thebattalion l wednesday,
november 27, 2013
l serving
texas a&m since 1893
l first paper free – additional copies $1 l © 2013 student media
perception adjustment Sumlin, players refocus on Mizzou finale following first SEC blowout
(Left) Sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel scrambles during Texas A&M’s 34-10 loss to LSU on Saturday. (Bottom) Head coach Kevin Sumlin addresses the media at A&M’s weekly press conference Tuesday at the Bright Complex.
James Sullivan The Battalion
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ince second-year head coach Kevin Sumlin joined Texas A&M prior to the University’s realignment to the Southeastern Conference, he has guided the program to high levels of success, including a 19-5 (10-5 SEC) overall record. Saturday, Sumlin and the No. 21-ranked Aggies experienced their lowest point in two seasons, falling 34-10 at the hands of LSU, the first loss by double-digits since merging with the league. During A&M’s weekly press conference Tuesday at the Bright Complex, Sumlin addressed the attitude surrounding the program and said a single loss doesn’t define the success of a season. “I drive through at a gas station and it’s like the sky is falling around here,” Sumlin said. “We lost to LSU on the road as an un-
derdog, the first time we’ve lost by double digits. We’re playing a real season with real opponents and real games. Are we where we want to be right now? No. But that doesn’t mean the sky is falling. We’re going into another game as an underdog and the difference is people expect us to win. That’s a completely different attitude than when I first got here.” Saturday, the Aggies will once again take to the road, visiting former Big 12 member and No. 5 Missouri at Memorial Stadium in Columbia to close the regular season. With a win, the Tigers will improve to 11-1 (7-1 SEC), and will advance to the conference title game against the winner of Saturday’s Iron Bowl between top-ranked Alabama and No. 4
Photos by Bryan Johnson & Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION
I drive through at a gas station and it’s like the sky is falling around here. We lost to LSU on the road as an underdog, the first time we’ve lost by double-digits. We’re going into another game as an underdog and the difference is people expect us to win. That’s a completely different attitude than when I first got here.”
See Presser on page 3
Staff Picks Reboot | 3 The Battalion editorial staff members jump back into the college football world, selecting their favorites for Texas A&M vs. Missouri and four of this week’s top-tier national matchups.
— Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M head football coach
w. basketball
Thanksgiving tournament highlighted by Texas matchup Tyler Stafford
Special to The Battalion he No. 12 Texas A&M women’s basketball team (3-0, 0-0 SEC) will travel to the Virgin Islands on Thanksgiving weekend to compete in the Paradise Jam Classic. The Aggies will tip off against Memphis, Syracuse and, for the first time since A&M realigned to the Southeastern Conference, the long-time rival Texas Longhorns. The tournament comes after a week-long break from play, and both coaches and players are looking forward to it.
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Head coach Gary Blair said the meeting against Texas on the court might begin the process of restoring the schools’ rivalry. “We’re hoping that this thing with Texas might start breaking the ice,” Blair said. “If we have to meet in neutral places right now to ease the feelings, then that’s our job.” The Aggies beat the Longhorns in 11 straight match-ups before losing the final two games in the See Tournament on page 2
Jonathan Sheen — THE BATTALION
Sophomore guards Chelsea Jennings (from left), Jordan Jones and junior forward Achiri Ade walk to the bench during the Aggies’ 76-27 victory over Prairie View A&M on Nov. 13.
campus
thebatt.com
Students avoid spring registration woes
A&M overwhelms Arkansas-Pinebluff
David Cohen
The Battalion ith the semester coming to a close, a familiar feeling resurfaces in the mind of every returning student — registration has come. As the last of the assigned sign-up times approach, some students try to find ways to manage this sometimes stressful process. Bailey Barksdale, senior psychology major and student worker, said her early registration status as an employee allowed her to bypass the complications of choosing classes with the rest of the student body and better accommodate her job and other responsibilities. “I didn’t really have as many concerns as people normally have,” Barksdale said. “Since I registered so early, I knew everything was going to be open.”
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Similarly, honors students are also awarded priority registration as part of their program. While they must register for a certain amount of honors classes every year, Abby Seifried, freshman business administration major, said picking before most other students provided a major relief. “I planned all my schedule out before [registration], and while not all the spots are open for honors registration, it was still helpful,” Seifried said. Those who are left to scramble for the remaining spots during regular registration, like Jared Jones, junior political science major, often find the experience far less pleasant. “The classes fill up really fast,” Jones said. “Honestly, I spent the whole week before my registration day trying to prepare my schedule.
However, my options were still very limited by the time it was my turn to register.” When faced with the obstacle of limited availability of classes, students can turn to their respective advisors for guidance. Rebecca Buckalew, Class of 2012 and Department of International Studies advisor, said she can relate to the needs of the students as they fulfill their degree needs. “It is especially easy for me to understand what [students] are going through because I’m a former student.” Buckalew said. “Now that I work here, I can tell you — if necessary, we can put you in the classes that you need in order to get your degree. Just be flexible, relax and be open to changing your schedule as you go. In the end, it will always work out.”
The Texas A&M men’s basketball team downed Arkansas-Pinebluff 88-55 Tuesday night at Reed Arena. Read the full story at thebatt.com.
the battalion
Production schedule The Battalion will temporarily cease production for the Thanksgiving holiday. Papers will resume Monday and Tuesday, then break for reading days until the last publication of the semester on Dec. 9.
inside
holidays
Thanksgiving, Hanukkah share same date Katy Stapp
The Battalion
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or the first time since President Franklin Roosevelt set the national date for Thanksgiving in 1941, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah will be celebrated on the same day. Although the holidays come from different cultures and backgrounds, they share more than a spot on the 2013 calendar. Rabbi Matt Rosenburg, executive director of the Texas A&M Hillel, said the eight days of Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew lunar calendar, and this year the fourth Wednesday of November. Rosenburg said the two celebrations
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not only overlap on the calendar, but they have long overlapped in values. “The Jewish Fukkot, or fall harvest festival, is about giving thanks about a bountiful harvest,” Rosenburg said. “Thanksgiving is quite similar to this. In fact, the word for ‘thanks’ in Hebrew is the same as the word for ‘turkey’ — hodu.” While Hanukkah celebrates the Jewish victory against the Greeks in second century B.C. and commemorates the rededication of the second Temple in Jerusalem, Rosenburg said Hanukkah also intends to celebrate everyone’s religious freedom, not just the Jewish populations. See Hanukkah on page 4
opinion | 4 Turkeys are the worsties
William Guerra — THE BATTALION
Just in time for the holidays, Jessica Smarr takes it upon herself to let the world know why turkeys are truly the fowlest members of the bird world.
11/26/13 9:47 PM