chris Caflisch. Only six FBS schools have more graduates led by Boston College with 14. Kansas State is tied for third with eight.
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Et cetera: Approximately 20 walk-ons joined the team Monday with school starting. ... A&M hasn't decided on a punter or punt returner. ... Sherman expects to play four to eight true freshmen against SFA. ... Sherman said sophomore free safety Steven Campbell (foot) would be 100 percent for Monday's practice and sophomore wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu would be sore, but practice. ... Miller is on the CBSSports.com Preseason College Football All-America Team.
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Robert Cessna's e-mail address is robert.cessna@theeagle.com
A&M FOOTBALL
What: SFA (0-0, Southland) at Texas A&M (0-0, Big 12)
When: 6:05 p.m. Saturday
Where: Kyle Field
TV/Radio: None/WTAW, 1620 AM
Line: none because SFA is a FCS school
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