Aggies eager to play at bigger, better Kyle Field

Published Sep. 3, 2014 7:23 p.m. ET

foxsports

Texas A&M is going from a huge win against a team it had never played before in South Carolina into another matchup against a team it has never played before.

And just because that opponent in Southland Conference school Lamar doesn't mean the Aggies don't have plenty at stake Saturday.

Texas A&M, which throttled South Carolina 52-28 and jumped to ninth in the Associated Press poll, will host the Cardinals at the partially renovated Kyle Field.

The Aggies will do so looking to build off the momentum created by the team and record-setting quarterback Kenny Hill. They'll also try and put the win against the Gamecocks in the past.

"That's been hashed and rehashed," Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said. "Just like everybody else we're ready to move into this week and I think our players are excited. No. 1 to be back at home and No. 2 to really kind of open the stadium."

The renovations at Kyle Field won't be complete until 2015 but the east side of the stadium and the end zone project is now complete. The stadium can hold more than 106,000 this season and that number will drop to just over 102,000 next year. The seating capacity at the stadium last year was just over 82,000.

The Aggies have practiced in the stadium to try and get used to the new surroundings. Part of the change is that the field is lower, which creates an echo.

"We've been in there a couple of times," Sumlin said. "They've done of making Kyle Field even a better place. Our guys can't wait to get in there and try and set an attendance record if not for at least our place but for a college football game in the state."

A&M has just two games in College Station in its first six of the season. The Aggies host Rice Sept. 13 but then don't return to Kyle Field until Oct. 11.