The Battalion: September 9, 2021 by The Battalion

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EDITORIAL

The Battalion | 9.9.21

EDITORIAL: The Battalion will never forget

The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its Editorial Board, with the editor-in-chief having final responsibility.

Myranda Campanella Editor-in-Chief

Julia Potts Managing Editor

Caleb Powell Opinion Editor

Aubrey Vogel News Editor Creative Commons

With the anniversary of 9/11 drawing near, The Battalion’s editorial board honors and reflects on the lives lost 20 years ago.

By Editorial Board @TheBattOnline

ost members of The Battalion’s Editorial Board were no more than infants during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, when almost 3,000 Americans, including three Aggies, lost their lives. Generation Z may not have borne witness to the World Trade Center’s collapse or remember where they were when the world stopped turning. However, we — The Battalion’s Editorial Board — will never forget 9/11 and those affected. Since the Twin Towers fell, between two and three million soldiers have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq to fight the United States’ Global War on Terrorism. In the wake of the Taliban reclaiming Afghanistan and over 335,000 innocent civilians lost, many combat veterans must be wondering, “Was our service for nothing?” The Battalion firmly believes their sacrifices were not in vain. While an estimated 400 to 600 Al-Qaeda fighters still remain in Afghanistan, U.S. officials and analysts agree

they do not have the capability to strike the homeland — a clear indication our soldiers kept Americans safe. In the final days of the Kabul evacuation, U.S. soldiers also helped evacuate over 120,000 civilians, securing freedom for Afghan refugees. The Taliban may have taken control, but we managed to rescue some innocents from their brutal rule. Despite the mass exodus from Afghanistan, not all of our allies made it out, and we are committed to remembering the allies who assisted our troops. In both Iraq and Afghanistan, interpreters were integral to keeping soldiers alive while they were deployed. Many translators would intercept and identify threats to U.S. soldiers, often saving them from walking into ambushes or explosives. We believe our allies in Afghanistan, Iraq and other nations who treated our troops as family should not be treated as another casualty of war. This 9/11, let “never forget” extend to the interpreters who have been rewarded for their service with a death warrant. Finally, we recognize the sacrifices of more than 7,000 U.S. soldiers who have fallen to prevent another large-scale terror attack. Gold Star families often remind us that soldiers’ worth is not defined by victory — saving

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lives is the most important role they have. The U.S. may have seen isolated terrorism cases over the years, but none were of the same caliber as 9/11. The Battalion also feels it is our obligation to highlight the mental health struggles that continue to plague veterans. Four times as many service members — 30,000 veterans — have lost their lives to suicide compared to active combat deaths. This year, 9/11 coincides with the end of National Suicide Awareness Week. Keep our retired veterans in your thoughts this year as they continue to fight a quieter war, away from the battlefield. Whether they are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental illnesses, these service members need our support more than ever. To the families of the Aggies who have passed on, whether it was the three lost on 9/11 or the 30 soldiers known to have fallen in the War on Terrorism, our hearts go out to you. We cannot hope to comprehend your loss, but we want to reaffirm our support and solidarity. To honor and remember the fallen, we have but one thing to say: Here.

Michaela Rush Life & Arts Editor

Casey Stavenhagen Co-Sports Editor

Jennifer Streeter Co-Sports Editor CORRECTION NOTICE The parents of Silver Taps honoree Samantha Melanson requested an edit to the Sept. 2 edition of The Battalion, wherein Samantha was referenced as an “unconditional lover.” This has been corrected across our digital publications to say Samantha was an “unconditional animal lover.” The Battalion regrets this error.

What does the Texas A&M Foundation do? Simply put, we build a brighter future for Texas A&M University, one relationship at a time. As a nonprofit organization and the primary academic fundraising institution for Texas A&M, we partner with former students, corporations and friends to help them create gifts for the university. Their philanthropic investments fund scholarships, support research and finance new facilities so that this special place we call Aggieland can change lives and the world for generations to come. Learn more at txamfoundation.com.

NEWS

The Battalion | 9.9.21

Campus leaders respond to ‘bad bull’ at Kent State game Samuel Falade — THE BATTALION

Following the Sept. 4 football game against Kent State, Head Yell Leader Memo Salinas issued a letter to the student body reminding Aggies to uphold the Core Values.

Student leaders, former students comment on gameday obscenities By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel Following the season opener against Kent State, student leaders and former students shared reminders of Aggie game day etiquette. After various plays in the game, students began chanting “bullshit” to the referees as well as other obscenities, including a “f*** Joe Biden” chant, heard from the 12th Man. Many current and former students have taken to social media to express their disapproval of chants that occurred during Saturday’s game. Head Yell Leader Memo Salinas issued a letter to the student body regarding the obscenities on Sept. 7. “Texas A&M is a cut above the rest. As Aggies, we show and live out our Core Values of Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect and Selfless Service in all that we do,” Salinas said in the press release. “Sporting events are the front porch of representing Texas A&M spirit and tradition, and our Core Values should be shown to the millions of people watching worldwide.” Salinas reminded students instead of booing, Aggies “horse laugh” or hiss, which is a tradition which dates back to 1910. “Whenever we disagree with something, especially at a sporting event, we have always expressed our disapproval in a unique way —

by hissing,” Salinas said. “This is a way to distinguish ourselves from every other fanbase in the country, another tradition that has set us apart from all the others.” After Salinas released his letter on social media, Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork commended his letter on Twitter. “Great letter Memo! While we all want a great home field advantage at Kyle Field, yelling obscenities has no place. Our yells, spirit and values should always be our home field advantage. Gig ’Em,” Bjork said in the tweet. Additionally, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Rt. Brig. Gen. Joe Ramirez also shared his support on Twitter and reminded students of the university Core Values. “I stand with Head Yell Leader Memo Salinas in asking The 12th Man @TAMU to live by our Core Values during football games and at all times: Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect and Selfless Service,” Ramirez said in the tweet. Karen Johnston-Ashton, Class of 1982, said she hopes the 12th Man will remember its roots in upcoming games and keep the same level of class as those who have come before them. “While I understand the cause of some calls at football games are ridiculously stupid, officiating is what officiating is,” Johnston-Ashton said. “It has been since long ago in the Southwest Conference, but [chanting] curse words, [such as] ‘bullshit’ is just not the Aggie way of handling stuff like that.”

Johnston-Ashton said politics should not have a place in the game, instead Aggies should focus on sharing the positive environment of Kyle Field. “Even as we graduate from the university and move on as former students, we still operate on Honesty, Integrity, and those [Core] Values,” Johnston-Ashton said. “It upsets me to see so much poor behavior at football games, especially the changing of cursing at our serving president. I don’t care whether people agree or disagree with [whomever the] president is.” Student Body President Natalie Parks encouraged students to take part in unique gameday traditions which are special to A&M and set the university apart from others. Parks said the symbol of the 12th Man is being watched by other Aggies and opposing teams’ guests. “Every single thing that we’re doing, even in moments of frustration, we [should] carry ourselves differently as the Texas A&M student body because we are upholding the Aggie Core Values in everything that we do,” Parks said. “One of those Core Values is Respect, which is one that I personally try to hit home in my own life. And I think over the course of this past year, [with] COVID[-19], and just all the craziness that we experienced, Respect has really been highlighted as such a critical focal point of what we represent as students, as humans and as Aggies.” Parks said she urges students to take part in gameday traditions such as uncovering when

the Aggie War Hymn is played, stepping off the wood when a player is hurt and standing for the game as the 12th Man in the stands. “It’s such a powerful gesture when collectively we all come together as Aggies to do those [traditions], and that’s why they’re important,” Parks said. “So even if in the moment, it doesn’t make sense, or it might be frustrating, or there’s a lot going on, there’s a purpose and a reason for why we do all these little game day traditions, from the tiniest things to the biggest things.” Since games are broadcasted, Parks reminded Aggies they are viewed across the country by current, former and prospective students as well as other fans. “I like the way that Aggies do things, it’s different, it’s unique, but it sets us apart from all the other fan bases across the country,” Parks said. “It’s another thing that really shows going back to the Core Value of Respect, we respect every person and every team that we play.” Parks said on game days, the ‘Howdy’ flower bed outside Rudder Tower is blanketed with flowers the color of the opposing team with a sign that welcomes them to campus. Although a lesser known game day tradition, she said she believes it speaks volumes about the welcoming environment of A&M’s campus. “I always thought that that was really special, it was just a little thing that shows our Aggie hospitality,” Parks said. “We’re happy that they’re here, even though we plan to beat the hell out of them, [in the game] of course. So it really is just the little things, from the hissing to the flowers to just greeting our opponents before and after [the game] that shows good sportsmanship and the spirit we hold so dearly.” As a former student, Johnston-Ashton said she still holds the Aggie community and traditions near and dear and hopes to see the 12th Man reflect on the “bad bull” at the game. “Go to the games [and] participate. Wear your masks, please, [being at the game is like] being with 120,000 of your closest friends,” Johnston-Ashton said. “Respect the officials, they have bad days, too. Respect the team, respect the yell leaders, do what they tell you to do, that’s what they’re there for.” As the season continues and more guests make their way to Aggieland, Parks told students to display Core Values to make everyone feel welcome on campus. “I really encourage the community to come together and work to make the rest of this football season extremely hyped, extremely positive and extremely redass,” Parks said. “Remember that game day etiquette and respect are so critical to who we are as a community, and how we want to present ourselves to the other communities that get to come to Aggieland and experience our game days because they’re different, they’re incredible, they’re exciting, the energy is there.”

On-campus quarantined students overlooked Residents required to coordinate own living arrangements, dining, laundry By Aubrey Vogel @aubrey_vogel Texas A&M on-campus residents have raised concerns about alternative housing if they test positive for COVID-19. Students who live within five hours of the university are asked to return home for their quarantine while students who live further away may be given the option to stay in one of the limited number of designated on-campus COVID-19 quarantine rooms. Residence Life of Administrative and Support Services director Carol Binzer said if a student tests positive, those who reside on campus will then be given further guidance on how the quarantine process will work for them as there is not an exact one-size-fits-all protocol due to the variation of cases. Though, all students, regardless of housing status, must report if they test positive or are exposed to another COVID-19 positive individual through the COVID-19 Reporting Form. Once a student tests positive for COVID-19, they are required to quarantine for 10 days. However, where a student quarantines will be determined by their room situation. “If you test positive, we have to figure out how to isolate you,” Binzer said. “If you live in a room by yourself, and you have access to a bathroom by yourself, you can likely stay in place. If you live in a communal setting, have a roommate [who does not test positive without access] to your [own] bathroom, then we’re asking that you find another place to isolate.” Binzer said the housing office normally has additional rooms for students who decide not to go to the university or rooms that they use as temporary housing while moving people around, like study rooms. “For most people, they’re within driving distance of home, and most choose to go home. If for some reason that’s not practical, we have some space to be able to help out with that,” Binzer said. “As we know from last year, most people who turn positive and feel sick choose to go home and be taken care of by their primary care provider.” Although she had already completed her mandatory testing early on for A&M, economics freshman Onyinyechi Akparu said she felt sick and elected to get tested again. After receiving a positive test result on Friday, Sept. 3, she began her quarantine. Akparu then received a call saying she would need to vacate her dorm room because her roommate tested negative. Since Akparu lives

within five hours of campus, A&M suggested she return to her family’s home to quarantine. However, this proved to be a problem because her mother is considered a high-risk individual and she did not have a car to transport herself home without riding with her mother. “They recommended either finding someone off campus to stay with [or returning home], but I am a freshman and I’ve only been to college one semester and don’t know of anybody off campus,” Akparu said. “[They] also recommended a hotel. I asked what [would] happen if I stayed in my dorm, and they said I would be [reported to the student code of conduct].” The number of 10 x 12 rooms fluctuate as students go in and out of quarantine, Binzer said. The university currently allows two people of the same gender who have tested positive in a quarantine room together. “They can stay in one of our spaces that our staff are working with [to house COVID-19 positive individuals],” Binzer said. “It’s a fluctuating thing, so I try to accommodate them until [the end of their quarantine], unless someone from farther away really can’t get home.” Additionally, students like Akparu who are in quarantine are required to elect two people who live on or near campus to serve as their short-term personal care attendant who will bring them meals and help with laundry, as they are not supposed to leave their room during quarantine. “There was a form [to elect short-term personal care attendant], and you can have two attendants, but I had only one person because I didn’t have anybody else,” Akparu said. “If you don’t have any attendants, they’re not necessarily going to assign you one.” Binzer said an elected person will drop off the student’s laundry to be washed by a university partnered laundry service, Tide University. “Essentially, you put your clothes in the laundry bag, the bag gets dropped off at a central location [by your short-term personal care attendant] for Tide to take it away from campus [and wash] then [your attendant] could pick it up,” Binzer said. Akparu said she is calling on the university to make a change regarding on-campus COVID-19 policies for students who are unable to go home. “I don’t have anywhere to go without isolating or quarantining at all. Everywhere I would go, I would just infect [people around me] left to right, but they just care that you are off campus,” Akparu said. “They need to have space for people who test positive for COVID[-19]. They can’t send everybody home, a lot of students are international students and it’s the students who simply don’t want to infect the rest With COVID-19 numbers still on the rise, Texas A&M’s Residence Life Department of their families.” struggles to accomodate quarantined students living on campus.

FILE

OPINION

The Battalion |9.9.21

OPINION

of the law needed a dusting or because they, Texas lawmakers, barely cleaned at all. But Sen. Hughes is washing the skillet with soap and water. They’re cleaning in all the wrong places. The more restrictive the voting laws, the lower voter turnout will be, thus not accurately portraying the public opinion. It’s a no-brainer that the harder registration is, the less likely Texans are to vote. A meta-analysis from Cambridge found the negative effects voting restrictions can have on voter turnout evident. With long lines and inconvenient poll locations, not everyone can afford to lose time. It’s a luxury not everyone is granted when people rely on jobs and taking care of children. Only a select few can bear waiting hours in long lines. The other major problem with SB1 is that it bans accessible options. In 2020, to thwart the spread of COVID-19 many counties implemented drive-thru polls. These polls were majorly utilized by people of color and people with disabilities. The bill also makes voting by mail more difficult. Millions of people chose to vote by mail in 2020, but now there are even more steps and scary consequences if you bubble something wrong. For instance, outlined in the bill, poll watchers are now permitted “free movement,” except at the voter’s polling station. If anyone stands in the way of a poll watcher, obscuring their view, it could be deemed a criminal offense. It’s also now a felony charge for state officials to mail out unsolicited voter registration sheets, a method used in 2020 to encourage voter registration. Then there’s the addition of restrictions for voters with disabilities. While it was once a useful tool where disabled or non-English proficient Texans were able to utilize voter assistance, it is now accompanied with their voter assistant under an oath of perjury. This oath is specified in the bill to only “reading the ballot to the voter, directing the voter to read the ballot, marking the voter’s ballot, or directing the voter to mark the ballot.” These restrictions alone are enough to make any Texan afraid to vote. Voting shouldn’t be comparable to taking a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Voting needs to be accessible for everyone. The easier it is to vote, the more people will participate. Texas has some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country. The hurdles aren’t something that we should want for this state. There’s power in numbers, especially at the polls. No matter how Texans vote, it should count.

Creative Commons

In her latest column, opinion writer Kaelin Connor discusses the impact of the new changes Senate Bill 1 will have on voter legislation.

Power in Texas numbers Opinion writer Kaelin Connor argues the Texas SB1 restrictions will only suppress voting rights

Kaelin Connor @KaelinAC

n 2020, both Texas and America saw historic voter turnout. Due to political motivation and voting accommodations, Texas saw a 66 percent turnout rate out of the 17 million registered voters in the 2020 general elections. That’s a record turnout since 1992. Even while Texas was experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, it saw voting occur in the masses. Why? It was accessible. The new Senate Bill 1 is not. Senate Bill 1, or SB1, introduces a

slew of voter changes and restrictions. To start, SB1 adds voter identification requirements to mail-in ballots, grants more power to poll watchers, bans drive-thru and 24-hour polls and increases criminal penalties for voters. The changes this bill has implemented would be understandable if Texas had a problem with voter fraud. However, voter fraud was almost nonexistent in Texas for the 2020 election. Sen. Bryan Hughes, the author of SB1 and scaremonger of voter fraud, has repeatedly said in interviews there were “over 400 open cases of investigations of voter fraud” in Texas. Fact-checkers have found this claim to be false. While he claimed there were 400 open cases,

there were actually 43, with only one of those cases being from the 2020 election. Meaning, out of the 11 million votes cast in Texas in 2020, voter fraud accounted for about 0.0004 percent of the election. It’s a vastly different statistic than what Sen. Hughes originally portrayed. When justifying this bill, Hughes said, “Election fraud didn’t start in 2020, it is not going to end.” While voter fraud will never end, the actual occurrence of voter fraud is so limited that the current legal system is already plenty enough to catch it. However, he went on to say, “When [lawmakers] go to other areas of the law and try to clean it up, we don’t get these objections [to SB1].” One might guess it’s because that specific area

Kaelin Connor is a psychology senior and opinion writer for The Battalion.

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The Battalion | 9.9.21

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The anonymous Instagram account @tamu_affirmations is creating relatable and uplifting content for Aggies.

‘I will’ read this article Texas A&M Affirmations positively encourages Aggies via Instagram By Kathryn Miller @Kathrynmiller0 “I will not lose my car in lot 100,” “I will kiss a yell leader” and “I will not Q-drop a class this semester,” are just a few of the amusing and relatable posts from “Texas A&M Affirmations” on Instagram that have helped students start the semester on a positive note and create a community based on common happenings around campus. Started on Aug. 18 by an anonymous freshman, @tamu_affirmations has attracted over 4,400 followers. Almost daily, the account posts encouraging affirmations pertaining to Aggie culture, allowing only the “howdiest and swaggiest,” motivating students to do their best this upcoming semester. The Texas A&M Affirmations account owner said they created the account after seeing other colleges’ affirmation accounts and realizing A&M didn’t have a popular one.

“Originally, I had seen other colleges having their own affirmations pages, like Yale, U.T. and Baylor,” the owner said. “I would scroll through them because my other friends go to those colleges, and I was like, ‘Wow, these are hilarious.’ They’re so relatable, and it’s just a great way to make friends just by the relatability aspect of it.” Since there was already a lesser-known preexisting Aggie affirmations Instagram page, the owner said they didn’t expect their account to get so popular. “I just didn’t think it was going to blow up the way it did. I thought only a couple people would follow me, maybe just my friends,” the owner said. “But I think by the first two days or three days I had 1,000 followers, and then it just kept going from there. This is week three and now we’re at [over] 3,000.” Seeing the requests and affirmations that their followers send in is their favorite part of running the account, the owner said. Followers can send in post ideas to the account by direct messaging @tamu_affirmations their requests, and the owner edits the request onto

a related photo. “It’s funny because some people will also send a little story about [their affirmation],” the owner said. “I love reading about people’s days, and it really does make my day whenever people will send me direct messages that are like, ‘I don’t have an affirmation, but I just wanted to say I really love your page, and it’s the thing that makes me smile each day.’ That’s so crazy.” The owner said they learned to edit the photos on their page from a friend. The posts are often humorously edited with exaggerated filters and bling effects. “If we had a funny picture, she would edit it and it would be hilarious and so dramatic,” the owner said. “I learned from her, and now I know it’s pretty easy to make anything look funny.” Public health freshman Anushka Kesavalu said her favorite thing about Texas A&M Affirmations is how all Aggies can relate to their posts. “Their posts are all universal experiences that people here [in] Aggieland have been

through to some extent,” Kesavalu said. “I found the account through an Instagram search. I was aware of other college affirmation pages and wanted to see if there was an A&M one, and I did a quick search and immediately gave them a follow.” The affirmation, “I will look hot and mysterious in the Flag Room” is her favorite post, Kesavalu said. “I definitely think the account [creates a community] because so many Aggies can relate to these posts and it creates social connections among everybody’s peers,” Kesavalu said. “The page creates so many stories to be shared, which leads to creating friendships that you’d never think of having in the first place.” Allied health freshman Briana Macias said they love seeing a Texas A&M Affirmation’s post for a good laugh when studying. “No matter how funny or serious, they post [affirmations] with no judgment,” Macias said. “[My favorite] post is probably the one about the yell leaders, because it’s something people say all the time. Their page pertains to just Aggies and the Aggie culture itself.”

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SPORTS SPECIAL EDITION

Healthy body, healthy mind Samuel Falade — THE BATTALION

In her first season of collegiate gameplay, freshman forward Natalie Abel has already established herself as a key player in Texas A&M’s success on the field.

Soccer forward, engineering freshman, artist Natalie Abel sets high standards for 2021 following first collegiate goal By Jennifer Streeter @jennystreeter3

“

It wasn’t a matter of if she started scoring, it was a matter of when,” Gene Abel said. Freshman forward Natalie Abel balances it all. She is a star athlete, an engineering student and maintains a creative mind. She achieves all of this while facing one of the biggest challenges of her life: Being 1,470 miles away from her family. Texas A&M soccer’s first games of the 2021 season were two exhibition matches against North Texas and Baylor. Abel was unable to participate in these two matches due to illness. Instead, Abel made her first appearance on the pitch during the first regular game of the season against Florida State on Aug. 19, playing for 15 minutes. A&M head coach G Guerrieri said he limited her playing time against FSU to help her recover. “She tested negative for COVID[-19], but she just had a viral infection that kept her out of the games,” Guerrieri said. “We’re weaning her a little bit and getting her gradually more and more into play.” The Mission Viejo, Calif., native made her

first marks on her stat sheet against Sam Houston on Friday, Sept. 3. The freshman posted five shots, two assists and one goal against the Bearkats in only the second game of her career. Possessing this level of physical ability was not an easy road for Abel. Growing up playing soccer, she struggled with an unstable left ankle due to ligament damage, but was eventually able to recover through reconstructive surgery. Gene and Janna Abel, Natalie’s parents, said they knew Natalie was going to reach D1 level after watching her persevere through injuries. “When she was 14 to 16 she had some difficulties with her [left] ankle — fractured, spraining it — so much so that she had to have reconstructive surgery with her ankle,” Gene said. “When she came back from reconstructive surgery, she had to join a new club team, and it was halfway through the season. She was able to recover and lead that team to the national playoffs and lead them in scoring. That’s when we knew.” Natalie’s parents made the 1,470-mile journey to be in attendance at Ellis Field on Friday of the Sam Houston matchup. It just so happened that she made her first additions to her statsheet that same game. However, Natalie was not done adding to her log of stats during that weekend. In the following game against the University of Texas at El Paso on Sept. 5, Natalie tallied another assist. The reason Natalie has already achieved so much in three games of play, Guerrieri said, is due to her intelligence on the field. As an

aspiring aerospace engineer, she maintained a 4.5 GPA in high school — the highest senior in her class graduated with a 4.7. Intelligence is not the only mental aspect where Natalie thrives. Gene and Janna said Natalie has a creative passion for art and drawing, which Guerrieri said she utilizes during her playmaking, specifically through her visualization of the field. “She sees the game faster than a lot of her peers, and that’s not just here at Texas A&M, that’s across the board,” Guerrieri said. “It’s one of the reasons why her club team were national champions this past year within her [18] age group.” While Natalie has many strengths, she also faces being apart from her family, including her parents, older sister Sam and the family’s two cats, for the first time. Natalie is the only member of her family to be away from home, with psychology senior Sam attending UCLA and commuting from home. Natalie said her family is the most important and influential aspect in her life, citing them as her reason for playing collegiate soccer. “I am very close with my family,” Natalie said. “They have sacrificed a lot for me to be here. Not being with them has been kind of difficult, but I’ve been able to adapt. Having them there on the sidelines and at the games means a lot to me. They’re like my whole world. I wouldn’t be here without them. I love my parents and my sister a lot.” An even bigger influence in Natalie’s life is her faith. Every goal Natalie scores in both life and on the pitch is for God, she said. “Whenever I score, I always point up to the

heavens and point up to God because I notice a big difference with my prayer and finding comfort with Him,” Natalie said. Prior to her start at A&M, Natalie was a big influence on her previous club teams. Her last two years of club play were with the Southern California Blues Soccer Club. During her 2018-2019 season with the under-17 Blues, Natalie led the team in scoring with 38 goals and helped her team win the national championship. Her final club season took place in the spring of 2021, when Natalie posted 25 goals and 17 assists in 20 games for her under-18 team, which also won a national championship. Adjusting from a California lifestyle to a southern state across the country added yet another element for Natalie to balance, Janna said. “I am extremely proud that she can [balance both athletics and her education,]” Janna said. “Not only balancing that but just being acclimated to a new area. She’s moving from a different state and then having to get used to soccer and the really hard curriculum. [I’m] very proud that she’s able to handle it.” As any high-achiever and dreamer does, Natalie is still striving for more. Before the conclusion of the 2021 season, Natalie said she aspires to achieve a perfect 4.0 GPA along with earning All-SEC honors. “I want to get all A’s — that is a big aspiration of mine,” Natalie said. “Hopefully, [also becoming] SEC Forward or Freshman Forward of the Year. I want to be one of the stat leaders, I want to get up there and keep playing and making a difference in these games.”

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Aggies prepare for neutral site matchup with Colorado A&M defense shows promise against Buffaloes, looks to narrow series By Michael Horton @mhhort

back Haynes King’s first career start. He went 21-for-33 passing, totalling 292 yards and 2 touchdowns. Dual-threat wide receiver Smith led all receivers with eight grabs for 100 yards. He was also on the receiving end of both of King’s touchdown passes. Despite the positives from King’s debut, the freshman also threw 3 interceptions. Following the game, coach Jimbo Fisher was not phased by the mistakes and applauded the quarterback’s poise and coachability. “[King’s composure was] outstanding,” Fisher said. “The moment was not too big at all, and he was totally in the game. If something went wrong, he could walk off of the field and tell you what went wrong and why it went wrong.” A&M’s defense also had a strong showing to open the campaign, earning 5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss. Senior safety Leon O’Neal Jr. stole the show, snagging 2 interceptions, one of which he returned for an 85-yard touchdown. Two defensive players on the Aggies faced indefinite suspensions following legal issues in the offseason, and one of them will be allowed

On Saturday, Sept. 11, No. 5 Texas A&M will travel to Denver for its second game of the football season. The Aggies will be taking on the Colorado Buffaloes at Empower Field at Mile High. Empower Field at Mile High was unveiled nearly 20 years ago, one day before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. During the stadium’s opening game, Colorado head coach Karl Dorrell served as the Denver Broncos’ receivers coach. The Buffaloes lead the all-time series between the schools, 6-3. This will be the first meeting between the former Big 12 foes since 2009, when Colorado won 35-34. Last week, the Aggies opened the 2021 campaign against the Kent State Golden Flashes in the first full capacity game at Kyle Field in two years. After a slow start, the Aggies led a 31-7 run in the second half to earn a 41-10 victory to kick off the season. The maroon and white dominated on the ground against the Golden Flashes. The dynamic duo of junior running back Isaiah Spiller and sophomore running back Devon Achane combined for 237 Myranda Campanella, Editor-in-Chief yards and 2 touchdowns Julia Potts, Managing Editor Cori Eckert, Design Editor & on the ground. Shelby McVey, Audience Engagement Business Manager In the weekly press Abbey Santoro, Photo Chief Caleb Powell, Opinion Editor conference, Achane said Aubrey Vogel, News Editor Michaela Rush, Life & Arts Editor his relationship with SpillNathan Varnell, Asst. News Editor Kathryn Miller, Asst. Life & Arts Editor er allows for the backs to Casey Stavenhagen, Sports Editor Annie Wells, Multimedia Editor work together to move Jennifer Streeter, Sports Editor Lauren Discher, Special Section Editor the offense. Ryan Faulkner, Asst. Sports Editor “Even if we’re having THE BATTALION is published Thursdays during the 2021 sprint semester (except a bad game, we’re always University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College with each other,” Achane Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center. said. “If I [don’t] see something, he’ll come up News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of StudentAffairs.Newsroom phone: to me on the sideline and 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. tell me what to do next time. Basically, we always Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or help each other with our endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office runs and our pass blocks.” hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com. Despite the hot start from the backfield, Week Subscriptions: A part of the University Advancement Fee entitles each Texas A&M 1 was highlighted by redstudent to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. shirt freshman quarter-

to suit up on Saturday. Fisher confirmed junior defensive end Michael Clemons has been cleared, while sophomore defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson will remain suspended. “Michael will be back this week and McKinnley will not,” Fisher said. “[Clemons returning] hopefully will help, but whether we play with them or not, we still have to get better at things that we do.” Colorado heads into the game 1-0, with its lone win coming against Northern Colorado last week, 35-7. The Buffaloes also showed firepower on both sides of the ball in Week 1. The Colorado offense heavily relied on its running game in Week 1, with three-fourths of its total plays staying on the ground. The Buffaloes saw rushing success, totaling 281 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground to start the season. In contrast, freshman quarterback Brendon Lewis passed for 102 yards and a single touchdown. The Colorado run defense also produced, holding Northern Colorado to just 20 rushing

yards on 18 carries. The secondary allowed 236 yards through the air with nine receivers catching at least one pass, but only surrendered a touchdown. If Week 1 was any indication, King needs to be ready to take over this game. With Colorado’s stout run defense, the A&M offense may struggle to create holes for Spiller and Achane. This means the offense may need to establish the passing game to create rushing opportunities down the stretch. The Aggies’ defensive front will likely get a lot of attention, with all signs indicating the Buffaloes are going to run the ball often. With the plethora of run-heavy offenses and stingy run defenses in the Southeastern Conference, this will be a good gut check to start off the season for the Aggies. The game is set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.

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5 things to watch for during A&M-Colorado By Jordan Epp @j_epp22

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The 1-0 Texas A&M Aggies will face the 1-0 Colorado Buffaloes in a run-heavy contest as both teams strive to put together an early-season win-streak. The matchup will take place at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver on Saturday, Sept. 11, at 2:30 p.m. Here is what you need to know before you watch:

Comfort in the passing game Redshirt freshman quarterback Haynes King and the passing offense occasionally showed flashes of brilliance. King finished his debut completing 21 of 33 passes for a hair under 300 yards. He even had a spectacular scramble, with A&M fans reminiscing about former quarterback Johnny Manziel. Despite this, there were still moments when the offense stalled out, or poor decisions were made, as evidenced by King’s 3 interceptions compared to his two touchdowns. King is still young — he will continue to learn and become more comfortable in himself and the weapons around him. Colorado will offer another chance for him to improve and another chance for the fans to watch his continued development.

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Turnovers Last week against Kent State, A&M mustered 2 interceptions on defense, including a takeaway by senior safety Leon O’Neal Jr., who returned it 85 yards for a score. Colorado threw 7 interceptions in six games last year, so turnovers will be less common to find for the Aggies. However, the Buffaloes only caught 4 interceptions themselves last season. These two teams might find it easier to take care of the ball against one another, but that will only make each possession more valuable.

Colorado’s rushing attack Last season, the Buffaloes were 23rd in the nation in rushing yards per game, averaging 212.3 yards per contest. Last week, in a 35-7 win against Northern Colorado, four different players rushed for 40 or more yards as the team put up 281 yards and 4 touchdowns on the ground. A&M was second in rush defense last year, allowing only 92 yardsper-game, but gave up 226 yards to Kent State’s high-powered rushing attack last week. Jarek Broussard, Colorado’s sophomore running back who was named to the All-Pac 12 First Team last season, is a player to keep an eye on.

The away stadium It’s never easy to play in Colorado for any team, and A&M is no exception. The elevation will be a major factor, as College Station is a city near sea-level. The game is being played in, aptly named, Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, home of the Denver Broncos. Conditioning will be an important factor for the Aggies to keep up. Typically this stadium hosts the Colorado-Colorado State rivalry match, but with this matchup not taking place this year, the A&M game will be played instead. A&M has seen victory in its last five road matches dating back to last season, but Colorado has won their last five matches in the Broncos’ stadium dating back to 2015. One of these streaks will have to come to an end.

A&M’s two-headed backfield Isaiah Spiller, A&M’s junior standout running back, hit the 2,000 career rushing yards landmark last week against Kent State, yet sophomore running back Devon Achane stole the show. A&M appeared to share the rushing load more evenly than fans may have expected. Spiller had a solid showing, toting 17 carries for an efficient 113 yards. Achane, however, led the team in yards on the ground. He had 124 yards on just 12 carries and 2 touchdowns, including a 63-yard touchdown where Achane outran the Golden Flashes’ defense down the numbers. The two running backs’ styles compliment one another very well. They both occupy different roles in A&M’s run-heavy scheme, where Spiller is the bruiser up the middle and Achane is the speedster out wide. As King continues to improve, Spiller and Achane’s success in the running game will prove valuable to the Aggies.

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The Battalion | 9.9.21

FILE

Coming off a successful game against Kent State, sophomore running back Devon Achane will look to carry the momentum into the Sept. 11 game against Colorado.

FILE

Junior defensive back Demani Richardson will carry the team mentality of dominating into the weekend, where the Aggies will travel to Denver to play the Colorado Buffaloes.

Colorado’s grounded offense A&M offense to reduce to pose problems for A&M turnovers, improve run Aggies’ defensive line prepares for intense Week 2 against Buffaloes By Ryan Faulkner @ryanfaulk03 Many wonder what happens when an unstoppable force is pitted against an immovable object. Within the world of football, the Aggies are now prepared to find out. Having already competed in gametime situations this season, less uncertainty surrounds A&M’s defense. Though Aggies of years past excelled at stopping the run, such as allowing opponents to average just 3.3 yards per carry with the second best line in the country in 2020, this season’s line seems more adept at covering the pass. Though this may benefit the Aggies against “air raid” powerhouses like Mississippi State or pro-style attacks like Alabama, Colorado’s offense presents a different issue entirely. Fresh off of a 2020 season averaging over 200 rushing yards per game, the Buffaloes look ready to assert even more dominance in the ground game. Most recently, Colorado ran for 295 yards and 4 touchdowns en route to the team’s 35-7 trumping of Northern Colorado on Friday, Sept. 3. Mounted by sophomore tailback Jarek Broussard, who rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown against the Bears, Colorado’s ability to run will prove dangerous for A&M, head coach Jimbo Fisher said. “On defense, we’ve got to seal up some areas in the rush game,” Fisher said. “Inside guys have to press. Colorado’s a very good football team — pro-schemes on offense, different looks. They’re coached really well. We’re going to have our hands full on the road.” This threat is especially pronounced when looking at the Aggies’ performance against Kent State. Far from the maroon and white’s defensive 3.3 yards-per-rush average of last season, the Golden Flashes managed to put up 252 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Many of Kent State’s runs came on open gaps between A&M linebackers, similar to Colorado’s rushing strategy employed against Northern Colorado. To limit similar damage in its next matchup, A&M must find a way to close the holes and force runners, especially Broussard, to the inside. The only way to fully accomplish this is for the defensive players to mature and focus on their assigned role instead of playing for personal success, Fisher said. “You have to do [your job] within the framework of how it’s constructed on defense,” Fisher said. “[When you don’t,] I call it ‘sticking your nose in the honey’ — wanting to go make the tackle instead of doing their job, staying in the gap and forcing it to the unblocked guy. We’ve got to improve.” The Aggies will also have to contend with freshman tailback Ashaad Clayton, ju-

nior tailback Alex Fontenot and sophomore back Deion Smith, all of who rushed for double-digit numbers and a touchdown in their team’s season opener. For A&M to cover such a deep corps, it must utilize the numerous freshmen who have found their way onto the starting roster, including safety Jardin Gilbert, defensive back Tyreek Chappell, cornerback Deuce Harmon and defensive end Zion Harris. Most notably, however, is the potential for defensive lineman Shemar Turner to again stand out. Taking advantage of the holes left by the suspensions of defensive linemen McKinnley Jackson and Micheal Clemons, Turner stepped up against Kent State, recording four tackles and a sack. Going against a Colorado offensive line which allowed three sacks, the DeSoto native has an opportunity to solidify himself as a permanent starter. Praising his collegiate debut, Fisher said Turner is set to become a difference maker of which opposing offenses should be fearful. “[Turner] is going to be an outstanding player,” Fisher said. “He loves ball, he practices hard, he’s big, he’s physical.” The biggest unknown of Colorado’s offense comes in the form of sophomore quarterback Brendon Lewis. After only playing one game in 2020, little is detailed regarding what he is or isn’t capable of. His one collegiate appearance as a freshman came in the Alamo Bowl, where the signal caller averaged 9.5 yards per pass attempt and rushed for 73 yards, including a team-high of 44 yards on one play. If he surprises the Aggies and debuts a cannon of an arm, the maroon and white may have to scramble to cover the spread at a moment’s notice. Regardless, A&M’s five total sacks against the Golden Flashes all but guarantee Lewis will have very limited time in the pocket. As it stands, the Buffalo offense’s biggest obstacle is shaping up to be the trio of experienced players anchoring A&M’s defense. Senior safety Leon O’Neal, fresh off of a performance highlighted by two interceptions, four tackles and a touchdown, presents Colorado with the challenge of outsmarting a player who is constantly aware of his surroundings. Junior defensive back Demani Richardson and junior defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, often mistaken for specialist position players because of their speed, give the Aggies tools to combat Colorado’s rush-based offense via short sprints near the line of scrimmage. A&M’s defense has the potential to turn Colorado’s biggest strengths into hindrances, but it will require making adjustments on communication and finding more success on ground coverage. Either way, when an explosive rushing offense is set against a defense with the potential to stop any opposition in its tracks, one side has to give. For all intents and purposes, A&M won’t be the one to budge, Richardson said. “Our whole mentality this year is to dominate,” Richardson said. “We need to do that.”

against Colorado defense Running back duo Spiller, Achane to lead Aggies’ ground-based offense By Ryne Ryskoski @rusty_ryskoski_

Led by redshirt freshman quarterback Haynes King, the Texas A&M offense scored 41 points on Kent State in a near-600 total yard performance. The unit did have turnover issues in its first game action, with five, but also went 9-13 on third-down conversions. True freshman Bryce Foster started at center for A&M and was one of four new offensive linemen part of a 300-yard output on the ground against Kent State. Redshirt freshman Aki Ogunbiyi, sophomore Layden Robinson and Tennessee graduate transfer Jahmir Johnson also made their starting debuts. Head coach Jimbo Fisher said the group did a solid job in their first game together, and Foster did a particularly great job identifying things as center against a defense that brought plenty of different fronts and stunts to try and disrupt King and Foster’s connection. “For the most part, a young offensive line did a good job against a [defense] that brought multiple blitzes, looks and things,” Fisher said. “[We] ended up starting a true freshman center that made all the calls, and I thought [he] did an outstanding job for the first game to go out and do that.” Sophomore running back Devon Achane led the team in rushing with a dozen carries for 124 yards and two scores. He said he expected the offensive line to be great in their first action together because he’s seen how hard they have worked since the spring. “The offensive line has been working hard, so I wasn’t expecting [anything] but what I’ve seen in practice,” Achane said. “It’s a new group, but they [bonded], so I just came into the game expecting them to do great, and that’s what they did.” Starting junior running back Isaiah Spiller crossed the 100-yard mark in week one with 113 yards on 17 runs behind the young line. Achane said he and Spiller get along great and always talk with each other on the sidelines after drives about what to do differently, what they see from the opposing defense and more. “We’re always with each other,” Achane said. “We’re always communicating with each other and helping with our runs, pass-blocking and stuff like that.” The only bad part of the offense’s season-opening display at Kyle Field was the five turnovers, which held the Aggies to just a 10-3 halftime lead over the Golden Flashes before the home team scored 31 points in the second half. Fisher said the offense has to get

those cleaned up before going on the road against a Power-5 team in Colorado. King threw three interceptions, with a fourth added by redshirt sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada during his limited playing time, and the running corps lost a fumble. “What we have to continue to do is play really well around our quarterback and not put him in bad situations,” Fisher said. “Offensively, we obviously moved the ball extremely well up and down the field; [they] were really good on third downs. The only [bad] thing was the turnovers.” Fisher said the Aggies will need to have a great week of practice before going to a hostile environment on the road. The Buffaloes got off to a 1-0 start on their season with a 35-7 home win over Northern Colorado on Friday, Sept. 3. “[We’re] going to a very good Colorado team that’s coached very well by guys that have been in the pro bowl. They know how to break down protection, runs and defenses,” Fisher said. “These guys are very intelligent and they’ve got a very good team.” Junior tight end Jalen Wydermyer said the maroon and white’s offense will first aim to establish their quick ground game against Colorado, but hopes to see the passing game get going with some deep shots to junior receiver Caleb Chapman and sophomore receiver Chase Lane. Lane, Chapman and Wydermyer combined for 11 catches and 168 yards against Kent State. “I’d like to get the passing game going with some more deep shots, but we have to establish the run first,” Wydermyer said. “That would bring the linebackers and safeties up because they’re too worried about Isaiah, Ainias [Smith] or Achane.” In their win last Friday, the Colorado defense gave up 256 total yards, but only 20 were on the ground. A&M’s offensive line can impose its will over the Buffaloes’ young defensive line as it did with Kent State, but it will have to establish the run early so the air game can flourish, as Colorado outgained Northern Colorado in passing, 236-102. Senior linebacker Nate Landman led the Buffaloes in tackles in their win over the Bears with four, and sophomore defensive tackle Na’im Rodman had a sack with his three tackles. Their defense also recorded an interception by junior cornerback Mekhi Blackmon. A key to A&M’s success on Saturday afternoon will be determining if the A&M offensive line can block well and clear Rodman and Landman to get Spiller and Achane open space in the second and third levels of Colorado’s defense. Doing so will allow Wydermyer and Smith to draw less attention so King can have more open passing windows.

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The Battalion | 9.9.21

4 players to look out for against the Buffaloes By Kay Naegeli @KayNaegeli

After Texas A&M’s 41-10 win against the Kent State Golden Flashes on Sept. 4, the Aggies are now prepared to take on Colorado on the road. The matchup will take place this Saturday, Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. in Denver. The No. 5 ranked Aggies moved up in AP polls due to Clemson’s loss to the Georgia Bulldogs this past weekend. Here is a list of four A&M players and two from Colorado to look out for during Saturday’s matchup:

Leon O’Neal Jr. - A&M With an outstanding performance against Kent State, senior defensive back Leon O’Neal is learning how to balance his passion for football. He recorded 2 interceptions, returning the second one for an 85-yard touchdown. His “Wake ‘em up” attitude shines through in his play style, and he could lead this Aggie defense to do some real damage against Colorado and SEC competition.

Jarek Broussard - Colorado Sophomore running back Jarek Broussard is a young weapon for the Colorado Buffaloes. The team-leading rusher finished his 2020 season with 5 touchdowns and averaged 5.7 yards per carry in six games. His quickness and experience from his performances last season have placed a spotlight on him nationally and in the PAC-12. Broussard was placed on the Doak Walker Award Watch List as well as the PAC-12’s All Preseason First-Team, leaving football fans with high expectations from the sophomore.

Caleb Chapman - A&M Returning from a season-ending leg injury in the Florida upset is junior wide receiver Caleb Chapman. Receiving for 197 yards in just three games last season, Chapman showed potential before his devastating injury against Florida. He is now healthy for the 2021 season and his 53-yard touchdown against Kent State quickly reminded fans Chapman is back and ready to compete.

Brendon Lewis - Colorado Freshman quarterback Brendon Lewis is finding his place as a new member of this Colorado offense. The 4-star recruit had his first career start last Saturday against Northern Colorado where he threw for 102 yards and rushed for 44. This dual-threat quarterback has a bright future ahead of him if he can use his feet and arm to make plays. Lewis could be the guy to push this Colorado offense out of a spell of mediocrity.

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The Battalion | 9.9.21

AROUND THE SEC A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE FOR WEEK 2

By Brad Bennett @Brad_Bennett13

The SEC returns for Week 2 of the college football season with another set of out-of-conference matchups. Unlike last week, there are not many matchups comparable to Clemson vs. Georgia or UCLA vs. LSU. The featured games on this week’s slate are Arkansas vs. No. 21 Texas and Mississippi State vs. North Carolina State. High-profile teams such as No.1 Alabama and No. 16 LSU face Mercer and McNeese State, respectively. To round out the games, Ole Miss faces Austin Peay and Auburn plays Alabama State.

No. 15 Texas @ Arkansas

Mercer @ No. 1 Alabama

Saturday, Sept. 11 - Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium - Fayetteville, Ark.

Saturday, Sept. 11- Bryant-Denny Stadium - Tuscaloosa, Ala. 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network

6 p.m. CT on ESPN Arkansas beat Rice 38-17 on Sept. 4 to open up its 2021 season. The Razorbacks are headlined by redshirt sophomore quarterback K.J. Jefferson. Last week, Jefferson had 3 touchdowns and 89 rushing yards. Another impressive performer for the Razorbacks was junior running back Trelon Smith, with 102 rushing yards and a touchdown. No. 21 Texas is coming off of a top-25 victory over No. 23 University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In the game, Texas was led by sophomore running back Bijan Robinson’s 2 total touchdowns and 170 total yards of offense. Redshirt freshman quarterback Hudson Card threw for a pair of touchdowns and completed 67 percent of his 21 passing attempts. In the matchup between these two former rivals, expect Arkansas to keep it close by running the football before Texas eventually pulls away behind another standout showing from Robinson.

Despite losing a number of high-profile players, including quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris and Heisman-winning wide receiver Devonta Smith, to the NFL Draft, Alabama beat No. 14 Miami in dominant fashion on Saturday, Sept. 4, 44-13. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Young threw four touchdown passes while completing 71 percent of his passing attempts. The Crimson Tide utilized a strong running game led by redshirt senior running back Brian Robinson Jr. On the other side of the field, Mercer is coming off a 69-0 victory over Point University. The Bears are led offensively by freshman running back Tommy Pollack and freshman quarterback Carter Peevy. Expect Alabama to continue their dominant start to the season from kickoff because Alabama has too much talent on both sides of the ball to not beat Mercer by a minimum of 45 points. Prediction: Alabama 63, Mercer 3

Prediction: Texas 31, Arkansas 17

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