The Battalion: October 31, 2016 by The Battalion

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Texas A&M defenders Daylon Mack and Otaro t combine to tackle New Mexico State quarterback Tyler Rogers.

BACK ON TRACK Lawrence Smelser — THE BATTALION

A&M wins big behind Christian Kirk’s historic record-breaking night By Angel Franco @angelmadison_

eading into Saturday’s game against New Mexico State, Texas A&M’s main focus was on getting better. After five continuous weeks of grueling SEC play, A&M played its third non-conference opponent of the season. The Texas Aggies struck quickly in the first three minutes of the game when freshman running back Trayveon Williams found a hole in the NMSU defense for 12-yard touchdown run that put A&M up 7-0. The A&M defense, which was without junior starters Armani Watts and Myles Garrett, made a quick stop to force the first punt of the game. Sophomore wide receiver Christian Kirk

had a highlight-reel worthy night in A&M’s 52-10 victory over New Mexico State. Kirk had a historic night as he became the first Aggie to have two punt return touchdowns in a single game. The sophomore wide-out said that he was thankful to have his name etched in A&M’s record books. “It means the world for me,” Kirk said. “Especially with the amount of great players that have come through this program. This university means so much. I play this game to leave a legacy and my name in the record books. I have to give thanks to the guys the in front of me blocking. It wouldn’t happen if they weren’t out there selling out.” Despite the large margin of victory, the A&M offense stalled out toward the end of first half. Senior quarterback Trevor Knight said that the adjustments during intermission allowed for A&M to successfully drive down the field and put the game away. “We started off really fast,” Knight said.

“That first drive might have been the best drive we’ve had all season to be honest. We had a few things here and there where we were a little sloppy. We can’t let that happen. We talked about it pretty at half time, that we can’t keep doing that. But then came out and had a few quick scores. We beat a team we were supposed to beat and made a bunch of big plays we were supposed to make.” Senior wide receiver Josh Reynolds was another member of the A&M offense to have a spectacular night. At the start of the second half, Knight connected with Reynolds for a 41-yard score to put A&M up 31-3. Reynolds finished the night with three receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin said that Reynolds is a player who is often overlooked but is very valuable to the A&M offense and the overall scheme of the game. “What people don’t appreciate, but I do and our team appreciates, is how hard he plays

LIFE & ARTS

without the ball,” Sumlin said. “He’ll go quarters without something like today, but there has been time after time he’s had knock down blocks. Where he’s down field blocking in our running game, he’s an aggressive guy. He’s really really increased his play as an overall player. He’s stronger, more physical on the perimeter, better blocker and a better overall player than last year and is playing with confidence.” This past summer, a group of A&M student-athletes traveled to Haiti on a week-long mission trip. After the celebratory Aggie War Hymn, several members of the A&M squad took the time to pose by a Haitian flag in a gesture of support to the country, which is still recovering from the disasters left by Hurricane Matthew earlier this month. The Aggies will be back in action next Saturday, Nov. 5 as they travel to Starkville, Mississippi, to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the Aggies’ last road game of the season.

HALLOWEEN

According to campus legend, an accident in the former meat lab left the Agricultural Industries building haunted.

Dogs and their owners dress up in matching costumes for various competitions and prizes. PROVIDED

Dogs dress up to go home At annual Howl-o-Ween party dogs dress up, find forever homes By Dani Manley @danimanley18 Canine costume contests, inflatables, free adoptions from the Bryan Animal Center and a tractor hay ride were a few of the activities available during the dog-themed Halloween celebration Howl-O-Ween. The City of Bryan Parks and Recreation Department hosted their second Howl-O-Ween Festival Saturday, Oct. 29, at Morris “Buzz” Hamilton dog park. Gwynne Shillings, the event coordinator with the parks and recreation department, said she got the idea for HowlO-Ween three years ago. “I wanted to come up with the event because Morris ‘Buzz’ Hamilton was just newly formed,” Shillings said. “So we were trying to promote it and it was around that time of year, so we had a Halloween ‘paw-ty’. It is very successful because we have the Bryan Animal Cen-

ter out here doing free adoptions and we have a few vendors, but it’s more about just getting people to come out and enjoy the park and see what it has. We did hayrides and pumpkin decorating and some inflatables out here for the kids, and it was all free.” Shillings said she thinks this year’s festival was record-breaking in attendance. “We probably broke records this year,” Shillings said. “The animal center adopted two out of the six dogs they brought, which is wonderful because those dogs get to go home with a family tonight, and that’s what it’s all about.” Jennifer and William Geidel are residents of College Station who attended the festival along with their dogs, Dozer and Cooper. Jennifer Geidel said her husband and the dogs enjoyed the event immensely, especially participating in the animal center’s activities. “I like the dog training and the adoption stuff, that’s what I come for,” Jennifer Geidel said. “We used to go to the one where we used to live, but then we heard about this one. We’re definitely coming back next year.” HOWL-O-WEEN ON PG. 4

Jacob Martindale — THE BATTALION

AGGIELAND’S MOST HAUNTED The LaSalle, AI building allegedly hosts ghosts By Ana Sevilla @AnaVSevilla Since its birth, the Bryan-College Station area has had many residents come and go, creating a rich history filled with moments of happiness — and darkness. Several sites around town are the alleged dwellings of mysterious happenings and possibly spirits. Life & Arts reporter Ana Sevilla delves into two of the ghostly legends. Texas A&M’s Agricultural Industries Building On Nov. 14, 1958 Roy Simms, meat locker room foreman, was preparing meat in the

animal laboratory located in the building’s basement. The Legend says that not wearing a butcher’s apron proved to be Simms’ fatal mistake, as he cut a slab of meat towards himself, the knife slipped and cut his leg severing his femoral artery. Simms’ assistant tried to call for help, but it was too late for Simms as he had significant blood loss from the injury. As the legend goes, Simms’ final act was to crawl towards the elevator to lift himself to safety but it was for naught. Since that fateful night, reports of blood-curdling screams and the elevator lifting with no passengers have been regularly reported. Jackson Wagner, first year AI Engineering graduate student, said he hasn’t encountered any

eerie instances in the Al building. “I came here [the AI building] for a tour last October and the tour guide mentioned a ghost, but I haven’t sensed anything weird,” Wagner said. “I don’t really have any reason to believe in ghosts because I’ve never had anything weird happen to me at any point in my life, so I can’t say I have a reason to believe.” The meat lab has since been relocated to West Campus, and the basement where Simms died has been converted into a men’s restroom with an entrance to a fire escape, with walls still lined with steel hooks once used for animals before slaughter, according to a 2011 article by The Battalion. HAUNTED ON PG. 4