thebatt101912 by The Battalion

thebattalion ● friday,

october 19, 2012

● serving

texas a&m since 1893

VS Tailgating Edition

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10/18/12 11:22 PM

Today sunny High: 83 Low: 57

Saturday mostly sunny high: 87 low: 69 Sunday mostly cloudy high: 88 low: 70 Monday partly sunny high: 87 low: 67

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courtesy of NOAA

thebattalion 10.19.12

EDITOR’SNOTE Tailgate edition: Collect each issue of our four-part series for the ultimate SEC guide and display package. Each issue will contain a theme with extensive coverage of A&M’s SEC transition. The issues will be available before every home SEC football game. The four issues will combine into a grand image — a tribute to the past while looking ahead to the future of Texas A&M athletics.

howtoapply If you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion, apply at thebatt.com, or call 845-3313. The Battalion welcomes any Texas A&M student interested in writing for the arts, campus, metro or sports staffs to try out.

whoweare 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. Editor in Chief senior english major Trevor Stevens

Mark Doré, sports@thebatt.com

Managing editor senior telecommunication media studies major Joe Terrell

Sports desk assistant senior industrial and systems engineering major Michael Rodriguez, sports@thebatt.com

City editor senior agricultural communications and journalism major Jake Walker, metro@thebatt.com City desk assistant senior anthropology major, Barrett House, metro@thebatt.com Lifestyle editor senior English major Jennifer DuBose, aggielife@thebatt.com Lifestyle desk assistant senior English major Alec Goetz, aggielife@thebatt.com Sports editor senior communication major Chandler Smith, sports@thebatt.com Sports desk assistant junior English major

Photo chief sophomore business major Roger Zhang, photo@thebatt.com photo desk assistant sophomore anthropology major Tanner Garza, photo@thebatt.com Graphics chief Senior visualization studies major Evan Andrews, graphics@thebatt.com Copy editor junior biological and agriculture engineering major Luis Javier Cavazos

MAILCALL From Damon Robertson, Class of 1996

FIRST ANNUAL

AGGIE GR EEK

s d r a t w e A Banqu

The Greek Former Student Network, The Association of Former Students and the Greek Life Office at Texas A&M University are proud to honor the success of our Aggie Greeks. The inaugural Aggie Greek Awards Banquet was held on Friday, September 28 at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center and we would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners! President’s Award for Outstanding Greek Ambassador Matthew Runkel ’12 - Kappa Alpha Order

I have never been as outraged as I have become after looking at the secondary tickets being sold on scalper websites the past few weeks, most notably for the LSU game. Students need to understand that they are allowed the signiﬁcant number of student tickets (over 30,000) for such cheap rates because the former students effectively subsidize them by paying extra for our tickets. No other university sets aside this many student tickets for football games. None. However, students have decided to become opportunistic and use the tickets most of the rest of us are helping to pay for by selling their tickets to opposing fans. This is nauseating, and you should quite frankly be ashamed of it. If that section is littered with purple and gold this Saturday, rest assured I’m not the only one that will be calling for student tickets to be reduced and for student scalpers to be banned from pulling tickets. Your tickets are a privilege to you and to those of us helping to fund them. We want you there as loud as you can be. Please reconsider if you were trying to raise extra beer money. This can and will be taken away from you if this behavior continues. Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal, nor do we tolerate those who do. You won’t be arrested for this type of thievery, and it’s not against the law. But you really should be ashamed of yourself if you are doing this. Very, very bad bull and something I would expect from tsips, not my fellow Ags.

thebatt.com

Bachelor party gone wrong Everyone loves a good bachelor party. But, as the old saying goes, “it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” “Mexican Sunrise” is a ﬁlm about a bachelor party gone wrong in the worst way and worst place possible.

Cajun cooking The Battalion food blogger, Shelia de Guzman, breaks down the art of making Gumbo for inexperienced chefs.

Alternative pudding The Battalion food blogger, Shelia de Guzman, offers a decadent bread pudding recipe for pleasing the tailgating crowd.

Fraternity Man of the Year Hudson Hoyle ’14 - Pi Kappa Alpha Sorority Woman of the Year Morgan Greco ’14 - Pi Beta Phi Fraternity Advisor of the Year Mike Belt ’80 - Sigma Chi Sorority Advisor of the Year Kara Comte ’00 - Delta Zeta Excellence Awards Zeta Tau Alpha & Beta Theta Pi Integrity Award Alana Frailey ’13- Alpha Kappa Alpha Leadership Award Ejikeme “E.J.” Obukwelu ’13 - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Respect Award Mark Lutz ’13- Beta Theta Pi Loyalty Award Rachel E. Thornburg ’12- Alpha Delta Pi Selfless Service Award Lucretia Stanfield ’13, Alpha Kappa Alpha

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10/18/12 11:26 PM

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Rivalry renews

File — THE BATTALION

LSU and A&M last collided at the 2011 Cotton Bowl, a 41-24 A&M loss, following the Aggies’ nine-win regular season campaign.

SEC West clash beckons as bad blood returns to Kyle Field LSU-A&M history

Drew Chambers The Battalion

Texas A&M opens up in the BCS rankings as No. 18 and will take on the No. 6 LSU Tigers at 11 a.m. at Kyle Field. ◗ LSU leads the all-time series After a loss to now-No. 2 Flori27-20-3. In the 50 year history of the da, the Aggies are riding a five-game series, 12 games have been played win streak, which makes A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin the first Aggie at Kyle Field. coach since Dana X. Bible to win five games in a row in his first season. ◗ A&M and LSU ﬁrst played in The winning streak is the fourth 1899. The Aggies won 52-0. since 1998 and the first since the 2010 win streak of six games which ◗ LSU was in College Station as a included beating ranked oppoTop-10 team in 1989, R.C. Slocum’s nents Oklahoma and Nebraska at debut game as head coach. The Kyle Field. Aggies won 28-16. Sumlin said this will be a promising game for the fans and an impor◗ A&M is 7-1-1 against LSU at Kyle tant match up to determine how the SEC West will play out. Field. “Fans are excited, we haven’t played LSU in a while,” Sumlin ◗ Legendary A&M head coach said. “That’s great but our team has Dana X. Bible coached the Tigers put ourselves in a position that not in the ﬁnal three games of the 1916 only is it exciting for fans, but it’s season. Bible would take over for a meaningful game in the Western the Aggies in 1917 and beat LSU, division.” 27-0. Both teams have one loss, both to conference opponents, as they fight for the third spot in the SEC West behind Alabama and Mississippi

State, which are both undefeated through the first half of the season. The rivalry between A&M and LSU has grown intense and LSU head coach Les Miles added fuel to the fire saying the Aggies would not have a pleasant entry into the league. “I would say ‘Strap it up,’” said Miles at SEC media days in July. “They’re going to really not enjoy their welcoming to this conference.” Another thing Texas A&M has to be sour about is the last time the two teams butted heads. LSU is the team that broke Texas A&M’s last major win streak in the 2010 Cotton Bowl. Senior offensive lineman Patrick Lewis said the Aggies are looking to prove they can compete with the best of the SEC. “We plan to prove people wrong,” Lewis said. “During the offseason we decided we were going to work harder to prove people wrong. We didn’t come to the SEC to just be a doormat. We want to compete and win championships.” After being on the road for two weeks, the Aggies come back home looking to continue their win streak against SEC rival LSU in front of another sellout crowd at Kyle Field. This will be the last home contest

File — THE BATTALION

Redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel will be the first A&M quarterback to face LSU at Kyle Field since Corey Pullig in 1995. for some time as the Aggies embark on a three-game road trip that in-

cludes Auburn, Mississippi State and Alabama.

New kind of throwback Chandler Smith: Change in opponents but not passion as A&M and LSU resume historic rivalry

s rumors of A&M’s move to the SEC surfaced, pundits cried bloody murder about the Aggies leaving behind their greatest in-state rivals. Media attacked A&M, blaming the University for trashing tradition and “abandoning” regional rivals Texas Tech, Baylor and Texas. Perhaps those disgruntled pundits should take a trip Saturday to Kyle Field. They’ll receive a taste of why A&M moved to the Southeastern Conference. Yes, Texas was the team every Aggie loved to hate. The rivalry with the Longhorns was one of the nation’s oldest and longest-standing traditions. It was a family rivalry pitting brother against brother, father against son and husband against wife. Though as long as Big 12 Conference commissioner — excuse me — Texas athletic director Deloss Dodds remains in his burnt-orange pulpit, it seems the beloved Texas rivalry will be in for a sizable hiatus. In speaking with ol’ Ags, I learned something that piqued my interest. In a discussion about heated historic rivalries, I heard a school name I hadn’t necessarily expected. Of course, there’s always Texas. But the second team to appear in conversation wasn’t Baylor or Tech or even Arkansas. It was LSU. Yes, A&M hasn’t played the Tigers in the regular season since 1995, but the bad blood still runs deep. With A&M in the SEC West, that hatred and tension should only continue to grow. The A&M-LSU rivalry dates back to

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1899, and Saturday’s game will mark the 51st meeting between the two teams. The rivalry was likely at its apex from 1986 to 1995, a 10-year home-and-home series in which the Aggies edged the Tigers 6-4 and rattled off five consecutive victories from 1991 to 1995. The rivalry goes beyond the gridiron into the recruiting realm. Great players from both Texas and Louisiana went on to become impactful players for both programs in the opposite state. Former quarterback and A&M football legend Bucky Richardson was famously recruited out of Baton Rouge, La. Richardson went 2-1 against the Tigers including a 45-7 walloping of the Tigers in 1991 at Kyle Field. Former LSU running back Harvey Williams grew up in Hempstead, Texas, a few miles away from College Station. Once considered a definite A&M commitment in 1986, he abruptly switched to the Tigers on national signing day to the disdain of the Aggies. Williams’ decision added fuel to an already intense rivalry fire. He would run for more than 2,800 yards in his four years at LSU and lead the Tigers to three victories over A&M. “The young kids today don’t know the

File — THE BATTALION

The A&M-LSU rivalry dates back to the 19th century and is traditionally one of A&M’s most emotional games. depth and the tradition and how heated up things used to be,” Williams told the Houston Chronicle. “I’m anxious to see how things develop.” Given the shared passion of the two schools, the proximity of the states and the glory of each team’s respective football stadiums, it’s not hard to see how this rivalry could soon become one of the conference’s best. It’s “Death Valley” versus Kyle Field, it’s “Gig ‘Em” versus “Geaux Tigers.” It will be one of the grandest spectacles in college

football. Come Saturday morning at Kyle Field, an age-old rivalry will be renewed before the Aggies’ eyes — perhaps bigger and better than ever. Sorry Red Raiders, Bears and Longhorns. Chandler Smith is a senior communication major and the sports editor for The Battalion.

10/19/12 12:54 AM

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Tanner Garza— THE BATTALION

Junior left tackle Luke Joeckel and his teamates will be challenged with the task of protecting redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel against a powerful LSU pass rush.

Hold the line Highly touted Joeckel will face mightiest test to date James Sullivan The Battalion Starting an SEC caliber offensive line requires a quality not many positions in the sport necessitate anymore: experience. The characteristic is a standard among the top lines in the country, one that is shared by Texas A&M. The focus on recruiting pure talent over the development of players has led many programs to find success in young freshmen. The Aggies stand as a perfect example as prodigies Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans have continued to exceed expectations over the course of this season. Anchoring A&M’s vaunted offensive line is junior left tackle Luke Joeckel, an intense competitor with a developed sense of maturity. Joeckel, who slid into the starting position as a freshman two seasons ago, stands as the program’s top NFL prospect as a future first-round draft

Chase Krumholz — THE BATTALION

Junior right tackle Jake Mathews will join Joeckle on the opposite side of the line in an attempt to stymie the LSU defense. selection. “Our line is the most experienced part of our team, by far, with five guys that have played in big games and been against great competition,” said head coach Kevin Sumlin. “I think that they continue to improve.” Lining up against A&M’s five-man front this Saturday

will be what many consider the top defensive line in the nation. With stud pass-rushers Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo leading the powerful LSU attack, the Aggies must rely on linemen such as senior center Patrick Lewis, junior tackle Jake Matthews and, of course, Joeckel. During the first few match-

ups on A&M’s schedule, many fans and analysts believed the Aggies’ line had been overhyped due to their lackluster production in running the ball. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has expressed a different view on their early struggles. “Johnny [Manziel] is a

tricky guy to block for, just because of the way he moves around,” Kingsbury said. “[The offensive line] doesn’t just stand around while he runs. They move their feet and get the block. I think to go from how they blocked last year to this year and the effort they’ve shown is something that pops.” Considering the forced transition from a pocketpasser in Ryan Tannehill to the mobility and creativity of Manziel, the offensive line has developed new blocking schemes and protection efficiently. Allowing just 12 sacks on the season along with helping the team average 124 yards per game on the ground, Joeckel and offensive line have seemingly found their groove, a fact that should serve to instill confidence entering Saturday’s matchup. “I try to take every week the exact same, [but] I’m jacked up for this week,” Jo-

eckel said. “We know what kind of players we’re going to be up against. They have a good defensive line.” During the July SEC media days less than one month following the Aggies official juncture with their new conference, the junior tackle was questioned on what he thought would allow him to block the league’s stellar defensive lines. Joeckel’s response: “I’ve blocked Von Miller.” The simplicity and devilish confidence backed by the statement is the same that surrounds the offensive line entering the hyped LSU game. The “Maroon Goons,” a nickname created by the line’s most senior member, Lewis, have been waiting for the opportunity to prove their resiliency as a unit. With the Bayou Bengals visiting, the offense may have found their ideal moment to dominate.

Program benchmark Michael Rodriguez: LSU game result will show current direction of football team

t the beginning of the football season, expectations around the Aggies were low. There were many questions surrounding this team: how would the Aggies fare in the SEC? Will they be able to breed championship contenders and NFL prospects? How would head coach Kevin Sumlin do in his first year and how would his high-octane offense from Houston translate to Aggieland? Before there was Johnny Football, it was unknown whether Manziel would be the starting quarterback. Oh, how the year has turned. As the midseason point of the season arrives, many of those questions have been answered by A&M’s 5-1 overall record. The offense, led by the growing legend of Johnny Football and his 24 total touchdowns, have the Aggies in a position few figured would arrive to Kyle Field in such a short period. The Aggies did not start this season on the right note, losing to Florida 20-17 and with the Louisiana Tech game being postponed due to Hurricane Isaac, the Aggies were going in blind. Now A&M enters this weekend’s highly sought after battle against No. 6 LSU with a chance to not only defeat a former arch rival, but also make a statement to the entire

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conference that the “doormat” expectation can be tossed out. A budding powerhouse is waking up in the heart of Texas. While it is true that one game cannot make a season, the Aggies have a chance to improve their ranking and brand by defeating yearly title contender LSU and position themselves to make an outstanding run in the SEC West. The Aggies got to this point thanks to the emergence of Manziel, leading the fifth ranked scoring offense in the country by leaving opposing defenses and their coaches scratching their heads as to how to stop the menacing quarterback. Against LSU, Manziel can put to rest the question of how he would fare against a vaunted defense like that of LSU. Against Florida, Manziel performed admirably but a strong performance this weekend not only positions A&M for an SEC West title shot, but will also make him a strong contender as a Heisman candidate. While the A&M offense has garnered the glory for resurrecting life

into the program, the defense has unassumingly been on the same page all year, stopping the opponents in crunch time. During the Ole Miss game, it was the Aggie defense that stopped the Rebels on a fourth and one to give the ball to the offense. Facing the Tiger offense, the main goal will be to establish a wall to prevent the Tiger running backs from doing any damage. Stopping the No. 31 ranked rushing attack in the country, which boasts smash mouth football, will show the country that the Aggies are not just a run and gun team, but a well-rounded SEC team. As the countdown continues until kick-off, the Aggies have an opportunity this weekend to show what many have been waiting for anxiously. It would show that the once mediocre program is heading in the right direction. With a win this weekend, A&M would show that a once proud football titan is rising out of the ashes and ready to contend in the big leagues. Michael Rodriguez is a senior industrial engineering major and sports desk assistant for The Battalion.

Chase Krumholz — THE BATTALION

Redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel and the A&M offense will be tested early and often against LSU’s defense.

2013 A&M SEC football schedule released The 2013 A&M football schedule was released Thursday afternoon in conjunction with the SEC’s schedule release. The Aggies will host eight home games and hit the road for four. A&M opens the season with four consecutive home games against Rice, Sam Houston State, Alabama and SMU. Then the Aggies travel to Arkansas and Ole Miss before retuning to Kyle Field for another four-game home stand against Auburn, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and New Mexico. The Aggies will conclude the season by traveling to LSU and Missouri.

10/19/12 12:55 AM

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sports thebattalion

Tailgate Photos by David Cohen — THE BATTALION

ith every football game, tailgating is just as important as the game being played. Out here in the heart of Texas, barbecue reigns supreme. From smoked brisket and sausage, to grilled steaks and chicken, nothing completes a tailgate like ice cold beverages and the company of family and friends. What may seem like quick gatherings for food before a game are in fact lifetime memories that help bring generations of Aggie fans together. So, before the next football game, fire up the grill, gather some friends and join the tailgating fun.

Cajun eats Sheila de Guzman: LSU tailgates, fans let the good times roll

“H

Tigers return ◗ 532 RV passes were sold to LSU fans for Saturday’s game. 200 more Rv passes could be granted, weather permitting. ◗ 98 individual game spaces were sold out in 12 minutes. ◗ LSU fans requested roughly 20,000 tickets to Kyle Field. Less than half were granted. ◗ The last time the Tigers visited College Station, the year was 1995.

Courtesy photo by The Daily Reveille

Tiger fans fill the streets before LSU meets South Carolina in Tiger Stadium.

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ot boudin, cold coush-coush, come on Tigers, Push! Push! Push!” From the cheers they say to the opponents they play, food is central to LSU’s tailgating culture.

When playing Florida, alligator is grilled, fried or blackened. The preferred way to cook Arkansas’s namesake is a “cochon de lait.” It would’ve been a shock if a fan’s gumbo didn’t have duck during the Cowboy Classic against Oregon for the 2011 season-opener. Gamecocks aren’t so cocky when they’re in a large pot of jambalaya. And don’t be surprised to find huge legs from frogs which fans gigged themselves. The heart and soul of a tailgate is the food and LSU boasts the best Cajun food menu, which has contributed to its consistent ranking as one of the top destinations for an ultimate college football tailgating experience. Cajun food is a test of patience and taste buds. These fans aren’t cooking Zatarains; they stuff suckling pigs two days in advance to roast for hours on gameday, and they make their own roux to combine with the “holy trinity” for a delectable gumbo, finishing off with a bread pudding. Although LSU fans have a reputation for, let’s say colorful personalities toward visitors, they will happily give visitors bowl after bowl of their prized creations. Lip-smacking barbecue and beer are sold throughout the year, but there is nothing like authentic Cajun food to feed your soul during the fall season. Football season is considered a time to relax, despite the complicated cooking processes, and the Tigers know how to have a good time. “Laissez les bon temps rouler!” they say in the south and that’s not limited to Mardi Gras parade floats. A stream of RVs usually starts rolling into Baton Rouge on Wednesday night with more to follow. According to the Texas A&M Transportation office, 532 RV parking passes were sold for the LSU game, and weather permitting, 200 more will become available starting Monday. The 98 individual game spaces were sold out in 12 minutes. “This is the fastest sell out time we have seen,” said Lynn Wiggs, manager of special events and visitor parking at Texas A&M. The motto for traveling LSU fans is “We don’t travel, we take over,” so the transportation office encourages fans on both sides to preplan and be patient when they arrive

on campus. “We look forward to welcoming LSU fans to Aggieland” said the office’s marketing manager, June Broughton. LSU fans look forward to coming back to Aggieland. The last match-up between the two teams in College Station ended with an Aggie win in 1995, but the resentment still lingers. Both sides will give reasons why they detest the other, but the rivalry has a deep history - it’s a love-hate relationship. Even LSU’s most iconic player and Heisman winner, Billy Cannon, has three kids, all of whom went to Texas A&M. Both schools have a military foundation, produce outstanding engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs, and they are committed to their traditions. Prior to each game, fans line up on the sides of the road as they watch LSU players, coaches, cheerleaders and The Golden Band from Tigerland march down the hill between Tiger Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. This tradition is quick compared to the Corps’ procession. The Aggies have their 12th Man and the Tigers have their Chinese Bandits, LSU’s defense unit from 1958 that helped secure LSU’s first national championship. Just as flyovers are always expected at Kyle Field, there is never a chance of rain in Death Valley. “Beat The Hell Outta ________” is just as bad as “Geaux to Hell Ole Miss” and “Gig’em Aggies” is as unique as “Geaux Tigers.” Lastly, Aggies have yells and Tigers have down-cheers and Tiger Bait-jeers. Speaking of cheers, how do you know who is a real Tiger fan? They know what coush-coush is and they pronounced “push” as “poush” at the beginning of the article. People love to hate LSU fans, but there’s still some love nonetheless. Sheila de Guzman is a graduate marketing major, received her bachelor’s degree from LSU and is a writer for The Battalion.

10/19/12 12:52 AM

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Veer to victory Junior establishing prominent role in second year with program Veerman stats

Mark Doré The Battalion

◗ Hometown: Sugar Land.

The U.S. Collegiate Championship, year after year, is a hotbed for golf’s finest talents and its most well refined teams. The invitees read like a guest-list at golf’s most exclusive party, and in 2011 A&M junior Johannes Veerman came away with the individual championship against the best players in the country. On Friday Veerman and the No. 12 A&M men’s golf team will be back, and they’ll be looking for more. The win was the first of Veerman’s collegiate career, but he won’t approach this tournament differently than any other. A strong hitter and a talented putter, Veerman acknowledged the course suits him. “Obviously the course fits my eye, it fits my game style — I hit pretty far, and I’m a pretty good putter,” Veerman said. “It has really quick reads and it’s not a short course so I would have an advantage over most people. But other than that I’m just taking it the same ways as every other tournament.” In 2011, Veerman shot below par on each round. He said his success came not from brilliant shots but the elimination of bad ones. “I played solid,” Veerman said. “I didn’t play great, but I didn’t hit any bad shots. A lot of shots I hit were average but I didn’t hit one bad shot last year. I was very consistent, and that was the key last year.” Despite Veerman’s heroics, the Aggies finished ninth out of 15 teams in the team competition in 2011. With a field loaded with such renowned programs as No. 3 Washington, No. 4 UCLA— 2011’s team champion — No. 13 Stanford and No. 14 host Georgia Tech, a team win won’t be easy. Veerman, however, lacks no confidence in himself and his team. “I expect the team to win,” Veerman said. “I always expect us to win. If you don’t expect to win I don’t see why you should play.” If Veerman is unable to repeat 2011’s success, head coach J.T. Higgins said it wouldn’t be because of his physical ability. “You could argue for him being the best putter on our team, so

◗ Classiﬁcation: Junior. ◗ Transfer from Tulsa, Okla. ◗ Played in nine tournaments during the 2011 season, ﬁnishing in the Top 10 four times.

◗ 13 Rounds were par or better. ◗ 20 of the 25 rounds in which Veerman played in counted toward the teams total. ◗ Named to the Big 12 AllTournament team after helping the Aggies capture the ﬁrst conference title since 1987. when you put that together where you can hit the ball and putt, you have a chance to be a good golfer,” Higgins said. “The biggest thing for Johannes has always been the same — if he can stay focused throughout the round and commit to playing the course the way he wants to play it, he’s great. When he gets a little greedy and tries to do too much and make things happen, he gets in trouble. He’s got all the tools to be a great player, and we’re certainly expecting a lot from him this year.” Regardless of the final standings, Veerman has high aspirations and expects to stick with the game well into the future. “I plan to go pro,” Veerman said. “It’s a tough road and there’s nothing guaranteed so if that doesn’t work out I’ll have an education to fall back on.” Veerman isn’t the only talent on the A&M roster described by Higgins as being deep. “I see a lot of talent,” Higgins said. “They’re great kids with good work ethic. Overall I really like this team; it’s loaded. I think we’re capable of beating anyone in the country.” Held by Georgia Tech in Alpharetta, Ga., the tournament is described by Higgins as his favorite tournament and a first class event. “It’s one of the top two or three

Junior Johannes Veerman will play an integral part for the men’s golf team during A&M’s inaugural season in the SEC as the No. 12 ranked team. Veerman’s focus and determination led to the Aggies to bring home A&M’s first conference championship in 25 years. COURTESY

tournaments in the country,” Higgins said. “They always have a great field of teams. It’s a fabulous golf course to play on. The things they do and the way they treat the kids, it’s like a tour event. We’re honored to be invited and be a part of it.” The tournament will be the

final one of the fall semester for the golf team, and the Aggies won’t compete again until February. Veerman said the time between tournaments is important, and sacrifice will be key. “The holidays are going to come up, and it’s going to get cold and windy; and a lot of teams around

the nation aren’t going to want to practice,” Veerman said. “We’re going to want to stay indoors, relax a bit, but if we can stay focused for four or five hours per day we’ll come out the best for the spring.”

What to watch for Texas A&M soccer and volleyball teams look to continue quests for SEC success as the Aggies faceoff against league powerhouses.

SUNDAY EVENTS

FRIDAY EVENTS

Soccer: Children get in free with the purchase of one adult ticket (limit four children per adult). Fans with a ticket from Saturday’s football game can purchase tickets for $3.

Soccer: The soccer class of 2013 will be recognized before the beginning of the game. Free admission will be given to those who make a donation of a canned good for the Aggies CAN Food Drive. Volleyball: Those who bring a canned food item in support of the Aggies CAN food drive or who wear a 2012 Texas A&M volleyball camp T-shirt will be allowed free admission. Club volleyball members can purchase tickets for $3. There will be an autograph session with the A&M volleyball team in the volleyball practice gym after the match.

Volleyball: Those who wear a costume can purchase a ticket for $3. The Junior Aggie Club will be having pre-match activities including trick-or-treating with Aggie athletes, face painting and an appearance by Reveille.

FILE PHOTOS

A&M soccer faces off at 7 p.m. Friday against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ellis Field. The Aggies clinched the SEC Western Division title by defeating Vanderbilt 4-0.

Soccer will be back in action at 1:30 p.m. Sunday against Georgia at Ellis Field. Volleyball returns to action at 1 p.m. Sunday at Reed Arena against the No. 11 ranked Florida Gators. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.

A&M volleyball takes the court at 6 p.m. Friday at Reed Arena against Tennessee. The Aggies look to maitain first place in the SEC West.

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10/19/12 12:28 AM

news

friday 10.19.2012

thebattalion

Sports passes provide students profit Kyle Field Attendance

Annabelle Hutchinson

AN AD Phone 845-0569 Suite L400, Memorial Student Center Texas A&M University

low student,” he said. “I sold it for $150.” Ryan Finke said he sold the ticket because he didn’t want to go to the game this weekend, as well as had the opportunity to make back money originally spent on the sports pass. Junior biology major Jill Allen said it is wrong for students to sell their sports passes for outrageous amounts. “I think that we are all Aggies, and sometimes we forget that, in the spirit of things, that being a part of the 12th Man is not something you can put a price on,” Allen said. Senior political science major Grant Kingsbery said it is easy to make a profit from selling sports passes. “Honestly, if you are a student here, you have every right in the world to do what you want with your sports pass,” Kingsbery said. Alan Cannon, associate athletic director for media relations, said the reason the cost of sports passes has recently increased is because demand is higher than ever. “These last two years are the first years that we have had to curtail the allotment

TO CALL 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday Insertion deadline: 1 p.m. prior business day

The Student Service Fee Advisory Board will hold deliberations on departmental budget requests for fiscal year 2014 on Wednesday, October 24, at 6pm. The deliberations, which are open to the public, will be held in Suite 117 of the Koldus Student Services Building.

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FARM/RANCH Aggieland Alfalfa. 50lb compressed Alfalfa bales, 50lb compressed Timothy bales. Call or text orders to 806-683-2916.

FOR RENT $295 Prelease. All Bills Paid, 1-room in shared furnished apartment, short-term leases ok. Call Maroon & White Management, 979-422-5660. $395 Prelease 1/1, 2/1 and 2/2. Free WiFi/water/sewer. On Northgate, on shuttle. Short-term leases ok. Call Maroon & White Management 979-422-5660. 1bd house for rent. Horse Haven Estates. College Station. $450/m. Carl (979)324-1642 2-3/bedroom apartments. Some with W/D, some on College Main, remodeled with dishwashers, Great deal! $175-$600/mo. 979-219-3217.

◗ A&M - $350 ◗ University of Texas- $150 average attendance ◗ LSU- $144 86,777 ◗ Arkansas- $85 87,183 ◗ University of Houston - $0 82,477 ◗ University of Florida - $105 82,193 ◗ Texas Tech - $52 82,207 ◗ Oklahoma - $199 80,198 ◗ Missouri - $240 82,711

year 2012 2011 2010 2008 2007 2002 2001

WHEN

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Prices stack up

Average attendance for Kyle Field as of Sept. 30.

for student season tickets,” Cannon said. According to 12th Man Foundation, last year marked the highest average attendance at Kyle Field with an average of 87,183 for the 2011 season — almost 4,500 more fans than the previous record set in 2001. Sophomore sports management major Caleb De La Rosa said students did not realize that sports pass holders can buy guest passes without buying another student’s sports pass. “I had no idea that you could do that until now,” De La Rosa said. “I don’t think that was communicated very well at all, especially to former students.” Dollins said sports pass owners could purchase a second ticket for a guest since Monday for $100. Guest tickets are sometimes reserved for sale Fridays. “What separates Texas A&M from everyone else is the 12th Man,” Cannon said. “When you consider 31,000 standing in support of your football team, that’s why the University and the athletic department want to keep it that way.”

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October 17, 2012 6 - 8 p.m.

Blinn College - Bryan Campus Student Center (Bldg. E, E-121)

October 23, 2012 6 - 8 p.m.

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classiﬁeds see ads at thebatt.com

SPECIAL

The Battalion 31,000 people pack into the east side of Kyle Field, making it the largest student ticket allotment in the country. But the cost to sit in the student section dubbed the nation’s largest has risen at the ticket window as well as through unofficial, individual sales. Students can acquire a ticket in more than one way, including borrowing or buying a sports pass from another student. Some students are making a profit from such transactions, especially leading up to Saturday’s game against LSU. Mark Womack, SGA representative to the athletic council and international affairs graduate student, said sports passes have always been sold but only recently have they been sold at such high costs. “I remember buying one for my brother before he was a student at A&M for the 2007 t.u. game,” Womack said. “The difference between now and then is putting them online for massive mark ups. That has increased a lot.” The cost to buy an all-sports pass from 12th Man Foundation is $350, $25 more than last year. Texas A&M has one of the highest priced all-sports passes in the nation. University of Texas students can pay $150 for a guaranteed seat, and University of Arkansas students pay $85 for an all-sports pass. The price of a sports pass at A&M is affected by the amount of student seats allotted. Carole Dollins, senior vice president of ticketing at 12th Man Foundation, said student tickets at A&M are half the price of a regular ticket for the Foundation to break even. “We provide the largest block of student tickets in the country,” Dollins said. “In terms of making the revenue numbers match, students need to pay half.” Junior computer science major Ryan Finke sold his sports pass for the LSU game. “The only sports pass I have ever sold is for the LSU game and I sold it to a felPLACE

Q & A Info Sessions at Blinn College

page 7

PRIVATE PARTY WANT ADS

$10 for 20 words running 5 days, if your merchandise is priced $1,000 or less (price must appear in ad). This rate applies only to non-commercial advertisers offering personal possessions for sale. Guaranteed results or you get an additional 5 days at no charge. If item doesn’t sell, advertiser must call before 1 p.m. on the day the ad is scheduled to end to qualify for the 5 additional insertions at no charge. No refunds will be made if your ad is cancelled early.

FOR RENT

2bd/1ba apartment, 800sq. ft. New appliances, carpeting and tile. W/D. bus-route. $575/mo. 210-391-4106.

CONDO! 521 SW PKWY #201, 4/4, $1200, Alpha-Omega Prop., Broker, 774-7820 www.alphaomegaproperties.com

3/3,3/2 Houses, Townhouses &Apartments, 1250-1400sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, walk-in pantry &closets, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing, excellent specials. 979-694-0320. www.luxormanagement.com

Cozy 2bdrm/2bth condo 3-blocks from campus, yard, w/d connections, over 1000sqft., no HUD, updated, $595/mo total, 506-B College Main. Available. 254-289-0585, 254-289-8200.

3bd/2ba mobile home on one acre, 3131 Cain Rd. CS, $600/mo, call 777-2395. 4/2house in Southwood Valley. Lawncare, skylights, near bus route. Outdoor pets ok. Short or long term lease, $1025/mo. Call or text 979-218-7351. 4/3, 3/3 &3/2 Houses, Townhouses, Duplexes &Fourplexes, 1250-1700sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing, excellent specials. 979-694-0320. www.luxormanagement.com 6 or 12mo lease available Nov.2. 2bed/1bath apt, rent $550/mo. Brand new wood floor and carpet. On Wellborn, behind Northgate. Call or text 806-433-0006.

Support 15 years of Maroon Out!

BTHO LSU!

Duplex available now. 2bd/2ba w/large walk-in closets, fenced yard, pets okay, W/D connections, on shuttle, 979-693-1448, University Oaks, $700/mo. DUPLEXES! 3520 Paloma Ridge, 3/3, $1100, Alpha-Omega Prop., Broker, 774-7820 www.alphaomegaproperties.com FOURPLEXES! Oakdale, 2/1, w/d & water incl, $600, 4 units left, on Shuttle route! Alpha-Omega Prop., Broker, 774-7820 www.alphaomegaproperties.com

FOR RENT Greywolf Estates, 3br/2.5ba duplex, W/D, country setting, fenced yard, pets welcome, free lawn care & pest control, 979-255-3280, CS. House available now. 3bd/2ba on 3acres in town, large fenced yard, pets okay, 901 Krenek Tap, 979-693-1448, $1000/mo. HOUSES! 1309 Timm, 3/2, $1200/mo, lawn care included, close to campus. 601 Maryem, 3/1, $850, close to campus. 2615 Westwood Main, 3/2, $1250, new flooring, paint. 4111 McFarland, 4/4, $1325. 4130 McFarland, 4/4, $1500. 4137 McFarland, 4/4, $1500. 11106 N. Dowling, 3/3, $1200, country setting. 123 Mile Dr., 4/2,$1500, huge yard! Alpha-Omega Prop., Broker, 774-7820 www.alphaomegaproperties.com Just available! Close to campus, College Main and Eastgate areas. 2bd/1ba., some w/dishwasher, 1-fenced, some bills paid. $325-$450/mo. 979-219-3217. MOBILE HOME! 5005 Collette, 2/2, 1 fenced acre, $800 Alpha-Omega Prop., Broker, 774-7820 www.alphaomegaproperties.com

2nd location now at the MSC Leadership Entrance (Across from the Zone @ Kyle Field)

Monday-Friday 8am-6pm

Northgate. Brand new 1bd/1ba. Also available 2bd/ba, 3bd/2ba. Washer/dryer. Walk to campus. aggievillas.net. Call 979-255-5648.

puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com

FOR RENT Sub-lease 1bd/1ba, within walking distance to TAMU, on shuttle route, 979-324-3652. Sublease master bed/bath in 4bd house until summer 2013, negotiable, male roommate, W/D, walk to campus! Call 512-589-3112 SUBLEASE our 2bd/2ba duplex with large kitchen, backyard, dog park, NO pet rent, on bus route! Rent $850, available Jan-May, negotiable. Call (979)450-2065.

FOR SALE House for sale- Must sell! Reduce 4-2, 1,923sqft. Southwood Valley, recently upgraded, $129,999, 979-450-0098.

HELP WANTED Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com Busy OB/GYN office looking for mature college-student to work part-time in front office send resume to afwhobgyn@suddenlinkmail.com or bring to 1602 Rock Prairie Road (West Building #430) Please include hours of availability. Child Care FT & PT shifts available. Some nights & Saturdays required. Apply in person at 3609 E. 29th St., Bryan. Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. Hallmark Cleaners PT delivery driver apply in person 3611 S.College Avenue Part-time job helping handicapped. Male student preferred. $360/mo. 5-10hrs/wk. 979-846-3376. Part-time position available, technology and website design, flexible schedule, 979-985-5610. PT worship coordinator. Leading & planning worship. Must play piano or guitar. Send resume & church music experience to revjeff@stlukesbcs.org

COLLEGE SKI & BOARD WEEK

HELP WANTED Servers needed ASAP, computer knowledge a plus. Friendly and energetic. Longhorn Steakhouse in Downtown Bryan, 201 East 24th Street, must be willing to work weekends, 979-778-3900, apply within. Student work! part-time work, $16 base-appt. flexible, conditions apply, all ages 17+, call now! 979-260-4555. Visit our website www.cstatdivision.com STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In College Station. 100% Free To Join. Click On Surveys. The Battalion Advertising Office is hiring an Advertising Sales Representative. Work around your class schedule. Must be enrolled at A&M and have reliable transportation. Interested applicants should drop off resume in the MSC, Suite 400, from 8am-4pm. Tutors wanted for all subjects currently taught at TAMU/ Blinn and Sam Houston State starting at $10/hour. Apply on-line @ www.99Tutors.com, 979-268-8867. Weekend and holiday work in Houston installing holiday decorations, work is physically demanding. Pay starts at $10/hr, 979-777-2762.

LOST & FOUND Pearl necklace lost at Arkansas game on 9/29, reward offered. If found, please call 979-571-1679.

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10/19/12 12:37 AM

news

page 8

MAKE YOUR PLACE IN AGGIE HISTORY

friday 10.19.2012

thebattalion

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Have your senior portrait taken today in Suite L400 of the MSC. To schedule your free portrait sitting, go to www.thorntonstudio.com Then click Schedule Your Appointment, select New User, complete with the Password: TAMU Or call 1-800-883-9449 Or walk in, 9 AM – 5 PM Mon. and Fri., or 10 AM – 7 PM Tues., Wed. and Thurs. IT’S YOUR YEARBOOK. BE IN IT.

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Maroon Out in full force for LSU game Joanna Raines & Jake Walker The Battalion For 15 years, the Maroon Out football game has united Kyle Field in it’s own unique way. Though the shirt design has changed over the years, the message remains the same: “We are the Aggies. The Aggies are we.” The Maroon Out tradition began in 1998 in a game against No. 2 Nebraska, which was known for its “sea of red.” Then junior class president, Kyle Valentine, wanted to match the Nebraska fans and give the 12th Man a boost of confidence. “We had come off kind of an embarrassing loss against Nebraska at the Alamo bowl,” said Chelsea Hunt, Maroon Out inventory director and junior petroleum engineering major. “[Valentine] saw how united Nebraska was with their ‘sea of red’ and he really wanted to do that.” Although A&M didn’t defeat Nebraska that year, Hunt said the purpose be-

Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

Students line up Thursday afternoon in Rudder Fountain Plaza to buy Maroon Out t-shirts for the upcoming Maroon Out game against LSU. T-shirts will be sold Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and during the game. hind Maroon Out was to unite the 12th Man and have a sea of maroon at the football game. “People weren’t always all wearing maroon,” Hunt said. “[Valentine] really wanted to unite [the 12th Man] and make the 12th Man more intimidating.” Fourteen years later, Class Councils — who are also responsible for traditions such as Elephant Walk and Ring Dance — are still working to keep the tradition strong. Hunt said Maroon Out is completely student-run and sells more than 50,000 shirts every year. Although Saturday’s game will be early, she said it is still important for Aggies to participate.

“Having everyone in the stands wearing a maroon shirt and waving white, no matter what time of day it is, is one of the most awe-inspiring and intimidating sights you can see,” Hunt said. “As an Aggie looking up and seeing that, you’re just inspired. As another team looking up and seeing that, it’s extremely intimidating.” Just as in the Maroon Out’s debut in 1998, A&M is playing another highly ranked team for the game. LSU is no stranger to raucous crowds and Tiger Stadium has been called one of the toughest places to play in the nation. “The LSU fans are going to bring it,” Hunt said. “And we need to bring it harder.”

Students give back in CAN food drive Kate Harrell & Jake Walker The Battalion

The Battalion Classified Advertising UÊ >ÃÞÊUÊ vv À`>L iÊUÊ vviVÌ Ûi Call for more information 845-0569

Pg. 8-10.19.12.indd 1

Integrity of character is one of the many qualities of a Texas Aggie, so much so that it is represented by a point of the star on the Aggie Ring. The Aggies CAN food drive — organized by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the enlisted help of other student organizations — gives students at Texas A&M a chance to show their integrity of character by donating to those in need in Bryan-College Station. “We heard from students at Missouri and Arkansas that they have an on-campus food bank,” said Mark Womack, executive vice president of Student Government Association and

international affairs graduate student. “A school that prides itself on integrity and a community of excellence and camaraderie like we do should have one as well.” Beginning with the volleyball game Friday, students will have the opportunity to donate canned food to support the Brazos Valley Food Bank. Janell Sack, president of the SAAC, said this food drive has donated more than $80,000 worth of food and more than 20,000 pounds of cans to the Brazos food bank during the last 12 years. “Our goal this year is $50,000 and 10,000 pounds of cans,” Sack said. Students are encouraged to bring canned food items to any of the four donation stations throughout the week-

end at Reed Arena, Ellis Soccer Field and Kyle Field during Midnight Yell and Saturday’s game. Many other groups on campus — including SGA, Class Councils and the Corps of Cadets — are competing to individually raise the most cans, all benefiting Aggies CAN and the Brazos Valley Food Bank. Drew Alders, media relations coordinator for the Corps and junior agricultural economics major, said the competition was friendly and for a common good. “Obviously it’s a competition,” Alders said. “But it’s a great way to have us also compete to unite behind one goal, which is providing a food bank for the area.”

10/18/12 11:30 PM