Issuu

l thursday,

february 7, 2013

l serving

texas a&m since 1893

THE

FUTURE

HAS

ARRIVED SIGNING

DAY PA G E S 6&7

inside

ational Signing Day can overload the senses of even the most plugged-in fan. Our post-signing day analysis looks at the event from a variety of angles so as to present the most digestible possible information for every breed of fan.

student government

inside

research

Engineering prof’s fuel-efficient car engine gets 90 mpg Katie Nortman The Battalion

Tanner Garza — THE BATTALION

A&M CFO B.J. Crain (left) explains the feasability of using mandatory fee monies to cover Kyle Field renovation costs.

Senate passes Kyle Field referendum bill, 28-2 Aimee Breaux

The Battalion

GA will hold a referendum alongside spring elections to gather student opinion on how to cover the cost to renovate the student section of Kyle Field. The Kyle Field Renovation Fee Referendum Bill, which passed with an overwhelming majority, spurred debate on the overall feasibility of using existing mandatory fee funds. The referendum will ask if students prefer funding be taken solely through already existing fee money from the University Ad-

Untitled-2 1

vancement Fee or through a combination of an increase in the UAF by $1.55 per semester credit hour — $23.25 for full time students — and an increase in sports passes by $139.20. It was the opinion of the Speaker of Student Senate Scott Bowen that there are already funds generated from the UAF that could be used to cover the remaining $75 million cost to renovate the student section of Kyle Field. “What [the referendum] is saying is that it is the opinion of the Senate that the money is already there,” Bowen said. “The entire See Senate on page 4

Mark Hotlzapple, professor and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, has dedicated 15 years of research to the design and production of a more fuel-efficient engine, with hopes that one day it will be used in everyday automobiles. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in 2011 drivers in the U.S. consumed about 134 billion gallons of gasoline. This makes for an average of more than 367 million gallons per day. With this level of consumption, it is becoming increasingly important to pay attention to the issue of fuel economy, especially within the automobile industry. Jaret Villarreal, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, wants to get a job in the automobile industry working with engine and powertrain design upon graduation. Vilarreal said that attention to fuel economy is a critical issue that must be handled as soon as possible. “With the increasing pollution and decreasing oil supply that comes with fuels today, it

is obvious why new technology developments are so important, especially in this field,” Villarreal said. “Engines are constantly being redesigned to be more fuel efficient, cost effective and powerful.” Holtzapple’s engine itself is being developed by StarRotor, an independent company he founded in March 2001 with Andrew Rabroker, who was a mechanical engineering graduate student at the time. “This engine would be two to three times more efficient than a regular car engine,” Holtzapple said. “The engine can use any fuel, [it] doesn’t matter what type. It is not only efficient but also small. It will be able to go about 50,000 miles between oil changes and will produce very low pollution. A regular car typically gets about 30 miles per gallon; this engine would get around 70-90 miles per gallon.” The StarRotor engine is capable of running on several different fuel types, including gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel, alcohol, methane, hydrogen and vegetable oil, to name a few.

music | 3 Sweet as honey

A capella group “Sweet Honey in the Stone” is bringing its brand of soulful, heritageinfused music to MSC OPAS Thursday evening. See preview on page 3.

CAMPUS ELECTIONS

2013

voting | 4 Instant runoff Under a new voting system, student candidates will be elected based on a ranking process, eliminating a need for runoffs.

See Fuel on page 3

2/7/13 12:45 AM

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COURTESY

Thursday is the last day of the Business Student Council’s career fair in the Wehner building. The fair gives students the opportunity to interview potential employers.

Companies line up to recruit A&M students Wehner reached capacity Tuesday and Wednesday, as nearly 400 students attended the business career fair in hopes of landing a job or internship. Alex Phillips, president of A&M’s Business Student Council and junior information and operations management major gave feedback on the first two days of the event. “Every company was thrilled with the quality of our students,” Phillips said. “A lot

of them will reserve spots just for Aggies, they love recruiting from here because of the high quality [of students].” While the business career fair previously took place on only two days, Phillips said that due to the high demand for A&M business majors, the career fair was extended to three days — and even had companies on wait-lists. The last day for students to speak with representatives from attending companies is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday in the Wehner building.

whoweare Connect online

The Battalion staff represents every college on the campus, including undergraduates and graduate students. The leadership of The Battalion welcomes students to participate in the First Amendment in action as you utilize your student newspaper. We are students. Senior English major Trevor Stevens, editor-in-chief Senior agricultural journalism major Jake Walker, managing editor

Keep up with campus news at thebatt.com.

corrections The Battalion welcomes readers’ comments about published information that may require correction. We will pursue your concern to determine whether a correction needs to be published. Please contact us at editor@thebatt.com.

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Sophomore anthropology major Tanner Garza, photo chief Sophomore spacial science major Chase Krumholz, photo desk assistant

Junior agribusiness major Camryn Ford, city editor Senior university studies major Julie Blanco, city desk assistant

Senior visualization major Collin Seiffert, graphics editor

Senior French major Jennifer Keith, city desk assistant

Junior biological and agriculture engineering major Luis Cavazos, page designer

Sophomore English major Elise Brunsvold, lifestyles editor Senior English major Alec Goetz, lifestyles assistant

Freshman agricultural journalism major Jenna Rabel, page designer

Senior English major Mark Doré, sports editor

Junior psychology major Jessica Smarr, religions editor

Senior business administration major James Sullivan, sports desk assistant

If you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion, print an application from thebatt.com and bring it to the newsroom in the MSC, Suite L400. The newsroom phone number is 845-3315. The Battalion welcomes any Texas A&M student interested in photography, graphics, multimedia or writing news, sports and features to apply. We particularly encourage freshmen and sophomores to apply, but students may try out regardless of semester standing or major. No previous journalism experience is necessary. The Battalion is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer session (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. News: The Battalion news department 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. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com. Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Call 979-845-2696 for mail subscriptions.

TONIGHT! “National treasurers...one of my favorite groups in the whole wide world.” - FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA

SWEET HONEY will blow you away with their moving and soaring a cappella vocals. The Grammy Awardwinners plethora of genres include jazz, gospel, lullabies, blues, spirituals and more. Their resounding music will ring through the rafters and touch your heart.

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2/6/13 9:03 PM

A capella group relays heritage through music Cassandra Fournet

The Battalion ith soulful voices and a powerful message, Sweet Honey In The Rock will serenade audiences Thursday night in a display of conviction and spiritual effervescence. Sweet Honey In The Rock, a sixwoman a capella group, features a wide variety of genres and styles from blues to gospel. The group is known for their moving performances and inspiring lyrics, especially those pertaining to the civil rights movement and African American heritage. “Sweet Honey In The Rock is a phenomenal a cappella group with a long history,” said OPAS executive director Anne Black. “They are a talent considerable for everyone and are especially known for their work with black history.” Accompanied by hand instruments such as traditional drums, Sweet Honey In The Rock creates music based on African-American traditions. Themes such as the treatment of others, the planet and women’s issues are threaded intricately throughout the lyrics of their performance.

OPAS marketing and developing coordinator Becky Wade said the group’s performance ties in with Black History Month, giving students the opportunity to learn more about people and a movement that have redefined history. “This performance will give anybody insight into the African American culture, and will allow them to be able to relate to their experience and celebrate how far our country has come, especially since it is during Black History Month,” said OPAS director of theatre operations Eric Bruton. Founded in 1973, Sweet Honey In The Rock draws its name from a biblical verse, Psalm 81:16, which mentions a promise made to a people about being fed by honey out of the rock. According to Black, honey is seen as the personality of God, and the rock is defined as solid strength, able to withstand the winds of time. She said these metaphors are also fitting for the words being sung by the six women. “They have really powerful and inspiring voices,” Wade said. “Students won’t want to miss it.” Ysaye Barnwell, a member of

Sweet Honey In The Rock since 1979, has composed many of the group’s songs. Barnwell said the experience of performing in the group has been life changing and empowering, giving her the opportunity to sing about her heritage and reach out to others across the nation. “I grew up in the 50s and 60s and I saw the prejudice people went through,” Barnwell said. “So, performing at places like Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 30 years later, to an integrated audience was amazing.” She said singing in places formerly wrought by racism and segregation has been a powerful experience, specifically mentioning a past show in Little Rock, Ark. The Grammy award-winning group has gained wide renown, having recently performed in Washington, D.C., for President Obama and the First Lady. “We’re really lucky to have them come to campus,” Wade said. “They’re really talented.”

COURTESY

Sweet Honey In The Rock has been performing since 1973, nominated for several Grammy awards, and even appeared on “Sesame Street.”

BAT_02-07-13_A3.indd 1

b! thebattalion

2.7.2013 page 3

lifestyles

Fuel

“The world needs engines with better Continued from page 1 fuel efficiency, “The world needs engines with better fuel efficiency, and the fact that and the fact that [Holtzapple’s] will run off of biomass with [Holtzapple’s] will that level of efficiency is a step run off of biomass in the right direction,” said Ryan Rice, senior petroleum with that level of engineering major. efficiency is a step in Even with the extended timeline, Holtzapple is opti- the right direction.” mistic that he will see his work in the automobile industry in the future. “We probably will go after stationary applications and maybe military applications first,” Holtzapple said. “Eventually we are hoping to see it in cars. I do believe if we are able to achieve our goal it would revolutionize the transportation industry.” Despite of the increased awareness about the industry’s fuel problems, funding has become one of the main hurdles to overcome for this project. Holtzapple said that most government agencies and investors are not interested in developing an engine because they are looking for a faster return. “Technology is just one of the hurdles, financing is the other,” Holtzapple said. “My strategy is to come up with the money myself. I’m

— Ryan Price, senior petroleum engineering major

inventing a process to turn anything biological into fuel. I can make waste biomass into high quality animal feed and I can desalinate water to make fresh drinking water. But all of these things take a lot of capital and a lot of time.” Some believe that one of the main reasons investors are cautious is because of the risk of the unknown. “Investors are hesitant because they know that the technology is out there already, but it hasn’t been used to its full potential,” Villarreal said. “The engine offers very promising results that surpass anything available on the market today, but it’s difficult to buy into that knowing that there is potentially a large margin for failure.”

2/7/13 12:07 AM

news

page 4 thursday 2.7.2013

thebattalion

CAMPUS 2013

ELECTIONS New voting system consolidates runoffs Sarah Gibson

The Battalion t’s election season on campus and this year the Student Government Association Election Commission adopted a new runoff voting system for student body elections. The new system, called “Instant Runoff Voting,” will rank candidates from “most preferred” to “least preferred.” To win, a candidate must receive the most “preferred” votes — instead of the two highest, non-majority vote getters going to a runoff. “We want this new system to be representative of the whole student body,” said Election Commissioner and senior biomedical sciences major Allison Krenzien. In previous years, students voted for one candidate and then had the opportunity to vote in a runoff if a candidate didn’t receive more than 50 percent of the votes. Last year, more than 14,000 students voted for a student body president. But because the votes were split between five candidates, no one received a majority vote and the race for student body president went to a runoff. There was also a swing of votes

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from the first round of voting to the runoff. The winner of the first vote received about 10 percent more votes than the second place candidate, John Claybrook, who won the following runoff. “One vote and we’re done,” said student senator and sophomore political science major Grace Wood. “It’s going to be easier for everybody and eliminate the need for a runoff.” A criticism of the old runoff system was that fewer students voted after the original ballots were cast. In last year’s runoff, 9,813 votes were cast — almost 5,000 less than the first round of voting. Krenzien said the new system was not changed because of last year’s election circumstances. “For the past few years, the Election Commission has wanted to reform the voting process to make sure every student’s voice is heard and counted, and this year we were able to change the process,” Krenzien said. The new voting procedure is a new format called “Instant Runoff Voting.” Under the new system, voters will rank candidates from most-preferred to least-preferred on one ballot. At the close of voting, candidates with more “leastpreferred” votes will be eliminated until the candidate with the most “preferred” votes is determined.

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Students speculate the new runoff system may not affect the race for student body president this year, because there are only two known candidates, which would make a runoff unnecessary. “This could change if a third candidate decides to run,” Wood said. “In the future, if there are more than two candidates, the new system will be beneficial for everybody.” The election for Yell Leaders will use the same runoff system. Students will cast votes for each individual candidate, instead of having the option of selecting as a group the Corps-endorsed “5 for Yell.” All the candidates for junior Yell Leader will be listed under one tab and all the candidates for senior Yell Leader will be listed under a separate tab. “It definitely levels the playing field between the Corps and the non-reg candidates,” said junior English major Mallorie Williams. “I think it will benefit the nonCorps Yell Leader candidates the most.”

Continued from page 1

point of the University Advancement Fee was to allow the University to dip into reserves to pay for things like this.” Texas A&M CFO B.J. Crain gave a presentation to Senate before the vote. She said the use of the UAF to fund the Kyle Field project shows little feasibility once each college’s financial commitments for things like research equipment are taken into account. Crain said in addition to the reserves dwindling after commitments are considered, the University also has to take building repairs into account. Speaker Bowen said funds can be taken out of excess reserves, such as the reserves accumulated from the library fee within the UAF. He also said with the University’s current “25 by 25” plan to increase enrollment, the University can find $5 million per year without cutting departments until the increases enrollment drowns out the cost. “The $75 million would not come out of [the nearly $100 million in reserves], only $5 million

would this year, then every year after that for the next 30,” Bowen said. “My contention is that, after a few years, enrollment will grow to a point where that $5 million will just be a rounding error,” Bowen said. Student senator and senior history major Zach Wooldridge, who proposed an amendment that would limit the UAF as an option of preference in the referendum, said he trusted the number crunching of University officials over those of senators. “I assume that the people running the A&M finances are qualified people who made it to that point,” he said. “If they say that they don’t think the money’s going to come from this, that it can’t come from this, then I don’t think it’s going to come from this. Let’s be honest with the students and be realistic [about] actually getting UAF funds to pay for this.” Crain said using UAF funds would have to go through the University President R. Bowen Loftin and be approved by the A&M Board of Regents. UAF information and allocations are posted at csb.tamu.edu.

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BAT_02-07-13_A4.indd 1

2/7/13 12:18 AM

SIGNING DAY

“We’re going to recruit great individuals, then develop them into better athletes.” @battsports

thebattalion 2.7.2013 page5

— Track coach Pat Henry

Soccer, track teams land promising classes of signees Mark Doré

The Battalion

exas A&M head football coach Kevin Sumlin wasn’t the only Aggie coach to enjoy National Signing Day on Wednesday. Track coach Pat Henry and soccer coach G Guerrieri hauled in strong recruiting classes on a day many associate only with football. For Guerrieri, the football team’s success isn’t an inhibitor of soccer prowess — it’s a sign of a strong athletic department. “We’ve worked hard for the last 10 years on the recruiting trail and we’ve been trying to

COURTESY

Ricky Babineaux, senior 4x400 m runner, explodes through his leg of the relay.

expand our brand nationally,” Guerrieri said on a Fox Sports Southwest National Signing Day broadcast. “The 10 years of work we did have pretty much have been eclipsed in one year of Johnny Football. It’s a sign of excellence athletically across the board — look at all of our teams ranked nationally.” Soccer landed six recruits while track fielded a 16-member class — nine men and seven women. Henry said on Fox Sports Southwest that he was pleased with the way recruiting shaped up. “Each signing class is about fitting the needs of the program while finding the best available talent,” Henry said. “I’m happy with what we’ve done recruiting-wise this year.” Both coaches emphasized the importance of a balance between need-based recruiting and recruiting purely based on talent. For Guerrieri, the graduation of the 2012 senior class means his six recruits will need to make a splash immediately. “We graduated a big class with great players and incredible people and these are kids who are going to have to come in and hit the ground running,” Guerrieri said. The team concept in collegiate track and

field was a point of emphasis in Henry’s recruiting, though he stressed the need for individual talent. “We’re going to recruit great individuals, develop them into better athletes and then we’ll all get on the same stage and compete at the same time and someone adds up the score, and that’s a team,” Henry said. Guerrieri said goalkeeper Taylor Saucier has been a consummate winner while defender Grace Wright, of A&M Consolidated high school, has a “great pedigree.” Of Elizabeth Keester, Guerrieri said the forward will bring “strike power to the attack. “It is a group that strengthens our attack, midfield, back line and our goalkeeping positions,” Guerrieri said. “These six student athletes are all accomplished players who bring some very special attributes to our Aggie soccer team.” Both coaches said the transition to the Southeastern Conference has changed the landscape of A&M sports. “The difference between the SEC and the Big 12 is the No. 7 team might be as good as the No. 2 and No. 3 team,” Henry said. “It’s a tough league but we know how to compete in that league.” Guerrieri said his players’ status as “rock stars on this campus” is a selling point for potential recruits. “A lot of these names that might fly under the radar for Aggies [on signing day] will

FILE PHOTO

Annie Kunz, sophomore forward, will begin spring soccer with the rest of her team Saturday at Ellis Field.

be household names in a couple of years,” Guerrerri said. “We don’t sign kids that aren’t big time players and extraordinary in a lot of things.” The Aggie soccer team kicks off spring soccer this weekend while the track team prepares for the Texas A&M Invitational.

Rebecca

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thebattalion 2.7.2013 page6

SIGNING @battsports

How one week changed the program’s course:

DAY

Dec. 6: Justin Manning commits Many considered the ESPN 150 defensive tackle to be an Oklahoma lock (Manning’s brother Demarcus played for the Sooners) but Sumlin’s tenacity led to an integral addition to the recruiting class.

‘YESSIR’ Mark Doré: Hoarding fancy signees is fun, but let’s pry deeper

ecruiting is a mess. It’s a beautiful, endearing mess. But not everyone spends as much time on message boards and Twitter feeds as I do, so you might not have any idea what to think about this batch of signees. The recruiting process has a learning curve, but this year isn’t so complicated. Don’t overthink it.

Three things you need to know about this recruiting class: one week gave as good a thermometer reading of the state of the program as we’re going to see, Sumlin recruited according to his needs and we have to pay attention to the concept of inertia. The coaching staff’s every recruiting effort (every helicopter ride to a high school game, every in-home visit, every “Yessir!” Tweet, every moment of tape watched) can be boiled down to one long weekend. It might seem like an oversimplification, but between Dec. 6 and Dec. 10, A&M won in a way it hasn’t often won in my lifetime. It was finals time. I sat in the library but I didn’t study. I honed in on my laptop (clicking refresh again and again) because a decision was coming. Most considered Kimball defensive tackle Justin Manning an Oklahoma lock. He said nice things about A&M, kept College Station in the picture, but how many times have Aggie fans heard that before? Recruits always say great things and then pack their bags for Austin, Baton Rouge or Norman. But I’m an addict and I needed a fix, so I watched anyway. I watched on live stream as Manning reached toward a Sooners hat with a smile on his face and I listened as the crowd around him shrieked. And then I watched as he put the hat down before it touched his head, snatched up a different one — maroon, this time — and pulled it on. Sumlin sent out his now-iconic “Yessir!” via Twitter and I lost my mind. I tossed the packet I was studying (unstapled, for whatever reason) and whooped in the middle of the library. I caused a scene and had to explain to prying

22.5%

eyes what had happened as I picked my papers off the floor. They didn’t get it. But when Manning stuffs his first running back, I think they’ll forgive my unruliness. The next evening Manziel won his Heisman Trophy. I kicked a hole in my wall that remains to this day, and I still can’t understand how it happened. I’m not proud of the reaction, but I’m thinking of putting up a plaque near the hole: “Evidence that Johnny Football did some really freakish things in 2012 and made almost-sane people lose control.” Monday morning, Sealy wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones donned an A&M hat as well (“Yessir!”) and the best offensive and defensive recruits in the class, and probably the state, became Aggies. Has there ever been a better weekend — away from Kyle Field — for A&M football? Those days encapsulated all of the momentum this team builds on as it aims toward next season. Sumlin went into this recruiting class with a handful of needs. He didn’t need a quarterback but he snagged a pair of excellent ones. He did, however, need receivers. His modified air-raid offense coupled with the graduations of Ryan Swope, Uzoma Nwachukwu, Malcome Kennedy and Kenric McNeal and the uncertain status of sophomore-to-be Thomas Johnson led to a thin depth chart. All Sumlin did was stockpile a trove of big, leaping receiving threats. He needed defensive tackles, but so did Bob Stoops of Oklahoma. This isn’t a battle A&M would have won two years ago. But Stoops and Sumlin extended offers to several of the same tackles — each one

Percentage of receivers to total class size by year

15.7%

15.2% 4.5% Graphic by Collin Seiffert — THE BATTALION

One job: catch the football Michael Ayo

Special to The Battalion

eisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel was a vital part of the success the 2012 A&M football team experienced through its inaugural season in the SEC. A vital part of Manziel’s success was the players on the other end of his tight spirals: the wide receivers. The 41-13 victory over Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl marked the end of the careers of two of the top three receivers on the Aggies’ roster. Ryan Swope and Uzoma Nwachukwu combined for 1,398 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns during their senior season. Swope leaves A&M with school records for most career 100-yard games, most career receptions and receiving yards and most singleseason receptions and yards. The Aggies will look to

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replace Swope and Nwachukwu — as well as fellow graduating senior Kenric McNeal and, possibly, sophomore-to-be Thomas Johnson, whose status with the team remains uncertain — with a 2013 signing class loaded at receiver. Signees such as Ricky Seals-Jones from Sealy, Texas, and Sebastian LaRue, from Santa Monica, Calif., will look to maintain the high level of production in head coach Kevin Sumlin’s offense, which often employs five-wide sets and an eightreceiver rotation. Seals-Jones is currently No. 61 on the ESPN 150 while LaRue is ranked No. 74 on the list. “I think guys understand where we’re headed as a program,” Sumlin said. “When we go out, particularly for a junior college player or a prep school guy, we’re looking to fill a hole. Those guys under-

stand that and that’s why the quality of those guys to come into our program, we need that.” Seals-Jones — a former University of Texas commit — is a top recruit in Texas and one of the best recruits landed by A&M this season. He chose to commit to A&M over SEC rival LSU on Dec. 10, days after Manziel claimed the Heisman. At 6 feet 5 inches and 230 pounds, Seals-Jones will be a top target in the redzone, a potential replacement for Nwachukwu on the outside and a great compliment to fellow 6-foot5-inch receiver Mike Evans, the top returning receiver after recording a team-high 82 catches for 1,105 yards in 2012 as a freshman. Seals-Jones said he can’t wait to apply his skillset to the A&M offense. “I’m just going to do what I can do best to make A&M

Dec. 8: Manziel wins Heisman Trophy

The premier award in collegiate athletics, Manziel’s Heisman will likely tip the scales in the Aggies’ favor in more than a few recruiting battles. No one has ever been able to offer three seasons with a Heisman winner.

Dec. 10: Ricky Seals-Jones commits

The No. 1 athlete in ESPN rankings and Rivals.com’s No. 1 receiver, Seals-Jones is a former Texas commit who chose the Aggies over LSU. The top offensive recruit of the class sealed the brilliance of the week.

chose A&M. What makes a good football team? Is it coaching? Recruiting? Spencer Nealy and Ryan Swope didn’t draw much fanfare when they made their choice four years ago, but they played at a higher level than more than a few five-star recruits this past season. Here’s the secret: recruiting isn’t about the high-level players. It’s about the perception. Objects in motion tend to stay in motion (almost positive I learned that in science class one time) and that principle translates as purely to sports as it does to science. It’s not a coincidence that the same schools win games every season. Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, USC and the handful of other blue-blood football programs aren’t better than everyone else by accident. Much went into building those programs in their earlier years and now they are draws for talent, dollars and coaches. How do you join that top tier? If that question had an answer, Alabama wouldn’t have the sway it does. But maybe a freak athlete stumbling into your lap in a talented coach’s first season in the best conferwin,” Seals-Jones said to TexAgs on signing day. “A&M is already on the map but we’re going to make sure everyone knows us.” Seals-Jones was also a key voice in the recruitment of LaRue. After plenty of persuasion on Twitter, LaRue de-committed from USC on Jan. 25 and announced that he was headed to Aggieland. At 5 feet 11 inches and 185 pounds, LaRue is known for his speed and will be a great fit when it comes to replacing Swope in the slot position. “He’s going to be really dangerous on the inside of the football field,” LaRue’s high school football coach Travis Clark said. “He understands how to run good routes, and I think [Sebastian] is going to excel in that situation.” The Aggies signed six receivers to add on to their roster and the average height and weight for that class is just over 6 feet 1 inch and 191 pounds. Ja’Quay Williams, a 6-foot-3inch redzone threat from Tyrone, Ga., chose to enroll at the midterm. Like Seals-Jones, Williams will be an option for jump ball passes and a compliment to Evans. LaQuvionte Gonzalez of Cedar Hill and Jeremy Tabuyo from Honolulu, Hi., will likely see targets from the slot position. Manvel’s Kyrion Parker, at 6 feet 3 inches, will look to use his height to earn playing time. While some are likely to get redshirted, if these incoming receivers hope to see any playing time they will have to fight for it. It is likely that there will be position battles between these recruits and upcoming seniors Nate Askew, Travis Labhart and Derel Walker as well as juniors-to-be LeKendrick Williams and Malcome Kennedy. One can also expect to see sophomore Sabian Holmes compete for a starting spot.

ence in football does the trick. 2012 was a kick-start and the motor is running. The perception of success-as-inevitability doesn’t come from one Heisman and one recruiting class. But four classes? Five? If you’ve never paid attention to recruiting before, it’s time to read up. Because if 2013 is the best recruiting class in A&M history (it is), the 2014 class, as it stands now, is better. Much can happen between now and then, but I look forward to the time when a recruiting class like this one becomes nothing more than status quo, or worse. We’ve handed Sumlin the keys to a program with all the right tools. He has momentum, but he’s not quite there yet. If you thought this was fun, just wait until he does.

Mark Doré is a junior English major and sports editor for The Battalion

Highlights from the Twitter-sphere: We combed through the post-signing day Twitter bonanza so you don’t have to.

2/7/13 12:04 AM

thebattalion 2.7.2013 page7

SIGNING Ricky Seals-Jones Sealy, TX | WR

Isaiah Golden Carthage, TX | DT

DAY

Justin Manning Dallas, TX | DT

@battsports

Meet the fresh faces of 2013

Daeshon Hall Lancaster, TX | DE

Kohl Stewart Tomball, TX | QB

Sebastian LaRue Los Angeles, CA | WR

LaQuvionte Gonzalez Cedar Hill, TX | WR

Ishmael Wilson Lancaster, TX | OT

Kameron Miles Mesquite, TX | S

Kyrion Parker Manvel, TX | WR

Kenny Hill Southlake, TX | QB

James White Pearland, TX | RB

Hardreck Walker Spring, TX | DT

Tavares Garner Missouri City, TX | CB

Noel Ellis New Orleans, LA | CB

Darian Claiborne Port Allen, LA | LB

Victor Davis Rosenberg, TX | S

Jay Arnold Rockwall, TX | DE

Shaan Washington Alexandria, LA | S

Jeremy Tabuyo Honolulu, HI | WR

Jordan Mastrogiovanni Dallas, TX | LB

A.J. Hilliard (MT) Klein, TX | LB

Jordan Points (MT) Rockwall, TX | DE

Joas Aguilar N. Richland Hills, TX | OL

Jonathan Wiggins Houston, TX | S

Brett Wade (MT) Kennedale, TX | LB

Tommy Sanders (MT) Cordele, GA | LB

Eight signed in December and 23 more on Wednesday — and if A&M is to reach its goals, it may need all 31.

Player photos courtesy of 247SPORTS MT: midterm enrollees Ja’Quay Williams (MT) Tyrone, GA | WR

Jeremiah Stuckey (MT) Pacifica, CA | OT

Alex Sezer (MT) Orange, TX | CB

Reggie Chevis (MT) Houston, TX | LB

Cameron Clear (MT) Memphis, TN | TE

Sumlin, A&M sign historic class The Battalion

housands of high school athletes pledged their allegiances to college football programs across the country, putting ink to paper during the much-anticipated National Signing Day. Only a month removed from the excitement of bowl season and standing on the brink of spring training, a solidified incoming freshman class will set the tempo for the remainder of the offseason. For Texas A&M, a program riding a wave of momentum following its Cotton Bowl victory and unforeseen 11-2 (6-2) finish in its inaugural season in the Southeastern Conference, National Signing Day stood as yet another litmus test of where the surging program is headed. The Aggies held their own against the nation’s elite and secured 23 commitments for an unprecedented Top 5 finish in the SEC and Top 10 nationally, according to ESPN class rankings. From head coach Kevin Sumlin’s perspective, however, A&M’s 2013 recruiting class not only improved the Aggies’ chances of competing in the SEC, but also helped facilitate an understanding of the program’s direction. “When we went into the [SEC], people had doubts about not what we were going to do offensively, but whether it was going to work,” Sumlin said. “Now that people have a better understanding of our offensive philosophy and what we’re trying to do, that certainly helped attract [high-caliber recruits].” Feeding off the energy and success of Johnny Manziel, Sumlin and his recruitingoriented staff were able to add key prospects

BAT_02-07-13_A7.indd 1

from around the country. On the weekend of Dec. 8 — the very same weekend Manziel earned his Heisman Trophy — the class peaked with the addition of two highly-touted athletes: consensus four-stars wide receiver Ricky Seals-Jones from Sealy, Texas, and defensive tackle Justin Manning from Dallas.

com analyst Mike Farrell told Sports Illustrated. “These kids see how fun that offense is and they want to catch passes from Johnny Manziel. Wide receivers are lining up to play for Texas A&M and it’s because of that offense.” The class finished with six wide receivers — five ranked as four-star caliber or better — among the signees, exhibiting the significance

Final overall class rankings

Class ranking

James Sullivan

Graphic by Collin Seiffert — THE BATTALION

Graph shows the final team rankings for A&M — placed head-to-head against the University of Texas and the other programs in the SEC West — according to three major sites that evaluate recruiting. A few weeks following Manziel’s Cotton Bowl-record 516 total yards and four-touchdown performance in the 41-13 romping of Oklahoma, A&M snared four-star receiver Sebastian LaRue following his defection from the University of Southern California. “That’s the Johnny Manziel effect,” Rivals.

of the position in Sumlin’s up-tempo, air raidstyle offense. Despite the loss of three senior receivers to graduation, including Texas A&M all-time career receiving yardage (3,117) and receptions (252) leader Ryan Swope, the Aggies’ receiving corps has reloaded with brand new

talents who have the potential to challenge starters for playing time. The ability for the A&M coaching staff — headed by multiple former recruiting directors — to focus its efforts on positions where current players are graduating or leaving early for the NFL represents a boost in the program’s maturity on the recruiting trail. “We’ve got enough guys on our staff that understand the evaluation process and evaluating guys for us,” Sumlin said of his assistants. “Our staff, one year into this league, knows a little bit more about where we’re deficient, what we need to do, what we’re facing and what type of players we need to recruit.” For the first time in years, A&M was restored as a national presence, encompassing prospects across the country, from Virginia to Hawaii. Some of A&M’s top signees, however, hailed from hometowns only an hour or two away from College Station. From Seals-Jones’ viewpoint — a highly sought-after prospect from a small town west of Houston — the Aggies presented the best opportunity of a national championship. “Our number one goal is a BCS Championship,” Seals-Jones said after the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. “It just starts with us — we have to compete and fight hard day in and day out.” For others in the class, such as four-star defensive tackle Isaiah Golden, Texas A&M and its intangibles stood out as the place to continue a football career. “A&M is just a great place to be — the fans, the 12th Man,” Golden said. “That’s why I picked them.” Golden and 22 others will find themselves on A&M’s campus this summer with a single goal: outdo last season.

2/6/13 11:40 PM

“We’ve got some young guys that are going to need to step up.”

SIGNING DAY

thebattalion 2.7.2013 page8

@battsports — Linebackers coach Mark Hagen

Aggie front seven rebuilds ranks

the battalion Classified Advertising • Easy • Affordable • Effective For information, call 845-0569

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Junior linebacker Steven Jenkins makes a tackle in A&M’s 59-29 win over Mizzou.

Mark Doré

ees, freshman Reggie Chevis and sophomore A.J. Hilliard, and linebackers Jordan Mastrohysical play from an experienced linebackgiovanni and Darian Claiborne, will get their er corps and defensive line opened more chances, though. than a few doors for the success of the 2012 “We’ve got some young guys that are going A&M football team. But graduation, the NFL to need to step up,” linebacker coach Mark draft, health and discipline issues have sapped Hagen said. “Some of the young guys are gothe core of the front seven. The talent and ing to have to get their feet wet and get ineekends arch eekends ebruary ebruary arch size of the recruiting class of 2013 will look to volved early.” shoulder high expectations for a team poised to On the defensive line, the possible absence and riday arch and riday arch make noise in the SEC West. of Obioha and Ennis could shake things up. All-American defensive end Damontre 10 aM Ennis was arrested after he reportedly flashed aM-dusk usk - rain ain or or shine hine Moore will forego his senior season for the a firearm at another driver and has been susNFL Draft, tackle Spencer Nealy and lineSherwood Faireisisaa Sherwood Forest Forest Faire pended from the team, while Obioha suffered backers Sean Porter and Jonathan Stewart will an injury toward the end of last season and has Renaissance basedon onthe the Renaissance Festival Festival based graduate, sophomore-to-be Julien Obioha yet to be cleared for return. struggles with lingering injury concerns and talesofofRobin RobinHood Hood and tales and his hisMerry MerryMen. Men. Price said he is hopeful for Obioha’s return senior-to-be Kirby Ennis’ status with the team Foundedinin2010, 2010, Sherwood Sherwood Forest in the fall season. Founded Forestisisaa2323acre acre remains uncertain after legal issues. “According to doctors, they all seem to permanentvillage village set set in permanent inthe thebeautiful beautiful In an interview during Fox Sports Souththink he’s making good progress,” Price said. west’s coverage of National Signing Day, LostPines Pines region region of Lost ofTexas. Texas. “We’re hoping to get him back.” A&M defensive line coach Terry Price said he In the interim, a six-strong group of incomwas proud of the 2012 success of the unit. ing tackles and ends could make an immediate Featuring over 40 stage acts, Featuring over 40 stage acts, “We didn’t know what to expect, but the impact, even in a league known for size that kids stepped up and it ended up being a good over shoppes,great greatfood food over130 130merchant merchant shoppes, must be developed over time. year for us up front,” Price said. Highly touted defensive tackle Justin Manandfun funrides ridesand and games games for and for the thewhole wholefamily! family! Head coach Kevin Sumlin said he has high ning is considered by many to be the top dehopes that fresh faces can fill the void that has fensive recruit in the class. Sumlin hopes Manbeen left by graduating athletes. SherwoodForest ForestFaire Faire is located Sherwood locatedon onUS USHwy Hwy290, 290, ning can develop into a premier run-stopper “We’re in a very physical, line-of-scrimapproximately 35 35 miles miles east and may not waste any time getting him on approximately eastof ofAustin. Austin. mage league and we lost two of our starting the field. Tackles Isaiah Golden and Hardreck linebackers,” Sumlin said. “The ones we’ve Turn right off US Hwy 290 if coming from Houston, left if Walker will work to break into the rotation brought in have a chance to get going immefrom Austin, onto Old Potato Road. Proceed 1/2 mile to the www.SherwoodForestFaire.com as well. diately. Addressing the front seven was a big end of Old Potato Road and turn right onto Old Highway 20. Eleventh-hour commit Daeshon Hall is — 512.222.6680 deal with the guys we’ve lost.” The Parking like Manning, Golden and Walker — a conCLIENT: McDonald’s BCSlot is located 1/4 mile ahead on the right. SCALE FILE BUILT TO: 100% Starter Steven Jenkins is returning at linesensus four-star and will line up at defensive JOB NUMBER: 38882 STUDIO: CASEY HEIM backer and Donnie Baggs has a head start end for A&M. a starting position. Midterm enrollee ELEMENT: Battalion Ad TELEPHONE: toward 214-520-5673 With a reigning Heisman Trophy winner and junior Tommy Sanders has the experience LIVE: PROPERTY OF MOROCH PARTNERS, in the fold, many expect A&M to build from and talent that Sumlin desires and will have its 2012 success on the field and the recruiting TRIM: 10”w X 10.5”h 3625 N. HALL the ST.,advantage SUITEof1100 DALLAS, TX 75219-5123 a spring under Sumlin and class of 2013 looks to do just that. strength coach Larry Jackson. Midterm enrollBLEED: The Battalion

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