Texas A&M's Dustin Long Transferring to Sam Houston State?

[MrMustang1965]

Rumors are HEAVY that QB Dustin Long (Texas A&M) is transferring to Sam Houston State next semester. We shall see.

There have also been rumors that QB Chance Mock (Texas) is considering a similar transfer to the Huntsville-based Div.1-AA school.

[Corso]

I read a quote from Long's dad, who said Dustin would like to make a decision by Friday.

How funny would it be if they both transferred there? So one of them still would have to sit on the bench?

[MrMustang1965]

Originally posted by Corso:
I read a quote from Long's dad, who said Dustin would like to make a decision by Friday.

How funny would it be if they both transferred there? So one of them still would have to sit on the bench?

Word on the street is that Mock will stay at UT.

[MrMustang1965]

Long decides to leave A&M

By TOM HALLIBURTON - Port Arthur News Sports Writer

Dustin Long has decided to leave Texas A&M and transfer to Sam Houston State at the end of the current semester.

The former Port Neches-Groves quarterback and Aggies' record-setting passer has had enough of sharing time and seeing limited playing time with Lufkin sophomore Reggie McNeal.

The Port Arthur News has learned the 22-year-old Long requested his NCAA participation release from Texas A&M's football program on Wednesday. Long talked with Aggies' offensive coordinator Les Koenning, Jr.

Head coach Dennis Franchione was unavailable on Wednesday because he was out of town on a recruiting trip.

Long visited with Franchione for less than 15 minutes early Thursday morning, voicing his intention to change schools. Franchione reportedly told Long that he thought he "was making the wrong decision" but that his mind appeared set.

Long will receive that release form today, which will free him to legally contact another school about transferring and joining a different program.

"Dustin will pick it up (the release form) in the morning and probably will talk with Sam Houston State's coaches later today," said Long's father Mike, who had planned to visit both campuses on Thursday.

Dustin and Mike Long had intended to visit Sam Houston together on Thursday but NCAA rules prohibit an athlete from making such communication with a prospective school before receiving the release.

The younger Long avoided media comment on Thursday to comply with his head coach's wishes. Franchione asked that Long refrain from speaking with the news media until he received the release.

That request did not prevent his father, the current PN-G offensive coordinator, from discussing Dustin's situation.

"He (Dustin) just wants to play some football," Mike Long said. "That's all he wants to do. He didn't feel he could do that if he stayed at A&M.

"Sam Houston State is where Dustin is going to end up going. I'm not sure what sold him on it, but having to sit on the bench so much of the year was not something that can make a player happy after he's had a year like Dustin had in 2002."

A 2002 starter in nine of 12 games, the 6-3, 205-pound Long completed 177 of 333 passes for 2,509 yards and 19 touchdowns. The 2,509 yards ranked second on Texas A&M's all-time single-season passing list.

Long has passed for a Big 12 record seven touchdowns and 367 yards against Texas Tech. When R.C. Slocum was asked to resign last winter, it was believed that Long stood to benefit from a coaching change.

The hiring of Franchione from Alabama only reduced Dustin's opportunities because the Aggies' new head coach was enamored by McNeal's athleticism and big-play capabilities.

Long completed 60.6 percent of his passes in 2003 to McNeal's 51.1 percent. Long completed 63 of 104 passes for 709 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions. McNeal completed 113 of 221 for 1,782 yards, eight touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The Houston Chronicle quoted Mike Long in Tuesday's edition as saying that Franchione told Dustin he would enter spring practice as the No. 1 quarterback. Franchione never has confirmed that comment publicly.

"He (Dustin) talked to Les (Koenning, Jr.) and told him he was going to transfer," Mike Long said. "Then he had to wait all night to talk to Franchione. That was probably the hard part."

Dustin Long's love for Texas A&M has made the idea of changing schools difficult for him through much of the past three years after being a redshirt in the 2000 season. The feeling of having the opportunity to get a shot at the NFL seemed a totally dead issue to both Longs if Dustin had opted to stay in Aggieland for his final collegiate season of eligibility.

"In the back of his mind, he's always wanted to have the opportunity to play in the NFL, and I'm sure he's wondering if he'll get a look (in the NFL) if he stays (at A&M) and doesn't play much," Mike Long said.

The transfer of Long will leave the Aggies with only McNeal as a quarterback on scholarship. Third-stringer Ty Branyon, a walk-on, attempted two passes this season. A&M has received a verbal commitment from Burnet all-state quarterback Stephen McGee, who may enroll at A&M in the spring semester.