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Texas A&M University
TRADITIONS Howdy
Howdy is the official greeting of Texas A&M University. Greeting each other with a “Howdy!” identifies us as the friendliest university in the world.
GiG ‘em
Gig ‘em is the universal sign of approval for Aggies. Coined by P.L. “Pinkie” Downs, Class of 1906, when at a Yell Practice before the 1930 TCU football game Downs asked, “What are we going to do with those Horned Frogs?” In reference to frog hunting, he said, “Gig ‘em, Aggies!” and made a fist with his thumb extended up as one would when using a gig. It was the first hand sign of the Southwest Conference for 25 years until t.u. copied the idea from the Aggies and created their Hook ’em Horns. Now Aggies give each other this sign to encourage and motivate each other.
THe 12TH man
On Jan. 2, 1922, the Aggies from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas played the Prayin’ Colonels of Centre College, Kentucky, in the Dixie Classic. After the tough 1921 football season, the Aggies were “completely exhausted, both physically and mentally,” according to Red Thompson, a yell leader at the time. But the Aggies came ready to play, and the game’s first points (and the first points allowed by Centre all year) came on a safety off a muffed punt in the end zone. At half time, Coach Dana X. Bible’s Southwest Conference Champion Aggies were winning, but every player on the Aggie team except for the 11 on the field was injured. Coach Bible remembered that a sophomore multiple sport athlete, who had recently stepped down from football to focus on the new basketball season, was sitting in the press box helping identify players on the field. Coach Bible requested that the player, E. (Earl) King Gill ’24, come down to the field
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and suit up. E. King Gill went under the stands with a couple blankets and the injured team captain, Heine Weir, to put on his uniform. E. King Gill then stood next to Coach Bible for the rest of the game, ready to play, but was never asked to. Texas A&M went on to beat Centre College 22-14. Today, Aggies stand at all football and basketball games, from the opening kickoff “till the final gun is sounded,” symbolizing our readiness to go into the game or help our fellow Aggies whenever we are needed.
midniGHT yell
Beginning in 1913, Corps companies would practice and learn yells; “learning heartily the old time prep.” Aggies in 1934 said that yell practice was “something that cannot be experienced by an outsider” and “something only an Aggie can feel.” In 1931, the first official Midnight Yell Practice was held before the t.u. game on the steps of the YMCA building. Today, Midnight Yell is held the Friday night before a home game in Kyle Field. If playing an away game, Midnight Yell is held on Friday night close to where the game is being played. Aggies practice yells and sing songs for the next day’s game; the yell leaders tell a junior and a senior fable; and then the lights go out. That is when you get to “mug down” and kiss your date, or if you don’t have a date, take a lighter, “flick your Bic” and hope to find another Aggie looking to mug down.
silver Taps
Silver Taps is one of the most sacred and significant traditions at A&M. Silver Taps is one of the final tributes held for any current graduate or undergraduate student who has passed during the year. Silver Taps is held the first Tuesday of the month following a student’s death. Starting in the morning, the flags on campus are flown at half-staff. The names,
classes and majors of the fallen Aggies are on cards placed at the base of the flagpole in the Academic Plaza and on the Silver Taps Memorial. Throughout the day, students can write letters to the families of the fallen Aggies. That night at 10:15, all the lights on campus are extinguished. Hymns are then played on the Albritton Bell Tower. Around this time, students gather silently in the Academic Plaza. The families of the fallen Aggies are also led into the plaza. At 10:30, the Ross Volunteer Firing Squad marches into the Academic Plaza at a slow cadence. Once they arrive, they fire a three volley salute in honor of the fallen Aggies. After the last round is fired, buglers atop the Academic Building begin to play a special rendition of “Taps” called “Silver Taps” which is unique to A&M. They play it three times, once to the north, once to the south, and once to the west, but never to the east, because it’s said the sun will
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never rise on that Aggie again. After the last note is played, the one thing you can hear is the shuffling of feet as students return silently to their lives. Silver Taps has been occurring for over 100 years. The first Silver Taps was in 1898. At Silver Taps, you stand where Aggies have stood for generations. You are connected to those who have come before you. This tradition is unique to Texas A&M, as no other university in the world honors their students in this way.
bonfire Students used burning Bonfire as a pep rally where speeches were made and yells were led, often outlasting the actual burning of the fire. The first Bonfires in 1909 were built with trash and other scraps around campus. It wasn’t until 1912 when logs started to become the standard for building Bonfire. Starting in the 1950s, building Bonfire became more organized while each class strove to make it bigger and better than the ones before. The tallest Bonfire was built in 1969 and was about 109 feet tall with a 105-foot center pole. Ninety-two years after bonfire first began, almost to the hour, on Nov. 18, 1999, at 2:42 a.m., the Bonfire stack collapsed and took with it the lives of 12 of our fellow Aggies and injured 27 others. The Bonfire collapse was quite possibly the most trying event in the history of Texas A&M, but it also allowed us to better understand the true meaning of the Aggie spirit. Many of us believe that Bonfire did burn that year when 90,000 Aggies, friends and families gathered at the Polo Fields on the night Bonfire was to burn to silently hold candles together.
musTer Muster represents the Aggie spirit that binds Aggies to their school and to one another. It is more than a ceremony; it is a responsibility
that is handed down from one generation to the next. Muster is a way for Aggies to renew their loyalty to their school and their friends. Aggie Muster is a special time set aside to honor members of the Aggie family. Aggie Muster traces its roots back to San Jacinto Day, which was a Texas holiday in the 1840s that celebrated Texans’ defeat of the Mexican Army in the battle of San Jacinto. In 1899, the cadets decided to hold a San Jacinto Field Day on April 21. It was a day of fun and activities without class. During the world wars, this tradition of meeting on April 21 evolved to include a memoriam for those who were absent. In World War I, Aggies met all over the trenches of Europe and at army posts all over America. The most famous Aggie Muster was held during World War II in 1942 on the small island of Corregidor in the Philippines. Major General George Moore, ’08, led a group of recently commissioned Aggies in a moment to honor the valiant Aggies who had died, hold a yell practice, and sing the War Hymn with all their strength, all under heavy enemy fire. In 1924, the first campus Muster was held in Guion Hall, and Muster has been held on campus since. Campus Muster is now the largest of the over 300 Musters held worldwide. The most important and moving part of the Muster ceremony is Roll Call for the absent. The Roll Call lists the names of every local Aggie who has passed during the year, as well as missing members of the 50 year reunion class. As each name is read, a candle is lit, and the family and friends answer, “Here,” to symbolize that while that Aggie has fallen, they are still with us in spirit.
reveille Reveille is Texas A&M’s beloved mascot and the First Lady of
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Aggieland. She has been mascot since 1931, when some cadets found her wounded by the side of the road in Navasota and snuck her into their dorm. All Reveilles since Reveille III have been Rough Collies. Miss Rev leads the football team onto the field at every game, and is attended by a sophomore in Company E-2 of the Corps of Cadets.
aGGie rinG The Aggie ring is a unique representation of achievement by an Aggie. Aggies take pride in earning their little piece of gold from the greatest university in the world. The Aggie ring is unlike any other because students cannot design their own class ring or order it at any time. The Aggie ring can only be ordered when an Aggie completes 90 hours, 45 of which must be from Texas A&M University. The top of the ring features a shield that symbolizes the protection of the good reputation of the alma mater. There are 13 stripes in the shield that symbolize the 13 original states and Aggies’ intense patriotism. The five stars found in the shield refer to the five phases of Aggie development: mind or intellect, body, spiritual attainment, emotional poise and integrity of
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character. The eagle on the top of the Aggie ring symbolizes agility and power and ability to reach great heights and ambitions. One side of the Aggie ring holds a large star encircled with a wreath of olive leaves joined together by a ribbon near the bottom of the ring. The large star symbolizes the seal of the State of Texas authorized by the Constitution of 1845. It is encircled with a wreath of olive leaves, symbolizing achievement and desire for peace and live oak leaves, symbolizing the strength to fight. The leaves are joined at the
bottom by an encircling ribbon to show the necessity of joining these traits to accomplish one’s ambition to serve. The other side of the Aggie ring contains an ancient cannon, saber and rifle, symbolizing that the citizens of Texas fought for their land and our determination to defend our homeland. The saber stands for valor and confidence, and the rifle and cannon stand for preparedness and defense. On both sides, the United States and Texas flags are crossed to symbolize the dual allegiance to nation and state.
J u l y 2 5 , 2022 | 9
Texas A&M players celebrate their NCAA quarterfinal match victory over Florida State. (Texas A&M athletics department photo)
Texas A&M University
By ROBERT CESSNA • robert.cessna@theagle.com
WOMEN’S SPORTS Women’s sports at Texas A&M had a landmark year on and off the field in 2021-22. The golf team reached the semifinals of the NCAA Championships for the best showing in program history. The tennis team hosted an NCAA tournament super regional for the first time, beating Vanderbilt 4-0 to cap a 21-0 season at the Mitchell Tennis Center. The Aggies also bid farewell to a pair of Hall of Fame coaches. Women’s basketball coach Gary Blair ended his career by having his name put the floor at Reed Arena. He’s just the third women’s basketball coach so honored, joining Tennessee’s Pat Summitt and North Carolina State’s Kay Yow. Unfortunately, what happened on the court last season was very much unlike the rest of Blair’s career as the Aggies were 14-15. It was only the second losing season in his
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illustrious career, the other coming in 2003-2004 when he started rebuilding the Aggie program, which at the time was the Big 12 Conference’s worst. He led the Aggies to the 2011 national championship and in 2021 won the program’s lone Southeastern Conference regularseason title. A&M that year climbed to a program-high No. 2 ranking, but in Blair’s final season the Aggies slipped to 4-12 in league play. A&M lost to Vanderbilt in the first round of the SEC tournament, ending Blair’s run of making 15 straight NCAA tournaments. It also was a tough year for softball coach Jo Evans, who didn’t have her contract renewed after 26 seasons. Evans made a trio of Women’s College World Series appearances, including a national runner-up in 2008. She was 987-502-2 at A&M with 23 NCAA tournaments.
A&M’s highlights in her final season was taking two of three from second-ranked Alabama at home and beating South Carolina 5-3 in the first round of the SEC tournament, the program’s first victory after seven straight losses in the event. A&M also made the NCAA tournament for the 20th straight time, battling top-ranked and eventual national champ Oklahoma on even terms in their first matchup in the Norman Regional with the Sooners holding on for a 3-2 victory. It was all OU in the rematch as the Sooners won 20-0, scoring in every inning en route to the most-lopsided victory in NCAA tournament history. It was the third straight time A&M failed to advance past regionals after making the Women’s College World Series in 2017 and coming within an out of returning the following season. Volleyball was another women’s
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sport that struggled last season, failing to make the NCAA tournament for a second straight year. On the flip side, the track and team field added to the women’s spring success with a fourth-place finish at the NCAA championships. Lamar Distin won the high jump and fellow sophomore Charokee Young was second in the 400-meter run. Senior Deborah Acquah was second in the long jump. It was the 15th time in the last 16 NCAA championships the Aggies finished in the top 5 under veteran coach Pat Henry. The golf team showed signs of building a similar program under first-year head coach Gerrod Chadwell who did wonders after taking over a team that didn’t even make the NCAA tournament last year. The Aggies defeated Florida State 3-2 in the quarterfinals of match
play in the NCAA Championships as freshman Adela Cernousek birdied No. 16 to square the deciding match, and then sank a winning par putt on the 19th hole. “How about a freshman beating out one of the top players in the world in extra holes to get us to the semis?” Chadwell said. The magic didn’t continue as Oregon grabbed a 4-1 victory in the semifinals, but the sting was softened by how far A&M went with production from the majority of players who will return. Sophomore transfer Zoe Slaughter and junior Blanca Fernandez GarciaPoggio also had match victories against Florida State and junior transfer Jennie Park had the 36-hole medalist lead at the Franklin (Tenn.) Regional. “I think that’s the exciting thing; this is just year one,” said Chadwell, adding that A&M held up battling
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Texas A&M’s Mary Stoiana hits a backhand against Vanderbilt in NCAA tournament super regional action at the Mitchell Tennis Center. (Eagle file photo) the nation’s against programs. “Maybe now we’ll be taken seriously as a golf school.” A&M’s defining moment came in the final day regionals. The Aggies, coming off a ninth-place finish at the SEC championships, overcame a five-shot deficit in the last round to
claim the final spot for nationals by one shot. “I know that we learned a lot about ourselves [that day],” Chadwell said. The tennis team had its own success story. The Aggies reached the NCAA
tournament quarterfinals for the second time in program history, losing to Oklahoma 4-3. A&M was 33-2, setting a program record for victories as it won the SEC regularseason title and tournament title. The Aggies won 24 straight matches after dropping a 4-3 match to
California in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s national indoor championships. “It was such an amazing season,” A&M coach Mark Weaver said. “We went undefeated at home, undefeated on the road and undefeated in matches played outdoors. Our only two losses of the season were 4-3 matches indoors and we were playing for a national title on both occasions.” A&M had a trio of All-Americans in junior transfer Carson Branstine, senior Jayci Goldsmith and graduate Tatiana Makarova. Its young talented players were led by freshmen Mary Stoiana, Gianna Pielet and Jeanette Mireles who combined to win 75 singles matches and were part of 63 doubles wins. A&M will add a highly ranked freshman class. “The good news is that we will be back,” Weaver said. “This was only the beginning of something special here in Aggieland.” Weaver, who was a standout with the A&M men’s tennis team, was rewarded for his efforts with a five-year contract extension through 2027. A&M hired Georgia women’s basketball coach Joni Taylor and Arizona State softball coach Trisha
Ford to replace its outgoing Hall of Famers, hopeful they can duplicate Chadwell’s first-year success. Taylor made an immediate impact in recruiting, landing former Georgia signees Janiah Barker, Sydney Bowles and Tineya Hilton who in November were rated the nation’s seventh-best recruiting class. Ford was a dealt an early setback when two-time All-American Haley Lee entered the transfer portal, eventually deciding on Oklahoma. A&M will return seven position starters led by shortstop Koko Wooley who batted .359 with 26 stolen bases. The pitching staff includes fellow sophomore Emiley Kennedy (13-11, 2.94 ERA) who threw a staff-high 140 2/3 innings. A&M expects a bounce-back season from the soccer program, which had made every NCAA tournament since 1995 until it was riddled with injuries last year. A&M was 7-9-2 last year, including 3-6-1 in SEC play. The Aggies return senior defender Katie Smith who was a second-team, all-conference pick. Forward Maile Hayes and defender Mia Pante made the all-freshman team a year ago.
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Texas A&M University
FOOTBALL Texas A&M scored a huge victory over defending national champ Alabama last year, but by season’s end the Aggies were a pedestrian 8-4 and had to pull out of the Gator Bowl because of a depleted roster from season-injuries, COVID-19 issues and opt-outs. A&M was down to approximately 38 scholarships when it decided not to play Wake Forest in Jacksonville, Florida. Eight months later, depth is a team strength heading in the 2022 season. The Aggies will replace 12 starters with talented candidates through keen competition. It will be a product of signing four straight Top 10 recruiting classes. The most publicized battle heading into fall camp was quarterback with sophomore Haynes King battling junior Max Johnson. King earned the starting job a year ago, but suffered a season-ending injury last after starting the first two games. Johnson is a transfer from LSU where he started 14 games, including a 27-24 victory over A&M in the regular-season finale last year. Johnson in that game engineered a nine-play, 85-yard game-winning drive in the final two minutes capped by a 28-yard touchdown pass with 20 seconds left to get the Tigers to a bowl. Haynes and Johnson had a great spring, though both struggled in the spring game, especially throwing deep. That was in part because of a 30-mph wind, but A&M kept throwing, despite the lack of success. “Explosive plays are a huge reason you win,” A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “And it’s a huge reason if you give them up on defense that you lose. That and turnovers are two of the most important stats that are out there today.” A&M tied for 61st in turnover margin last year, forcing 16 turnovers, just one more than it had. The Aggies ranked only 88th in passing offense, averaging 208.6 yards per game. A&M averaged only 6.76 yards per pass attempt.
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Fisher said the ability to successfully throw deep is a must. It’s something he did at Florida State as a head coach and at all his stops as an assistant coach. “Last year we didn’t do it much,” said Fisher, adding that injuries at receiver played a big part.
and after the season he transferred to Auburn. “We’re going to take shots down field,” Fisher said.” King, who had the ability to make plays with his legs before the injury, started to show flashes of his old self during bowl practices and was fully
By ROBERT CESSNA • robert.cessna@theagle.com
quarterbacks played for both teams. “[Johnson] runs better than you give him credit for,” Fisher said. “Everybody thinks of him as a pocket passer, but he has really good mobility and a good feel in the pocket and he can run.” They are backed up by freshman
Texas A&M center Bryce Foster, le , and right guard Layden Robinson, center back, block for running back Devon Achane as he carries the football against Alabama at Kyle Field in October 2021. Photo credit: Michael Miller, The Eagle A&M also was inexperienced at quarterback with sophomore Zach Calzada pressed into a starting role when Haynes got hurt. Calzada ranked only 91st in passing efficiency
recovered for spring drills. Johnson also is a dual threat, rushing for 81 yards on eight carries in the 30-24 Maroon victory over the White in the spring game as the
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Conner Weigman who is considered the program’s quarterback of the future. Last year, after Haynes was injured, A&M had walk-on Blake Bost as Calzada’s backup.
Weigman is part of A&M’s incoming 30-player class that was ranked college football’s best. He was one of 11 freshmen who graduated high school early to be part of spring drills. The other 19 newcomers joined the program in the summer. “They look the part,” Fisher said in June at the Brazos County A&M Club’s Coaches’ Night. “I’d say they’re great show dogs. Now we’re going to find out if they’re hunting dogs.” Five-star wide receiver Evan Stewart was one of the freshmen who had a strong spring. Stewart had seven catches for 75 yards in the spring game. “Every day in the offseason program, he was out front leading everybody, running and doing things,” Fisher said. A&M is looking for one or two wide receivers to complement senior Ainias Smith who opted to return for his senior season instead of declaring for the NFL draft. “I feel like our receiver room has no ceiling,” Smith said after the spring game. “Everybody is getting better every single day.” The offense’s strength will be the running game. Junior Devone Achane will replace leading rushing Isiah Spiller who had 984 yards rushing, being denied back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons because of the bowl cancellation. A&M didn’t miss a beat last year with Achane who rushed for 861 yards and had the edge on Spiller in touchdowns (9-6) and average yards per carry (7.3-5.9). Achane also was a threat in the passing game, having 19 receptions for 189 yards with a touchdown. The 185-pound Achane had a banner spring on the track capped by earning honorable mention All-America honors in the 100-meter dash. The offensive line has to replace first-round draft pick Kenyon Green and tackle Jahmir Johnson, who made 11 starts after transfering from Tennessee.
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A&M returns a pair of starters in sophomore center Bryce Foster and guard Layden Robinson who both received preseason accolades. Sophomore Reuben Fatheree II and Trey Zuhn III are projected to be the starting tackles with sophomore Jordan Spasojevic-Moko the other guard, though junior Blake Trainor, sophomore Josh Bankhead and redshirt freshman Matthew Wykoff are vying for snaps. The defense has to replace linemen Tyree Johnson, Demarvin Leal, Jayden Peevy and Michael Clemons who combined for 102 career starts. Leal was a third-round pick of Pittsburgh and Clemons was drafted in the fourth round to the New York Jets. Also gone is sixthyear linebacker Aaron Hansford. Possibly the biggest shoes to fill were left by defensive coordinator Mike Elko who was hired as Duke’s head coach. Elko, who had been with Fisher for four seasons, was replaced by Ole Miss defensive coordinator DJ Jurkin. Linebackers coach Tyler Santucci was promoted to co-defensive coordinator. Santucci worked under Elko at Wake Forest and Notre Dame as a graduate assistant and defensive analyst
before coming to A&M as a defensive analyst in 2018 and then returned to A&M in 2020 after a season as a linebackers coach at Wake Forest. A&M’s strength on defense is the secondary where cornerback Jaylon Jones, safety Demani Richardson and nickelback Antonio Johnson all return along with senior Myles Jones who played in only two games last season on the heels of missing two games in 2020 because of a leg injury. He started rounding into shape late in spring drills. “He’s went through a lot of trials and tribulations,” Fisher said. “It was really great to get him back out there.” A&M has a challenging schedule with only three SEC home games at Kyle Field. The Aggies will be the home team against Arkansas in the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 24 for the league opener. That starts a stretch where A&M won’t be home for six weeks. The Aggies will have road games at Mississippi State (Oct. 1) and South Carolina (Oct. 22) sandwiched around the much-awaited A&MAlabama rematch on Oct. 8 and an open date.
Alabama’s Nick Saban and A&M’s Jimbo Fisher talk before their game last year at Kyle Field. (AP photo)
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Texas A&M University
BASKETBALL After the Texas A&M men’s basketball 74-62 National Invitation Tournament win over Alcorn State, head coach Buzz Williams solemnly eulogized his program’s chance at its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2018. The “disgust” he and his players felt in that moment could have been the death knell on a season that rose and fell in the most drastic of fashions. However, the 2021-22 Aggies (27-13) reached the NIT Finals in New York’s Madison Square Garden, a win shy of the single-season school record and 19-victories better than the year prior. “This is my 28th year in college coaching and I’ve never experienced anything like what has transpired within our team over the last six weeks,” Williams said after the NIT final. “The belief, the work, the trust, the love… has scared my heart in a way that I’ll never, ever forget.” Williams dipped heavily into the transfer portal prior to the season, bringing in five new faces: Tyree Radford, Henry Coleman, Aaron Cash, Ethan Henderson and Marcus Williams. The Aggies also welcomed freshmen Wade Taylor IV and Manny Obaseki to near instant impact to the team. With a fresh look, the Aggies started the season as world beaters, winning 15 of their first 17 with losses to Wisconsin and TCU. Both teams finished the year within Ken Pomeroy’s top 37. The streak included A&M’s first four Southeastern Conference matchups including Georgia, Arkansas, Ole Miss and Missouri. However, when No. 12 Kentucky arrived in Reed Arena, so did the favorable string of games in the conference slate. The Aggies came close to upending the Wildcats in a 64-58 loss, but what followed was an eight-game losing streak with a 74-63 loss to Quadrant III
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By Travis L. Brown • travis.brown@theeagle.com
South Carolina and a 70-66 loss to Quadrant IV Missouri. Williams had never suffered eight consecutive losses in his coaching career. “I don’t know that there’s a specific answer on what is the right way to handle an eight-game losing streak,” Williams said after the SEC tournament. “If there is, I have’t read the book on it. What I tried to do was just tell our guys the truth.” Armed with meticulously researched data on what worked well for the Aggies through their initial
double-digit scoring performances, including a season-high tying 31 against Georgia. He would finish the season with seven games scoring 20 or more points. “We’ve been through a lot this year,” Jackson said after the conclusion of the season. “A lot of ups. A lot of downs. But I think we’ve all learned just how to persevere and remain resilient through everything that has went on. We all have learned something from this year.” The improbable almost became the impossible when A&M edged
game against No. 9 Tennessee. The conference tournament run added two more Quadrant I wins, of which the Aggies nabbed four by Selection Sunday. A 65-50 loss to Tennessee in the SEC championship gave the Aggies just enough hope to be crushed when A&M was listed as one of the first four teams out of the NCAA tournament field. Williams nor any Aggie players spoke until after the first game of the NIT, in which the Aggies were one of four No. 1 seeds. Williams read
win streak and what went wrong over their eight-game skid, Williams pulled a U-turn within the program that led to winning five of the last six regular season games, including a 87-71 win over Quadrant I Alabama. Through that stretch, graduate guard Quenton Jackson put together a heroic effort, tallying six
out Florida in the SEC tournament opener 83-80 in overtime. Sophomore guard Hassan Diarra thew up an off-balance 3-pointer as time expired to down the Gators and continue A&M’s postseason quest. A&M knocked off No. 4 Auburn 67-62 and then No. 15 Arkansas, 82-64, to advance to the SEC title
from a prewritten statement and handed out packets of research he had prepared, comparing the Aggies to the NCAA tournament field. “Despite repeated pleas, I have only been given generalities by those above me, not data-specific evidence, on why we weren’t invited,” Williams said. “Without logical reasoning
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behind the decision, while knowing I still must explain this to our guys and their families, it has caused me to lose all respect and faith in the system and those that are in it. What transpired is wrong.” Though the Aggies spent little time preparing for Alcorn State, Jackson was quick to point out that the job “was not done” yet. A&M issued a commanding 75-60 performance against Oregon in Reed Arena, followed by a 67-52 win over Wake Forest to punch a ticket to New York City. Despite the lights and excitement that surrounded the program in the Big Apple, A&M rolled based Washington State 72-56 in the NIT semifinals to face Xavier in the championship game. The Aggies held a 40-32 lead at the half, but saw the Musketeers shoot 53.57% from the field and 71.43% form 3-point range in the second half to seal a season that ended with hardware. The run, however, propelled the Aggies into the spotlight for the 2022-23 season. Most publications have the Aggies projected on the cusp of the Top 25 in preseason pools, thanks to returning five of its top 10 scorers in Coleman, Radford, Taylor, Gordon and Obaseki. Williams returned to the portal again to add Mississippi State forward Andersson Garcia, Arkansas guard KK Robinson and Michigan State forward Julius Marble, the latter of which averaged 14.4 points and 3.3 rebounds for the Spartans last season. After three years of building in Aggieland, all signs are pointing up for the Aggies come the fall thanks to a springboard season. “I’m thankful,” Williams said after the season. “Over the last six weeks, I think it’s changed our program forever.”
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Texas A&M Transportation
SERVICES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Howdy! It’s time to plan for the upcoming fall semester. As the school year begins, we want to share with you all that Transportation Services has to offer to support your travel both on and off campus, so you can navigate the community like a pro! With transit, parking and sustainable transportation options, such as bike share, ride share and car share, you can feel confident in navigating the campus. Information about each of these and more are available on our website at transport.tamu.edu. Let’s take a look at some of the
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great services offered to you as a new, returning or transfer student.
ridinG THe aGGie spiriT
(Transit Service) The Texas A&M transit service is fare free to all students, faculty and staff; however, a Texas A&M ID is required to ride off-campus routes. Customers who do not live directly on a bus route may drive a short distance to the free Park and Ride located at First Baptist Church of College Station (Route 34). Students may also use the Brazos Transit District public transit system free of charge by showing their student IDs when boarding.
For more information on their routes, visit www.btd.org.
parkinG on Campus
There are short-term, long-term and intermittent parking options available. Transportation Services utilizes virtual permit parking. Parking is verified using license plate recognition technology. Your plate must be linked to your permit. Customers with virtual permits must register their plate, pay for parking permissions, and display their license plate toward the drive aisle. So, before you login to purchase parking, take a picture of
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Article provided by Texas A&M Transportation Services
your license plate to help ensure you enter it correctly. As soon as you complete your purchase, your license plate is immediately activated, and you are able to park in your assigned lot or garage. You may have one plate active at a time. Short-term and Hourly Visitor Parking: If you want the option to drive to campus and but do not want to purchase a permit, you can use one of the many pay-by-the-hour visitor parking locations shown here: transport.tamu.edu/vismap. Hourly parking is expected to fill up fast in many locations. Do
not plan on paid hourly parking as your primary strategy for accessing campus. Check out real-time occupancy for paid parking in garages so you know before you go by checking to see if there will be space when you get to campus! Ways to Pay for Visitor Parking: • Pay at machines at the visitor parking areas • Pay via phone using the ParkMobile smart phone app at visitor parking lots • Pre-paid Visitor Parking purchased online at transport.tamu. edu. • Day: $10; Week: $25; Month: $45
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movinG inTo residenCe Halls Move-In can be chaotic, but Transportation Services eases the process by offering free parking in designated locations. During the move-in period, there are designated 1-hour zones intended for drop off only. Your best option is to go directly to a lot or garage designated for move in and move
your items with a cart or hand truck. Check out the Move-In map at transport.tamu.edu/movemap. No parking is allowed in Fire Lanes, at the end of parking rows, or in a manner that restricts emergency access or the flow of traffic. Be sure to adhere to your MoveIn check in date and time by logging into myHousing portal. For more information on Move-In for on-
campus residents, visit reslife.tamu. edu/movein. Parking permits are valid in lots designated as Summer/Break at transport.tamu.edu/bsmmap. Remember, parking is verified using your license plate, so be sure to update your plate online to match the vehicle you are driving.
susTainable mobiliTy opTions We also off er a variety of sustainable and shared mobility options that support all Aggies in being green, including car share, ride share and bike share. We encourage you to consider all options, keep a multi-modal mindset and have a Plan B! Find your sustainable options at transport.tamu.edu/alternative.
sTayinG ConneCTed Transportation Services offers a variety of digital services to help you stay informed. Before you pack your bags, make sure you take time to download the Texas A&M University mobile app to your smart device. There you can find:
• The Parking & Transportation section is a quick launchpad to all the services you’ll need to navigate campus. • Destination Aggieland – your guide for coming to campus for games and events, offering information on event parking, bus routes, maps and more! Connect with Us! For the latest updates on transit, parking and
gameday and event information and more! • TikTok: @tamutransportation • Twitter: @aggieparking, @ aggiespiritbus, @GetToAggieGame • Instagram: @ tamutransportation, @ aggiespiritbus • Facebook: @tamutransportation Wishing you safe travels to Aggieland. See you soon!
Are you planning a trip to Aggieland and don’t know where to start? F ind De stination A ggieland in tthe he T exas Find Destination Aggieland Texas A&M app for maps, parking, traffic, shuttles & more!
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J u l y 2 5 , 2022 | 21
The Association of Former
STUDENTS Article provided by The Association of Former Students.
Howdy, and welcome to Aggieland! Whether you are forging a new path as the first Aggie in your family or continuing the legacy of several generations, the Aggie Network is not complete without you. From “Howdy” to “Here,” The Association of Former Students is with you at every step of your journey over the next four years and beyond. From its name, you might expect that The Association, founded in 1879, helps you stay connected after you graduate – but did you know The Association is a part of your Aggie experience before your first class? We are excited to see you during Howdy Week, where The Association will host your first official on-campus yell practice and you can try on a Class of 2026 Aggie Ring in anticipation of one of the
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most exciting days of your time as a student. When you have successfully completed the requirements for the most recognizable symbol of the Aggie Network, you will visit The Association to order your Aggie Ring and then again to celebrate with your friends and family on Aggie Ring Day! In between these milestones, The Association provides financial support for scholarships, student organizations and the campus activities that enrich your collegiate experience. In 2022, The Association will provide an impact of more than $14 million to Texas A&M University. When you need some fresh air, there will be no better place to study, spend time with friends or simply relax than Aggie Park, a premiere greenspace in the heart of campus that is being developed and
fundraised for by The Association. Envisioned as “an outdoor MSC,” you can be among the first to experience the transformed space at the FREE Aggie Park Kickoff Concert on Sept. 2, headlined by Robert Earl Keen, Jr. ’78! No matter where life takes you, you will always be a part of the Aggie Network. No other university maintains the connection to its alumni like Texas A&M, and you will experience this first-hand as you travel the world and spot your fellow Aggies by their Rings! To further this connection, The Association supports local A&M Clubs, Aggie Musters and other special events. You will always have a home in Aggieland, where you can return for Class Reunions, tailgates in Aggie Park or simply to reminisce on your time at Texas A&M in the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. As a former student, you can give back
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to the next generation of Aggies as a member of The Association’s Century Club. The Association of Former Students proudly supports Texas A&M and our core values of excellence, integrity, leadership,
loyalty, respect and selfless service. We connect Aggies to one another and their cherished alma mater. To learn more about The Association, visit AggieNetwork.com or follow @ AggieNetwork on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
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Texas A&M University
BASEBALL In the midst of a slow start to the Texas A&M baseball season, first-year Aggie head coach Jim Schlossnagle relied on a well-known snack to hammer home how to build a program. Winning, Schlossnagle said, was like the snack chip Pringles. Once you eat one, you just can’t stop yourself. Armed with cans of Pringles throughout the A&M dugout, the
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baseball team took Schlossnagle’s message to heart and claimed its last seven straight SEC series, swept the regional and super regional to earn College World Series berth and advanced to the national semifinals for the first time in program history. “The Pringles thing started. I think there was a common bond among everybody that came out of that LSU, Baton Rouge weekend… I think they started to believe in themselves and,
frankly, I had more belief in them than I did going into that weekend,” Schlossnagle said at the end of their College World Series run. Early season losses to Penn and Houston, along with A&M’s bullpen giving up lead in a loss to Wichita State seemingly put Schlossnagle’s first season on the ropes. The new head coach had left his nearly twodecade post at TCU for the Aggie job, replacing former skipper Rob
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By Travis L. Brown • travis.brown@theeagle.com
Childress. Beyond the fun that surrounded Pringles, Schlossnagle credited designated hitter Austin Bost for an act of selflessness that helped propel the team through its Southeastern Conference opening series at LSU. Having never played middle infield in his career, Bost offered to take up second base after a slew of injuries plagued the Aggie infield. His bat helped spark one of the SEC’s most
potent offenses through conference play. By the end of the season, the Aggies paced the SEC in conference games in batting average (.290), onbase percentage (.398), runs scored (233), hits (311), RBIs (221), doubles (59), triples (7) and walks (172). A&M moved from off the radar to the No. 5 national seed in the NCAA tournament, hosing a College Station regional that featured Schlossnagle’s
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former team, TCU. The Aggies moved through the winners bracket of the regional, defeating Oral Roberts 8-2 and Louisiana, led by former A&M assistant Matt Deggs, 9-6. A&M needed a late-game rally, sparked by a home run from transfer outfielder Dylan Rock, to down the Horned Frogs 15-9 and advance to the super regionals. No. 9 Louisville, with their own potent offense, traveled to Blue Bell Park in what projected to be a firework offensive series. However, the Aggies proved they could win tight ballgames with 5-4 and 4-3 wins. A five-game walk through the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament were exactly what A&M needed for a deep postseason run. Though Schlossnagle was able to pull Texas Tech transfer Micah Dallas into the fold to join returner Nathan Dettmer in the starting rotation, the Aggies were short in starting pitching depth. A&M made a trip to Omaha for the first time since 2017 and were in search of its first College World Series win since 1993. That ever-elusive win was put on the line after A&M dropped a 13-8 opener to Oklahoma, who entered the tournament as one of the nation’s hottest teams. The loss was soothed by the opportunity to face rival Texas in Omaha for the first time in the two program’s storied histories and, ultimately, gave the Aggies the long-awaited win in a 10-2 victory in Charles Schwab
Field. Dallas gave the Aggies five innings of work, allowing one earned run with three strikeouts. Bost provided an RBI with two doubles in the game. “At the end of the day, It’s really just playing the game and playing a nameless opponent, but there is a little extra behind everything, especially when it’s Texas, because if you just look at the fan bases, there’s a lot of genuine hate between each other,” Dallas said after the game. “We kind of feed off it. It’s a lot of fun.” The Aggies doubled up their College World Series win total two days later with a 5-1 win over Notre Dame, punching a ticket to the semifinals and a rematch against Oklahoma. A three-run first for the Sooners in the semifinal matchup proved too much for the Aggies to overcome, in the 5-1 loss, but the Aggie’s ahead-of-schedule trip to the College World Series was the best springboard Schlossnagle could have hoped for in his first season in Aggieland. “They will forever be remembered as the team that reignited Texas A&M baseball and it’s our job now, mine included, to honor what they’ve started and continue to build on it,” Schlossnagle said. “It’s not going to be easy to repeat. I don’t care how many talented players you recruit. It’s hard to create the kind of synergy and leadership that this team was and we’ve got to start back at Ground Zero, starting right now.”
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Texas A&M University
CORPS OF CADETS The Corps of Cadets develops well-educated leaders of character who embody the values of honor, courage, integrity, discipline, selfless service and respect. Cadets are academically successful, highly sought-after and are prepared for the global leadership challenges of the future. ● The Corps is the largest and oldest student organization at Texas A&M, and it is also the largest uniformed body of cadets in the nation, outside of the military academies. ● Cadets gain leadership knowledge in a military-style environment that complements their academic education and prepares them for a lifetime of success;
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however, membership in the Corps carries no military obligation. ● This fall, approximately 2,300 men and women will be members of the Corps — all participating on a voluntary basis. ● Most cadets pursue a career in the public or private sector; however, the Corps consistently commissions more officers than any other institution in the nation other than the service academies. An average of 40 percent of cadets pursue a military commission in the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marine Corps. ● The Corps offers the Hollingsworth Center for Ethical Leadership (HCEL), a unique program through which cadets can earn a Certificate in Applied Ethical
Leadership. HCEL directly supports the Corps mission statement and enhances students’ capacities to be value-adding leaders in both the public and private sectors of the workplace. Moreover, HCEL also provides career readiness support to cadets including internship and job assistance. ● The Corps of Cadets Athletics Program offers opportunities for athletes in the Corps to compete at the club sport level in a variety of sports. Corps club sports teams participate in competitive sporting events across Texas and the United States. Corps Club Sports teams include baseball, soccer (men and women), basketball (men and women), marksmanship (men and
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Article provided by the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets
women), triathlon (co-ed), marathon (co-ed) and lacrosse (men). ● The Corps Global Leadership Initiatives program provides opportunities for cadets to study abroad as part of Cadet Exchanges (currently programs established with Germany and Australia), and participate in international excursions, which are highimpact, short-duration overseas experiences in countries of strategic importance to the United States. These international excursions focus heavily on the four elements of national power: diplomacy, information, military and economics, with a heavy emphasis on religion and culture, as well. Recent excursions have taken cadets to
Israel, Japan/Okinawa, Mexico, Singapore/Indonesia, Georgia/ Armenia, Germany/Poland, China/Taiwan, Korea, Qatar, the Philippines, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Chile and India.
TradiTions
Cadets in the Corps are at the heart of the Aggie Spirit. Because Texas A&M was a military college for most of its first 100 years, many of its most cherished traditions grew out of the Corps experience. The university’s Bonfire, Yell Practice, the Twelfth Man, yell leaders, the Aggie mascot Reveille, Aggie Muster and Silver Taps traditions all originated with the Corps. The Corps of Cadets is thus referred to as the “keepers of the spirit” and
T H E B R YA N - C O L L E G E S TAT I O N E A G L E
keepers of THe spiriT, Guardians of TradiTion aT Texas a&m “guardians of tradition.” Reveille is the official mascot of Texas A&M, and the Company E-2 in the Corps of Cadets has the privilege of being her official caretaker. Reveille eats, sleeps, and attends classes with her handler, also known as the Mascot Corporal.
CadeT life
The Corps of Cadets delivers the ultimate Aggie experience. It starts with a world-class university with 145 years of tradition. The Corps builds on that foundation, guiding cadets as they develop their leadership abilities, while focusing on academic success at one of the nation’s premier universities. Cadets are a large, visible tradition at Texas A&M, and enjoy the benefits of being the premier leadership organization in the state of Texas, while also being an integral part of a world-class tier one research institute. Many cadets are active on and off the Quad and hold leadership positions in many
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student organizations. This unique opportunity gives them a well rounded college experience. The knowledge and leadership skills gained through the Corps better prepares cadets to face life after college, whether that’s service in the military or a career in the public or private sectors.
aCademiCs
Academic excellence is the top priority of the Corps of Cadets. During the academic day, cadets attend class, study and attend to their personal business. Freshmen and sophomore cadets also have a study period called “Evening Study Time” (EST), which is a mandatory multi-hour period Sunday through Thursday evenings. This time is dedicated to studying, projects, group work, supplemental instruction and test reviews. The Corps of Cadets has a team of full-time scholastic performance specialists who provide tailored academic advice and mentoring to all
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cadets, no matter their major. They provide instruction for coping with college academics, assist with course schedules, and provide mentoring and academic assistance to cadets. The Corps provides academic support for cadets to help them achieve academic success. Supplemental instruction, tutoring, test reviews and on-call academic assistance are all provided free to cadets to help them succeed academically in a very rigorous academic environment at Texas A&M. Cadets have achieved some of the highest grade point ratios (GPRs) ever achieved in recent years, and four-year graduation rates for cadets exceed the university rates.
Corps speCial uniTs
The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band is the largest military collegiate marching band in the United States. The band is famous for its unique style of military precision drill and is an integral part of the Corps of
Cadets. Performing at all home football games and several away games, the Aggie Band is one of the most-traveled university marching bands in the nation. The Ross Volunteer Company, the oldest student organization in the state, is a very prestigious, highly select student organization composed of junior and senior cadets. The unit is the official Honor Guard for the Governor of Texas and marches in major parades and participates in various campus events throughout the year. Parsons Mounted Cavalry, formed in 1973, is the only collegiate mounted cavalry unit in the nation, and is reminiscent of the mounted cavalry once present at Texas A&M. This is a parade and show unit composed of 70 horses and four mules, as well as an artillery half section. The cavalry unit, composed of junior and senior cadets, represents the university at ceremonial events and parades across Texas.
Fish Drill Team is a precision drill team composed entirely of freshman cadets. They compete in precision drill competitions around the country, and have won the national championship almost every year since they were created in 1946. Additional Corps special units also include the Corps Color Guard, the Corps Center Guard and the O.R. Simpson Honor Society, a prestigious unit for those cadets who have achieved academic excellence at Texas A&M. Members of the Corps represent Texas A&M University at numerous public events throughout the year. They provide a visible reminder of the legacy of Texas A&M at many campus, state and national ceremonies. The Corps of Cadets is open to all qualified applicants, and membership in the Corps carries no military obligation. For more information, see corps.tamu.edu or facebook.com/ aggiecorps.
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VISUAL ART
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BLINN COLLEGE Offers the state’s highest transfer rate and substantial savings Out-of-district Blinn students save 40% in tuition and fees compared to the average Texas public university. Article provided by Blinn College
Students who choose the Blinn College District in 2021-22 can save 40% in tuition and fees compared to the average Texas public university. According to data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s CollegeForAllTexans. com, out-of-district Blinn students can save approximately $4,000 in tuition and fees compared to in-state residents at the average Texas public university. Out-of-district Blinn students pay $120 per credit hour in tuition and $75 per credit hour in general fees. In addition to Blinn’s low tuition and fees, the Blinn Foundation offers approximately 300 endowed scholarships available to incoming and returning students from a wide range of backgrounds, majors, and experiences. Current and prospective students can complete a single application to apply for all Blinn scholarships at www.blinn.edu/ scholarships. Blinn’s 42-hour core curriculum transfers to any public college or university in Texas. Fifty-three percent of Blinn transfer students continue their studies at Texas A&M University. Sam Houston State University, Texas State University,
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the University of Houston, and Texas Tech University also rank among Blinn’s top five transfer destinations. According to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board 2021 Almanac data, Blinn’s 48.2% academic transfer rate is the highest of any community college in the state. No other institution exceeded 40%. In addition to its traditional campus offerings, the Blinn College District offers a variety of online degree and course offerings. Blinn’s online programs and courses are fully equivalent and hold the same accreditation as those offered in face-to-face formats. These courses are complemented by full academic and student support to ensure that Blinn’s online students receive all the benefits of the traditional campus experience while enjoying the ease and convenience of an online education. As a member of the RELLIS Academic Alliance, Blinn offers foundational courses at The Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS Campus that apply seamlessly toward the bachelor’s degree programs offered by the Texas A&M System regional universities also located onsite. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/ RELLIS. Blinn also has partnered with Texas A&M University to develop pioneering co-enrollment programs such as the Texas A&M-Blinn TEAM Program, the Texas A&M
Engineering Academy at BlinnBryan, and the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at BlinnBrenham. In addition to its academic transfer programs, Blinn offers a variety of career and technical training programs and adult education programs for students
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seeking to prepare for their GED, learn English as a second language, or begin training for a career. Prospective students can apply to Blinn via the ApplyTexas. org application. Once admitted, they can register for classes at https:// my.blinn.edu. Blinn recommends that all students speak to an
academic advisor prior to registering for classes. Students can chat online with a Blinn admissions specialist between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, at www.blinn.edu/ admissions, and can call Enrollment Services at 979-830-4800. To learn more, visit www.blinn. edu.
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TIPS TO THRIVE IN
College Station
AVOID CODE VIOLATIONS
KEEP THE NOISE DOWN
Many people don't think about city codes until they receive an unwelcome citation. Familiarize yourself with our city codes by visiting cstx.gov/CodeEnforcement.
That includes barking dogs. It's unlawful for anyone to willfully make or allow continued loud noise, especially from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. If you can hear the noise at the end of your property line, then it's too loud, and everyone on your lease risks a citation.
NEVER MISS A COLLECTION DAY
NO MORE THAN FOUR
Download our free College Station Curbside app to always know your recycling, trash, brush, and bulky collection days. You'll also get notified of collection changes and can set reminders, report issues, and more.
MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS
Introduce yourself and exchange contact information in case of emergencies or other problems. After all, if an issue arises, would you rather they call you or the police?
Per city ordinance, no more than four unrelated individuals can reside in a single-family home. To view the city's definition of a family, visit cstx.gov/udo and look under Article 11. For questions, contact Planning & Development Services at cspds@cstx.gov or 979.764.3570.
STAY INFORMED
Keep up with city events, programs, emergencies, notices, and more by following us on social media. We'd love to hear from you, too!
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/CityOfCollegeStation
@CityOfCS
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3 Convenient Locations to Serve You! C O L L E G E S TAT I O N
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STEAK NIGHT? ENJOY THE SIZZLE.
11675 Wellborn Rd. in Jones Crossing 979-680-3200
949 William D. Fitch Pkwy. at Earl Rudder Frwy. 979-690-4940
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