The Battalion: October 18, 2013

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STYLE

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MAROON OUT

KYLE FIELD INSIDER

PAGE SEVENTEEN

TAILGATES HEAT UP AS WEATHER COOLS Alex Slaughter

Special to The Battalion ailgaters breathe in crisp autumn air as the calendar year starts to come to a close and the temperatures begin to fall. Donning extra layers and leaving the sweat stains behind, Aggies will be celebrating their team and the weather over the next few game days.

Jeff Milburn, Class of 1989, has been tailgating at A&M football games since he was a child and has not missed a home game in the last 38 years.

“I started tailgating with my mom and dad when I was eight,” Milburn said. “Now I’ve been married for 20 years and have four kids of own. My wife and I took over for my parents about seven years ago. My oldest daughter is now a senior at A&M. Between friends, family and frat brothers, we usually have 20 to 30 people for every game.”

Though Milburn enjoys the nicer weather, he said he will proudly cheer on the Aggies no matter what the temperature.

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Kyle Field frequenters say fall changes comfort, not menu “Cold, hot, rain or shine, I’ll be there with my wife and four kids,” Milburn said. “We have a standing family rule about tailgating — we must be at the tailgate six hours before any game for mental preparation — so that’s what I call it. It’s just for fun and a family tradition.”

After spending hours enduring the heat during the early games of the season, tailgaters like Doug Keegan, Class of 1999, said they welcome the dropping temperatures.

“With the cooler air, the menu doesn’t change that much — meats off the grill and whatever sides and desserts folks bring — but it’s nice to not sit in your own sweat or have to take breaks to go stand in front of the fan,” Keegan said. “And it also means less concern about drinking water to stay hydrated for the

game and more time to enjoy adult beverages — responsibly, of course. Always tailgate responsibly, Ags.” The change in the season doesn’t alter the Aggie hospitality that is so readily shown to opposing fans, said Tammy Conflitti, Class of 1992.

“I believe the hospitality of the 12th Man will spread across the SEC,” Conflitti said. “We invite the opposing team fans to our tailgate to visit with them. I have friends in different states that have known someone that visited Aggieland and couldn’t say enough good things about being welcomed when on campus. This makes me feel great to be an Aggie. Tailgating is a time for family and friends to reconnect, laugh, play and enjoy each other’s company.

I love sharing Aggie traditions with our three children and with friends that have no affiliation with Texas A&M.” Beyond the changes brought by the weather, campus construction has forced dedicated former students like Milburn to adjust to a new locale this season.

“My wife and I have had season tickets for over 18 years, but lost our C-Parking,” Milburn said. “We had to move over to Spence Park across from Kyle Field, which forced us to change things up. We do go all out, but we bring food instead of cookout now. On the Monday before every home game, we have a conference call and I create a menu. Then I assign items for everyone to bring.”

No matter the obstacles, seasonal or otherwise, Conflitti said he would be present to support his team and his school.

“A true Aggie will make every effort to tailgate and be in the stands at kickoff,” Conflitti said. “We haven’t missed one game because of the weather.”

PAGE NINE

MEET THE GUY WHO WON THE GAME

William Guerra— THE BATTALION

10.18.13

DESHAZOR’S EDGE

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SEAN LESTER, ON THE DEFENSE: PAGE TEN

BRIGHT GETS A FACE LIFT

It’s no secret that the Aggie defense has struggled through six games, but as the page turns each week, improvement has been force-fed to fans like Gerber baby food.”

PAGE SIX 10/17/13 9:34 PM

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styleinsider Shelbi Polk The Battalion

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Senior Ben Malena (left) and sophomore Johnny Manziel propelled the A&M offense to 41 points and a win on the road Saturday against Ole Miss.

Opposing coach says Manziel like ‘watching a video game’

Photos by Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

AUBURN RIDES SURPRISE RUN TO A&M Michael Ayo

The Battalion fter a last-second field goal secured their third win in a row, the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies (5-1, 2-1 SEC) set their sights on another tough SEC matchup against the No. 24 Auburn Tigers (5-1, 1-1 SEC).

The game features two of the eight SEC teams ranked in the AP Poll, the most by any conference in NCAA history. The Aggies moved up two spots after defeating Ole Miss while the Tigers make their first appearance in the Top 25 this season after their win against Western Carolina.

This weekend’s matchup will be the start of a four-game home stand for the Aggies and their third of four straight SEC games. Despite a knee injury, junior quarterback Nick Marshall is expected to start for the Tigers over freshman Jeremy Johnson. Last week, Johnson was 17-of21 with 201 yards and four touchdowns and was named the SEC Freshman of the

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Week. “[Marshall] was locked in during practice last week,” said Gus Malzahn, Auburn head coach. “He practiced Sunday and he looked good. We are past the midway point. If it was early in the season I would be concerned, but I am not too concerned now.”

The Aggie’s sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel was named SEC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Ole Miss. He accounted for 459 yards of total offense and two touchdowns.

Manziel leads the SEC in passing yards per game with 305.8 and has scored 19 total touchdowns this season.

“He is almost like watching a video game sometimes with the stuff he does,” Malzahn said. “The human side, his competitiveness, his toughness — that’s what really stands out to me. He is a physically and mentally tough individual. He plays with that edge.”

The Aggie offense has yet to score less

than 40 points this season and is currently on an FBS best nine-game streak of 40plus points per game. Claiming the top spot in the nation, the Aggies are averaging more than 580 yards of total offense per game this season and have accounted for 180 first downs.

“We’re getting better every week,” said senior running back Ben Malena.

“You really can’t compare this team to last year’s.”

An addition to the already loaded Aggie offense is senior receiver Travis Labhart. Despite having only 11 catches for 149 yards and one touchdown on the season, Labhart stepped up last week and led the team with eight catches for 97 yards in the 41-38 victory against Ole Miss.

“This time of year, you’re going to have to have surprise guys that play at a high level,” said head coach Kevin Sumlin. “[Labhart] is a true 12th Man. He walks on here, then goes into an SEC road game and was one of the heroes.”

The offense will have its hands full

against an Auburn defense that is one of the best in the conference. The Tigers have allowed an average of 18.8 points per game in the last six games, which is third in the SEC. The Aggies are scoring an average of 47.8 points this season.

The Texas A&M defense will be faced with the task of stopping the seventhbest rushing offense in the nation, with 287 yards per game. The Aggie defense is ranked 104th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing 201.2 yards per game.

The Auburn running back corps is led by junior running back Tre Mason. Mason is third in the SEC — excluding quarterbacks — with 144 all-purpose yards per game and is sixth in the conference with an average of 85.8 rushing yards per game.

“We’ve been working hard to fix mistakes we’ve been making and just trying to put together a total game,” said senior defensive back Toney Hurd, Jr. “There’s big plays out there, we just have to make them.”

(From left) Juniors Gaby Bunting, Sarah Jane Jones, Morgan Ransleben and Adrienne Fleck display their gameday attire.

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Wafi Alzawad — THE BATTALION

It’s almost symbolic of our support, kind of like how you want to dress well to test well.”

— Sarah Jane Jones, junior allied health major

FALL OPENS GAMEDAY WARDROBE

espite the often blazing Texas heat and hours of standing, an increasing number of girls are choosing to trade comfortable clothes for finer football wear.

Junior allied health major, Sarah Jane Jones, said she dresses up for games to show her support for the team.

“It’s almost symbolic of our support, kind of like how you want to dress well to test well,” Jones said. “[The players are] putting in the time and effort to serve their team and University by playing well and putting the time into practice, so I don’t mind dressing well to support them in their efforts.”

While dressing nicely is certainly not a requirement for support, Jones said it is an expression of her respect for the work of those on the field.

“I enjoy seeing everybody dressed up,” she said. “I think it’s a great occasion and reason to look nice because we want to support our team. If I’d been working so hard for something and I went out for a choir performance or something and everyone was out there wearing a T-shirt and shorts, I’d be a little offended.”

Morgan Ransleben, junior biomedical sciences major, said taking the time to dress nicely sets the games apart from other events of the week.

“Just dressing up shows how important the game is to us,” Ransleben said.

“If we weren’t to dress up, it would be like we just think it’s a casual, everyday affair.”

With the shift to the SEC, many Aggies, such as junior health major, Gaby Bunting, were left wondering exactly how they needed to dress to fit in with the culture of the new conference.

Among other things, SEC fans are wellknown for their tendency to dress nicely at games. This reputation encouraged Aggies to make football a more formal affair than it has been in past years.

“Since it’s a tradition in the SEC and we were a part of it in the athletic sense, I wanted to be a part of it culture-wise as well,” Bunting said.

Kyle Field has seen a change in the way opposing teams’ fans act and dress, which Ransleben said could be due to the additional media attention focused on SEC teams.

“People are more aware of how the

opposing teams are acting just because the SEC teams and their fan bases are so hyped up that we are curious as to whether their fan base is accurately portrayed by all the media,” Ransleben said. “Whereas Big 12 fan bases weren’t nearly as criticized or powerful in the media.”

While other SEC teams may emphasize dressing nice and intense tailgating, Texas A&M has been able to bring its unique brand of hospitality and love of tradition to the stands.

“From our perspective in going to the SEC, there’s more pressure to behave and be classy just because that is SEC reputation,” Ransleben said. “And I think that has also carried over to the opposing teams’ fans as well, because they have noticed that our behavior as fans is a little bit different than what they’re used to. So they have reflected similar attitudes when they come to College Station.”

Because the team has come into the conference as a strong contender, Ransleben said it has increased A&M’s room for influence and individuality.

“I think if we weren’t successful athletically, we would be more pressured to fit in because not doing well athletically is not fitting into the SEC,” Ransleben said. “But because we have come out and been so strong and so successful, I feel like we should just be us. I don’t feel like we’re pressured to conform to anybody because we are setting the example for athletics.”

Ransleben said the differences in the way people dress accurately represents the diversity of the University’s student body.

“I think there’s a good amount of our school population represented by looking nice at games,” she said. “And I think that if we all looked the exact same that that wouldn’t represent Texas A&M as a whole. So I don’t feel like everybody else needs to dress the same way some people do.”

Students do not dress identically and the different styles of dress have given people the freedom to support their team and express themselves fully.

“You don’t have to dress up for the games, but it’s a fun tradition to be proud of your team and dress up for them,” Bunting said. “You only get so many games as a student, so you might as well dress up and go all out.”

10/17/13 8:38 PM

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hat started as a simple idea to unite the student section has evolved into a gargantuan effort and tradition that brings the 12th Man together.

Created in 1998, Maroon Out started when Kyle Valentine, a former class officer, had an idea to unify the 12th Man for that year’s big game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Today, around 40,000 Maroon Out T-shirts are sold every year. Behind the scenes of the entire operation is Class Councils, which organizes everything from the T-shirt design to the sale of the shirts.

With thousands of T-shirts sold and large profits generated, Erin Fanning, head director for Maroon Out and senior biomedical science major, said the operations compares to one of a small business — and if Maroon Out were a business, Fanning would be the CEO. “As head director, what I do is basically oversee the entire operation,� Fanning said. “I make sure shirts get ordered, I pick the game and I help with the design of the shirt.�

Fanning and the other directors have been working since April to organize the event, which has grown to be a symbol for the 12th Man around the world. “I’ve had people from China emailing me trying to get shirts,� Fanning said. “We have a lot of orders from the military and all over the United States.�

Fanning said the event has become a fundraiser for the University as well as a way to unite the study body. Most of the profits go toward the class gift fund and the traditions that Class Councils presents such as Elephant Walk, Junior E-Walk and Ring Dance. “Class Councils is also in charge of doing the class gift,� Fanning said. “Part of the money goes to buying the class gift, which can range anywhere from the letters on Kyle Field, to statues, to fountains, to the A&M seal in front of where G. Rollie White used to be.�

While most students today wear maroon to home games, Scott Bower, marketing and logistics director for Maroon Out and senior accounting major, said this was not always as strong a tradition.

Attendees sell Maroon Out shirts to waiting students Thursday. “Before [Maroon Out], most people didn’t really wear maroon to the games,� Bower said. “Nowadays, the majority of fans will wear maroon to the game and you’ll always hear ‘Wear maroon, wave white’ for each football game.

I’m not sure that you would see and hear those things if it wasn’t for Maroon Out.�

The impacts of uniting the student body for the Maroon Out game can also be felt in the stands and on the field, Bower said. “Maroon Out has helped transform the student body during one game each year, and I think, without a doubt, has helped us win some football games and pull off some upsets,� Bower said.

Kelsey Novosad, junior kinesiology major, said she was especially excited to be part of the 12th Man on the Maroon Out game day. “I think that it brings us all a lot closer than we already are, especially because we are all representing one all-supportive sea of maroon,�

Novosad said.

Maroon Out shirts will be sold for $8 on Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Rudder Plaza.

On Saturday, T-shirts will be sold in Koldus 110 from 10:30 a.m. to kickoff.

Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION

William Guerra — THE BATTALION

(Top) Chart indicates percentage apportionment of Maroon Out funds to various traditions. (Bottom) Graph represents the number of Maroon Out shirts sold per year. 2013 numbers indicate shirts sold prior to October.

10/17/13 10:19 PM

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playerinsider

Walk-on Lambo uses pro soccer experience to nail Ole Miss game winner Sophomore kicker Josh Lambo kicks the gamewinning field goal Saturday against Ole Miss.

Sean Lester

The Battalion ith four seconds remaining in a 38-38 game against Ole Miss last weekend, Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin tapped his walk-on kicker on the shoulder pad in hopes of a walk-off victory.

Aggie sophomore kicker Josh Lambo stepped onto the field making just his second start as a kicker in his life. He received a word of encouragement from offensive lineman Jake Matthews before lining up for what many believed was the kick of his life.

With more than 5 million viewers watching on ESPN and 60,950 in attendance at VaughtHemingway Stadium, Lambo couldn’t help but be calm.

Lambo hadn’t always been a football placekicker. As a matter of fact, he was never a football player. As a teenager, Lambo was a star soccer player.

“The very first time I kicked a football I was 10 and I actually won the title for the [NFL] punt, pass and kick competition,” Lambo said.

“I asked my parents after that, ‘Hey, can I play football?’ and they said, ‘No’ and I said, ‘Alright, I’ll go back to soccer.’”

As a goalkeeper he played for the U.S. U-17 and U-20 teams before he reached his ultimate goal. On Jan. 18, 2008, he was drafted eighth overall in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft to FC Dallas. “[Being drafted] was something I had always

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Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

dreamed off,” Lambo said. “It was something I had always worked toward.”

Playing mostly as a backup during his first two seasons, Lambo enjoyed the perks of living as a professional athlete.

“Just being a professional athlete was so cool,” he said. “Getting several days off a week, going golfing pretty much whenever you want to because you ‘work’ for only about four hours a day. It was awesome. I tried to make sure the money and status never got to my head, thankfully, and that did a really good job of keeping me level-headed.”

Lambo was was waived by FC Dallas at the end of the 2011 season. After a trial with D.C. United in 2012 didn’t work out, he began to explore his options.

His brother, Zack, who was a Wisconsin soccer player, lined him up with former University of Wisconsin kicker, Taylor Mehlhaff.

“Once I was essentially out of a job and didn’t get any contracts I wanted to take, I contacted my brother’s friend,” Lambo said. “I drove over to New Orleans where he was and [in] two sessions with him made a couple slight tweaks to my swing and it just kind of clicked.”

In one YouTube highlight that has become an Aggie favorite in recent weeks, Lambo is seen drilling a 70-yard kick through the uprights.

“In the summer of 2012, I had a couple of highlight tapes I had made with [Mehlhaff], and I just sent them out to a bunch of schools,”

A LEG WELL TRAVELED

Lambo said. “I really wanted to finish my education so I said, ‘I might as well try this whole football thing.’ I emailed a bunch of coaches, and A&M responded.”

Lambo spent last season as Taylor Bertolet’s backup, kicking two extra-points in garbage time. When Bertolet missed two extra-point tries against SMU on Sept. 21, Lambo entered the game and has been the Aggie starting kicker since.

“We’re teammates, we’re always going to root each other on,” Lambo said of Bertolet.

“I mean, if he was out there kicking the game winner, I’d be excited for him.”

On Saturday, Bertolet and the rest of the Aggies in uniform were more than supportive. Quarterback Johnny Manziel and several teammates could be seen in a circle of prayer as Lambo walked on the field.

The snap was higher than preferred and slightly inside but punter and holder Drew Kaser handled it. Lambo’s right leg reached back like it had so many times before as a goalkeeper, now in hopes of making it through the goalposts.

He uncoiled into the football which sailed 33-yards through the uprights. Lambo slid on his knees in perfect soccer fashion and grinned from ear to as he was eventually carried off on his teammates shoulders.

“Right there at the end, we had a lot of confidence in Lambo,” said receiver Travis Labhart. “We knew he could make the field goal.”

After a lengthy celebration with the Aggie faithful in attendance, Lambo regained his breath and explained to reporters that it was more about complimenting the team effort than kicking the game-winning field goal.

“Surprisingly enough, I really wasn’t that nervous,” Lambo said after the game. “It feels so great, not to kick the game-winning field goal, but to do something to help my teammates and reward their effort. They’re the guys that are out there getting beat up and getting knocked down and tackling people, making big plays. Just the fact that I got to do anything to help that out, that was the best part about it.”

Sumlin preaches to his players that the best player each week will get the starting nod, no matter if they are a five-star recruit or a walk on. Lambo’s performance in the waning moments Saturday in Oxford, Miss., served as proof to his assurance.

“Here is a guy a year ago who nobody knew his name, and he came in and helped us as a walk-on,” Sumlin said. “He is an excellent example for our program. He kept fighting and worked hard to play, and the best players are going to play. I was happy for the team and I was particularly happy for him because of what he has gone through and his particular situation. It was a pressure situation for him to be in.”

10/17/13 8:39 PM

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Sean Lester interviewed Will Gaines, sports editor for The Plainsman, Auburn’s student newspaper.

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THE BATTALION: What is different about this year’s Auburn team compared to the one that lost a lopsided game to A&M a year ago?

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GAINES: The biggest difference between this year’s team and the last is the team’s ability to keep fighting and not give up when they face adversity. Last year’s game against A&M was a perfect example of this.

Auburn just gave up against the Aggies and I don’t see that happening this year.

THE BATTALION: Which program do you think has a better chance of making the national championship game in the next 5-10 years?

GAINES: I really like what Kevin Sumlin has done so far at A&M and the advantage of being an SEC school in Texas for recruiting is scary. But honestly, I think once Johnny Manziel leaves Sumlin will have to start reloading his team, and that may take time. Auburn, on the other hand, has been recruiting very well the past few years and it doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon.

THE BATTALION: Who is the better collegiate quarterback: Cam Newton or Johnny Manziel?

THE BATTALION: QB Nick Marshall missed a week but will start this GAINES: Manziel relies more on his week. What does he bring to the table speed and athleticism, while Cam for the Tigers? relied on his size and power. The scary GAINES: Marshall is a great athlete thing about Cam was he could move that keeps defenses on their heels like Manziel and he was 6 foot 5 and because of his running ability. He also weighed 250 pounds. I also think Cam has a very strong arm that can outwon more with less talent around him. throw coverages, but because he has Because of that I’m going to say Cam, only been on campus since the late but it’s so close it’s really hard to say. summer he hasn’t been able to get the THE BATTALION: What do you timing down perfect with his receivers. think the final score will be in this THE BATTALION: What is the weekend’s game? excitement level on campus entering GAINES: The only way I think this the Top 25 rankings and facing No. 7 Auburn defense can slow down A&M? Manziel is to force turnovers. So far, GAINES: Auburn fans are very excited Auburn has seven interceptions this about this game, especially after the season and if they want to win this Aggies’ close win against Ole Miss last game they will need to add to that week. Auburn is ready to show A&M total against A&M. Scores are so hard that the way they played last year is to predict, but I think Auburn wins not how Auburn football is played.

42-35.

battasks

Q:

5 “If the Heisman is chosen for the player who is the best football player in the NCAA, then I feel that Johnny Manziel should win the Heisman trophy this year, regardless of whether he won it last year or not. He’s evidently the best player in college football, so he should win.”

What do you think the chances are of Johnny Manziel winning the Heisman again?

Crystal Garcia, sophomore nutritional sciences major

Photo feature by Bryan Johnson — THE BATTALION

“I think he might because his name is already known, so I think people will vote for him. I just don’t know who else would be a candidate.”

Jenna Hanley, sophomore applied mathematical sciences major

FOOTBALL

“The LSU game is going to be a good one. If he does well in that game, that will be good for him.”

Nathan Wendel, sophomore mechanical engineering major

GAMEDAY

“I don’t think he’ll get it a second time, because they’ll want to spread the wealth around to other schools and make sure some other people get some recognition.”

Vishal Kaushal, senior applied mathematical sciences major

“I feel like they won’t issue it to the same guy twice. There would be uproar for showing a lot of favoritism for one player because he has gotten a lot of media coverage this season.”

Anthony Clay, senior anthropology major

2013

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10/17/13 10:30 PM

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Place an ad Phone 845-0569 Suite L400, Memorial Student Center Texas A&M University

Missed tackle Sean lester: The Aggies’ defense has struggled, but the numbers show its been worse than bad

I

Sean Lester Sports Desk Assistant @s_lester14

t may not seem like it on the surface, but the same Texas A&M football team that still has a chance at a BCS bowl game has a very serious problem on its hands.

It’s no secret that the Aggie defense has struggled through six games, but as the page turns each week, improvement has been force-fed to fans like Gerber baby food.

Several problems have complicated the picture when it comes to the struggling A&M defense. The Aggies are young on defense and injuries have made the depth chart anything but consistent.

Going into the Arkansas game, the Aggies had used 17 true freshmen, four redshirt freshmen, two four-year transfers and two junior college transfers for a total of 25 players that have made their A&M playing debuts in 2013.

But each game adds experience and that improvement has hardly shown.

As Johnny Manziel and the Aggie offense continues to battle with the likes of Oregon and Baylor for the nation’s best offense, the defensive performance has been masked each game. With a pair of Aggie blinders we have all pushed aside

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worries about the defense in place of praise for the record-setting offense.

If the numbers never lie about Manziel and the offense, they certainly aren’t fibbing about the A&M defense either.

Out of 123 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, the Aggie defense ranks 113th in total defense, allowing 474.3 yards per game. The closest team with one loss in the total defense rankings is this week’s opponent, Auburn, which ranks 66th.

It’s embarrassing really. And there is a strong majority on this campus that has no clue that, as a group, A&M’s defensive effort has been this bad.

That is perhaps the most confusing part of it all. Somehow the Aggies managed to lose just one game — by seven points to reigning champion and top-ranked Alabama — despite their ugly defensive effort.

Of course the A&M players are trying hard and they are definitely showing flashes of what could be. But they have little to show for it.

Defensive coordinator Mark Snyder said Tuesday that the team has to find additional ways to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks without blitzing. Those problems were solved in years past by

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William Guerra — THE BATTALION

players you may remember as Vonimal and Damonster.

“We have to apply some pressure at some point in time,” Snyder said. “I can say that now because I think we played pretty well against the run game [against Ole Miss]. Now the next step is we need to get some pass rush.”

Without a true pass-rushing end, A&M has been limited to just five sacks. That’s it. The Aggie offensive line, which features five starters that are all destined for the NFL, has allowed seven sacks.

The A&M defense ties for 118th out of 123 teams in team pass sacks. Only 3-2 Illinois, the lone team with four sacks on the season, has a less likely chance of sacking the opposing quarterback.

The reason A&M has been able to win every game but one to this point is because of the offense. They receive all the attention, but it’s because they’ve had to take control of each game at some point.

Johnny Manziel is and will continue to be the MVP of Texas A&M’s football team, but when the Aggie offense has even the slightest off day in the future, who will be there to save them?

Maybe it will be defensive tackle

Alonzo Williams who leads the team with two sacks. Or maybe it’s true freshman linebacker Darian Claiborne who very well could be the next Miller or Moore, leading the team with four tackles for loss.

Each team finds its identity eventually, but we are close to finding out whether this Aggie defense that is averaging 6.5 yards allowed per play has sunken too far to be saved or if they can bring themselves back to the surface.

A good place to resurface would be Saturday against Auburn, which ranks 28th in total offense and is averaging 287 yards rushing per game and 5.6 yards per carry.

Giving up more than half the yardage toward a first down to the No. 24 Tigers could result in an upset loss.

Right now you know the Aggie defense has struggled, even if you’ve just been riding the wave of wins each Saturday. If you look into the numbers that deserve your attention, they’ve been worse than bad.

Considering last season’s success, coach Kevin Sumlin and the Aggies have commanded our full attention. It’s time to start giving it to them and demanding better play, because 113th or 118th out of 123 isn’t going to cut it.

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James Sullivan Sports Desk Editor @jsully711

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he Heisman Trophy has distinguished itself as the nation’s most prestigious individual award, not only among college football, but all sports. No other athletic honor holds the weight of the Heisman,

and no other ever will.

Johnny Manziel’s Heisman Trophy sits boldly within Texas A&M’s newly-renovated Bright Complex, directly opposite an identical version, 55 years older, owned by John David Crow. Manziel’s personal victory broke barriers within the sport’s preconceptions, as his unprecedented season deserved an equally unprecedented award to any athlete in his class.

The making-history part of Manziel’s Heisman storyline, though, is hardly the focus of this column. As the sophomore searches to become only the second athlete ever to repeat for the honor — Ohio State’s Archie Griffin being the first — I hope to reason as to why Manziel won last season and, more importantly, why he should again.

For any Heisman candidate, statistics are the immediate attraction, as their numerical value allows logical insight into how valued — in terms of football — a player is to his respective team. The lone fallback for the pure comparison of stats, though, is separation of opponents, as no Heisman contender plays the same schedule as any other.

Last season, Manziel earned recognition

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Aggies travel for pair of conference opponents

Relentless pursuit JAMES SULLIVAN: One Heisman may not be enough for Johnny Manziel, and the sophomore has good reason to fight for his second

volleyball insider Andrew White The Battalion

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Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

After earning the 2012 Heisman Trophy, Texas A&M sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel looks to become the second collegiate athlete to repeat winning the national award.

for groundbreaking numbers as he surpassed 2011 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton’s offensive statistics in fewer games, breaking multiple program and conference records along the way.

Halfway into the 2013 season, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner has continued to impress, but not at the level of last year.

Currently, Manziel sits sixth in his adjusted quarterback ranking, a category in which he led the nation at last year’s conclusion.

Additionally, Manziel’s scoring capabilities have decreased as he is projected to find the endzone just 38 times this regular season, as opposed to 45 from last year. And while both his passing rate and projected throwing touchdowns are up, his scrambling has been significantly cut, as making plays with his legs have been reserved for special occasions only.

While the numbers may show regression, the impact is actually a designed methodology of A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin and his staff. The key for Sumlin has been Manziel’s increased maturity in the pocket, as he has noticeably forced himself to remain vigilant when passing.

“I think he’s done a better job of seeing the field and not bailing right away,” Sumlin said.

“He’s used pretty good judgment in getting out of bounds and sliding. He’s probably slid more in the first five games than he slid all of last year, which is another sign of growing

up. He’s protecting the football and not being reckless. What you also see is his understanding of the offense and freedom to adjust the play. He’s got some parameters, but he’s been able to get us into some good plays.”

Therefore, while voters may see a decrease in statistical prowess, A&M’s program magnetism has captured a national viewership, allowing fans and professionals alike to see Manziel’s development and maturation in the pocket.

The main component in both Manziel’s 2012 Heisman campaign and this year’s repeat attempt, though, is his overall influence in Texas A&M’s success both on and off the field.

In other words, what would A&M football look like without Manziel under center?

A brief overview of that horrid scenario: the Aggies would have a hard time flirting with, much less being a part of, the Top 25.

Preseason national title hopes? A lame joke.

Heisman contender? Not even on the program’s radar.

Through seven weeks of play, Manziel remains locked in a close race with Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd and string of other signal callers ranging from Baylor’s Bryce Petty to Florida State’s Jameis Winston.

Manziel’s impact on A&M has been substantial, to say the least, and it’s that fact that separated him from the Heisman hopefuls last year, just as it will again this season.

he Texas A&M volleyball team (10-6, 2-3 SEC) travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Friday to take on the Crimson Tide (14-5, 2-3 SEC) for an SEC matchup that will impact the current standings.

The Aggies and the Tide have played a total of four matches in their history and the Aggies hold a 4-0 advantage, including sweeping both matches last year. This year the two teams have the same conference record and are tied for fourth in the standings.

“They’ve improved a ton,” said head coach Laurie Corbelli. “They’ve returned every one of their key players and they have been working another year and they are a very physical team.”

A&M is coming off a 3-0 sweep of the Mississippi State Bulldogs last Friday. In the sweep, senior setter Allie Sawatzky led the team in kills with 10, and posted her fifth triple-double of the season.

Alabama is coming off a 3-1 loss to undefeated No. 25 Missouri. In the game, Krystal Rivers totaled 15 kills to lead the Tide. Alabama’s SEC losses are all to ranked SEC East teams, coming at the hands of No. 14 Kentucky and No. 4 Florida.

Overall, Alabama is 25th in the nation in kills per set with 14.09 and Rivers leads the team, averaging 3.53 per set. Alabama outside hitter Brittany Thomas was named the SEC’s Freshman of the Week in the last week of September when she posted 22 kills in two matches.

“They are a really competitive team with

a competitive atmosphere,” said Heather Reynolds, senior outside hitter. “But we have experience in that kind of scenario because we have played at Florida and Colorado State and it should a great match up.”

The Aggies are 18th nationally in kills per set with 14.28, led by sophomore outside hitter Sierra Patrick who averages 3.37 per set.

A&M also has 74 aces in the season with senior setter Mariah Agre and sophomore middle blocker Shelby Sullivan tied for the team lead at 19. However, the Aggie offensive attack is directed and maintained by Sawatzky.

“Honestly, our offense is effective because of our passing and our setter [Sawatzky],” said Angela Lowak, sophomore outside hitter. “She does a nice job spreading out the offence and leaving us with single blocks, and that is key going into our matchup. Our pass-

ing is going to be key as it will get our offence ready to attack.”

With two of the top offenses in the SEC at play, the defense will be the key for the game. The Aggie blockers are led by freshman middle blocker Jazzmin Babers, reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Week who ranks 48th nationally in blocks per set with 1.26.

“The defense will be huge,” Corbelli said.

“Defense on both sides will be critical. The one that can’t respond quickly enough to the other team will struggle.”

The Aggies will conclude their road trip with a game against the Auburn Tigers 10-7 (1-4 SEC) on Sunday, with the match televised on Fox Sports. The Aggies will return home Oct. 25, for a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks (12-6, 5-2 SEC) beginning at 7 p.m.

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soccer insider

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A&M launches league weekend road trip

staff insider thebattalion

STAFF PICKS Week Nine

Aggies visit foes Alabama, Georgia in dual SEC away battles (7) Texas A&M vs.

(24) Auburn (13) Stanford vs.

(9) UCLA

Photos by Bryan Johnson — THE BATTALION

Sophomore defender Jane Cousineau (top) and freshman forward Liz Keester (right) fight off defenders during A&M’s 8-0 win over Mississippi State on Sept. 27.

Clay Koepke The Battalion

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oming off another pair of conference wins, the Texas A&M soccer team (10-3-1, 5-1-0 SEC) hits the road for two conference games this weekend.

The Aggies will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., Friday to face the Alabama Crimson Tide for the fifth time in program history. A&M currently leads the series 3-1, with a 5-0 rout of the Tide last year at Ellis Field.

Despite last year’s lopsided victory, Texas A&M head coach G Guerrieri doesn’t expect the Tide to roll over Friday.

“I think it will be a really difficult game for us, having to go there where they have been really good this season,” Guerrieri said. “They’re a team that’s very organized and have gotten better as the season has gone on and they’ve pulled off some really good wins. So I think it will be a really difficult assignment for us.”

Alabama is sporting a 5-8-0 record, including an even 3-3-0 in SEC play. Though struggling on the road, the Tide has only dropped two of its six home games this season.

Aggie freshman Liz Keester nabbed her first SEC Freshman of the Week award following a two-goal performance in the Aggies 4-3 overtime victory against

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I think it will be a really difficult game for us, having to go there where they have been really good this season.”

— G Guerrieri, A&M head soccer coach, on the Aggies’ trip to Alabama

in the third minute of the game when Keester tucked a shot in the left side netting from just outside the six-yard box. The early goal proved to be one of the few bright spots for the Aggies in the first half as they surrendered the next three goals before netting their second, leaving the team trailing 2-3 at the intermission.

A&M came out in the second half and showed why

they are the SEC West favorites. The team rallied to outshoot the Razorbacks 15-8 in the second half and overtime on their way to two goals — including one in overtime — to secure the victory. The overtime win over Arkansas extended A&M’s win streak to five games.

Overcoming an early two-goal deficit and securing a victory in overtime can be attributed to the team’s resiliency, heart and trust in each other, sophomore Janae Cousineau said. Battling through adversity together only strengthened the already unmatched team chemistry in the locker room, Cousineau said.

“I definitely think it bonded us,” she said. “We’ll always remember going down 3-1 in the beginning of the game. Being down in the first half and coming back just really bonded us.”

The Aggies will kickoff against the Crimson Tide at 7 p.m. Friday. Following the Aggies Friday matchup in Tuscaloosa, the team will make the trip to Athens, Ga., Sunday where they will take on the 9-4-1 Georgia Bulldogs.

Sunday’s match will begin at 2 p.m. with ESPNU carrying the broadcast.

Mark Doré

James Sullivan

Sean Lester

William Guerra

Jessica Smarr

Managing Editor Record: 22-7

Sports Editor Record: 17-12

Sports Desk Asst.

Record: 26-3

Graphics Chief Record: 23-6

Copy Chief Record: 17-12

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Texas A&M

Johnny will wear tiger skins for Halloween

Touchdowns for days

A worthy home test of Kyle Field’s resolve

Johnny does Johnny things to the “tiggers”

We are going to struggle more than we should

Remember Air Bud? Dogs are good at sports

UCLA

UCLA

UCLA

UCLA

Stanford

UCLA

I had to flip a coin

John Wooden is a good coach — wait, what?

And Stanford thought last week’s loss was upsetting

Oregon’s road to Pasadena goes through L.A?

Midterms are over

Trees are actually the worst at football

Florida State

Florida State

Clemson

Clemson

Clemson

Florida State

My reasoning for this is — not much

I hope “Clemsoning” is still a thing

A Top 5 ACC matchup?

Must be multiverse theory

Ain’t no party like a Dabo party

I can’t believe the ACC is this relevant

Tigers can’t catch. No thumbs. Poor Tigers

(14) Missouri vs.

(22) Florida

Missouri

Missouri

Florida

Florida

Florida

Missouri

Catch ya later, alligator.

That happened

Two teams with hurt QBs — that’s awkward

Mizzou without Franklin is tough to believe in

Neither team has a QB, uh-oh

Florida’s defense can play offense

Gators got no rush game. Legs too stumpy

Notre Dame

USC

USC

Notre Dame

USC

USC

I mean, there is actual gold on their helmets

A team smart enough to boot Kiffin gets my vote

With Kiffin gone, the Trojans look...better

Luck of the Irish

They don’t need a coach to beat Notre Dame

Leprechauns are short.

Everyone knows that

(EARLY)

HEISMAN WATCH JOHNNY

MANZIEL

TEXAS A&M (5-1) SO QB #2 6’1 - 210

MARCUS

MARIOTA

OREGON (6-0) SO QB #8 6’4 - 211

Last Week: 41-38 win over Ole Miss

470 total yds, 2 TD

Last Week: 45-24 win over (16) Washington

454 toal yds, 4 TD

Passing: 131-179 for 1835 yds, 14 TD Rushing: 67 carries for 438 yds, 5 TD

Passing: 100-165 for 1724 yds, 17 TD Rushing: 41 carries for 426 yds, 8 TD

Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

Michael Arellano — The DAILY EMERALD

TAJH

BOYD

Allen Randall — TheTigerNews

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Jake Walker Editor-in-Chief Record: 18-11

(3) Clemson vs.

(5) Florida State

Notre Dame vs.

USC Arkansas Oct. 11. Her Arkansas performance brought her total to six on the season, tying her for second on the team.

“I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable,” Keester said. “It’s so much faster in college and such a different level that I think it’s taken me a little while to really adjust to the speed and everything of it. I’ve finally gotten more comfortable with it.”

The Aggies stole an early goal from the Razorbacks

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CLEMSON (6-0) SR QB #10 6’1 - 270

BRYCE

PETTY

BAYLOR (5-0) JR QB #14 6’3 - 230

Last Week: 24-14 win over Boston College

367 total yds, 2 TD

Last Week: 35-25 win over Kansas State

317 total yards, 4 TD

Passing: 123-185 for 1783 yds, 15 TD Rushing: 66 carries for 187 yds, 5 TD

Passing: 79-113 for 1680 yds, 13 TD Rushing: 23 carries for 45 yds, 4 TD Robby Hirst — THE LARIAT

10/17/13 10:45 PM

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reedinsider

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playerinsider

REED ROWDIES PRIME FOR A&M TIPOFF James Sullivan

The Battalion he Texas A&M men’s basketball program unofficially opens its season Friday as the reengineered squad tips off with the annual Maroon and White Scrimmage at 7 p.m. in Reed Arena.

The Aggies enter their third season under head coach Billy Kennedy and their second in the Southeastern Conference. The team finished last season 7-11 with no invitation to a postseason tournament.

Kennedy said the unit has made positive strides in the right direction, but needs quick maturation in order to compete for a postseason slot this year.

“The team is doing well,” Kennedy said. “We’ve got six new guys, a lot of freshmen and sophomores. One day we look like we’re doing a lot better than we were last year. The next day we look like we’re high school players. We’re making young mistakes. So

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I think that’ll be our team for a while and hopefully we’ll mature quickly.”

Meanwhile, the 12th Man’s presence at home basketball games — the Reed Rowdies — have been preparing for the upcoming season, hoping to draw heavier crowds than the Aggies’ first season in the SEC. Michael Lockwood, junior agribusiness major and vice president of game day operations for the Reed Rowdies, said A&M is set up offensively to create an exciting game atmosphere behind a team Kennedy personally recruited and developed.

“I think this will probably be the most offensively potent team we’ve had in the past couple years,” Lockwood said. “I think we could see some high-scoring games. I feel like this is Billy Kennedy’s team, he has a lot of his players in here now.”

The 1,000-plus member group, according to its website, hopes to drastically improve the attendance for home

basketball games, particularly within the student section.

“I think it’s a challenge to get fans acquainted with SEC powerhouses,” said Alex Coleman, Reed Rowdies president and senior communication major. “Everybody knows about Kentucky and Florida, but getting them acquainted with the Ole Misses and the Georgias and the Mississippi States of the conference is difficult.”

Chris Puig, senior mechanical engineering major and vice president of promotions and social events for the Reed Rowdies, said the organization has been working with the athletic department to generate ideas to boost fan attendance both within the student section and the general public.

“We did this a couple times last year, but bringing a basketball hoop around campus just to let people know today is a game day,” Puig said.

“We’re trying to improve the overall atmosphere of the game so that stu-

2013 Aggieland yearbooks are here.

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If you pre-ordered a 2013 Aggieland, it has been mailed to your billing address.

BAT_10-18-13_A9-A12.indd 1

dents don’t want to miss the games, just like with football. We don’t want it to just be a game, we want it to be an experience.”

While the Aggies’ entrance into the conference was rough, the Rowdies are encouraged by the learning experience the team received and look forward to conference play down the stretch.

Junior civil engineering major and vice president of social media for the organization, Phil Betancourt, said the volatility of the sport should also serve to attract fans, especially if the Aggies show improvement early in the season.

“I’m most excited for the possibility of something big happening with SEC basketball,” Betancourt said. “We had some people come in and give us a scare and we had other teams come in and beat us, and we didn’t expect that.

With college basketball, we all know that anything could happen.”

Basketball’s 12th Man anticipates upcoming season, attendance boost

““

(Left) A&M defenseive back Deshazor Everett returns an interception for a touchdown against SMU on on Sept. 21.

The great thing about Deshazor is, whether he’s at corner or safety, he’s an eraser. He’s a really good football player.”

— Mark Snyder, A&M defensive coordinator Photos by Caleb Stewart and Jenna Rabel— THE BATTALION

Deshazor’s EDGE: Clay Koepke

The Battalion hrough the first five games of the season, the Aggie defense and offense have performed at very different levels.

The Aggie offense led by Johnny Manziel ranks third nationally in total yards per game, trailing only Baylor and Oregon.

Despite the rough start, the Aggie defense has shown some flashes of brilliance, specifically with junior defensive back Deshazor Everett.

“He understands what we’re trying to do,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “He’s playing out of position really, because he’s our best corner. We move him, you give up something, you think, he’s also one of our better DBs and gives us speed back in the back and has saved some touchdowns this year, no doubt. And has given us the opportunity to line up and play defense again and I can’t tell you how critical that’s been.”

But like the Aggie defense, Everett’s

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season got off to a rocky start.

During the team’s preseason training camp, Everett suffered a broken thumb on his right hand that forced him to compete with a cast. The bad news continued to build when Everett was suspended for the first half of the Aggie home opener against Rice following a “violation of athletic department policies.”

Upon his return in the second half against Rice, Everett was suspended for another half of action following a targeting penalty on a Rice receiver.

With these misfortunes and mistakes behind him, Everett began to hit his stride amid a young, inexperienced defense only to face another change.

After starting junior starting safety Floyd Raven, Sr. suffered a collarbone injury early in the season, junior Clay Honeycutt was enlisted to fill the void.

During the 49-42 defeat at the hands of the top-ranked Alabama, the Crimson Tide exposed Honeycutt — forcing

Versatile junior defensive back adds leadership, selflessness

A&M defensive coordinator Mark Snyder to make a change.

With injuries hindering the defense, Snyder and the A&M coaching staff moved their best corner, Everett, to anchor the defense at the safety position.

Since the change, Everett has started the past two games at his new position and has not skipped a beat, scoring a defensive touchdown in the past two games.

“Deshazor is an eraser, and he was unselfish enough to go back to safety for us,” Snyder said. “We felt like that was the best personnel group we could put on the field until we get Floyd back. The great thing about Deshazor is, whether he’s at corner or safety, he’s an eraser. He’s a really good football player.”

The 6-foot, 185-pound defensive back from DeRidder, La., has a history of proving his versatility. Everett was a two-time All-Louisiana selection in high school playing on both sides of the ball.

As a senior, he logged 130 tackles —

including 10 for losses — and an interception on defense while rushing for 618 yards and seven touchdowns on 72 carries (8.6 yards per carry).

Coaches couldn’t wait for Everett to get the cast off his right hand following the Arkansas game when he had an interception.

“He’s playing pretty good,” Sumlin said. “I can’t wait until he gets that cast off, maybe he’ll score twice a game.”

Everett didn’t score twice against Ole Miss but he did record two tackles in the A&M victory. He said his comfort level at the new position continues to grow each week.

“Comfort level is more at safety, but that’s probably because I haven’t been at corner and I wouldn’t be that comfortable just jumping back to corner,” Everett said.

“If coach needs me to go back to corner, I’ll go back to corner and give it my all.”

10/17/13 8:32 PM

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brightinsider

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Texas A&M’s line of individual awards on display in the newly renovated Lohman Center, ranging from Randy Bullock’s Lou Groza Award (right) to Von Miller’s Butkus Award, Dat Nguyen’s Bednarik and Lombardi Awards and Luke Joeckel’s Outland Trophy.

The lobby of the Lohman, officially opened in October, complete with video board information center and mannequins wearing each of the Aggies’ game day uniform options.

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The R.C. Slocum Nutrition Center, named for the former A&M head coach, is the Aggies’ newest cafeteria, serving a multitude of options to help coaches and players keep track of dietary needs.

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The exterior of the Davis Center, A&M’s footballonly athletic training facility.

When completed late last semester, it stood as one of the most revolutionary and state-of-the-art facilities in the country.

An interior look at the Davis Center’s back wall, where mirrors line the wall to assist an athlete’s technique when using free weights.

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We care about our athletes. We want our athletes to have the best chance they can and we want to have to best athletes we can.”

— Carolyn Lohman, former student and donor

The display of Johnny Manziel’s Heisman Trophy in the Lohman Center, directly opposite the John David Crow’s 55-year-old award on the other side of the pillar.

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BRIGHT] is open for business

Photos by Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION

An inside look in the newly renovated football complex, through the lens of photo chief Tanner Garza 10/17/13 9:30 PM