The Battalion - September 19

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Ashely Bautista — THE BATTALION

Architecture sophomore Emily Orozco and SEAL senior Elise Hernandez performs for the TAMU Ballet Folkloric Celestial at the HPC Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off in Rudder Plaza on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.

Hispanic heritage on display

Folklorico: a Mexican tradition that has made its way to A&M

By Julia Helsel Life & Arts Writer Colorful flowing dresses dance among the bricks of Rudder Plaza, and the tones of lively Mexican music float across campus — all brought to Texas A&M by Hispanic Aggies.

With the arrival of Hispanic Heritage Month, students are finding creative ways to honor and share their culture with the people of Aggieland. For some, that takes form in the Ballet Folklorico Celestial.

For agricultural systems management senior Julianna Ramirez, the vice president and main choreogra-

pher for the group, folklorico dance isn’t just a hobby — it’s a legacy.

“The reason I decided to join the on-campus folklorico group is because my mom was a president in the ‘90s,” Ramirez said. “She kind of helped get the reputation out on campus.”

A lot goes into every performance, especially because of the varying experience levels of each member. For education junior Avigail Sanchez, her first ever experience with dancing was through the Ballet Folklorico Celestial.

“I’ve lived in Bryan my entire life, but I never came to A&M,” Sanchez said. “Once I got accepted here, I was trying to look into something that fit my culture.”

To pull off a performance, they practice for four hours each week, preparing to execute a precise rou-

tine — often in front of an audience. Costumes and shoes are provided to group members who may not have their own, with outfits, styles and dances varying widely. The meanings and traditions behind them are just as diverse.

“We find corresponding dresses for each state, and from there, since I’m the choreographer …

I kind of find out what songs I know from that state,” Ramirez said.

As the group’s choreographer, the pressure is on Ramirez to not only plan the dance but teach the group to work as a unit.

But it’s not just all about dance.

Architecture sophomore Emily Orozco says the group hosts events DANCE ON A2 Graphic by Isabella Creamer — THE BATTALION

‘Trans Aggies are Aggies too’

La música de Aggieland Mariachi venga al pueblo

Students seek hope, community after gender-affirming care cut

Performance group spreads culture, music across campus

By Ian Curtis Features Editor

By Francesca Emmitte Life & Arts Writer

As biochemistry senior Matthia Klatt stepped off of the elevator on July 1, she received a single email — and her world came crashing down.

Klatt, a transgender woman, and the dozens of other students at Texas A&M receiving gender-affirming care via University Health Services at the Beutel Student Health Center, would no longer be provided that treatment beginning on Aug. 1.

At first, Klatt thought it must have been a mistake.

“Then, I got to my desk, sat down, looked closer and was like, ‘What the actual fuck?’” Klatt said.

“And then, double whammy, not

Aggieland Mariachi keeps Mexican culture alive on campus. The student organization performs traditional music and sets goals for their organization to grow and further reach the ears of people on campus and in College Station.

Founded in 2002, the group has made their mark on campus, from their colorful outfits to their traditional instruments, all intended to showcase Hispanic mariachi music.

Even after two decades of success, the group has high hopes of future success — particularly, they plan to host an annual mariachi festival, and members want to upgrade the band

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Portraits of biochemistry senior Matthia Klatt, former student Juniper Danielson and computer science junior Vanessa Dickerson on the Texas A&M campus on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024.

only that our care was ending, but we had 30 days to find new care.”

A treatment taken Gender-affirming care — meaning treatments for gender dysphoria, including counseling and hormone

replacement therapy, or HRT — were provided at Beutel as part of a model of informed consent where students were talked through their options and informed of the possible side effects of treatment before it was provided in later appointments.

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from a student organization to an official program.

Economics senior and president of Aggieland Mariachi Ivan Sanchez said by joining, he is continuing the family legacy begun by his siblings.

“Both of my brothers were mariachis before me,” Sanchez said.

“My oldest brother was in the A&M group. They inspired me to join it as well. It seemed like a lot of fun. It’s one of the highlights, in my opinion, of Mexican culture.”

Aggieland Mariachi has been an opportunity for Sanchez and other members to express their heritage at Texas A&M. Mathematics senior and mariachi member Angel Correa said the group has provided members with exciting new opportunities — like the chance to experience MARIACHI ON A2

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The Battalion | 09.19.24

Penberthy field conditions affect athletes

Graphic by Luniqua Louis — THE BATTALION

Unsafe surfaces at rec sports facility increases risk of injury

By Shalina Sabih Features Writer Nutrition senior Hannah Blockinger was deep in her routine on the field as she ran through women’s rugby drills she’d perfected a hundred times before.The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the grass.

In an instant, the familiar turned treacherous.

As she pushed off the ground, her foot caught an unseen dip in the field. Time seemed to slow as she felt her ankle twist at an impossible angle, and a sharp pain shot up her leg. What started as a simple practice session had suddenly transformed into a battle for recovery.

“I remember landing wrong, and I looked down and saw a giant divet in the grass,” Blockinger said.

“That worries my team because we never know what can sneak up, and we definitely prefer an even playing field.”

Blockinger is one of many athletes from dozens of club and intramural sports that play at the Penberthy Fields at Texas A&M. Located at the intersection of George Bush Dr. and Penberthy Blvd., the complex features both artificial turf and natural grass areas, catered toward drop-in recreation, intramural sports, clubs and

special events.

“We see anywhere between 1.5-1.8 million users a year, and 50,000 unique students use our facilities,” A&M Rec Sports operations and leadership director Christian Miller said.

With all these students constantly going in and out of the fields and attending events, Miller said it proves difficult to try and get work done on the field, as it would limit playing time for intramural sports and clubs.

“When I look at fields 7 and 8 used by the rugby teams, a field to really recover, be usable and look pristine, it’s just not realistic for the number of athletes and groups that use the fields,” Miller said.

“It’s a balance of, we can close the fields more and make them look nicer longer or we can live with the warts. We have and let people use the fields.”

Miller said he recognized that the grass fields and their current soil conditions aren’t ideal for sustaining heavy use. To keep the fields functional, the sports facilities management team has made temporary fixes by patching the dirt. They’ve also considered sand capping fields, a solution that would improve drainage but would require shutting down the fields for an entire semester.

International affairs graduate and women’s club soccer playerEmma Viquez said that while grass is more expensive to maintain than turf, the high usage of the fields should have made consistent

Addison McDowell — THE BATTALION

A patch of dirt showing the quality of Penberthy field eight on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024.

DANCE CONTINUED outside of practice to socialize and find a sense of community, carving their own section within the second-largest public university in the U.S. Like any performing art, learning folklorico is an experience that can test the limits of everyone’s courage.

“I think that joining folklorico definitely has helped me with confidence and the ability to be a part of a team,” Orozco said.

For Ramirez, her love of dancing and folklorico began when she was young.

“I loved the big furling dresses,

the shoes, doing my hair in a high bun, and putting on makeup,” Ramirez said. “I also have a really strong passion for my culture, and I think that’s what’s kept me so close to it.”

Some also enjoy inspiring the children in their community — like Sanchez.

“I love it when little kids come to like the performances and their eyes [get] bright [and] light up, and they’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh. You’re so pretty,’” Sanchez said. “And then I teach them a little step or two. It really just warms my heart. I love it so much.”

The group participates in events

maintenance a necessity for the management team.

“Soccer is not playable on the grass fields,” Viquez said. “I’ve played pickup on there, and you can’t pass the ball because the grounds are bumpy and there are holes everywhere.”

Viquez said she is grateful soccer practices on turf more often, but she pointed out that turf has its own issues as well. She believes it should be patched more often to prevent her team from worrying about injuries.

Miller said the turf was replaced in 2018 and Rec Sports aims to replace it sooner than the standard 10-year mark. It has been exploring options with vendors, including the addition of crash pads for enhanced safety and player comfort. The upcoming upgrades would also feature a cooling system beneath the turf surface.

To guide maintenance strategies, Miller said they had research groups come out to conduct impact testing and studies on sweat loss compared to turf and grass fields. The studies have provided them with valuable insights for improving field conditions.

“We’ve actually brought some turf from Kyle Field whenever they replaced their field,” Miller said. “We pulled some of that and used it to cover up patches on the turf field, and a lot of it is being strategic about how much of a break you can get in between the fields being played on.”

Viquez said that uneven patches on turf caused players to trip and sprain their ankles. She also observed that the different textures of turf across the Penberthy fields contribute to these issues.

“Some of it is really flat and some of it is coming up from the ground which creates a tiny hill,” Viquez said. “These small things make it more dangerous to play on the fields.”

The grass fields present a different challenge, distinct from the issues of slipping or turf burns.

The dry, cracked earth overshadows the sparse patches of green, making it a struggle for most athletes. Uneven terrain and hidden divots, ranging from tiny holes to treacherous patches, litter the fields. Even if athletes manage

where they can show off their skills and Hispanic culture, such as the “Little T” and “Big T” traditions, the latter of which is the end of the year showcase.

“We make sure that everyone who wants to perform has an opportunity,” Ramirez said.

The events are open to anyone, and the group hopes that even outsiders can gain a sense of appreciation for the craft.

“I hope that outsiders see how proud we are of our culture and our traditions,” Orozco said. “It’s really amazing when you get to see it done so visually in something that’s so impactful like dance.”

Addison McDowell — THE BATTALION

A patch of dirt showing the quality of Penberthy field eight on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024.

to navigate these obstacles, they still face the lurking threat of fire ants and sand fleas, camouflaged within the dusty ground.

Economics sophomore and men’s lacrosse player Connor Milne said he prefers to play on grass fields over turf, but the conditions of the grass field don’t allow him to do so.

“The grass fields are awful and they’re downhill, and there’s holes all over the field,” Milne said. “In the fall, when we have our practices on the grass fields, hardly anyone shows up.”

For university studies senior amEric Hawkins, the grass fields prove to be a challenge during practice. Men’s rugby practices on fields 8 and 9, which is particularly challenging due to their poor condition. When Hawkins plays on a pitch, he said he’s sometimes worried about his surroundings more than playing a game.

“I twisted an ankle and was out a couple of weeks because I stepped in a sand pit once,” Hawkins said. “I was just playing, looking up and didn’t see the ground in front of me.”

Hawkins said he found the presence of a massive sand pit in the middle of the field both surprising and frustrating. It’s something he feels should not be a concern during practice. He said he’s not concerned with the length of the grass, but rather with the large patches of sand and dirt and the inconsistent maintenance of the field.

“I noticed after breaks, sometimes some of the holes will be filled in; it just depends because over the summer they got a few of

them repaired on the field,” Hawkins said. “But there’s still quite a few poorly maintained fields.”

The most recent issue the Student Recreation Center is trying to resolve is sand capping. Miller said that while this solution could greatly improve the field conditions, it would require closing the fields for a significant period.

This would necessitate relocating several clubs and disrupting their practice schedules. To address this, the operations team is strategically planning the timing of repairs to coincide with periods when field usage is lower, aiming to minimize the impact on athletes.

Miller said there is an importance of balancing expectations with practical realities. He said addressing issues like holes in fields is crucial to prevent injuries, such as rolled ankles, and he is committed to ensuring his team can respond in a timely manner.

“We can’t promise it to be perfect, but we want it to be as good as possible,” Miller said.

Miller outlined plans to begin patching the fields next semester. His team is also focused on improving communication with sports teams to provide timely solutions for problems like fire ants.

“We’re fortunate we’re so big, but with the increasing size also comes [a] fair share of problems,” Miller said. “We do send out a feedback survey, and we try to discuss the problems through them and we look at the data, numbers and timing to find gaps where we can go in and fix these fields and disrupt the least amount of students.”

Ashely Bautista — THE BATTALION

Agricultural systems management senior Julianna Ramirez performs for the TAMU Ballet Folkloric Celestial at the HPC Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off in Rudder Plaza on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.

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The Battalion | 09.19.24

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UT freedom of speech policies shift

Graphic by Josie Six — THE BATTALION

A&M students wonder if similar change will spread to Texas A&M

By Stacy Cox Senior News Reporter On Aug. 22, the University of Texas System and Board of Regents updated the university’s free speech policy, prohibiting universities within the system from making political or social issue statements not directly related to campus operations.

Students from various political organizations are concerned that a similar policy might come to Aggieland — and are concerned it might punish staff and faculty for political or social statements, restricting their freedom of speech.

Political science graduate Jake Turner, president of Texas A&M College Republicans, says freedom of speech is essential to society.

“It’s very important that you can have this disagreement respectfully,” Turner said. “That you can talk

with the other side, find common ground and see the values in them that you see in yourself.”

On the other hand, Turner said freedom of speech is not the same across the board. People, for example, are owed free speech, Turner said, but institutions aren’t alive and don’t have the same intrinsic requirements.

Political science sophomore and programs manager officer of Texas Aggie Democrats Ivan Teter said freedom of speech means expressing any view — though there are limits when actively inciting violence or threatening people’s lives.

Teter said that universities should focus on the education of their students rather than being involved in political and social issues. If “it isn’t directly involved with the pursuit of truth and knowledge,” he said, the university has no place speaking on it.

In contrast, Turner said the university should speak out only in instances constituting a “broad American need” — like Suicide Prevention Month.

“Whenever we have more con-

troversial things, I think we should have a more neutral university,” Turner said. “Especially since right now, there’s a trend that the right [side of politics] is not very fond of colleges, viewing them as woke indoctrination camps.”

History senior and committee coordinator officer of the Young Democratic Socialists of America Aidan McPhail said freedom of speech is more than just expression and being able to talk through differences.

“For me, it means being able to express yourself — and not necessarily exclusively through speech but through expression in general, without being concerned about disciplinary actions or legal action,” McPhail said.

Turner said there is a concern about disciplinary and legal action through protests.

“Protesting is naturally an extension of your free speech right as an individual,” Turner said. “Although the difficulty is balancing the speech rights of these students, regardless of their view, with the actual function of the university as an obligation to

its whole student body.”

McPhail said students using their right to protest can still face consequences — a lesson learned after the University of Texas’ reaction to pro-Palestine protesters last spring.

“Ideally, they should have taken what I believe would have been a positive stance, opened the dialog with the protesters and maybe tried to accept some of their pretty valid demands,” McPhail said.

In The Daily Texan’s article discussing the new UT System policy through UT’s student newspaper perspective, President Jay Hartzell issued a statement stating while the university took no explicit stance on the war in Gaza, it condemned both Hamas and antisemitism on campus.

McPhail said UT could have faced less criticism by following A&M’s lead.

“A&M didn’t have any of the backlash because campus admin[istration] opened the dialog with us and actually listened to our concerns rather than calling the cops on us,” McPhail said.

David Keating, the president of the Institute of Free Speech, a na-

tional organization emphasizing First Amendment rights, said UT’s new policy aligns with the institute’s values in a statement The Daily Texan’s article cites.

Teter said that while the university can control what is posted, it may have difficulty regulating other individuals on A&M’s campus who represent it.

“I think that professors, faculty and students should all be allowed to have opinions and voices,” Teeter said. “However, professors and faculty should not let it get in the way of doing the job of educating people.”

While McPhail hasn’t seen or heard any indications of a crackdown coming to A&M, it doesn’t take long to implement — and the new policies have brought up challenges that UT must navigate.

“Things could change very quickly like they did at UT,” McPhail said. “Because all of this happened in the span of a few months. So right now, I don’t see anything happening regarding further crackdowns or even any crackdowns at A&M, but time will tell.”

The global cost of disposable vapes Popular smoking alternative contains toxic heavy metals

By Ananya Amar News Writer Almost a quarter of college students vape, according to the National Institute of Health. The push to ban vapes due to their appeal to children has grown globally, with the FDA banning flavored vapes in 2020 and the UK planning to ban all disposable vapes by 2025.

Over 13.1 million disposable vapes were sold last year, according to the CDC. Lined up, that’s over 7,000 miles of disposable vapes with no standard method of recycling — most of which end up in landfills.

Beyond the non-degradable plastic shell of disposable vapes lies a lithium ion battery, containing cobalt and hazardous nickel that powers the vape. This same battery is then tossed into landfills, releasing heavy metal toxins into the soil and groundwater and increasing the likelihood of years-long landfill fires, according to the Institute for Energy Research.

Over 23.6 tons of lithium go into disposable vape batteries each year and with over ten million units sold, the number is naturally expected to increase.

Lithium is mainly sourced from mines in the global south, Emily Hersh, founder of

exploration company Luna Lithium, said.

“The interesting thing to understand is that for lithium to get from the ground into a battery, there’s a lot of scientific steps that have to happen,” Hersh said.

Lithium is found in either hard rock or in brines, depending on its location. It is chemically combined with another element or dissolved in a brine. Hersh said those qualities make it work great as a battery — especially because it’s lightweight and reactive.

Lithium from hard rock mines requires chemical conversion using high heat, which contributes to carbon emissions as well, Hersh said.

Brine, on the other hand, is pumped out of salt flats, which alters the associated aquifer. Every project affects the environment in a different way — a vital reason regulatory oversight from the government is important.

Lithium ion batteries contain cobalt too, according to Hersh, an expensive byproduct of copper and nickel mining.

More than half the world’s cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, according to a report by global rights Amnesty International, a global human rights organization.

Children as young as seven have been reported working at these cobalt mines, without proper precautions or equipment.

Illegal mines often employ chil-

dren and foster unsafe working conditions in the DRC as well, according to Hersh. Texas A&M professor Gunnar Schade, who specializes in climate change, said minorities’ rights are often trampled in the midst of global trade.

“There is an artisanally illegal informal cobalt market that does exist,” Hersh said. “And that is likely the cobalt that’s going to be illegally sold to a trader from China in the

DRC.” Hersh said illegal cobalt mined with human suffering is prevalent in smallname products, making it hard to avoid.

“If you buy a shitty toy for your kids, it could be in that,” Hersh said. “It could be literally in any product that you have that has a battery that isn’t from the type of supplier that’s going to have been forced to participate in supply chain scrutiny.”

It’s difficult to completely cease lithium and cobalt use due to its widespread reliance — especially because it’s a lucrative business, Schade said.

Instead, Hersh said consumers should expect supply chain transparency from companies.

“Responsible sourcing in policies do so much more than trying to not use a thing because they are tangible actionable steps, and they’re a lot less hypocritical,” Hersh said.

“If one takes the view that they don’t want cobalt, they can’t have a phone or a computer, and that’s not practical.”

Rather than give up lithium-ion batteries, consumers should apply pressure to companies they purchase from to be transparent about their material sourcing, Hersh said.

“What they can do is, as a consumer or maybe as they buy stock in Apple as a shareholder, they can make it clear to the company: ‘I expect the companies that I purchase from to have responsible sourcing and especially in transparency policy,’” Hersh said.

Transparent policies can deter companies from purchasing from illegal mines.

Moreover, it ensures the materials are up to standard. As a rule of thumb, Hersh said, the larger the company, the more malleable they are to shareholder, consumer or regulatory pressure.

Many disposable vape brands, such as GEEKBAR and Puff Bars, are made in China. These vape brands give no indication of where they source their materials from, and their suppliers are virtually unknown.

Banning vapes is not the solution, Hersh said — rather, responsible sourcing policy and an ability to recycle the battery once it’s been used could help.

Recycling disposable vapes is essential to conserving lithium as a resource, Schade said.

“If you don’t throw it away, essentially, over time, you will have to mine less and less lithium,” Schade said.

Graphics by Ethan Mattson — THE BATTALION

OPINION

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The Battalion | 09.19.24

CARE CONTINUED

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Computer science junior Vanessa Dickerson poses for a portrait outside Evans Library.

“

forces, and it’s getting harder and harder to find the care that many transgender individuals would want or need.”

Aggie receiving gender-affirming care Last month, the Texas DeA hostile state partment of According to the istration],” Klatt said. “And I got a statement sent to patients receiving response from President Welsh that Public Safety unveiled a new policy gender-affirming care at University almost seemed copy-pasted to me, that blocks Texans from changing Health Services when it was cut, the so that was pretty disappointing. I the sex listed on their drivers’ licensdecision was made “after thorough had hoped to get a real answer that es and identity cards.

But more concerning to Klatt is assessment of our resources, capabil- wasn’t just political bullshit, but ities and patient needs.” they refuse to say anything else, a reported directive to record those But it’s no secret that outside which honestly to me reinforces the gender marker change requests and pressure was put on the university: fact that the Rudder Association had send them to a specific email address, per a report by KUT. The Rudder Association, a conser- a hand in this.”

“As a German person with Jewish vative group of A&M former stuThe back-and-forth at A&M is dents, lobbied A&M administration just another example of the state- heritage, the list terrifies me,” Klatt to cut gender-affirming care. wide policy battle that’s affecting said. “That screams, ‘You’re not And in February, conservative transgender Texans all across the safe. It’s time to leave.’ They’re litoutlet Texas Scorecard published state — and making it harder to re- erally trying to collect a list of transgender people.” an article entitled “Den of Degen- ceive gender-affirming care.

Klatt, who holds dual American eracy” attacking the fact that A&M “The waitlists anywhere are craoffered that care to students. zy,” Danielson said. “Because a lot and German citizenship, says they “I wrote a really long, well- of places keep shutting down due plan on leaving the U.S. after gradthought-out email [to A&M admin- to scrutiny or pressure from outside uation and will settle somewhere in my university was actually looking to support me as a student. And these kinds of changes by A&M have been deeply disappointing.”

We have careers. We have ambitions. We have hopes. We have dreams.

Vanessa Dickerson

“

“It was a relief to be able to have access to that care, to be able to be myself,” former student Juniper Danielson said. “Now that it’s gone, I know many students have been wondering what’s next.”

Going without HRT treatment was never an option for students like Klatt, who said they would not have survived without it.

“Our brains are hardwired for the hormone that our gender is,” Klatt said. “My brain was getting too much testosterone for years, and it threw everything out of whack.

And because of it, I was depressed and suicidal for a really long time.

And I feel totally different now that I’m on HRT, like it really just changes everything. Some people are way worse off than I am. HRT is literally lifesaving.”

In the wake of A&M’s decision to cut that care, transgender students have sought care in Austin, Houston and elsewhere.

Local organizations have tried to fill the gap for students who are unable to find — or afford — treatment. The Pride Community Center, an organization serving the LGBTQ+ community in the Brazos Valley, is working with student organizations like Transcend to help uninsured students afford gender-affirming care, computer science junior Vanessa Dickerson says.

To Dickerson, having access to gender-affirming care on campus meant that her university supported her as a student and as a person — and losing it means A&M has turned its back on her.

“It meant that my university was behind me,” Dickerson said. “We had a lot, and over time, A&M has been taking that away. But gender-affirming care being offered by A&M let me access that affordably at a difficult time, and it signaled that

the European Union.

But other students, like Dickerson, are forced to contemplate the dilemma of either leaving behind their lives or leaving behind their identity and medical care.

“I have my life here,” Dickerson said. “I have my family here, and so at the moment, I’m rooted in Texas, right? But the reality of our state is that every day, it becomes less and less safe. Every day it becomes less and less comfortable, accepting and open of a place to be … I would love to remain with my community at Texas A&M, but I’m not sure how much longer I will have access to the care that I need within Texas.”

The one bright spot for transgender students at A&M, Danielson says, has been the response from other students determined to help each other find care.

“From our students, it’s been a lot of resilience and helpfulness,” Danielson said. “Because people that were receiving care from places that aren’t the university almost immediately were like, ‘Here’s my doctor. Here’s who I see. Here’s other places you can go as well.

Here’s all these resources.’ So it’s helped us come together as a community. However, it is obviously not the best of circumstances.”

In the midst of the whirlwind of controversy surrounding A&M’s transgender students, Dickerson hopes that her fellow Aggies can see the humanity in their peers, rather than seeing them as a political issue.

“Trans Aggies are Aggies too,” Dickerson said. “We are students.

We have our own lives that are entirely separate. We have careers. We have ambitions. We have hopes.

We have dreams. We are looking to be students … Compassion is what I want more students, more faculty and more people to have — because all we have is politics.”

Photos by Ashely Bautista — THE BATTALION

Left: Freshman Garrett Talamantes performs for the Aggieland Mariachi at the HPC Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off in Rudder Plaza on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Right Top: Students lining up for food at the HPC Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off in Rudder Plaza on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Right Bottom: Reveille getting ready to take photos with students at the HPC Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off in Rudder Plaza on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024

MARIACHI CONTINUED

Graphic by Isabella Creamer — THE BATTALION

the Mexico-Brazil match last summer.

Correa explained the improvisation involved in mariachi and performers having to figure out some pieces as they go.

“A lot of mariachi is actually jazz adjacent in terms of their chord progressions [and] key signatures,” Correa said. “I feel like a lot of people don’t really know about the musicianship that takes place in mariachi.”

Correa says Aggieland Mariachi is hoping to get its name out around campus.

“We also have our spring concert that we want to really put out there, so people can actually just see the mariachi,” Correa said.

“I think we’re going to have local mariachis as well, so you could just

really put yourself in the culture and the music.”

Agricultural journalism sophomore Benjamin Juarez says the band is a close-knit community.

“Everyone’s very welcoming and nice,” Juarez said. “I remember going for my first rehearsal. Ivan — he was the president at the time too — he was always just very chatful and encouraging with everything and the performances … despite any stresses that I had, whenever I’d come over here, I just felt like I would be able to be myself and be OK.” The band’s first festival, Viva Aggieland, saw great success last spring.

Sanchez said the event’s emotional impact is a reason to turn it into a tradition.

“Families who came out with their kids [would say] thank you for exposing them to our culture and this beautiful music,” Sanchez said. “After experiencing that, I said, ‘No, I’ve got to at least run for president one more year and make sure we have the festival down to the point where it’s a tradition.’”

The impact of the first festival has

given Aggieland Mariachi a goal: Making the event even bigger in the future.

“We want to grow our festival,” Juarez said. “Mainly, we want to have a better setlist, a stronger setlist.

We’re also in talks of switching from being an org to more of a program and getting a director.”

Practice goes a long way when it comes to learning the music style of mariachi, Correa said.

“You don’t need to be the most experienced musician to start,” Correa said. “You can always start, and you’ll learn as you go. It’s a fun genre to play. It’s a very diverse genre to play, so just enjoy it. If you want to try it, get into it.”

Sanchez says that band members are grateful for the opportunities to spread their culture across Aggieland and the local community.

“One thing I would want to add is just the gratefulness for everyone on campus,” Sanchez said. “They’re very welcoming, and so I’ll always be grateful for that — for giving us a spot to host our festivals, to play at the soccer game, to come out and [to] perform for organizations.”

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Yell Leader Patrick to Pastor McGinty From the turf to Central Church, here’s his journey through faith

File photo

By Fallon Ferguson Life & Arts Writer Many Yell Leaders have come and gone, but not all have returned to make a life in College Station.

Patrick McGinty, Class of 2015, was a Five for Yell candidate both in his junior and senior year and has since come back to College Station to further his professional career.

Now serving as the college minister at Central Church, he resides with his wife and four children and looks back at his time at Texas A&M with pride, eternally grateful to start, and develop, a beautiful life, he said.

“I think the Core Values of the university play such a foundational role in shaping who I am,” McGinty said. “To embrace those core values, and as a Yell Leader, embody those Core Values.”

McGinty has experienced a whirlwind of life events, both during and after his time at A&M. He traveled all over the state utilizing his seminary teachings and business mindset to find his calling — eventually leading him back to College Station.

His most impactful moments in his college years focus mainly on friendships and unity he felt in Aggieland.

Then, his friend Luke Urbankowski passed away.

“Seeing thousands of students who did not know him write letters and stand in silence was just profoundly impactful to me.”

McGinty said it was an honor to be a student in Aggieland and an even greater privilege to serve as a Yell Leader. Soon after graduation, he felt a calling to rework his career path to better suit his personal beliefs and his desire to help others.

“I’d grown up wanting to be a physician because I was drawn to the opportunity to help people and serve people as something that has always been important to me,” McGinty said. “The more I prayed about it, the more I felt like that [seminary] was the right next step.”

McGinty then enrolled at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky with the goal of going forth into the ministry. Yet right when he moved to Boston for further schooling, he said he felt a calling elsewhere.

“There was a church called Emmanuel Baptist Church in the Houston, Texas area,” McGinty said.

“And realized pretty quickly [that I] would love to do vocational ministry

File photo

Photo courtesy of Patrick McGinty

McGinty prepares to lead a yell during his time as a Yell Leader.

McGinty poses after performing a baptism at Central Church in Bryan-College Station.

one day, but now is not the right time for that.”

Despite serving in the church, McGinty wanted to involve entrepreneurship into his career. After moving to San Antonio to help a friend creating a church plant, he said he found ways to pave his own path into the business world.

“I started a shoe company, designing and selling men’s dress shoes on the internet,” McGinty said.

with his profession. He soon would move back to his hometown, and continue his career path there.

While he felt called to ministry, McGinty’s heart was set on San Antonio, so he began working at a small church there as a youth pastor.

He then was given an opportunity to work in store leadership through H-E-B, but there were more opportunities that struck him that he could not pass up.

Despite beginning to climb the corporate ladder, he soon received word from an old friend who worked in ministry. His friend offered him a new opportunity to return to working alongside the church, where his life would continue to change rapidly.

“I get a text from a pastor named Nathan Leno who pastored Northeast Houston Baptist Church in Houston,” McGinty said. “The only thing I could think of is that he was going to ask me to move to Huberman to go and serve at Emmanuel Baptist Church.”

McGinty felt called to return to Emmanuel Baptist, as he had worked there once before his seminary where he had befriended John Powell, the pastor at Emmanuel Baptist, prior

“

I was drawn to the opportunity to help people and serve people as something that has always been important to me.

PATRICK MCGINTY

Class of 2015

“

McGinty begins to lead students in a yell during Texas A&M football’s game against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Nov. 1, 2014.

“The company still exists, called William Ross shoes, named after my granddad … As I’m driving to San Antonio, moving from Houston, the pastor that I was going to help start a church tells me, ‘Hey, the Lord is calling us to Fort Worth.’”

Though his shoe company was still profitable, McGinty felt there was a better way to make an impact

to Powell’s passing. He returned to Huberman and soon found his future wife, Katherine. “[Katherine] was John Powell’s widow, and I was speechless for the first time, really in my life, because I had started to develop feelings of interest towards her in the months leading up to that call,” McGinty said. “But after that phone call, I was like, ‘Okay, I think I know who I’m gonna marry.’”

He did in fact marry Katherine, and he adopted her four children to complete his newfound family. McGinty knew he would have to move back to College Station, the town which his soon-to-be-wife and children called home.

“I quit my job at San Antonio, moved here to College Station with the purpose of marrying her, and then the morning of our first date, the college pastor role at Central Church looked like it might be opening up,” McGinty said. “The opportunity to minister to college students and serve at a great church here in the community — and working with Aggies. Like, it just was really an answered prayer and an obvious next step from the Lord.”

SENIOR

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!

A6

OPINION

The Battalion | 09.19.24

Pop music is dead — long live indie Independent and alternative genres put nail in pop coffin

By Daniel Fu Opinion Writer What country song was at Billboard’s number one for six straight weeks? Who wrote it? Even two years ago, you would not have guessed that Post Malone, a hiphop and trap superstar, would write a country song and take number one on Billboard for almost two whole months.

But he did.

The fact of the matter is this: change or die. OK, this may be a heavily exaggerated version of adapt or fall behind, but nevertheless, it’s absolutely true, especially in the modern music industry.

People are simply tired of cliche pop music, written on the foundation of a catchy tune and silly lyrics you just can’t get out of your head.

Some of the biggest names of the 2010s to the 2020s are becoming less relevant. Just take a look at the streaming numbers for names like Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendes.

Ariana Grande’s newest album, “Eternal Sunshine,” is only her seventh most popular album. Likewise, Shawn Mendes recorded the lowest streams for his latest drop.

So, what’s the actual reason mainstream pop is declining, you may ask?

Pop is boring and uncreative

Graphic by Luniqua Louis — THE BATTALION

If you look at the most popular pop songs in the past two decades, a majority are written in 4/4 time with a repetitive chord progression.

In other words, it’s like repeatedly wearing the same outfit.

At first, it’s new and cool, but eventually, people have seen enough and get tired of it. Pop songs that dominated global charts and middle school gyms alike are boring — the same words in a different font.

Obviously they’re not exactly the

same, but the structures are almost indistinguishable. It becomes terribly clear how little effort these “musicians” put into their songwriting.

Pop doesn’t provide people with unique music they can identify with anymore However, the artists cannot be exactly blamed for this. Since pop became mainstream, it’s slowly become harder for people to distinguish themselves from the music preferences of others. People can’t be unique with their music taste anymore.

This phenomenon has become most visible in the rise of alternative, “alt” music and independent, “indie” music. Just like the fall of the Greek empire was most characterized by the rise of the Roman empire, pop’s music’s decline is best seen through the rise of alt and indie music.

Take Radiohead.

One of the earliest bands to really experiment and change their sound with each album, Radiohead sampled all kinds of sounds and used creative chord structures, even taking inspiration from classical music. Their combination of rock and synth sent shockwaves throughout the modern music world, bringing both avid haters and ardent fans into their sphere of influence.

Even Rex Orange County, with their amplified orchestral strings and dreamlike guitar tunes, similarly garnered a specific and deathly loyal fanbase that resonated with their atypical sounds.

As two behemoths in the alternative genre, Radiohead and Rex Orange County are perfect examples of real beauty and taste. They pave the way for smaller artists, fighting to show their voice through unfashionable but truly original music.

There’s a reason pop doesn’t have extreme fans or haters. Not everyone will like Radiohead, but at least they have enough of a sound to evoke emotions.

Fundamentally, it’s a question of identity, the “who” someone is re-

flected in their music choices. We want to fit in, but within all humans lies an innate desire to be unique, a little different from our peers.

Through hobbies, career, different delegations of time and music taste, one is able to create their own identity.

It’s just harder to identify and show a unique music taste with pop.

Others have heard it. People aren’t impressed with the simple musicality. The lyrics aren’t special.

Conversely, alternative and independent music is new. It’s refreshing and relatable. Combinations of offbeat drumming patterns and funky instrument rifts show spunk. It shows personality. Couple the uniqueness of alt and indie music with difficulty in finding smaller artists, and you get a hobby of discovering special, underground artists that can add to a part of one’s musical mosaic.

My roommate is a perfect example. The first question he ever asked me was, “What kind of music do you listen to?” He showed me his playlist filled with all these inimitable, tasteful songs. Throughout our first month together, it became a weekly routine to introduce each other to different non-mainstream songs for hours on end.

In his own words: “My music makes me niche.” He actually hated having his music taste associated with pop music. According to him, it was too “bland, unoriginal and indistinctive.”

At first, I couldn’t understand his obsession with finding little-known music, but I came to realize his music taste was integral to who he was, and for him to be special, his music had to also be special.

Given this, it’s no wonder artists like Post Malone have begun to branch out, realizing the importance of pop to identity. So, the next time you hear a country song on the Billboard Hot 100, check the artist — it might be your favorite 2010 pop singer adapting to survive — change or die.

Daniel Fu is a finance sophomore and opinion writer for The Battalion.

OPINION

The Battalion | 09.19.24

A7

Pirates, vampires, Robin Williams, oh my!

From dystopia to Middle Earth, our opinion writers dug into cinematic universes they’d like to call home Maddie McMurrough “The Chronicles of Narnia”

Charis Adkins “The Lord of the Rings” God, what I wouldn’t give to wander the Middle-Earthian countryside, living off the land and meeting all manners of fantastic creatures. It scratches my itch to renounce society and retreat to a quiet life in pastoral England but with dwarves and dragons thrown in the mix. Breaking bread in a Hobbit pub, partaking in midsummer’s eve celebrations with the elves, jamming with Tom Bombadil, coming into possession

New Line Cinema

Walt Disney Pictures

of omniscient ancient talismans that place you at the forefront of a species war against megalomaniacal all-seeing and all-powerful almost-gods. What’s not to love?

When trying to decide which movie universe I’d most like to live in, I took into consideration these things: The fashion, the conflict and the love interest. So, I

Kaleb Blizzard “The Twilight Saga”

Daniel Fu “Blade Runner 2049” The feeling of insignificance is gripping. The cities of “Blade Runner 2049” — with their colossal buildings, futuristic holograms and bleak moral landscapes — create a perfect setting for one to live a life of anonymity, unseen and unknown. The overwhelming vastness of it all feels strangely comforting, as though disappearing into the shadows of towering monoliths would be an escape from the noise of reality. Some-

Alcon Entertainment

times when I want to vanish into thin air, I imagine existing in a world like “Blade Runner 2049” … the world around me wouldn’t be so terribly relentless.

Summit Entertainment

Yeah I know, you already cringed reading this (and honestly I did too), but I think there’s something deep within me that loves the cringey romances and

Touchstone Pictures

passionately and the day is seized.

Oh, in this powerful play that goes on, how I would simply kill to contribute a verse.

But I mean, who wouldn’t?

Dreamworks Animation

I have a theory that “How to Train Your Dragon” had a strong chokehold over every boy who grew up in the 2010s for at least two years of their life. I know it

Killian Netherton “Pirates of the Caribbean” Maybe not my number one choice, but by far the most interesting world to explore.

Virtually identical to the world of piracy during the 1500s to early 1700s, the sense of scope and adventure is lively and exuberant.

Especially if I was skilled at dueling like a pirate, I’d love to venture into the unknown with the infamous Jack Sparrow and conquer any unexpected dangers that may surface. Becoming the terror of

bizarre shenanigans that can only happen in a world where you have werewolves and vampires fighting each other for basically no reason.

However, I think the main reason I’d want to join the “Twilight” world would be because of all of the awesome superpowers the vampires get.

As long as I could get a vampire to bite me and not drink all of my blood, it would be great! If not, well ….

Caleb Elizondo “How to Train Your Dragon”

Isabella Garcia “Dead Poets Society” Elite preparatory school in the northeast? Strict, brilliant professors with enough knowledge to inspire you for the rest of your life? Midnights secretly spent huddled around poetry, reciting verse and perhaps creating your own? Rejection of conformity and enough Thoreau references to make women swoon?

Forget the movie, I’m determined to make it my reality. Poets become philosophers, life is lived

ended up with one of my all-time favorite movies, Narnia.

The fashion is unbelievable — just look at what Susan wears on a daily basis, long gowns and gorgeous crowns. Oh my.

The conflict isn’t too serious, because we’ve seen Lucy’s magic elixir of life. You could be stonecold dead and she’d wake you up with one drop.

And, well, for the love interest — Prince Caspian. Say less.

happened to me.

Who doesn’t love a good coming-of-age story? That is, a coming-of-age story with vikings, the thrill of flying and dragons!?

Dragons!?

Those are the best coming-ofage stories.

As ashamed as I am to admit it, every once in a while I like to look out the window and imagine soaring through the clouds atop a sleek Night Fury.

Joshua Abraham “Black Panther”

Walt Disney Pictures

the Seven Seas is one of the greatest feats to accomplish, and nothing can compare to the life of a pirate.

Drink up me hearties, yo ho!

Marvel Studios

Growing up I thought Wakanda was the coolest place to never exist. A hidden city in the country?

Sign me up.

The coolest wardrobe in the

entire Marvel Cinematic Universe? I would simply kill to get my hands on it.

And all the things I would do with access to vibranium. Drop me in and I would never leave.

Being able to convince the entire world into believing that your country was a third-world country when in reality it’s the most advanced would give me much pride for my nation.

Wakanda forever!

Graphic by Luniqua Louis — THE BATTALION

ENTERTAINMENT

A8

Battalion Crossword ACROSS 1 The atmosphere of something 5 Mamas' partners?

10 Where to find Baghdad on a map 11 "Minute Waltz" composer 12 Nasal cavity 13 ___ Sciences, one of the Agrilife masters programs 14 Hit the slopes 15 "Before" suffix 16 Something you can get from Abu Omar in the MSC (2 words) 20 Vital dessert ingredient for people who can't bake (2 words)

21 Behaved as (3 words) 23 Little piggy that went to market?

24 Flightless bird 25 Opposite of "norte" 26 Muscle contraction 28 Baby name meaning "reborn" 31 Texas school known as the Miners 32 He carries the world on his shoulders?

33 Specialty where doctors work with children, for short ---DOWN 1 "___-a-___," AKA regarding 2 Adjective describing Liam Neeson, Cillian Murphy and Sinéad O'Connor

The Battalion | 09.19.24

3 Something famously empty for college students (2 words) 4 A shape with equal-length sides 5 Alternative to a Mac 6 What a doctor might ask you to repeat 7 Another way of saying baby dolphin (2 words) 8 "More or less" 9 Positioned, as a building 17 Nathan ___, star Manchester City player 18 Energy-efficient lightbulb 19 Japanese anime about alchemy, for short 21 Where a sailor might be (2 words) 22 Joined together 27 Light's speed is 299,792,458 __ 29 Student assistant to a professor 30 Arsenic, on the periodic table

Taking bike lanes to new heights

by Chi-Chi Zhang

CAMPUS SQUIRRELS

This Week in History Out of the Archives: Sept. 19, 2000 September 20, 1973 Billie Jean King defeats Bobby Riggs in the famous “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match.

September 21, 1780 Benedict Arnold commits treason, offering to give up West Point to the British in exchange for money and a high army rank.

September 21, 1792 France votes to abolish monarchy during the French Revolution.

September 22, 1994 The pilot episode of “Friends,” titled "The One Where Monica

Aggies unite ring dunking tradition

Gets a Roommate," airs on NBC. September 22, 1862 Abraham Lincoln issues an early version of the Emancipation Proclamation.

September 23, 1846 Neptune, the eighth planet from the sun, is discovered by Johann Gottfried Galle.

September 25, 1957 In Arkansas, the “Little Rock Nine” attend their first day at Central High School.

September 25, 1789 Congress passes the Bill of Rights

This photograph originally appeared on Page 1 of the Sept. 19, 2000 issue of The Battalion. Here is the caption from when it was first published: RING DUNKIN' — Loreie Dornak, a senior accounting major, and Kelly Tays, a senior English major, dunk their Aggie rings with Dornak parents, John and Paula Dornak.There was no ring dunking tradition when Dornak's parents graduated in 1976 and 1977.

Photo of the Week: Salsa Fusion

The best snap from Batt Photo, as selected by our photo chiefs

Amy Leigh Steward, Editor in Chief Nicholas Gutteridge, Managing Editor

Design Editor Nikhil Vadi Photo Chief Chris Swann Asst. Photo Chief Hannah Harrison News Editor J.M. Wise News Editor Mikalya Martinez Features Editor Ian Curtis Life & Arts Editor Theresa Lozano Social Media Editor Sophie Villarreal Ameenah Wilson Asst. Social Media Editor

Pranay Dhoopar Charis Adkins Isabella Garcia Luke White Matthew Seaver Braxton Dore’ Emma Moser Hayden Arevalo Hamsini Mahadevan

Graphics Editor Opinion Editor Asst. Opinion Editor Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editor Business Manager Business Manager Asst. Business Manager

THE BATTALION is published Thursdays in the 2024 fall semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center.

The Battalion is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs.

Newsroom Phone: 979-845-3315; Email: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com.

Psychology senior Jackie Quiroga and her dance partner sociology junior Roderick Pearson perform for the TAMU Salsa Fusion Dance Company at the HPC Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off in Rudder Plaza on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024.

Photographer: Ashely Bautista

Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising call 979-845-2697. Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Email: battads@thebatt.com.

SPORTS

THURSDAY, SEPT. 19 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2024 STUDENT MEDIA

A&M to face Bowling Green in primetime

Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M Aggies running back Amari Daniels (5) takes a tackle during Texas A&M’s game against McNeese State at Kyle Field.

By Kolton Becker Sports Writer At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept.

21, the bright lights of Kyle Field will await the No. 25 Texas A&M Aggies versus the Bowling Green Falcons for the second primetime game of the 2024 season in Aggieland. Entering the fourth week of college football, A&M holds a 2-1 record with its only loss against Notre Dame, while Bowling Green is 1-1 with its only loss in Happy Valley against Penn State.

The Falcons, who hail from Bowling Green, Ohio and are members of the Mid-American Conference, fly into Aggieland confidently after almost knocking off No. 8 Nittany Lions in Happy Valley, suffering a 34-27 loss.

“They’re a talented football team regardless of their results,” coach Mike Elko said. “The focus is always on us and our ability to play our best football.”

Under the leadership of coach Scot Loeffler, the Falcons have won their last seven of nine regular-season games. Since 2020, the Falcons have increased their win total each year, with four wins in 2021, six in 2022 and seven in 2023, including an appearance in the Quick Lane Bowl. They are tied for sixth in the nation with 32 seniors and have added notable transfers via the transfer portal during the offseason.

“He does a really good job offensively,” Elko said. “They’ve got

a really good group on offense.

They have a quarterback, Conner Bazelak, who was at Missouri the last time we won a road game.

They got three really talented running backs. They got a tight end who’s leading the country in reception yards for a tight end.

They got five offensive linemen who are multi-year starters, and so it’s a really experienced offensive group they present.”

Bazelak is completing 65.6% of his passes with 422 passing yards and two touchdowns. Despite going 25-for-39 with 254 yards passing and two interceptions against Penn State, Bazelak knows his offense’s capabilities on both sides of the ball. With two weeks to study film and prepare for A&M after the bye week, the sky’s the limit for Bazelak and his offense to confuse the Aggies’ defense — which includes senior defensive lineman Shemar Turner, junior DL Nic Scourton, sophomore linebacker Taurean York and senior defensive back Trey Jones III. “We get ready for Bowling Green because we respect every opponent we play, and we know everyone can beat us,” Elko said.

Elko previously coached at Bowling Green from 2009-2013 along with defensive line coach

“

Sean Spencer in 2009 and 2010.

The connections from both coaches allowed A&M to snag transfer defensive end Cashius Howell, listed as 6-foot-4, weighing in at 235 pounds. The junior, who was tied for No. 16 in the nation with 9.5 sacks in 2023, will be someone to keep an eye on against his former team, where he recorded 56 tackles, 27 solo tackles and 13 tackles for loss with Bowling Green.

“I was debating on if I should even enter the portal because I just knew the number was big for people currently in the portal,” Howell said. “With all the information and the visits, I felt like A&M was the right fit for me.”

Howell mentioned that he still has a good relationship with his former coaches and teammates.

When he has the opportunity, he also plays video games and calls his best friends, but he emphasized to his current team that Bowling Green is not a team to take lightly.

“They’re going to come in here ready to work and ready to get after us, so I’ve for the longest time been telling them, ‘Don’t take them lightly,’” Howell said.

The Aggies are No. 60 in the nation in total defense, allowing 312 yards per game and 529 yards

The student spirit is something you cannot explain — with the excitement and adrenaline.

Truly Batts Class of 1996

“

Aggies look to avoid upset against upstart MAC squad

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M tight end Tre Watson (84) and offensive lineman Trey Zuhn III (60) react after making a first down during Texas A&M’s game against Notre Dame at Kyle Field.

Hannah Harrison — THE BATTALION

Graduate wide receiver Moose Muhammad III during Texas A&M’s game against McNeese State at Kyle Field.

per play. They are also 79th overall in rushing defense, allowing opponents to run for 189 yards per game and 5.25 yards per rush, but they are tied at No. 93 for the fewest penalties, with 22.

“The penalties are something we’ve got to get cleaned up quickly,” Elko said. “They came in a lot of different ways.”

Elko also discussed how the Bowling Green defense looked comfortable in the system, alluding to how they jump in and out of four-down and three-down fronts. For obvious reasons, the question revolves around which quarterback will deal with the defense after sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman was ruled out with a shoulder injury against Florida.

Weigman was graded as the top QB in the nation with an offensive grade of 97.7 and a 96.6 passing grade by Pro Football Focus after the McNeese game, but redshirt freshman QB Marcel Reed made his case for the starting role after showing his mobility to extend plays going 11-for-17 with 178 yards passing and two touchdowns.

“Conner is going to be listed as day-to-day and week-to-week,” Elko said. “We’ll kind of get him through and see where he’s at with everything. We’ll continue to manage the quarterback room very similar to how we have been and play the guy Saturday that we think gives us the best chance to win.”

With excitement surrounding both programs, multiple families will travel to College Station for the game and to see their children.

Mike Rothmann, Class of 1987,

has been a lifelong Aggie and is making the trek to the game, accompanying his daughter, nursing senior Katelynn Rothmann. A member of the Corps of Cadets, Katelynn said the game is an opportunity to show his pride about daughter and Aggieland.

“Every time I roll into that town, I’m proud to be an Aggie,” Mike said. “I feel like I am back at home. Singing the Spirit of Aggieland together moves me every time, and I sing it loud and proud.”

A proud parent and Tyler Junior College graduate, Jennifer Taylor is also headed to the game with her friend and said she is looking forward to spending time with her daughter: forensic investigative science sophomore Kendall Taylor. To them, the game gives them the opportunity to see the Yell Leaders, Reveille and the student section.

“This will be my second game in the last two years,” Taylor said.

“The constant energy is almost on level ten the whole game, especially the student section. My daughter is really excited about the sporting events.”

Another former student in attendance will be Truly Batts, Class of 1996, arriving with her daughter, business management senior Brylee Batts.

“Returning to Aggieland is always a wonderful experience,” Batts said. “Seeing Aggieland through your child’s eyes makes it much more enjoyable.The student spirit is something you cannot explain — with the excitement and adrenaline.”

The A&M and Bowling Green Kickoff will be streamed live on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.

SPORTS

B2

The Battalion | 09.19.24

Marcel Reed’s Arena? A&M’s growing offense vs. Bowling Green’s defense

Change at quarterback leaves A&M wondering who will lead offense

By Noah Ruiz Sports Writer

Following an electric first career start by redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed last week, Texas A&M football looks to stay hot under the Kyle Field lights against Bowling Green on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

The Maroon and White will have to stay at the ready, as the Falcons’ defense will pose a threat to a wellequipped A&M offense. Bowling Green held its own in a Week 2 loss

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Aggies defensive back Marcus Ratcliffe (3) reacts after an interception during A&M’s game vs. McNeese State at Kyle Field.

at Penn State that saw the Falcons manage a lead heading into the third quarter.

Regardless, if Reed is the one to go under center, he will be in a position to continue developing a rhythm for the rest of the season as he faces a defense that neither favors the run nor the pass — time to show off that arm and those legs.

However, if the starting job remains with redshirt sophomore QB Conner Weigman, he will have a chance to prove himself again as the Aggies’ gunslinger, capable of leading the offense into a deep and daunting conference schedule.

The Bowling Green backfield limited a top-10 opponent in the Nittany Lions to just 204 passing yards and will look to replicate its success against the Maroon and White’s receiving corps that has yet to see a receiver surpass 100 yards in a single game.

With that said, junior wide receiver Cyrus Allen has emerged as the go-to pass catcher for the Aggies with 181 yards on the season, in part by a spectacular 73-yard touchdown catch that drained The Swamp in Gainesville, Florida. However, with senior tight end Tre Watson having the 2nd highest yard total this year at only 44 yards, someone is posed to step up.

Fans may see junior WR Noah Thomas come into his own in Week 3 and deliver a WR1 performance after showing flashes of success in the 2023 campaign.

A breakout game against the Mid-American Conference team

will be no easy task with junior safety CJ Brown defending against the deep ball. Brown’s 6-tackle performance helped limit the Penn State offense as he broke up a pass as well.

If the passing game is still in the development stage, junior running backs Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels should plan to create a balanced 1-2 attack alongside Reed’s arm, as they have combined for 427 yards and five touchdowns through the past three Saturdays of work.

Further, the Aggies eclipsed 300 rushing yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2012 while en route to snapping a 10-game road losing streak. Between a mobile quarterback and a talented backfield, the offense is more than capable of hitting the 300-yard mark for the third straight game.

If anyone can stand in the way of adding to that streak, it is senior outside linebacker Charles Rosser, who has made his presence known with a pair of sacks and eight solo tackles over the past two competitions.

Alongside tackling leader junior inside linebacker Joseph Sipp Jr., the pair will attempt to corral a capable running back room.

Sophomore OLB Myles Bradley will fill a hybrid role of a blitzing defensive end and guarding the pass after tallying half a sack in Week 2.

Case in point, do not test the Bowling Green linebacker unit.

With a pivotal and physical SEC road win, A&M is back on pace to win out for the season and compete for a chance in the College Football Playoff.

Hannah Harrison — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Marcus Ratcliffe (3) and Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Bryce Anderson (1) celebrate an interception during Texas A&M’s game against McNeese State at Kyle Field.

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M Aggies athlete Terry Bussey (2) falls in the end zone following an incompletion during A&M’s game against McNeese State at Kyle Field.

A&M defense faces experienced Bowling Green offense at Kyle Field

Falcons led by senior quarterback, nation -leading tight end

By Andrew Paredes Sports Writer

Texas A&M football is riding high after going into The Swamp last week and beating Florida, 3320, for its first road win in three seasons. Key to the victory was a strong performance by the Maroon and White defense.

The Aggies significantly improved their run defense compared to their first two games against Notre Dame and McNeese, holding the Gators’ ground game to just 52 yards on 25 carries. The passing defense also showed flashes of brilliance, as the Aggies picked off three Florida passes.

As inspiring as the win was for the Maroon and White, the defense still has a few things to clean up. The Gators scored three touchdowns in the second half that all came off of drives where A&M’s secondary missed a few assignments that led to big passing gains for Florida. Coach Mike Elko said the secondary is still adapting to the defensive system.

“We’re still learning how to play coverage in this system the way we want to at this level,” Elko said.

Hannah Harrison — THE BATTALION

The Texas A&M Aggies’ defense takes down McNeese State Cowboys running back Coleby Hamm (20) during Texas A&M’s game against McNeese State at Kyle Field.

A&M’s secondary will have to go without starting senior defensive back Tyreek Chappell, a player who has been a key part of A&M’s defense since his freshman year in 2021. Chappell suffered a season-ending non-contact leg injury during practice last week. “[Chappell] was playing at a really high level,” Elko said. “He will be missed tremendously.”

Bowling Green’s offense presents a challenge for A&M’s defense, as the Falcons are coming off a close

loss to No. 10 Penn State where they led up until halfway into the third quarter. In that game, redshirt senior quarterback Conner Bazelak threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Bazelak is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in college football, and he will be protected by an experienced offensive line that has so far allowed zero sacks this season.

The No. 1 threat to the Aggies’ pass defense is junior tight end Harold Fannin Jr., who is leading the na-

tion in receiving yards among tight ends. Fannin’s crisp route running and good hands combined with his 6-foot-4 frame is a scary combination for any opposing defense. Having sophomore linebacker Daymion Sanford, senior LB Solomon DeShields or sophomore safety Marcus Ratcliff cover Fannin could help A&M prevent the Falcons’ passing game from getting hot.

As for Bowling Green’s ground game, it has junior running back Terion Stewart returning from

an ankle injury that held him out of the Falcons’ game against Penn State. In the Falcons’ season opener against Fordham, Stewart went off for three rushing touchdowns and 163 yards on only 14 attempts. It’s going to take a united effort from the Aggies’ front seven group to be able to contain Stewart’s unique burst and strength.

This game is also going to be unique for junior JACK Cashius Howell, who transferred to A&M this past offseason from Bowling Green. Howell has been a key part of the Aggies’ defense this season, especially in their win over the Gators where he recorded a sack and a tackle for loss. Howell remains on good terms with his former school, he said.

“Those are my best friends,” Howell said. “A lot of those guys will be at my wedding.”

Despite Bowling Green being an out-of-conference opponent that doesn’t have the resume of the usual SEC teams that the Aggies play, they must remain prepared. There’s already a clear example this season where a ranked opponent almost let the Falcons and their offense come in and steal what should have been an easy win from them.

“I think of it as a must-win Saturday night in Kyle Field,” Elko said.

“They’re a talented football team regardless of their results.”

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SPORTS

The Battalion | 09.19.24

B3

Aggie soccer begins conference slate

A&M kicks off SEC play with road trip to take on Missouri Tigers

By Luke White Sports Editor

Texas A&M soccer may not be pleased with its 5-3 start to the season, but it can take solace in the idea that it’s not about how it starts — but how it finishes.

The Aggies wrapped up their non-conference slate with a 6-0 loss at UConn on Sept. 15 and now make the move to SEC country, which has taken on new territory with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma. A&M will look to flush a few uncharacteristic losses in the first month of the season as it kicks off the conference schedule.

“I think we’ll be ready,” coach G Guerrieri said. “We’ve identified the enemy, and the enemy is us. We’ve got to do just a better job of sticking with the game plan that we talk about and doing the things that kind of fit into playing

to our strengths and not avoiding the things that are necessary for us to win.”

SEC action begins in Columbia, Missouri, where A&M will meet conference cellar-dweller Missouri at 6 p.m. Thursday. The Tigers are in need of a win after a 2-4-1 start to the campaign, including a 7-0 loss to Duke, who is tied for third in the Top 25. It’s a program the Aggies are familiar with as they hold an 18-6-4 all-time record against the Tigers, albeit without a win since 2019.

“Going into CoMo has been a difficult one for us over the past,” Guerrieri said. “It’s never been easy. … Going in there will be one where we really need to focus on kind of cleaning up some of the things from our game in Storrs, [Connecticut].”

A&M will close out the week on Sunday at 2 p.m. as it hosts former Big 12 foe Oklahoma. The Aggies have historically dominated the Sooners with a 17-2 all-time mark, although the teams last met in 2018 and haven’t played consistently since 2011.

Oklahoma has jumped to a 7-1

record under former Ole Miss coach Matt Mott and is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25.

“He’s somebody that’s going to do whatever it takes to win,” Guerrieri said. “His style of his teams are looking at the strengths of the personnel that he has, and playing a style that’s not going to put those players in any kind of tactical jeopardy.”

In one of the nation’s top conferences, the SEC schedule features a list of opportunities for A&M to improve its standing entering postseason play. No. 3 Arkansas and No. 6 Auburn occupy the top 10 while No. 11 Texas, No. 20 Kentucky and No. 24 Mississippi State round out the Top 25. Oklahoma also received votes.

“In these games against SEC versus SEC contests, [there are] opportunities for us to really gain in our resume for the postseason,” Guerrieri said.

Last season, the Aggies went a solid 4-3-3 in SEC play and 1-1 in the conference tournament en route to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, where they lost 1-0

Hannah Harrison — THE BATTALION

A&M forward Jazmine Wilkinson (21) runs for a ball vs. Denver defender Jordan Crockett (6) during A&M’s game against Denver at Ellis Field.

to the eventual national champion, No. 1 Florida State. A&M beat Mississippi State and Alabama and tied with Auburn and LSU on the road.

The Aggies are 2-2 away from College Station this season and need to build upon their play on the road as they aim for their 29th NCAA Tournament appearance in program

history.

“Pure and simple, we were not taking care of the ball at all on Sunday,” Guerrieri said. “Those are things that I think, with the talent we have, the roster we have, [then] we can do that. But the focus has got to be there, and the commitment has got to be there.”

Around the Country: Week 4 No. 24 Illinois @ No. 22 Nebraska Friday, Sept. 20 — Memorial Stadium — Lincoln, Nebraska 7p.m. on FOX This Big Ten matchup might determine which team emerges as the front-runner for the conference title, and who gets the automatic bid into the new College Football Playoff format.

The Fighting Illini have one ranked win over then No.19 Kansas in Week 2, provided by a rally in the fourth quarter led by sophomore running back Kaden Feagin.

However, the highlight for Illinois were the four defensive takeaways produced by junior defensive backs Xavier and Miles Scott.

Although unrelated, the Scotts had three interceptions between them, with Xavier garnishing a regular pick and a pick-six.

The Fighting Illini have their hands full on offense with the Huskers coming off a dominant defensive performance against conference rival Colorado in Week 2.

Nebraska forced two turnovers against Colorado, a fumble recovery and a pick-six from senior DB Tommi Hill.The Huskers also collected six sacks versus the lack-luster Buffalo offensive line.

This will be a heavy defensive battle in Memorial Stadium, which Nebraska has won its last three games at. I predict the Huskers will get the best of the Fighting Illini in a low-scoring stalemate.

No. 8 Miami @ South Florida Saturday, Sept. 21 — Raymond James Stadium — Tampa, Florida 6 p.m. on ESPN In the midst of upsets, injuries doesn’t stop there. The Hurricane and surprise teams aiming to make defense is also sixth in the nation a deep run in the postseason, a sur- as a whole, showing little weakness prise is Miami senior quarterback as a unit.

Cam Ward. The talented WashingHowever, South Florida is alton State transfer has taken college ways a sleeper team come (near) football by storm, shooting up the upset time. ladder of the Heisman Trophy list The Bulls have always had its and bringing excitement to the horns in Alabama’s side for these 305; a phenomenon that has yet to past two years, forcing the Tide be seen in the Mario Cristobal era. to grind out fourth quarter wins Skilled receivers like sopho- instead of its usual domination. more Isaiah Horton and senior Coach Alex Golesh has changed Xavier Restrepo, have experi- the program in South Florida, enced Thanksgiving very early with a weapon in dual-threat juwith Ward serving them yards and nior QB Byrum Brown. The Bulls touchdowns on a platter. As a have a chance to put a dent in Miwhole, Miami ranks as a top- ami, if not make it a tightly-conthree offense in the country, but it tested game.

Prediction: Nebraska 17, Illinois 12

Prediction: Miami 34, South Florida 24

No. 12 Utah @ No. 14 Oklahoma State

No. 6 Tennessee @ No. 15 Oklahoma

Saturday, Sept. 21 – Boone Pickens Stadium – Stillwater, Oklahoma 3:00 p.m. on FOX Thanks to a mass conference exodus and a 7th-year QB, this mid-afternoon competition has powerful implications in the race for the Big 12 crown and a spot in the College Football Playoff .

Oklahoma State and Doak Walker award winner, junior RB Ollie Gordon II aims to return to full form as Utah freshman QB Isacc Wilson looks to solidify himself as the starter after the injury to senior QB Cam Rising.

Trading the islands for tumbleweeds is Hawaii-native junior WR De’Zhaun Stribling, who leads the Cowboys in yards and touchdowns through the air. If Stribling

gets lost in the jet lag, the Cowboys still have experienced senior WRs Rashod Owens and Brennan Presley.

However, the Utes are fresh off a victory in the Battle of the Brothers and are determined to stay perfect on the season.

Utah brings a top five conference defense to the table, as well as current Big 12 sack leader senior defensive end Van Fillinger, who is sure to give the Pokes offensive line trouble. Defense wins championships, but who wins in a shootout and who plays to their strengths? Look for a close one in Stillwater.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 20, Utah 17

Saturday, Sept. 21 — Memorial Stadium — Norman, Oklahoma 6:30 p.m. on ABC This game just means more, touchdown all season. Offensively, not only because it is Oklahoma’s freshman QB Nico Iamaleava has SEC debut but also because the been lighting it up for the Vols, head coaches know each other placing himself in Heisman conwell. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel tention. Junior defensive lineman was the QB for the 2000 Sooners’ James Pearce Jr. has played his way National Championship team, and onto numerous watchlists while he was an assistant coach for the leading that “gaudy orange” to the Sooners for nine years. Oklahoma second best defense in the nation. coach Brent Venables was a defenThe Sooners have also started sive assistant coach through Heu- the 2024 campaign undefeated pel’s playing and coaching career and are coming off a 34-19 win in Norman. over Tulane. Sophomore QB JackThe Volunteers head to Okla- son Arnold has proven that he can homa after absolutely obliterat- sling the rock and make plays with ing every team they have played, his legs, adding a level of difficulty outscoring opponents 191-13 in to defending against Oklahoma’s just three games. Heupel’s offenses offense. No team has been able to have been historically powerful so stymie Heupel’s huddle, but the 191 points is not surprising.

Sooners have the best chance out What is surprising is Tennes- of any team they have faced under see has not allowed an offensive Venables’ defensive identity.

Prediction:Tennessee 52, Oklahoma 21

SPORTS

B4

1

Texas 17 803

2

800

3

Ohio State 3

4

Georgia 13

764

Alabama 721

5

Ole Miss

6

Tennessee

7

Missouri

8

Oregon

9

695

624

605

Miami (FL) 560

USC

533

492

Utah 458

Kansas State 411

Oklahoma

15

Oklahoma State

372

370

Notre Dame 294

17

LSU

18

Michigan

280

Louisville

250

Clemson

21

Nebraska

22

Iowa State

23

Texas A&M 60

25

Dark clouds are looming over two of the Sunshine State’s major football programs. Florida and Florida State are off to miserable starts this season, with the Gators

boasting a win over FCS Samford and the Seminoles still searching for their first victory after opening the year at No. 10 following last season’s 13-1 performance.

With the most difficult schedule in the country, the odds don’t seem to be in Florida coach Billy Napier’s favor to be employed by the end of the year. Florida State coach Mike Norvell has a bit more job security with back-to-back 10-plus-win seasons, but those came after losing records in 2020 and 2021. We’ll learn just how patient the Seminoles can be.

Winner: Washington State fans Vindication for the Cougars: In Washington State’s first year after rival Washington departed for the Big Ten — leaving Washington State and Oregon State as the last schools standing in the Pac-12 — the Cougars defeated the Huskies, 24-19.

And they did it in the most satisfying way possible: A fourth quarter goal-line stand that ended with the Cougars stopping an option pitch by the Huskies.

So celebrate, Cougar fans. For another year, you’ve proven that the turncoats who killed the Pac-12 weren’t too good for you. So kick them while they’re down, and don’t

let that Benedict Arnold over in Seattle ever forget what happened this weekend.

Loser: Mark Stoops’ lack of cojones With the No. 1-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on the ropes, the unranked Kentucky Wildcats had the massive upset within reach. With 3:03 left and only losing 13-12, Kentucky faced a 4th and 8 in Georgia’s territory.

In a time when every other head coach would have put the ball in his team’s hands, giving them a chance at victory, Wildcat coach Mark Stoops decided to punt the ball away. Georgia iced the game and Kentucky left empty-handed.

As Herm Edwards once said, “You play to win the game.”

Winner: Michigan fans (At least for now) After a rough 31-12 loss to Texas last week, Michigan fans needed something to spark some hope. After two quarters in Saturday’s game against Arkansas State, there was a lot to like from Michigan. The Wolverines were up 21-3, despite senior quarterback Davis Warren throwing two picks.

But when Warren threw for his

third pick, a switch had to be made.

Michigan fans got what they wanted as junior QB Alex Orji came into the game and scored a touchdown in his first drive. Despite the Red Wolves scoring two straight touchdowns, the Wolverines held on to win, with signs of hope that their offense could look competent going forward.

Loser: Wisconsin’s defense I know that Wisconsin was playing the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide, but this game should’ve been more of a fight. This Crimson Tide team struggled in their 42-16 win over South Florida up until halfway through the fourth quarter. In the first quarter, the Badgers kept it a close score of 7-3. It was what happened after that made them my loser, as Alabama scored three straight unanswered touchdowns..

Offensively, Wisconsin lost senior QB Tyler Van Dyke to a knee injury in the first quarter.

HoweWver, Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell’s defense allowed Alabama junior QB Jalen Milroe to throw for three touchdowns and run for two more. It’s hard to criticize the Badgers for losing this game, but it’s easy to be frustrated with how quickly they gave up.

Around the SEC A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE FOR WEEK 4

By Matthew Seaver Asst. Sports Editor

263

20

24

It’s been a while since Nebraska was in the national spotlight based on its own merit. The No. 22 Cornhuskers haven’t achieved a winning season nor qualified for a bowl game since 2016, the last year they started a season 3-0 until Saturday. Nebraska beat Northern Iowa, 34-3, in its first week in the Top 25 since 2019.

Coach Matt Rhule experienced growing pains in last season’s 5-7 campaign, but he appears to have something cooking in Lincoln, Nebraska alongside five-star freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. Friday’s matchup with No. 24 Illinois ought to provide a good gauge of where the Cornhuskers stand at the start of Big Ten play.

Loser: (State of) Florida football coaches

14

19

In-state rivalries, near upsets, coaching blunders: Last week’s highlights and lowlights

Winner: Nebraska’s positive publicity

11

16

Winners and losers

561

Penn State

13

Chris Swann — THE BATTALION

Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Izaiah Williams (0) is tackled by two McNeese State defenders during Texas A&M’s game against McNeese State at Kyle Field on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.

By Luke White, Mathias Cubillan, Andrew Paredes and Ian Curtis Sports Editor, Sports Writer, Sports Writer, Features Editor

10

12

The Battalion | 09.19.24

203

134

123

Memphis 47

Arizona 44

The SMP represents the top 25 teams in college football as voted weekly by student journalists across the nation New entrants: Memphis (24) Dropped out: Syracuse (25)

Syracuse (38), Illinois (36), Northern Illinois (32), Indiana (30), UNLV (23), Boston College (20), Boise State (16), Kansas (14), UCF (12), Washington State (8), South Carolina (6), North Carolina (5), Pitt (5), California (5), Iowa (3), Liberty (3), Arizona State (1), Toledo (1)

Student Media Poll is sponsored by Indiana University Student Media

No. 6 Tennessee at No. 15 Oklahoma

Florida at Mississippi State

Saturday, Sept. 21 — 6:30 p.m. on ABC Oklahoma Memorial Stadium — Norman, Oklahoma The Volunteers are 3-0 to begin of the premier QB matchups in the season and have won all three Week 4. Despite being undefeated, games by a combined score of 191- the Sooners and coach Brent Ven13. Freshman quarterback Nico ables have looked vulnerable several Iamaleava has Tennessee’s offense times this season. Oklahoma is in for running like a well-oiled machine, a rude awakening when Tennessee averaging 639.3 yards per game.This comes to town — get ready to be makes Iamaleava versus Oklahoma’s boomed, Sooners. sophomore QB Jackson Arnold one

Saturday, Sept. 21 — 11 a.m. on ESPN Davis Wade Stadium — Starkville, Mississippi These two programs are in ex- Bulldogs.The Gators just got bullied tremely similar situations — both in the swamp by Texas A&M 33-20, find themselves 1-2, with their and could fire coach Billy Napier at only wins coming against Football the drop of a hat. Both teams are unChampionship Subdivision oppo- inspiring on the offensive and defennents. Mississippi State is hoping to sive sides of the ball. One of them has rebound after getting blasted 41-17 to win, but it isn’t going to be pretty. by the Toledo Rockets, who were paid $1.2 million to put down the

Prediction:Tennessee 45, Oklahoma 17

Prediction: Florida 16, Mississippi State 6

Arkansas at Auburn

Vanderbilt at No. 7 Missouri

Saturday, Sept. 21 — 2:30 p.m. on ESPN Jordan-Hare Stadium — Auburn, Alabama Arkansas could be 3-0 if it had average nearly 600 yards a game, and executed the little things against the Tigers allow 340 yards per game. the then-No. 16 Oklahoma State. This has all the makings to be a clasAuburn has looked unstoppable sic SEC shootout as Arkansas and versus lackluster opponents in Ala- Auburn average 46 and 44 points a bama A&M and New Mexico, but game, respectively. War Eagle is not struggled heavily when the Cali- prepared for when the super swine fornia Golden Bears arrived at Jor- strike. dan-Hare Stadium. The Razorbacks

Saturday, Sept. 21 — 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium — Columbia, Missouri The Commodores started this ton College Eagles. If the Tigers season with a bang after upsetting truly want to monopolize the SEC, Virginia Tech, but had their ear- then they should sweep the floor ly-season success shot down after with the Commodores. Vanderbilt allowing Georgia State to score a has the chance for the upset of the go-ahead touchdown in Week 3. week when they ride the rail road to Missouri has executed against all of Faurot Field. Expect a tight first half, its previous opponents but found followed by a Tiger trouncing. itself on the ropes versus the Bos-

Prediction: Arkansas 34, Auburn 21

Prediction: Missouri 38,Vanderbilt 14

SPORTS

The Battalion | 09.19.24

B5

A tale of two quarterbacks Which QB will shine against Bowling Green under the Kyle Field lights?

By Braxton Dore’ Asst. Sports Editor Oh, where to start? Well, maybe by explaining the quarterback carousel that has revolved around Texas A&M football. There have been five starting QBs named since the start of the 2021 season — and the two most recent are being examined under Offensive Coordinator Collin Klein’s new perspective: sophomore QB Conner Weigman and redshirt freshman Marcel Reed.

This time, instead of air raid and short pass schemes that we saw under former coach Jimbo Fisher, we have Klein’s mesh of heavy runs and quarterback drawls.

Discussing the identity of the Aggie offense now is a tricky subject — first off , we have two very different performances to compare in the Notre Dame opener and the most recent win over Florida in Gainesville.

Star ting against Notre Dame under center was the reign-

ing named starter of the 2023 season: Weigman.

The Cypress native accounted for only 100 yards through the air and went 12 for 30 passing.

However, when acknowledging the prowess of the Fighting Irish’ defense, Weigman’s lackluster stats can be explained easily. One aspect about his performance that can be critiqued, however, is the three interceptions he gave away.

Poor decision-making and off-target throws undermined Weigman’s performance, and the Notre Dame defense took advantage of it. To me, this appeared to be a combination of nerves and ill-guided decisions, culminating in a poor look at what a Klein and Weigman combination looks like.

Coach Mike Elko and Klein were both questioned after the aftermath of Week 1, alluding to a lack of familiarity and continuity.

“It was really, really hard because [Weigman] was not in rhythm, and there was nothing easy to get,” Elko said. “So we kept trying. We kept trying. We just couldn’t get there.”

Following Week 2’s win against McNeese State, Texas A&M athletics announced that Weigman sustained a shoulder sprain following Week 1. The ultimate question of which QB will be available for a date in the Swamp quickly became a relevant topic on every media member’s mind.

A few hours before gametime, audiences witnessed Weigman suited up on the sideline — but with a ballcap on instead of a helmet by his side. With that confirmation, the next man up, Reed, made the first start of his collegiate career, winning SEC Freshman of the Week honors alongside Texas redshirt freshman QB Arch Manning.

The dual-threat QB

looked comfortable in rolling the Gators in the 33-20 win, throwing for 11 completions on 17 attempts and 178 yards in the air.

On the ground, Reed made his presence known as well with 83 yards on 13 carries, with his longest run going 31 yards.

The offensive scheme that Klein implemented worked better under Reed’s ability to scramble out of the pocket.

“He has the ability that, when a play breaks down, he can utilize his legs and he can make something happen — and you know he’s got a lot of confidence in his ability to do that,” Elko said.

The throwing ability Reed showed also garnered a lot of praise from his coaches, especially his confident nature.

“I think the dig ball that he threw to [graduate wide receiver] Moose Muhammad was probably every bit as important and impressive that he stood in the pocket and drilled that one across the middle,” Elko said.

With this game under his belt, Reed has proven he can compete for the starting job against any other Aggie QB under Klein’s new offense. Now, only a matter of time rests between the Aggies’ next game against Bowling Green and the decision from Elko on who will reside under center.

Many questions still remain before Saturday.

Graphic by Pranay Dhoopar — THE BATTALION

INTRODUCING

JUST

9 $A4M.9 ONTH