Tannehill is the first Aggie quarterback ever selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

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Ryan Tannehill
Courtesy: Texas A&M Athletics

NEW YORK — Record-setting Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill was the eighth overall selection of the 2012 NFL Draft on Thursday, marking the first time A&M has produced top 10 picks in consecutive years. Tannehill, from Big Spring, Texas, was selected by the Miami Dolphins. Last year, All-American Von Miller was picked second overall by the Denver Broncos and went on to earn Defensive Rookie of the Year honors by the Associated Press. “It was awesome. It was everything I thought it would be and more,” Tannehill told ESPN’s Suzy Kolber after his selection. “It was such a humbling experience and yet so exciting at the same time. To see my name on the back of a NFL jersey for an organization like the Miami Dolphins, I couldn’t be more excited.” The coaching staff for the Dolphins will be familiar to Tannehill since it features three members of the Aggies’ 2011 staff – former head coach Mike Sherman (offensive coordinator), Zac Taylor (assistant quarterbacks coach) and Jim Turner (offensive line). Also on the Dolphins staff is former A&M tight end standout Dan Campbell. Tannehill is the first Aggie quarterback ever selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. The previous high for an A&M signal-caller was when Marion Pugh was selected in the second round of the 1941 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. It was also the first time Texas A&M has had players picked in the first round of the NFL Draft in consecutive years since the early 1990s when the Aggies did it in 1992-94. Tannehill is the only player in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history to throw for 4,000 yards and gain more than 1,500 receiving yards in his career. He’s also the only FBS player to have single games of 400-plus passing yards and 200-plus receiving yards on his resumé. Among the A&M passing records that Tannehill shattered during his career were single game passing yards (449 vs. Texas Tech, 2010), and single season passing yards (3,744, 2011) and completion percentage (65.0, 2010). As a receiver, Tannehill set freshman records for season catches and receiving yards (55-844 in 2008) and single game freshman records for catches and yards (12 catches for 210 yards vs. Kansas State, 2008).

NOLA AGGIES SOFTLY CALL THE MUSTER

Muster is a day to celebrate the camaraderie and the friendships, the triumphs and the defeats, the legacies and the impact that Texas A&M University has made, and continues to make, in all of our lives. It is also a time to honor those Aggies, those friends, family members, and classmates, who are no longer among us. Muster is the essence of the Aggie Spirit.

Dick ’50 and Dot Piner’s estate will be the site of the 2012 Aggie Muster hosted by the New Orleans A&M Club on Saturday, April 21.  The Piner’s address is 4401 Patterson Drive in Algiers.  Patterson Dr. runs alongside the Mississippi River, and plenty of convenient parking is available along the levee.  The Piner’s home sits behind the JoEllen Smith Hospital and is a few blocks down river from where Holiday Place intersects Patterson Dr.

To get to the Piner’s from the Crescent City Connection, take the General DeGaulle Dr. East exit and proceed to Holiday Drive.  Turn left onto Holiday Dr. and continue to General Meyer Ave.  At General Meyer, turn left, travel approximately 15 – 20 yards, and turn right onto Holiday Pl. On Holiday Pl., keep going all the way to the levee, and turn right onto Patterson Dr.  The Piner’s home is just a few blocks ahead.

The menu for the meal will be grilled vegetables with rice, crawfish pasta, salad, meat and vegetable kabobs, dinner rolls, and pastries. And, the Club will have plenty of cold drinks on hand.

Plan to arrive at about 3:30 PM or come a little earlier and enjoy the Piner’s beautiful grounds if you would like.  This will give you an opportunity to spend some time with old classmates and new friends.  We will start serving dinner about 5:00 PM with the Muster Ceremony starting at about 6:00 PM.

The price for the meal is $20 per person, children, 12 and under, are free.

We need to hear from you by Monday, April 16, so we will know how much food to have on hand.  Please return your reservations as soon as possible.  Give a call to an Aggie buddy and bring them along with you.

If anyone needs to make late reservations, help with directions or anything else, please call Paul Schott ’86, Muster Chairman, at home, (504) 712-8010 or on cell, (504) 376-4885.

Club Information

The Club president is Sal Caserta ’93.  Sal’s email address is sal@gcscaserta.com.  Please contact Sal if you have any questions or if you have ideas or requests about Club activities.