The Battalion — August 31, 2023

Silver Taps

How to beat the Texas heat

By Mia Putnam @MiaBatt25

Walking across Texas A&M’s campus, you can see thousands of sweaty, red-faced students walking to class. The culprit of this new epidemic is none other than the heat-wave that continues to break records across the nation — especially in Texas.

On Aug. 20, Bryan-College Station reached a temperature of 112 degrees and tied for the hottest day in the city’s history. However, College Station isn’t the only city in Texas breaking records for heat.

This past Sunday, San Antonio had its 60th day of over 100 degree heat for the year, breaking the previous record for the longest stretch of over 100 degrees in the city’s history since 1962. Similar stories can be found in cities and counties across Texas and around the country.

A&M atmospheric sciences professor and Director of the Texas Center for Climate Studies Andrew Dessler shed some sunlight on why this summer is hotter than others.

“There are two factors in any heatwave,” Dessler said. “One factor is random weather variability, and we happen to have a set-up where there is a high pressure system parked over Texas. The other [factor] is climate change. Climate change is lifting the base climate, so all heatwaves are hotter now because the climate is hotter.”

A study from NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information in 2022 found that Texas has warmed 1.5 degrees since the beginning of the 20th century. Dessler said this warming should be a cause for concern for Texans.

“Higher temperatures have a lot of negative impacts on society,” Dessler said. “It’s more expensive because you have to run your air conditioner more, and it’s unpleasant. We are adapting to it, but the life we have

A new start for Arts and Sciences

Interim Dean Mark Zoran plans to push forward despite recent controversies

By Nicholas Gutteridge @nico_gjc

Under new leadership, the College of Arts and Sciences looks to further integrate the different colleges and expand hiring, with the Interim Dean Mark Zoran, Ph.D., emphasizing communication and collaboration.

Following the resignation of José Luis Bermúdez, Ph.D., on July 31, the Texas A&M Board of Regents appointed Zoran as interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, assuming the role effective Aug. 1.

Zoran joined A&M in 1991 as a researcher in the biology department, where he focused on brains and animal nervous systems.

“Over a decade and a half ago, I was asked to oversee the graduate programs here at [A&M] and in the former College of Science, and that got me into administration,” Zoran said. “From there, I’ve been kind of sort of working my way up through the administrative ranks to now being the interim dean until the university decides who wants to be the permanent dean of the new College of Arts and Sciences.”

Zoran was appointed as the executive associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in June 2022, where he spent a year building the new college.

“We were tasked with the job of basically, in a year, of standing up a new college at [A&M],” Zoran said. “And that was being stood up by taking three legacy colleges — legacy geosciences, legacy science and legacy liberal arts — and combining those three colleges, all their faculty, staff and students into one new college.”

During that time, Zoran said he worked on multiple initiatives, such as ensuring promotional and tenure guidelines for new faculty.

“We had to do that time and time again, for

large tasks or for very small tasks of, ‘How are we going to do this?’ or, ‘How are you going to do that?’ and there are literally thousands of those things that we had to accomplish,” Zoran said.

Zoran said within the next couple of years, the university will host over 80,000 students, with more than a quarter of those entering the College of Arts and Sciences.

“That’s a big task,” Zoran said. “It’s just a massive endeavor that we were tasked with getting up to speed, and we think, humbly, we’ve done a pretty good job of [standing] up the largest college at [A&M] — kind of too many of us it seems, overnight, we were asked to do that.”

Zoran spoke about a long-term and shortterm goal: effective integration between the colleges and increased hiring, respectively.

“So my long-term goal is to get our faculty in the geosciences, the sciences, in the liberal arts, to think more of themselves as one and become one,” Zoran said. “When you bring different viewpoints and different cultures together, and

Aggies open season against Lobos

New roster prepares for fresh start in 2023

By Luke White @lukewhite03

First impressions are everything. Coming off a 5-7 campaign, Texas A&M football’s season-opener versus New Mexico at Kyle Field on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 6 p.m. gives the Aggies an opportunity to show the 12th Man that this team is different.

Different from the 2022 squad that failed to develop a consistent offensive attack. Different from the Aggies that couldn’t stop opponents’ rushing attacks to save its life. Different from last season’s group that lacked discipline and maturity.

The maroon and white want to put last season behind them. Last year is last year, and the focus has shifted to 2023. That starts against the Lobos, who are aiming for a bounce back season of their own after going 2-10 and ending 2022 on a nine-game losing streak.

While New Mexico is no opponent to write home about, last year’s

home loss to Appalachian State showed the importance of taking one game at a time and not overlooking any opponent. Sure, fans and even players could be tempted to look ahead to the Sept. 9 matchup at Miami, but the Aggies need to take care of business versus the Lobos first.

“Each and every year you learn from your mistakes, you learn from the past,” coach Jimbo Fisher said. “Every game is a big game. Every game is an important game, and that’s the way you have to look at it … Hopefully maturity will understand that, hopefully leadership will get that across. The coaching staff, we’ve been preaching that all the way through too.”

Regardless of A&M’s role as 38-point favorites, the first game of the season presents a challenge to all teams due to a lack of knowledge of what to expect from opposing offenses and defenses. In New Mexico’s case, the Lobos brought in Bryant Vincent from UAB as offensive coordinator after averaging just 13 points per game in 2022.

“First games are a pain,” Fisher said. “You don’t ever know what somebody does in the offsea-

son. You’ve got new people, new schemes, new coordinators, what they do, have they changed? … First games are always nerve-wracking in

that there’s no film out there to go off of, so they’re very challenging.”

It may be Fisher’s sixth season as the headman in College Station, but

he needs a strong season-opener.

He’s not necessarily on the hot seat,

Interim Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences Mark Zoran during an interview with The Battalion on Monday, Aug. 21, 2023.

Heise — THE BATTALION

Current graduate WR Ainias Smith (0) fakes out New Mexico LB Ray Leutele (30) after landing a hurdle during a game vs. New Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2023 at Kyle Field.

Liftoff: To Aggieland and beyond

New space institute brings A&M talent to the stars

By Emelia Gamez @EmeliaGGamez

On Aug. 16, the Texas A&M Board of Regents approved both an A&M Space Institute and a facility that will work with NASA to keep Texas’ place in space.

The Texas legislature granted a $350 million investment into Texas aerospace activity in House Bill 3447, according to Texas A&M Today.

A&M University Space Institute Director Nancy Currie-Gregg said this investment aims to keep Texas at the forefront of space.

$150 million of the investment will go to the Space Economy Consortium for research and will be important for NASA as it aims to return to the moon and visit Mars, Currie-Gregg said.

Of the $350 million investment, $200 million will go to A&M for the construction of an institute “co-located” with the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Currie-Gregg said. The location of the facility will allow students and faculty to engage more with NASA stakeholders.

“Whether it’s interfacing with industry or academia, the co-location is really the key to success,”

Currie-Gregg said.

A&M has faculty across all departments who have expertise in space through research or personal experience, such as four former astronauts, Currie-Gregg said.

“We already have an extreme breadth and depth of talent at this university,” Currie-Gregg said.

Mechanical engineering doctoral student Alexander Duffy is the program manager for AggieSat Laboratory, a student-run space systems engineering program.

There is a “renewed drive and spirit” for space exploration, and it is reflected at A&M, Duffy said.

“[Having space-related organizations] shows that the student body here at [A&M] is very interested in being involved in this next era of space engineering, and space research and space development,”

Duffy said.

Assistant professor of aerospace engineering Ana Diaz Artiles said students are interested in the research she does. She said faculty, such as herself, need to “react” to the new demand students have for space exploration. With the new institute, research opportunities will increase, benefiting both students and faculty, Diaz Artiles said.

“There is a huge interest in the students and the new generations coming in,” Diaz Artiles said. “They want to get involved in this research. They are super excited about space exploration.”

ZORAN CONTINUED FROM PG. A1

-you include more people with more diverse kinds of backgrounds, great things grow out of that.”

Zoran said the college loses about 50 faculty a year to retirements and other reasons, emphasizing a need to hire more.

“We’ve been trying to do so many things to get this organization up to speed that we really have some spaces in terms of faculty and in terms of staff that we need to really hire,” Zoran said. “I’m going to be looking for support from the new president, Gen. [Mark] Welsh to help us out.”

Zoran said he was dedicated to addressing pain points from faculty, such as a lack of communication.

The institute will expand upon the expertise and resources here at A&M, according to Texas A&M Today. Duffy said the university can provide a large student and faculty group that is already doing research and studying the field.

“We have the people to pull off the kinds of research and development I think NASA and other gov-

“I think there has been a little dip in [communication] recent years across this university, and perhaps in the Arts and Sciences, where we were asked to do a lot of things really fast,” Zoran said.

In the future, Zoran said the college will be taking things slower and asking for more input from faculty, staff and students.

“Sometimes, when you’re challenged to build something really fast, you don’t get enough input that you need to building it,” Zoran said. “I’ve told people this, and I’m not afraid to say this, I think it would have been better to move more slowly in some of the things that we’ve done here at [A&M] over the last couple years and get more shared governance and … input into that and build something maybe more patiently and maybe

ernment agencies are looking for in the coming years,” Duffy said.

A&M’s future in space will make the university a “landmark” in the space line, Diaz Artiles said.

“[The institute is] a huge step forward in becoming, hopefully, the lead institution in terms of space research and space collaboration with NASA,” Diaz Artiles said.

more stably, and maybe more correctly.”

In text messages revealed from an internal investigation, A&M Board of Regents member Jay Graham said they were told the reason the college was created was to “control the liberal nature that those professors brought to campus.”

“If anybody’s idea was to diminish the liberal arts by creating an arts and sciences college, they have failed miserably in that effort,” Zoran said. “Because we’re stronger than ever. And we’re moving forward.”

Zoran said he joined Welsh’s committee to look into academic freedom at A&M.

“I’m not going to be asking any faculty member whether they’re liberal or conservative, or whatever, when they come in,” Zoran said. “I’m going to be asking them, ‘Can you

Part of Currie-Greggs decision to come to A&M was to give back and to see students at A&M continue work for NASA, she said.

“I’d like to think that we are growing the next generation of explorers and engineers and scientists here at A&M,” Currie-Grant said. “Nothing would make me happier to see another Aggie in space.”

impact our students in our research and our university and make it stronger?'”

Zoran said he was also looking into how former-President M. Katherine Banks’ The Path Forward initiative has affected the College of Arts and Sciences.

“I’m passionate about increasing my communication,” Zoran said. “How can you have shared governance? How can you really build in the right direction if you’re not communicating with people appropriately? I think Gen. Welsh is asking the same thing at the university level: How can we better communicate our message and what we’re doing?”

TREN DY , D E SIGNER & VIN TAGE

EARN CASH FOR CLOTHES

Texas A&M will have an institute “co-located” with the Johnson Space Center in Houston. A $200 million investment will go to the institute and facility that aims to keep Texas at the forefront of space.

Photo via NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Creative Commons

-to adapt to is worse … and for people who are at the bottom of the economic ladder. They cannot afford to run their air conditioner more so it becomes a choice of eating, paying rent or having an air conditioned environment.”

According to a 2021 study, individuals who have a low socioeconomic status are more likely to die from heat-related issues than those with higher income. Environmental and occupational health associate professor Natalie Johnson said the effects that heat can have on health can be very detrimental.

“Some of the main issues with exposure to heat are acute effects,” Johnson said. “You can have things like heat cramping …, heat exhaustion and if your core body temperature goes above 105 degrees then you can have a heat stroke.”

Along with acute effects, Johnson said that heat can be dangerous for individuals with chronic health conditions as well.

“It is known that heat waves can kill thousands of people,” Johnson said. “Heat can cause flare-ups in asthma and it can exacerbate kidney disease and especially heart disease. Heat is known to worsen air quality, and this summer has been really high for ozone days. If you go above a certain threshold [for ground level ozone levels] that could be really dangerous for health.”

A&M regents professor and Director of the Center for Health & Nature Jay Maddock said heat can have very negative effects on the environment and infrastructure of Texas.

“We have something called the heat island effect,” Maddock said. “It is when the built environment reflects and retains heat. If we have a lot of concrete or other built surfaces, it tends to heat up our area. If you are in downtown Houston, it is going to be a lot warmer than being in the country somewhere.”

The solution to this heat island effect, Maddock said, is to find nature-based solutions in Texas.

“One of the things we have been looking at is something called bioswales,” Maddock

said. “Bioswales are using native plants in the areas where we used to use concrete for drainage. These swales bring nature to you and are better at absorbing water when there is a rain event. Not only do we address the heat by putting more greenspace in, but also reduce the risk of flooding.”

Maddock said A&M has done similar actions to reduce heat on campus through the addition of Aggie Park and The Gardens. Although some students, like engineering freshman Amanda Lozoya, said A&M could be doing more to keep students from overheating.

“I feel like [A&M’s] quality of water could be better,” Lozoya said. “Especially the temperature of it, I feel like it’s usually hot when I get it out of the fountains. If it was cold, it would make life so much easier.”

Most students have taken to trying to stay out of the heat to reduce their time spent in the hot temperatures.

“I stayed inside most of the summer to avoid the heat because when I go outside, it can be overwhelming.” Lozoya said.

Johnson said students can help themselves

be less at risk for heat-related issues through hydration.

“I recommend staying well-hydrated through electrolyte drinks to make sure you are consuming salts, along with water so you stay hydrated,” Johnson said. “This is going to be critical as we are going into football season and [are] at football games … because that is where people are very susceptible to dehydration and become at-risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”

Nonetheless, Texas continues to get hotter, with scientists predicting higher temperatures and a hotter climate in the future.

“We are adapted to the world with the weather of the 20th century,” Dessler said. “Everything we built in the world is built for a climate that really doesn’t exist anymore. It is going to be expensive and painful to learn to live with the new climate that we haven’t built the world for.”

By Ana Renfroe

aring,

Gregory Angus McFarlane, Jr will be remembered for his immense nerdiness and love for others.

Ever since he was a kid, Angus had been fascinated with space, science and adventure, with many of his passions stemming from his early love of “geek” pop culture, his sister Ella McFarlane said.

Angus loved Star Wars, Doctor Who and Adventure Time, alongside his immense love of building Legos.

“He [had] the most extensive Lego collection that spans over his college apartment and home because all of them can’t fit in one place,” Ella said.

When he was younger, Angus would wear bowties and skate on Heelys, but he never outgrew his quirky fashion style and would often wear graphic tees of his favorite fandoms, Ella said.

“Even when he got older and his style got a little more mature, he still kept some aspect of Doctor Who or Star Wars incorporated,” Ella said. “He just always did what he wanted, what he felt represented himself. He didn’t really conform to social pressures or anything.”

By John Chapa

Lorena brought light to the world and inspired others without knowing it.

Molecular and cellular biology senior Lorena Casares had her sights on becoming the first Aggie in her family before she became ill with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare, genetic cancer. Her Aggie story is immortalized by the hundreds of Aggies who supported her walk of life through her GoFundMe last year. Today, she is remembered for her friendliness, her love for learning and her ability to inspire others.

Growing up in the McAllen area, Lorena brought fond memories of her creative wits to her sister, Raquel Casares, and father, Jose Casares. As a kid, Lorena loved to take her stuffed animals apart and deliver funny one-liners, Raquel said.

“When I was in middle school and she was in elementary school, she had these witty comebacks for everything my friends said,” Raquel said. “All her stuffed animals had missing pieces or parts from other stuffed animals. She liked creating little Frankensteins.”

Lorena’s father served as a corpsman in the Marines, working as a translator due to his proficiency in five languages. Lorena had a strong desire to learn and took after her veteran father, flooding him with inquiries on a daily basis, Jose said.

“I would pick her up from elementary school every day, and she would come with a

By Sydnei Miles

An intelligent human and math wiz at heart.

Luke had a bright mind and was strong, resilient and an inspiration to many. Robert Morse, Luke’s father, said he was very smart and had a unique love for math.

“He is the smartest person I’ve ever met,” Robert said. “He was incredibly intelligent. He could see numbers in his head, I think, because he could do math like nobody’s business.”

With his incredible wit, Luke planned to study engineering at Texas A&M this fall. Robert said Luke knew in his heart he was meant to be an Aggie.

“He just wanted to go to [A&M],” Robert said. “He didn’t apply to any other schools.”

Luke was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, clear cell sarcoma, during senior year of high school.

“They didn’t really know what to do with this cancer, because it wasn’t something they were very familiar with,” Robert said. “It’s extremely rare. It’s a sarcoma, which is 1%, as I understand it, of cancers, and within the Sarcomas, clear cell sarcoma, which is what he

Silver Taps

January 2, 2003 — July 5, 2023

Gregory Angus McFarlane, Jr.

Ella and Angus were born only 15 months apart, which made them grow up very close together, she said. One of Ella’s fondest memories with her brother was to trade watching each other’s favorite TV shows and movies.

“He would watch Barbie movies with me, and I would watch the Star Wars: The Clone Wars series with him,” Ella said.

According to Ella, Angus was very close with his dad, who was heavily involved as a scoutmaster within the Boy Scouts of America. Following in his dad’s footsteps, Angus joined as a scout, consistently attending meetings and troop camping trips.

Throughout his childhood, Angus had numerous family pets, ranging from cats and dogs to a plethora of reptiles, fish, snakes and ferrets, Ella said. From laid-back cats to high-energy dogs, Angus was always patient and loving to all animals, who in turn, loved him.

Classics junior Eliot Kalinov, Angus’ childhood friend since junior high, said Angus was always regarded as the model friend in their group. Kalinov said Angus was always receptive and could almost read his mind from across the room.

Ella said he was proud to be an engineer, and his Aggie Loyalty ran deep for what he loved most: his studies, pets, friends and family.

Despite being a “self-declared two percenter,” Angus worked hard to earn his spot at

Texas A&M after transferring into engineering after a year at Blinn, his sister said. However, she doubts he ever attended a football game.

Angus initially wanted to study aerospace engineering, but he was accepted into the nuclear engineering program. However, this wasn’t a problem for him, and Angus fell in love with his major.

Aside from studying and spending time with friends, Angus was dedicated to his position at A&M’s Fuel Cycle & Materials Laboratory.

According to Ella, he was proud but secretive of his work because he signed a non-disclosure agreement. Even his friends, such as Kalinov, didn’t know what he did in the lab. Kalinov said he thought Angus’ playful secrecy made him feel like a spy.

Angus was never known to take the easy way out, Kalinov said, and he always sought to learn.

“Ever since elementary school, he just understood math and science in a way that just didn’t click with other people,” Ella said. “He could be in a calculus class and not even try that hard and be really successful.”

“Once he hit A&M, he found that initiative … He just became such a good student on top of how naturally intelligent he already was,” Ella said.

Angus was known for his straightforward demeanor and was set on always doing the right thing, Ella said.

October 31, 2001 — June 17, 2023

Lorena Maria Casares

brand new topic,” Jose said. “She’d ask me a question and be appalled if I knew the answer. She would be shocked if someone else knew something she didn’t know. Her goal in life was to know more than me. She asked one day, ‘Were you in the NSA?’ I said, ‘No, I was a corpsman.’ Lorena responded, ‘That’s exactly what an NSA agent would say.’”

Everyone who met her had something good to say about her, even if they only met her briefly. Her positive spirit instantly warmed any room, biology senior Estefany Chavez said.

“Wherever she went, she was always smiling,” Chavez said. “Even when she was battling cancer, she was always super positive. It always helped me through my struggles because if Lorena could be positive then, I could be positive too.”

Lorena supported everyone she met with genuine love and cheerfulness, Raquel said.

“She was everyone’s biggest cheerleader,” Raquel said. “That’s what I miss the most. I don’t have my cheerleader.”

Lorena took medical leave from the university following her diagnosis, leaving her three classes shy of earning her Aggie ring. After talking with her family, Lorena utilized some credits she earned in high school to earn her Aggie ring and returned to College Station to pick it up and dunk with her roommates. Chavez said Lorena valued A&M’s education and missed taking classes.

“Dr. Fletcher’s class was the last class we took together,” Chavez said. “She loved getting an education. She said, ‘When I get better, I want to attend medical school.’ She still

had that drive while receiving treatment.”

In addition to learning, Lorena spent much of her time creating artwork, beautiful artwork at that. Psychology senior Autumn Lee said Lorena’s drawings floored her.

“Lorena was very passionate about art … She did a lot of stained glasswork, drawing and painting,” Lee said. “Before I ever met Lorena, I looked through her sketchbook she left at a friend’s house, and I was wowed with how beautiful her artwork was.”

Lorena’s friends agreed that the Core Values she embodied the most were Loyalty and Selfless Service. Economics and psychology senior Jasmine Cobb said Lorena serves as an inspiration for those who hear her story.

“She always was looking to make the world more accommodable for those who don’t have as many opportunities to succeed,” Cobb said. “She came from a pretty underprivileged background. Not only was she fighting for equity, she was using all the resources at her disposal to do all that she could to continue this fight. That is what she is known for. She is a constant inspiration for me to want to change the world and bring positivity to this world.”

Lorena lived to learn, strived to create positive change and inspired everyone she touched to do the same. Everything she did was to change the world for the better, Lee said.

“She was a great person … a person that I saw would make a difference,” Lee said. “Some people you meet and you know they have a purpose that is outside of what is right here, right now. She was one of those people.”

May 6, 2004 — July 8, 2023

Luke Anthony Morse

had, is 1% of those.”

Luke was the epitome of resilience. His grit and perseverance was not only exemplified in his battle with cancer but also in his everyday life.

“I remember another time we were out at Canyon Lake, and we were trying to learn how to kneeboard,” Robert said. “So our whole family was doing it. And Rachel, his older sister, she couldn’t do it. His mom and I couldn’t do it, and he couldn’t do it, but he was the last one to try. And he wouldn’t come in the boat. We just were like, ‘Come on, let’s come in, and we’re gonna go eat.’ And he’s like, ‘No, I’m gonna try it again.’ So he just stuck with it and eventually, he did it. He gritted his way through not being able to do it until he could do it.”

Luke’s grit and passion translated into other interests, including video games and chess, Robert said.

“What he was most passionate about was playing video games,” Robert said. “So we sent him to a lot of STEM camps … to kind of encourage him to dig more into that field other than just … the joystick controller that he had in his hand. He was president of the chess club when he was a senior, and he loved playing chess. It was a little humbling when he first beat me. We’d been playing chess since

middle school for him. He developed enough of a love for the game that he would actually study it … and he was very good.”

Robert said that while Luke had many other passions, his girlfriend had become someone he loved most.

“His senior year, right around the time that we went to see the doctor, he started dating a girl in his class,” Robert said. “And so she became one of his passions, [and] he would love to go spend time with her and she was awesome. She was great. You know, she made him feel loved in a way that none of us really did.”

Gratitude became a prevalent heart posture within Luke as his battle with cancer continued.

“As he progressed through his cancer, I noticed that he became much more grateful through the process for what people were doing for him,” Robert said. “He would say thank you when, in the past, he wouldn’t, and he would think about other people and want to do things for other people. So that was a beautiful thing to see blossom.”

Let us all live by Luke’s words and remember to always “live life bold.”

“It’s so hard whenever you’re talking about these things because when you hear other people talking, you’re like, ‘Oh, that sounds so generic,’” Ella said. “But when it comes to talking about it, it’s just generic. He was very true to his word. He always thought about others before he made choices for himself.”

Provided

Provided

Aselfless, life-long learner; an inspiration to Aggies everywhere

Cselfless, geeky and unapologetically himself.

By Caleb Elizondo

When she walked into a room, she lit it up with her personality.

Madison Hall was an inquisitive student, kind-hearted friend and valued member of her community.

Madison was known for volunteering, particularly in livestock education and showmanship. Madison’s father, Spence Hall, said when asked to help teach classes for money, Madison would do it for free. Madison also assisted special needs children by helping them compete in livestock shows.

“I’ll never forget the first time her kid won, they both cried,” Madison’s mother, Tammy, said. “She said, ‘Mom, I don’t even know why I’m crying.’ They were both so excited.”

Madison always had a passion for animals, raising goats, sheep, cattle, rabbits and pigs for Future Farmers of America and Texas 4-H. She also rescued stray cats, dogs and even a parrot. Tammy said she began to keep puppy

By Nicholas Gutteridge

He has proven over and over to be of fine, responsible, and empathic character.

Political science senior William Harrison Hall thought of Texas A&M as more than a college. To him, it was a way of life, his father, William Hall, said.

“I think that [A&M] embodied everything that he wanted to do,” William said. “He just wanted to be part of the whole [A&M] spirit.”

William said Harrison loved to hunt, fish and camp. He also spent his time helping and donating his time, especially during the winter.

“In his last two summers, he worked in Washington, D.C. for Congressman Sessions,” William said. “He started out as an unpaid intern and worked his way up to becoming a paid intern and almost to Congressman Sessions’ Chief of Staff, meaning Congressman

Madison Taylor Dovie Hall

formula in the freezer “at all times” in case Madison brought one home.

Madison’s corgi, Gus, accompanied her to College Station and was her “absolute best friend.”

“Maddie was on the floor whelping pups with me,” Spence said. “And when Gus came out, she just automatically knew that was the one she was keeping.”

Madison planned to attend Texas A&M at an early age and always considered it her “plan A.” Tammy said Madison’s love for A&M could be traced back to attending livestock judging camps and events in Aggieland.

At A&M, Madison pursued a degree in animal science, worked at the Swine Center, was heavily involved in research, the meat judging team and other extracurriculars. Madison was set to attend Tarleton to get her master’s degree after graduation.

“She had over 650 people attend her memorial,” Tammy said. “That was a testament to her personality and the kind of person she was, the many people she touched,” Spence added.

The Madison Taylor Dovie Hall ‘23 En-

dowed Scholarship fund has been established in her honor and will provide scholarships to students seeking an undergraduate degree in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. According to the Texas A&M Foundation, nearly $60,000 has been officially raised as of writing.

“Her classmates started out with just a thousand dollars, and it grew from there,” Tammy said.

Tammy and Spence said they were grateful for everyone who donated to the scholarship fund.

“Not only was [Madison] able to help [by teaching] and by being an organ donor, she and everyone who’s given will be able to help the school and upcoming Aggies with this scholarship,” Spence said. “She would be so proud of that.”

September 5, 2000 — May 1, 2023

William Harrison Hall

Sessions was in one office and had an office right next to him. That was Harrison’s office.”

William watched C-SPAN often, where he saw Harrison and Congressmen Sessions working together during votes.

“When Harrison passed away, Congressman Sessions flew in and met with my wife and I,” William said. “They raised the flag [at the capitol] and they had a moment of silence just with his office. And then they folded up the flag and they sent [it] back to us. So he had a lot of impact, I think not only on Congressman Sessions but the people that work there.”

In a letter, Heidi Hall, Harrison’s sister, said he was a hard-working student, dedicated brother and reliable member of the community.

“I honestly cannot say how many times … Harrison has driven out in dangerous storms to offer his assistance,” Heidi said. “Countless times, with and without co-pilots. He goes out in dangerous conditions and clears roads of debris, blocks off flooded roadways until first-responders arrive, tows stuck cars to safe-

ty and drives strangers home.”

Harrison loved the outdoors and visiting national parks, where he would camp often.

“For him, camping was not just camping,” William said. “It was a way to visit all the different national parks around the United States.”

To the end, Harrison’s dedication to A&M was clear. In his junior and senior years, Harrison was a starting player on the front line of the football team.

“He loved the [A&M] traditions,” William said. “He loved being at [A&M]. He was a football player for a year.”

William said Harrison loved history, especially American history.

“Harrison is an exemplary member of our society, head and shoulders above the average American man,” Heidi wrote. “He is my brother, I love him, I am going to miss him every day, and the world is a better place because he was in it.”

March 9, 2003 — May 18, 2023

Samuel “Sam” Hartsfield Raines Jackson

By Anna Deardorff

Sam was an all-around remarkable human being.

“Looking back on our friendship, he never once talked bad about anyone,” kinesiology junior Kate Morsbach said. “That’s truly one of the greatest things, to have that mindset that everyone is good in their own way.”

After meeting sophomore year of high school, Sam helped Morsbach find a balance between school and life, Morsbach said, and she’ll forever thank him for that.

“If I’m ever contemplating going out with my friends or just doing something that doesn’t involve working, I’ll always say yes because I know that’s what he would do,” Morsbach said.

Last summer, Sam was a counselor at Camp Ozark Texas, or OTX, after being a camper for nine years, his mother Angela Jackson said.

By Anna Deardorff

Andrew always looked to better himself by being uncommon amongst uncommon people.

Every single Aggie Core Value lined up with Andrew perfectly, his older brother William Henges said, but his Loyalty stands out slightly above the others.

“Being his older brother, it was really cool watching him grow up, and one thing he always was was loyal to his friends,” William said. “He was never one to talk down to people, talk down behind people’s back or anything like that … He was someone who was always a man of his word and he was loyal to his people to the end, for sure.”

Growing up, the two were the average brothers who enjoyed playing intense video games, William said. This past year, the two attended Texas A&M at the same time, which allowed William to see a new side of Andrew, he said.

“Over this last year, it was just super cool to see him — obviously he had been growing up before then — [meeting] all these new

It was at Camp Ozark that university studies junior Luke Szczepanski met Sam, who became his best friend.

“He was loyal. He always had my back,” Szczepanski said. “[He was] funny, just kind of laid-back. At first, he would seem shy to people, a little reserved, but once you really got to know him, he was the funniest person I knew.”

Szczepanski said Sam was passionate about basketball, school and listening to music.

“Whenever a speaker was playing, it was always Sam,” Szczepanski said. “He’d always be listening to music, doing homework just nonstop, and he would figure out new music before it even came out. He did really love music.”

Angela said Integrity was the Aggie Core Value Sam embodied the most.

“He cared that other people felt comfortable and were included,” Angela said. “ … I think he did the right thing when nobody was looking.”

While attending Texas A&M, Sam was involved in petroleum engineering groups, as well as Kappa Sigma fraternity, Angela said.

“He loved those [fraternity] men, and they were great, upstanding, loyal friends to him,” Angela said. “And they had fun, I mean, in between the studying, they had a good time. And I think that’s important in college. It’s not all about studying.”

Sam was a thurifer at his hometown church for six years and led bible studies and devotionals at Camp OTX. Angela said you could tell his faith was important to him and deep.

“He was just all-around a remarkable person,” Angela said. “He looked for ways to help, and he did everything with a joyful heart. He made the world a better place.”

September 17, 2003 — April 29, 2023

Andrew Thomas Henges

people [at] A&M,” William said. “Just seeing the person that he had become over this last year, really, and how he had flourished into who he was.”

Andrew became particularly interested in poker towards the end of high school and throughout his freshman year of college, William said.

“I’d go over to his house and he’d be on the couch watching poker videos from like 2003,” William said. “It was just something that him and his boys always did, whether it was his fraternity brothers and they went to someone’s house and played, or his high school friends and they would all meet up.”

William remarked that while Andrew had various hobbies and enjoyed spending time with his friends, he also took school very seriously and made all A’s his entire life.

“I think the lowest grade he ever had was like a 94, and he was pissed about it, I mean genuinely furious about it,” William said. “He was always so focused on what he enjoyed.”

Andrew followed in the footsteps of William, his father and grandfather by coming to A&M. During his time here, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

“Growing up, my dad always took us to

games, so we’d always go to Midnight Yell before,” William said. “Sometimes, when we were younger, he’d be so confused as to why my dad was keeping us up until midnight. As time grew … he realized, ‘Oh hey, it’s not just a weird place with a bunch of traditions, they’re really cool,’ and he realized he was meant to be here.”

Andrew played defensive line and defensive end on the Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School football team his freshman, sophomore and junior year. The Kelly Bulldogs retired his jersey on Aug. 25, William said. After a head injury, Andrew took up weight training with his stepfather his senior year.

“His senior quote was, ‘You want to be uncommon amongst uncommon people,’ by David Goggins,” William said. “I feel like it was kind of perfect. He wanted to be the top of the tier. He believed that whatever he put his mind to, he would be the one that would finish the race first.”

Provided

Go party, it’s the Polite thing to do

Local coffee shop hosts event for residents, extends store hours

By Anna Deardorff @annardeardorff

The coffee shop at Kyle House politely invites you to start the weekend off with an evening of music, shopping and outdoor activities.

Polite Coffee Roasters will host their first-ever Polite Party in Downtown Bryan on Friday, Sept. 1 from 5-9 p.m. The free evening takes place at Kyle House, Polite’s permanent location, and has something for all ages with live music, food trucks, local vendors and new fall cocktails.

The concept of hosting a community event came to Steve Turner, co-owner and founder of Polite, two years ago. His initial desire to be friendly with local neighbors morphed into a bigger endeavor that connects regulars and friends with small businesses.

“We always just dreamed of having a block party that got the neighborhood together,” Turner said. “We just wanted to have a place where we could all kind of benefit from each other.”

With the night kicking off around dinner time, the food truck lineup has something to fulfill every craving. JLM’s Chicken & Waffle, JJ’s Snowcones and Moonstruck Pastry & Coffee Co. will be stationed outside throughout the night. Pair your meal alongside one of Polite’s new seasonal cocktails, which can be enjoyed for longer with the coffee shop’s new extended hours, Turner said.

“Starting Sept. 1, [Polite is] going to be open until 7 [p.m.], and we’re going to serve a cocktail menu at all times,” Turner said. “We’ve got some of our spins on some drinks, like the Irish coffee. I won’t divulge all of them, but I’m really excited.”

Jon Couch and the Cushions will be playing from 7-9 p.m., according to Polite’s Instagram. While listening to tunes from the band, visitors can get their face painted, compete in a coffee-sack race, jump in a bounce house, play yard or board games or practice disc golf putting, Turner said.

“We’re trying to have a mix between stuff you can shop and activities,” Turner said. “We wanted something that you can’t get at your everyday store.”

Local stores like Bygone Vintage, Offbeat, KLENR, Stone Co. Climbing and Armory Disc Golf will have items for sale, ranging from old-school clothing to trendy hats and more.

Chris Thompson, Class of 2022, founded KLENR, a soap and sundries store focused on all-natural products, after his return from 10 years in the military, where he served as a Green Beret in the Army Special Forces. Turner, who is also a veteran, said their service to their country connected the two together.

“The community in College Station, I would say as a whole, is overly supportive of veterans,” Thompson said. “A lot of the vendors that you’ll see at the Polite Party, like Stone Co. and, of course, people at Polite, just have been really supportive.”

Polite’s close-knit community of baristas and regulars is a big part of why psychology senior Anna Buraczyk loves swinging by any chance she gets, she said. She orders oat milk cortado, which she said really allows for the taste of the coffee to shine through.

“I have some really close friends that work at Polite and … lots of friends that love it,” Buraczyk said. “They immediately texted me when it was posted asking if I wanted to go with them. And I, of course, was like, ‘Okay, it’s on my calendar conveniently.’ I was like, ‘My evening is blocked off!’”

With traffic and thousands of students, it’s easy to feel stuck in the Texas A&M bubble, Turner said. The moment you step into Downtown Bryan, he said it’s like you’re in a whole different city.

“There’s just so many people that are coming back to the town or new to the town, whether you’re a first year student or you just went and had an internship over the summer,” Turner said. “We just kind of wanted to, you know, get back on the radar of people.”

Polite Coffee Roasters is located on 800 S Bryan Ave. and is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Sept. 1.

Zoe May, Editor-in-Chief

THE BATTALION is published Thursdays in the 2023 fall semester (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Newsstand locations can be found at tx.ag/battstands. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center.

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Are you thready for this? Thrifted Threads grand opening

New thrift store offers vintage clothing in College Station

By Nadia Abusaid @NadiaAtTheBatt

Thrifted Threads, a thrifting chain based in Houston, opened a new store on Aug. 26 in College Station with vintage resale clothing at affordable prices. Located on Texas Avenue at a revamped gas station, Thrifted Threads sits right across from the Texas A&M campus.

Thrifted Threads was founded in 2017 by owner Laith Awad when he was just 17 years old. Awad used social media to grow his online store, which ships products globally. He opened the first brick-and-mortar Thrifted Threads in Houston in 2022, and said he wants to expand his business to college campuses.

With free ice cream, free arcade games and rustic decor, Thrifted Threads offers a unique shopping experience.

“We’re going to install some benches outside so when the weather gets better, kids can come out here, they can study, they do their thing, maybe grab some food from next door, come out here and eat it, hang out and shop and grab some free ice cream,”Awad said. “I think it’s definitely an experience we’re creating.”

Awad said he hopes to give College Station residents and students an opportunity to find sustainably sourced and distinctive clothing at the “elevated thrift store.”

“We’re in textile recycling facilities all over Texas that basically process and save about five million pounds a month out of the wastelands, so we’re directly helping impact the environ-

ment,” Awad said. Vintage products, which are often not biodegradable, are given a second life to minimize waste put in landfills, Awad said.

Thrifted Threads sells products from the 1980s to the early 2000s and provides new inventory every day alongside a wide selection of brands such as Nike, Harley Davidson, Carhartt and Tommy Hilfiger.

“I want to make sure that the stores are always filled — and that’s definitely a challenge — but I definitely take it to the next level to make sure we’re sourcing all over Texas in different cities,” Awad said.

Thrifted Threads has several employees working in Houston and College Station to source original, vintage, quality clothing, Awad said.

“I hand-pick everything with my team,” Awad said. “I review it two to three times before it ever comes out, so I feel like everything in here will help people in College Station have better options, dress better and be able to express themselves more.”

Customers are attracted to the individuality of the products as well as the aesthetic, Awad said.

“You walk into the room with a vintage shirt, and you’re probably the only one in the room with that shirt,” Awad said. “And a lot of people nowadays, that’s what they care about. They want to be different.”

Silas Austria, a frequent thrift store shopper, went to the Thrifted Threads grand opening with a group of friends who heard about the store’s debut on Instagram.

“I’ve found a lot of good stuff [at thrift stores], so I’m interested to see how this one pans out,” Austria said. “I’m super excited to get some clothes.”

Austria was surprised by the large turnout at the store opening, but had concerns that the crowds may mean marked-up prices because of limited inventory. Despite this, Austria acknowledged that thrift shopping can bring individuality to one’s wardrobe.

“Thrift shopping to me — it’s cost-effective, it’s good for the environment and you can find some unique clothing, never seen before things, not everything that other people wear,” Austria said.

Kinesiology senior Adalyn Cable and English and history senior Kacey Heitschmidt attended the Thrifted Threads grand opening together.

“It’s like a fun hobby, you go with your

friends, it’s like a social thing as well as actually helpful,” Heitschmidt said. “It’s shopping, but also affordable and fun.”

Cable and Heitschmidt said they chose to go thrift shopping because of the affordable and fashionable clothes, but also for the distinctiveness of the products.

“It’s not mass produced, I know obviously some of it was at some point, [but] I know I’m not buying things that everybody else is going to have necessarily,” Cable said.

Thrifted Threads is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Owner Laith Awad opens the door of Thrifted Threads for the first time during their grand opening on Aug. 26, 2023.

Letter from student body president

By Hudson Kraus, Guest contributor

“Why did you decide to run? How busy are you? So, what can you actually do?”

These are just a few of the frequently asked questions I receive while serving as student body president, or SBP, at Texas A&M.

A majority of people at A&M don’t know what my role entails or even what the Student Government Association, or SGA, does for students. And you know what? I don’t blame them. For too long, the SGA has existed almost separately from the individuals they are meant to represent. The SGA has been stereotyped as an insular organization, seemingly exclusively focusing on internal politics and self-centered agendas.

However, as an individual who had never participated in SGA prior to my election, I’m here to change this stereotype. It’s time to open the curtain on student government and for students to truly discover the nature of the organization.

Let’s start with the first frequently asked question: why I decided to run. Like many of you, I could not name the SBP when I was a freshman or a sophomore, nor had I heard of SGA. This changed junior year when my friend, Case Harris, was elected as SBP. His election showed me a glimpse of the positive impact student government can make at A&M.

I realized SGA accomplished so much more than most students understand. In fact, I guarantee that almost every individual reading this has interacted with SGA in some way.

Have you volunteered with The Big Event? Attended a Silver Taps ceremony? Said “Here” for a fallen Aggie at Muster? You may not realize it, but all of these events are hosted by organizations within the executive branch of the SGA: The Big Event, Traditions Council and Muster Committee, respectively.

Because of SGA, every student now has access to mental health resources in a tab on their Canvas portal. Because of SGA, more students have access to free online textbooks through the Open Educational Resources program.

Because of SGA, no students will be ticketed for living with more than four unrelated individuals in College Station this year. Understanding all of these aspects of SGA allowed me to create my platform.

to implement tangible changes that positive-

ly impact the daily lives of students here at A&M. Coming from outside of SGA, I knew there was an opportunity to not only continue the progress made by Case but also utilize SGA’s resources to make progress on issues that students really care about: virtual student IDs, free Scantrons and other initiatives.

Now, there is a large difference between making those claims and actually delivering IDs and Scantrons to our student body, especially within a one-year term length. Let me tell you, this is no small feat.

As students, we want our concerns to be heard and for the administration to act upon them immediately. However, what we often fail to realize is that A&M is the largest university in the U.S. by student population. With more students comes more administrators to serve students, which means that enacting change on this campus is not simple. Each new idea must be passed through multiple levels of bureaucracy and scrutinized thoroughly so every student has the opportunity to benefit. For example, providing free Scantrons has

worked a little something like this. Myself and SGA have advocated on behalf of this policy to the provost, the chief academic officer on campus. The provost then communicated this desire to the Council of Deans, a meeting where the heads of each individual college at A&M convened. After this, the deans determined how to transfer or receive money from different sources to fund the free Scantrons. After they sourced the money, they created a plan for the distribution across campus. Because students want Scantrons to show up when they walk into class for their exam, the Scantrons must then be distributed to individual academic departments. Only after all of these prerequisites have been accomplished can your professor take the necessary amount of Scantrons from their department office and take them to an exam for you to benefit.

With that being said, free Scantrons have begun to appear across a large portion of the university and should be fully rolled out by the end of this semester.

Thus, to answer the second and third questions, we are busy advocating for the best interests of the student body at all times. Not only must we present the ideas for improvement to individuals like the provost, university president and chancellor, but we must also ensure that every step of the process for the implementation of said ideas are completed. Additionally, I am here to ensure that these opportunities for advocacy make positive changes for students as immediately as possible. Gone are the days when students feel like they have no connection with their student government and that the SGA is unable to do anything to serve the student body. We have already seen this year the power we have in influencing the university for the better, and it is my job to continue to do so through connecting with y’all — the students.

We are entering a new era of student government this year. One that engages with the student population, understands your wants and needs and successfully advocates for the timely implementation of those desires. Simply put, I am here to transform the SGA and ensure we implement tangible solutions that benefit the majority of students. My email is sbp@tamu.edu, and I am always open for any questions, comments or concerns you may have. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

Thanks, and Gig ‘Em!

Hudson Kraus

Hudson Kraus says he’s here to advocate for students, implement change

File Photo By Jonathan Taffet

The boys are back in town

the matchup with a new twist of their own.

How Aggies’ o ense matches up against Lobos’ defense

By Justin Chen @chen_justin_

The Aggies will be treated to an offense called by Petrino, a long-tenured coach who has worked with many successful teams. He also coached players like 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and now will have the opportunity to coach Weigman. The seed for success was planted in Weig-

man’s first start against then-No. 15 Ole Miss, where he set a new A&M true-freshman record with 388 yards to go, along with four touchdowns.

By Hunter Mitchell @HunterM1001

If New Mexico and Texas A&M faced off against one another in 2022, the final score might have been something to the tune of 3-0.

Both schools had abysmal offenses last year, with the Aggies finishing No. 101 in the country and the Lobos finishing second to last at No. 130.

For New Mexico, there isn’t much to write home about last season. A 2-10 finish — one of which was a winagainst an FCS opponent in Maine — is the definition of forgettable. Tack on the fact they only scored over 20 points once the entire season, and you’re looking at a team in major need of some help.

Help is exactly what the Lobos got in the offseason.

Not only did New Mexico grab offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent from UAB, they also hit the transfer portal, meaning the Lobos’ offense should look vastly different this season.

Headlining the transfer class is senior UAB transfer quarterback Dylan Hopkins, following his offensive coordinator to Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Maryville, Tennessee native started all three years for the Blazers. In his career, Hopkins has totaled 4,750 passing yards, 31 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions.

Hopkins is not without weapons either, as the Lobos picked up plenty of pass catchers to compliment their new offense as well.

How Lobos’ o ense matches up against Aggies’ defense on

Joining the team from the transfer portal this offseason are senior wide receivers in Iowa Central CC transfer D.J. Washington, Alabama state transfer Jeremiah Hixon and UAB transfer Ryan Davis. Add on freshman Mississippi State transfer Kaydin Pope and sophomore TCU transfer Caleb Medford, and New Mexico has set themselves up to be a lot more potent than last year.

Not to be outdone offensively, senior ULM transfer running back Andrew Henry will carry the rock for the Lobos this season. The Dallas native lettered two years for the Warhawks, amassing 843 rushing yards in his career.

star recruits from the historic 2021 class, the A&M defense is poised to look even better than it did last year.

On the line, the maroon and white have seemingly many All-SEC caliber players. This includes sophomores Walter Nolen, Shemar Stewart, LT Overton, senior McKinnley Jackson and junior Fadil Diggs.

Despite being No. 124 in rushing yards allowed per game, the year of experience will pay dividends for the Aggies. The Lobos will not see a defensive line this talented all season, and the same can be said about A&M’s secondary.

Sophomore Bryce Anderson, who emerged on the scene as a freshman, has been heralded this

filled with subpar offense that led to the hiring of offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, A&M will look to show off its brand new offense against New Mexico in Week 1.

Leading the helm for the maroon and white is sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman. On Aug. 28, head coach Jimbo Fisher announced that Weigman would be the starter, beating out red-shirt sophomore Max Johnson.

The receiving core — led by graduate Ainias Smith, sophomore Evan Stewart and junior Moose Muhammad III — will also complement the young quarterback. Smith, Stewart and graduate Layden Robinson were also recognized, earning Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team awards. With the departure of running back Devon Achane to the big leagues, junior back Amari Daniels will look to fill in some big shoes in the backfield. Helping make the lanes bigger for him will be key, and it starts with sophomore center Bryce Foster, who is coming off an injury-plagued season.

Alongside Foster on the line are freshmen Chase Bisontis, TJ Shanahan and Colton Thomasson. Returning linemen like Robinson, sophomore Kam Deberry and junior Reuben Fatheree II will assist the new players in protecting the backfield.

Overall, with a mind like Petrino at offensive coordinator, young talent such as Weigman and Stewart and an overall team that will try to be healthy all season, the Fightin’ Farmers will look to rack up points and improve on their 22.8 points per game from last year. The maroon and white will not be alone in showing off a new system. The Lobos promoted corners coach Troy Reffett to defensive coordinator. Under his leadership, the Lobos corners have flourished, especially last season.

does

While New Mexico will surely surpass their 2-10 record from last season, it will have to wait for Week 2, as it does not match up well with the Aggies’ defense. half of offensive rankings last season, only one ranked in the top 25 defensively.

offseason as one of the leaders of the Aggies’ defense. Alongside him is senior Demani Richardson, one of the most experienced defenders on A&M’s

The new changes, mixed with young and returning players, will look to help the Aggies bounce back from last season. However, the visiting Lobos will also come into

Though the team started two true freshmen, they contributed to a defense that produced the lowest defensive passing yardage output in 15 years. Despite finishing 2-10 last season, New Mexico’s defense is strong and was ranked as the

61st-best defense in

country last season.

Leading the charge is red-shirt senior cornerback Donte Martin. He recorded six pass breakups last season and led all Lobos corners in both pass breakups and tackles. He is on the verge of breaking New Mexico’s longtime record for pass breakups in a career, currently sitting fifth on New Mexico’s all-time list.

Though former star

linebacker Dion Hunter transferred to Cincinnati following the 2022- 23 season, junior Alec Marenco and senior Syaire Riley will look to step in as the new starters.

The defense last year also produced NFL talent in the form of safety Jerrick Reed II, who was drafted in the sixth round. Although the Lobos haven’t had a winning record since 2016, and come into the game with a 0-5 record against the Aggies, their defense is not something to take lightly. Overall, it will be a good first test for both teams as they showcase new systems and coordinators.

While both schools finished in the bottom

Headlined by the plethora of former five-

roster. Add on transfers sophomore Sam McCall, graduate Josh DeBerry and senior Tony Grimes, and the maroon and white’s defense will give the Lobos all they can handle in Week 1.

the

Players to watch: New Mexico

Aggies, Lobos to look out for in Saturday’s 2023 season opener

By Cade Harris @cadeharris_

Week 1 of college football is only a few days away. For Texas A&M football, it will be up against the New Mexico Lobos, who are coming off a 2-10 season.

Despite the 2022 record, the Lobos brought in some transfers and returned some super seniors that will be looking to improve on a poor season last year.

Here are some players to watch for at Kyle Field on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.

Evan Stewart, WR (Texas A&M)

In Bobby Petrino’s offense, A&M will look to give its most dangerous weapons the ball. Like Petrino said in his media day press conference, they are going to feed the studs.

“We talk about offensive philosophy, and I always say ‘FTS,’ which is to feed the studs,” Petrino said. “The quarterbacks and the coaches need to understand how we get the ball to our best guys.”

One of those studs is sophomore wide receiver Evan Stewart, who’s coming off a productive freshman campaign that saw him be named Freshman All-American by ESPN, The Athletic and FWAA. Stewart played in 10 games last season, racking up 649 yards on 53 receptions and hauling in a pair of touchdowns.

Living up to the hype of a five-star recruit can be difficult, but Stewart has shown that it is not too much of a challenge for him with his athleticism, route running and ability to go up and make a catch when needed. Aggie fans are hoping he can start off his second season with an impressive performance against the Lobos to set the tone in Year 2.

Dylan Hopkins, QB (New Mexico)

After playing three seasons at UAB, redshirt senior quarterback Dylan Hopkins transferred to New Mexico in the offseason for his su-

per-senior year. Hopkins played in 32 games during his tenure with the Blazers, completing 318 out of 508 career passing attempts for a total of 4,472 yards.

The Aggie defense could have a tough time creating turnovers against Hopkins, as he has only thrown 16 interceptions during his career. Only four of those picks came in his 10 games in the 2022-23 season.

It will be interesting to see how the maroon and white secondary can limit the passing attack from Hopkins and force the Lobos to rely on their running game.

Edgerrin Cooper, LB (Texas A&M)

One of the major questions surrounding the Aggies’ defense this offseason is how the linebackers will perform and how much depth A&M will have at the position. Leading the charge will be redshirt junior Edgerrin Cooper.

Cooper has shown throughout his career that he is not scared of delivering a hard hit when he needs to, racking up 121 total tackles in 33 games played. The Aggies will rely on Cooper a lot throughout the season to im-

prove the run defense that allowed 208.8 yards per game in 2022.

Aggie fans would love to see a step up from Cooper in his fourth season as the uncertainty at the position still looms. A big performance from Cooper in Week 1 would be enough to calm the nerves of the fans just a little.

Donte Martin, CB (New Mexico)

Redshirt senior cornerback Donte Martin is back for his sixth year with New Mexico. During his tenure with the cherry and silver, Martin has played in 39 games and started in 35.

Martin has a career 109 tackles with a pair of interceptions. With his experience and play on the field over his career, Martin is the leader of the Lobos’ secondary and should be tasked with facing the Aggies most dangerous weapons at receiver.

In the 2022-23 season, Martin finished with 25 pass breakups, which tied for fifth on the all-time list at New Mexico.

Junior DB Jaylon Jones (17) celebrates with sophomore LB Edgerrin Cooper (45) after a fumble during a game against UMass on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2023 at Kyle Field

-and he certainly helped his cause with a 38-23 upset of No. 6 LSU to wrap up last year, but there aren’t many reasons why the Aggies shouldn’t contend for SEC titles year in and year out.

Fisher ventured outside the program for help in offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who was hired in the offseason to provide a spark to an offense that struggled to find its footing last year. Petrino is regarded as one of the top college coaches of the past 20 years, dating back to his time at Arkansas and Louisville, although that’s led to concerns over Fisher and Petrino butting heads in the locker room.

The hope amongst the A&M faithful is that those concerns are much ado about nothing, and the Fisher-Petrino dynamic furthers the Aggies’ development and potential. With signs pointing to Fisher handing playcalling

duties over to Petrino, fans could see Petrino’s “Feed the studs” philosophy early on versus the Lobos.

That mindset focuses on putting the ball in the hands of A&M’s top playmakers, including a strong wide receiver corps of sophomores Evan Stewart and Noah Thomas, junior Moose Muhammad III and graduate Ainias Smith, the latter of which will take the field for his fifth season on Saturday.

“[It’s] probably the most exciting feeling that I’ve had since I’ve been here,” Smith said. “I know all the guys are definitely ready and pumped. We’ve definitely been tired of going up against each other, and we’ve been saying it for the past week. Now that we get to go up against somebody in a different uniform, it’s definitely exciting.”

A&M fans need no introduction to Smith, as he finds himself in the top 10 in A&M history for career receptions and receiving touchdowns, while coming in at No. 11 in receiving yards and punt return yards. The

Missouri City native expects to field kickoffs and punts this season, adding a boost to the special teams unit after the departure of Devon Achane to the NFL.

“I feel like the most successful teams are the most successful on special teams,” Smith said. “Those teams that take special teams as serious as they do their own position, I feel like those teams will be the ones to be able to overcome adversity or make a big play on special teams when some people aren’t expecting it.”

Smith was forced to watch most of the Aggies’ struggles from the sideline last year after suffering a leg injury in the fourth game of the season. As A&M prepares to take on New Mexico, he expects a stronger mentality in the Aggies’ locker room in 2023.

“This year, we’ve really been emphasizing in our room, ‘Let’s not play down to anybody’s level,’” Smith said. “My mentality to the guys was, ‘Let’s kill.’ Whoever’s in front of us, let’s go ahead and destroy them and make sure that they don’t want to come out on this

field.”

Joining Smith for a fifth year is defensive back Demani Richardson, with 43 starts under his belt. As a leader on defense, Richardson said he feels a different sense of effort amongst the unit entering this season compared to 2022.

“I feel like we’re much more prepared, and I feel like we’re more confident,” Richardson said. “Playing hard every play and just playing to our standard.”

Make no mistake, A&M has a chance to put together a very good season in 2023. That starts with taking care of business against New Mexico and taking things one day and one game at a time.

“We can’t take our foot off the gas,” Richardson said. “We have to prepare each week like it’s the same … We can’t just say, ‘It’s New Mexico.’”

Former Texas A&M RB Isaiah Spiller (28) celebrates after a run during Texas A&M’s game against New Mexico at Kyle Field on Sept. 18, 2021.

Offsides: Aggies still looking for success

Soccer to take on Tulsa at home, TCU in first road test

By Kylie Stoner @sportsbystoner

Searching for its first win of the season, Texas A&M soccer will face Tulsa on Thursday, Aug. 31 and TCU on Sunday, Sept. 3.

Tulsa

Before heading out to Fort Worth for A&M’s first road game of the season, the maroon and white will take on Tulsa at Ellis Field.

Head coach G Guerrieri and the Aggie soccer team hope to defeat Guerrieri’s alma mater, Tulsa. Guerrieri was a part of the Golden Hurricane’s men’s soccer program as a goalkeeper.

With four wins out of the four games against the Golden Hurricane, the Aggies have more on the line than the casual viewer may pick up

on. The maroon and white have yet to take a win in the 2023 season. Two losses and a tie mark the record of the Aggies.

A&M has earned 11 goals in the four matches against the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa has only scored twice, and the goals were in the same game where the Aggies won 5-2 in Oklahoma. The other three of the four matchups between Tulsa and A&M have been at Ellis Field.

Returning to Ellis after a second-best attendance for the Baylor game, A&M needs to defeat Tulsa to save its public perception. The Golden Hurricane have lost all four games of the season and all to the Aggies.

Tulsa has earned only one goal against Oral Roberts and have been scored on 11 times this season. Six of which were scored against Oklahoma in the Gold Hurricanes’ season opener.

Tulsa’s senior midfielder Kayla Fernandez has nearly double the amount of shots as the second highest teammate with 11. Five of Fernandez’s shots were on target with a .455 shot on goal percentage.

Four goals have been scored by A&M this season including two converted penalty kicks

both taken, earned and scored by junior forward Maile Hayes. Junior forward MaKhiya McDonald and fifth-year forward Sammy Smith contributed the remaining goals.

The final home game of the four game homestand at Ellis Field will kick off at 7 p.m. Fans who are unable to attend in person can stream the match on the SEC Network.

TCU

Out of the last 15 times the Horned Frogs and the Aggies have met, the maroon and white have conceded only twice. The losses to TCU, though, were given to A&M in the last two games where the two sides met.

Over the years, the maroon and white have lessened their winning margins. From a 6-0 win in 2003, to a 1-0 win in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic win was the last one the Aggies earned, and they hope to change that in September.

With the last two losses, the maroon and white still scored a goal in the matches which added to the tally of 43 total goals scored. The Aggies have scored in every matchup against the Horned Frogs with the maroon and whites

past three appearances only earning one goal each.

A&M conceded four goals within the last two losses to TCU, but only one of the three goal scores remains with the program. Junior forward Camryn Lancaster scored against the Aggies in 2022 in the 86th minute to seal the match. Lancaster’s former teammates transferred away from the program to USC and Baylor. The fourth goal was an own goal by the maroon and white’s Karlina Sample.

The Horned Frogs lost many of their star players. Forward Messiah Bright went professional and now plays for the Orlando Pride.

The two goal scores that transferred were Brandi Peterson to USC and Tyler Isgrig to Baylor. Isgrig recently assisted the goal scored on the Aggies by Baylor on Aug. 26.

TCU hasn’t won since its first game against SMU where Gracie Brian scored the only goal of the season for the Horned Frogs. The two losses following their season opener were against ranked opponents in Florida State and Penn State.

The first away match taking place in Fort Worth will kick off at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3, and the match can be streamed on ESPN+.

Freshman M/D Adysen Armenta (4) during a game against Washington State at Ellis Field on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023.

Megan Williams — THE BATTALION

Megan Williams — THE BATTALION

Staff predicts season record B5

Texas A&M returns to the gridiron on Saturday, Sept. 2, to take on New Mexico in the 2023 season-opener at Kyle Field. The Aggies look to rebound from last season’s 5-7 campaign with a mix of talented youngsters and

By Kylie Stoner@Sportsbystoner

Prediction: 9-3

If the Aggies don’t improve from last season with the addition of Bobby Petrino, I have some real concerns. I initially wanted to say 8-4, but I have hope, so 9-3 it is. With New Mexico opening up the season, I think the Aggie spirit will start strong. But, the road game to Miami could lessen that as the rst test of the season.

By Hunter Mitchell@HunterM1001

Prediction: 9-3

I would feel more comfortable betting on roulette in the dark than trying to predict Texas A&M football. Hype has been the enemy to hope for Aggie fans for many years, and this season is no di erent. Despite going 5-7 last season, local and national outlets are still relatively high on the Aggies, so I guess I’ll play along.

Conner Weigman was the right choice as quarterback, and with all of the weapons at his disposal, I can’t see how the o ense couldn’t improve from last season. This really shouldn’t be a hard feat to accomplish, as the only way to go from the bottom is up. Hopefully. In all seriousness, the defense will also take a major step up this season. With a defensive line full of former ve stars like Walter Nolen, Gabriel Brownlow — Dindy and Shemar Stewart, as long as DJ Durkin doesn’t run three-down linemen the entire game, they could be a serious force in the SEC.

I don’t think the Aggies are at the national-championship caliber yet. With hat being said, I think they have a chance to make some noise in the SEC. This is a dangerous thing to say, but I think with the QB situation in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Crimson Tide are vulnerable. They will still be Alabama, but there could be a chance of yet another home upset there. Tennessee and LSU seem like di erent stories, and I don’t know how A&M will handle those road games. 9-3 would be a solid rebound from last year, but also means Jimbo Fisher has to win big in 2024.

experienced playmakers. Sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman will lead an offense looking to improve its scoring attack from 22.8 points per game in 2022. The maroon and white, ranked No. 23 in

the preseason Top 25, have four ranked opponents on the slate, including No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 LSU. The Aggies will welcome the Crimson Tide and Mississippi State to town while traveling to No. 12 Tennessee and No.

Reminder:

By Eli Meschko@Elimeschko

Prediction: 9-3

I am one to always buy into the oseason hype surrounding Aggie football. However, after coming o a 5-7 season, it has been hard for me to expect great success from the maroon and white this season. What gives me hope for the year is the revamped o ense I expect to see from Bobby Petrino and the elite players at the skill positions he has to work with.

Petrino also having a former ve star quarterback in Weigman also gives me reasons to believe A&M can be very good this season. On the other hand, despite the numerous ve stars across the defensive line, the rest of the defense has question marks and, God forbid, if injuries occur in the secondary and at the linebacker position, DJ Durkin and the defense could be in trouble.

The games I expect the Aggies to drop along the way are at home against Alabama and on the road against LSU. The swing

22 Ole Miss. Here are The Battalion’s sports desk’s predictions for how the 2023 season will pan out:

By Luke White @Lukewhite03

Prediction: 8-4

Yeah, yeah, I know I predicted the Aggies would pull o an 11-1 season and make a push for the College Football Playo in 2022. We all know how that turned out. I’ll keep my expectations in check this time around, although I do think A&M could be the most improved team in the SEC and return to its spot in the upper half of the conference.

The di erence this season compared to last? Experience and depth. Say all you want about the Aggies’ No. 1 recruiting class in 2022, but last year showed experience oftentimes trumps talent. Players experienced plenty of trials by re in that 5-7 campaign, but that could be the biggest strength of this season’s squad. The depth chart is two or three players deep at nearly every position, creating plenty of possibilities for o ensive coordinator Bobby Petrino to work with.

The schedule doesn’t do A&M any favors with four preseason ranked teams and trips to Miami, Tennessee, Ole Miss and LSU. It’s reasonable to see the Aggies as 5-0 entering a home matchup with the Alabama Crimson Tide on Oct. 7, but it’s a di cult schedule from there on out with South Carolina and Mississippi State, A&M’s kryptonite in recent years, coming to Kyle Field as well. Coach Kevin Sumlin’s teams often saw a dropo in the second half of the season, and we could be looking at one here. But hey, at least the Aggies make a bowl game.

game for me, and the di erence between 9-3 and 10-2, is the Tennessee game. I expect the Volunteers to win because Neyland Stadium is a hard place to play and the Aggies will likely be coming o an emotional game the week prior against the Crimson Tide. However, I believe the Aggies will pick up their 10th win in their bowl and they will go into 2024 with great momentum.

Freshman WR Evan Stewart (1) during the Southwest Classic on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

File Photo By Cameron Johnson