Volume 5, No. 7

Aggie Flashback By Rusty Burson

             As he prepares to begin his 11th regular season with the Miami Dolphins, offensive tackle Richmond Webb says he isn't sure how much longer his distinguished NFL career will last. But once his last down has been played, Webb knows exactly where he'll be.

             "Back in Texas, as fast as I can get there," Webb said during a recent off day at the Dolphins' preseason training camp. "I'm a true Texan. The people are friendly there, and I'll definitely be somewhere in Texas.

             "I've really enjoyed being here with the Dolphins, and I'm very thankful I have been able to spend my entire career with one team. But there's no place like home, and as soon as I hang up the cleats for the final time, I'll be back in Texas, whether it's in Dallas, Houston or somewhere in between."

             It was at a destination somewhere in between those two cities where Webb first made a big name for himself. Of course, Webb is the first to admit that he never envisioned things working out like they have when he first arrived in College Station to begin his Texas A&M career.

             Today, Webb is one of the most respected and well-paid offensive linemen in the NFL. Webb, who was designated as the Dolphins' franchise player last February, has started 149 of Miami's last 150 games and is the only player in team history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons.

             But when the 6-foot-6, 315-pound Webb began his collegiate career prior to the 1986 season, he had visions of terrorizing quarterbacks; not protecting them.

             "I never dreamed things would work out this way, first of all because I was a defensive lineman coming out of (Dallas Roosevelt) high school," Webb said. "I was recruited for defense, and I played defense my first year before they moved me to offense where I was backing up Louis Cheek.

             "I learned a lot from Louis and other guys on the offensive line like Jerry Fontenot. And then Joe Avezzano, who is now the special team coach for the Dallas Cowboys, was the offensive line coach. He taught me a lot.

             "But even with such great teaching, in no way shape or form did I expect to be a first-round draft pick in the NFL. It caught me by surprise. Basically I was going to school to get an education and playing football for a university that I really loved."

             Webb has proven his love for A&M time and time again. And not just as a player.

             After helping the Aggies to three bowl games, two conference titles and an overall record of 34-14 from 1986-89, Webb earned first-team All-Southwest Conference and second-team All-America honors as a senior. He then was selected in the first round of the NFL Draft and immediately cracked the Dolphins' starting lineup.

             During his early years in the NFL, however, Webb never forgot that he had some unfinished business back in College Station. Each offseason, he returned to A&M to go back to school, and in 1993, he graduated with a degree in industrial distribution.

             "I remember when I came back the first time and just going back to classes with some of the guys," Webb said. "They would all ask, 'If you're making all this money now, why are you coming back?' But that was the main thing I went to A&M for - to earn a degree. I was blessed to get a scholarship from A&M, and I always wanted to get a degree because of the strong alumni association and just the prestige of the degree.

             "A&M is one of the schools that is respected looked up to, not only in the state of Texas, but in the United States. The feeling of going across the stage to get my degree is hard to describe. But I advise all athletes to go back and get that. If they don't get it while they're playing, go back and get it."

             While Webb came back to A&M in the early 1990s, he is beginning this decade by giving back to the university through The Championship Vision Capital Campaign. Webb recently signed a gift agreement to donate at the top level of the player's lounge donation plan.

             One of the key components of the south end zone project will be a player's lounge, where current and future A&M football players will be able to spend their free time. The lounge will future numerous amenities and will overlook the Kyle Field playing surface.

             A similar structure at the University of Texas has given the Longhorns a major advantage in recruiting in recent years.

             The A&M player's lounge will be funded entirely by donations made by former players. And when Webb was informed of the project, he immediately pledged his support.

             "I've been blessed with the ability to give back, and I am excited about this project and what it can mean to the future of Texas A&M football," Webb said. "I don't like to see us lose out to Texas in anything, especially recruiting.

             "Texas is the toughest school we have to recruit against in the state. They have the facilities to get the top guys. The NCAA has so many rules and regulations now, but the nicest facilities can really attract the top athletes. From what I've seen, I think this project is a definite plus, and it might make a difference in swaying one recruit from going to another school and choosing Texas A&M. I want to see those top guys choosing A&M, not Texas."

             During his playing days with the Aggies, A&M never lost to Texas. Webb says he has plenty of fond memories of those games, as well as numerous others. But most of all, Webb says he remembers the bonding with his teammates.

             "Some of my favorite memories were created right there at Cain Hall," Webb said. "I remember from my freshman to my senior year, I stayed in the dorm all five years bonding with my teammates. The rules are different now, but those guys, well, it was just like a brotherhood, or a big fraternity. We were so close, and I enjoyed it. It was a good group of guys I had those five years at A&M."

             Living on the East Coast and playing on virtually every weekend hasn't allowed Webb the opportunity to keep up with the Aggies as much as he would like over the last decade. But that will all change once Webb ends his NFL career, which he says is one of the bright spots about drawing closer to retirement.

             "It gets tougher and tougher every year, and you have to work harder as you get older," Webb said. "I've noticed that the younger guys are getting bigger, stronger and faster, and you have to be on top of the weights and conditioning in order to compete with them and keep your job in the NFL.

             "I remember my rookie year, I said one thing I wanted to do was play 10 years in the NFL. If I made it that far, I'd just take it year by year. So that's basically what I've been doing. As long as I feel good and healthy and I feel like I can still go out there and play at high levels, then I'll continue to play this game because I love it. But I know I'm getting closer and closer to the end. I'm just glad I'll leave the game when I get ready to leave on my own terms, which is also important to me."