THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
OPINION
Who do students favor for president? We asked eight Aggies their thoughts. A2
SPORTS Soccer transfer Allison Lowrey looks for a new beginning at Texas A&M. B1
What Trump and Harris’ debate promises mean for A&M
By Mikayla Martinez News Editor
A
President Kamala Harris met former President Donald Trump for their first debate on Tuesday, setting the stage for the election on Nov. 5.
From foreign affairs to inflation and climate change, they discussed the issues facing the nation today.
The two candidates took the stage on the ABC-hosted debate, meeting each other for the first time live on television in front of 57.5 million viewers.
Topics discussed in the 90-min-
ute debate were broad, including large-scale issues such as the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and domestic initiatives like healthcare plans and inflation worries. These are the key quotes from each candidate about the issues that affect Texas A&M the most.
Issue #1: The economy
With seven business major options and over 6,000 undergraduates in Mays Business School, A&M is poised to reap either the benefits or the losses of the economic environment small businesses face.
“My plan is to give a $50,000 tax deduction to start-up small businesses, knowing they are part of the backbone of America’s economy,” Harris said on Tuesday night. “[I will] address what we must do to support our small businesses.”
“Everybody knows what I’m going to do,” Trump said. “Cut taxes very substantially and create a great economy like I did before. We had the greatest economy … We handed them over a country where the economy and where the stock market was higher than it was before the pandemic came in.”
Sit, stay—and serve
By Shalina Sabih Features Writer
On the first day of class, as students strolled along the cobblestone walkway, one figure stood out in particular. She held her head up high, sniffing the air as she took in the scents of trees and flowers. Prancing alongside her trainer, she’s adorned with a tiny shoe on each paw.
Lily is a 14-month-old English cream golden retriever training with biology senior Sondra Scoggin. Every day, Lily embarks on training outings as part of her preparation for Aggie Guide-Dogs and Service-Dogs, or AGS, a student-run nonprofit specializing in the crucial first phase of training. The AGS lays the foundations for young puppies like Lily to become reliable guide dogs and service animals.
“We’re not just owning the dogs, we’re training them,” Scoggin said. “We’re working hard with them and learning different techniques and psychology of the dogs.”
Scoggin said she could not have gotten this far without the help of her mentors, such as senior trainer supervisor and biology senior Makinna Rogers.
“We want to educate people about what we do and train the dogs as well,” Rogers said. “I would say the main goal of AGS is to educate and fundraise for service dogs and people with disabilities.”
By Stacy Cox Senior News Reporter
On June 28, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron Doctrine in the Loper Bright ruling, leaving courts to interpret specific legislative issues requiring clarification.
In layman’s terms, the Chevron Doctrine says judges must accept reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes by administrative agencies, even if the judges themselves might favor alternative interpretations. Chevron put interpretative power in the hands of
government agencies.
Professor of law at Texas A&M School of Law Mark Burge said the ruling was explicitly used to understand statutes managed by a partic-
ular agency.
“Cases later clarified that this deference was due only to statutes that were made and managed by that
Professors discuss potential impacts of climate change
By J.M. Wise News Editor
Drivers may have noticed the lack of trees along University Drive, as the city of College Station removed them on Sept. 6. Zero plants in a long stretch of concrete could have a negative impact on College Station’s weather, according to Texas A&M professor John Nielson-Gammon, Texas state climatologist and director of the Southern Regional Climate Center. It’s not just the trees — their removal is one of several climate-related events Nielson-Gammon feels could impact A&M.
“Replacing vegetation with impervious surfaces reduces the amount of evaporation that takes place and increases the amount of runoff,” Nielson-Gammon said. “So you can have a greater flood risk … it can lead to higher temperatures during the day and night.” Texas experienced record-breaking heat over the summer, with heat indexes in the triple digits stretching for days in cities such as Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Amarillo. College Station reached an average high of 96 degrees in August. Nielson-Gammon said extreme heat
CLIMATE ON A3
Who are you voting for in this presidential election?
We asked eight Aggies which candidate they’re currently leaning toward — here’s what they had to say
Caleb Elarabi Psychology Junior
“Just based of of how I felt I lived and my parents lived under Donald Trump, we weren’t in the best spot compared to now. Right now we’re still not in the best spot under Trump’s tax plan, which expires next year in 2025, and his taxes are insane. The interest rates to get a house or refnance your mortgage is ridiculous.”
Jake Kinchen
“Kamala, by like a mile. Trump just did personal attacks the whole [debate]. He got fact-checked on the spot. Those were pretty rough. He was just rambling the whole time. Kamala had weaker policy positions, they weren’t as feshed out, but she doesn’t sound like an idiot when she talks.”
Trace Bishop Business Freshman
“I plan on voting for Trump. I do like what Donald Trump’s doing. Sometimes I do think he is a little bit polarizing for our nation, but at the same time, I think Kamala is not clear at all about her policy.”
Yaswanth Aravapalli Genetics Junior
“Honestly, I didn’t watch all of it to make a full-formed thought. I think I need another debate. I didn’t hear much of actual thought from either of them to make an educated decision, and I want to make sure I’m making a good decision.”
Caleb Elarabi voting for Kamala Harris
Trace Bishop voting for Donald Trump
Emerson Uptmor Not Voting
Erich Burmeister voting for Donald Trump
Jake Kinchen voting for Kamala Harris
Yaswanth Aravapalli Undecided
Jack Greve voting for Donald Trump
Emerson Uptmor Psychology Freshman
“I am the person to not care. I don’t care about politics. I mean, either way we’re fucked in life. I mean that. We are. People are either going to love or hate Trump. People are either going to love or hate Kamala. Either way we’re fucked. That’s how I see it.”
Jack Greve Business Freshman
“I’ll probably vote for Trump. It’s not necessarily what I like about him — it’s that I think Kamala is the worst option. Abortion and how loose she is about economic policy are things I don’t like.”
Finance
“I’m a big
“I feel like, unfortunately, being in a mainly Republican state my vote doesn’t matter. I know people will say otherwise, but I just feel like my vote doesn’t matter. I’m an 18 year old who has no clue what’s going on. My vote isn’t going to change one thing or the other.”
Is it bringing the Gospel to people or just a “yassified Jesus concert”?
By Joshua Abraham Opinion Writer
Stress gummies do not work.
I took a couple to relax on a random Tuesday night, thinking I was just going to put on a movie and fall asleep peacefully. That is, until my friends invited me to Breakaway.
According to their website, Breakaway is a Bible study that aims to teach God’s word and help others encounter God’s presence.
I’ll admit, I was reluctant to go at frst. Not only did I have no clue when the gummies were going to kick in, I’d also seen some crazy posts about Breakaway, and I wasn’t sure it was for me. Even though I’m Christian, I tend to shy away from this type of evangelical Christianity; even if it’s
gospel-centered, it’s too f ashy for me.
But you only live once, so I went to Breakaway.
Before even walking into Reed Arena, I could hear music. Very loud music. One step in and I was accosted with volunteers saying “Hello!” and “We are so glad you are here, welcome in!” Stand after stand was flled with merchandise, credit cards swiping like the Fall 2024 collection of Zara just dropped — didn’t Jesus fip tables over because of this?
Once I got to the actual arena, it was like I walked into an Ed Sheeran concert. Smoke was being ejected from machines like the Aggie football team was walking out before a game, people were on their knees crying out while music blared from the high-tech sound system and cameras on large rigs were literally fying around to capture every angle.
Nothing necessarily is wrong with this, but it was just too much for me. The stress gummies def nitely didn’t work, and my anxiety was steadily rising.
Then the “executive director,” not pastor, for some reason, walked out. He wore an outft I’ve defnitely seen on Northgate, and something Preachers and Sneakers would have a feld day posting about. He hyped the people up and prepared them for what was to come next. It felt like the greatest pep rally I’d ever been to.
As the music calmed down, I noticed something. The people who were just on their knees sobbing got up and walked back to their seats like nothing happened. The people who were just passionately screaming their prayers with their hands pointed up to God sat down, went on their phones and began texting nonchalantly.
What just happened? Why did everyone return to normal like a robotic reset to factory settings?
And while the Bible was being preached, all I could see were people laughing and talking with their friends, scrolling on Instagram and TikTok and ignoring God’s message. In other words, not breaking away from the world.
So if no one was there to hear
the word of God, why does everyone go? Are they just there for the live music?
The expectation is to listen to the Gospel, to break away from digital exhaustion and our harsh realities. Yes, worship is a supplement to that, but to my eyes that did not seem like the case. Rather, it seemed like people just came for some live music. If that’s what you like, go to a concert.
Worship should be an act of obedience towards God. You should come to Breakaway for exactly that, not for some notion of a yassifed Jesus concert. I might be wrong — I’m not the head of Breakaway, nor am I a pastor. But Jesus is the main directive here, not an aesthetic.
Honestly, what’s so diferent about Breakaway than Northgate every weekend? You hit the bars to listen to some banging music and have a full-body engagement. With the exception of scripture, you’re doing the exact same thing at Breakaway — minus the intoxication. Where has the reverence for God gone? Take your frat fick
somewhere else. It’s not needed where God is.
Listen, I’m not trying to discredit Breakaway. I’m sure everyone has good intentions. As a follower of Christ, the last thing I want to do is not bring others to Christ. Breakaway is succeeding in my wishes; it’s incredible that our campus — and this great nation — allows us to have an organization where we get to worship our God freely.
But, I ask this question: With the church’s popularity in decline, is it a good idea to promote this kind of pop-Christianity? Is an atmosphere that creates more of a spectacle than holy contemplation really enough to grow our faith? If people come to Breakaway just for theatrics and performance — not to actually hear the Gospel of Christ — is this substitution of belief for idolatry the true means to salvation?
Joshua Abraham is a kinesiology junior and opinion writer for The Battalion.
Engineering Freshman
Erich Burmeister
Sophomore
Alexa Tijerina Sociology Freshman
Abdurahman Azeez — THE BATTALION
Issue #2: Foreign relations
A&M is home to international students from over 50 countries, who make up over 8% of the university population. A&M frequently advertises international enrollment opportunities, but the nation’s relationships with other countries have been historically volatile.
“Other countries are going to finally, after 75 years, pay us back for all that we’ve done for the world,” Trump said. “And the tariff will be substantial in some cases. I created one of the greatest economies in the history of our country. I’ll do it again and even better.” International issues often impact
Lily is from K9s for Warriors and came to the service group after passing a temperament test. The tests are carefully designed to gauge how the dogs respond to various situations, simulating real-world challenges to ensure they can recover quickly and adapt to day-to-day problems with resilience and poise.
“Lily goes everywhere with me,” Scoggin said. “She has full privileges. She goes to restaurants, movie theaters, class and pretty much everywhere that is safe for her.”
Lily’s specialized training is tailored to support veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, much like how Rogers said her family friend, an army veteran, found solace in the companionship of a service dog. For him, the dog’s presence provided much-needed grounding through deep-pressure therapy — a technique that helps calm anxiety and stress by applying gentle pressure.
As a future service dog for veterans, Lily has mastered commands designed to offer comfort and security. One such command, “rest,” instructs her to apply pressure on a person’s legs, helping to ground them during moments of distress. Another command, “look,” prompts Lily to glance behind someone, offering reassurance and a sense of safety.
Lily is set to graduate on Oct.
life in Aggieland — especially after a report alleging A&M was sharing research in Qatar contributed to the shutdown of A&M Qatar earlier this year. The university’s heavy involvement in the oil and petroleum industries is also dependent on America’s relationship with oil-producing countries.
“My position is that we have got to invest in diverse sources of energy so we reduce our reliance on foreign oil,” Harris said. “We have had the largest increase in domestic oil production in history because of an approach that recognizes that we cannot over-rely on foreign oil.”
“But if she won the election, the day after that election, they’ll go back to destroying our country and oil will be dead,” Trump said. “Fossil fuel will be dead. We’ll go
9. In November, she will return to K9s for Warriors to become a service dog for veterans, bringing comfort, stability and unwavering support to those who need it most.
For the first six months, the dogs learn commands such as “sit,” “down,” “stand” and how to walk without a leash. After mastering the basics, they face a jacket test — a course of commands and basic socialization that proves a dog can be friendly in public and in stores that are not dog-friendly — a milestone that, once passed, allows them increased privileges.
AGS uses positive reinforcement training. They want the dogs to realize that new things are not dangerous, and they welcome fun prizes and rewards.
The dogs train every day in a wide range of environments, including group sessions in professional settings. The furry trainees have to learn commands at fire stations, police stations, the airport and the mall. Rangeland Wildlife and Fisheries management senior and AGS president Faith Ash said that these interactions are important to prepare the dogs for any situation. These trainings focus on distractions and open the dogs up to new environments.
“We do their socialization and basic obedience, and we have to make sure they are ready for their phase two training because they deserve to make it after all the hard work,” Ash said.
agency,” Burge said. “For example, the EPA might have an interpretation of the Clean Air Act that should be given deference, and we would not give deference to the Department of Commerce interpreting the Clean Air Act because that’s not … delegated to that agency.”
Citizens’ Climate Lobby at A&M, a student organization focusing on environmental justice, released a statement surrounding the impact the ruling will have on their lobbying efforts.
“This ruling puts important climate and environmental regulations at risk,” the statement reads “That’s a harsh and disappointing reality … We can’t rely on federal agencies for durable climate action, now that the interpretation of policy is squarely in the unpredictable hands of the courts.”
Chevron was the backbone of many environmental law interpretations, such as the Clean Air Act of 1970. In 2014, the Supreme Court upheld EPA standards for 28 states whose air pollution crossed state lines. The court ruled that EPA had reasonably interpreted its authority under the law, which would not been impossible without the Chevron Doctrine.
Daniel Walters, associate professor of law at the A&M School of Law, handles the Chevron Doctrine within his lectures.
“The purpose of the doctrine was to provide a decision rule for courts that confront this situation of agencies routinely interpreting statutes as part of their jobs,” Walters said. “When we’re talking about Chevron deference, the purpose of those doctrines is simply to get
back to windmills and we’ll go back to solar, where they need a whole desert to get some energy to come out. You ever see a solar plant? By the way, I’m a big fan of solar.”
Issue #3: Abortion
Women’s health and the overturning of Roe v. Wade took center stage at the debate. Following the overturning of the landmark decision in 2021, Texas prohibited abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detectable. The abortion ban sparked protests, similar laws in other states and legislative disagreements over women’s healthcare throughout the country.
Over 47% of Aggies — roughly 36,420 students — are women, and an August poll showed 54% of
Phase one is critical because 50% of dogs that are trained to be service dogs end up failing or not completing it. Journalism junior and Public Relations Director Avery Kracemer said that in the first phase, it’s easier to overcome fear periods and unwanted behaviors — and that’s what sets them up for success. She said that a solid foundation sets them up to succeed, preventing them from becoming part of that percentage.
“Service dogs can be assistance, alert and mobility,” Kracmer said. “They can help with a variety of things ranging from PTSD to diabetes to wheelchair assistance and we want to make sure they accomplish that goal.”
As a group, AGS does campus training where students outside of the organization can handle the puppies and train them. This desensitizes the dogs to different people interacting with them and training them.
AGS evaluates the dogs, gauging their behaviors before deciding where to place them.
“By the time they graduate from our program, they typically know 35 of our commands,” Scoggin said.
After months of rigorous teachings, the dogs are sent to a secondary organization. If the dog is contracted from a particular place, that’s where they go back. If the puppy comes from a breeder, it’s built a resume and advertised to different organizations. Those puppies are then donated to organizations in need across
judges kind of rowing in the same direction.”
The ruling was overturned on June 28 after a court ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. When Burge first heard the news, he said he was not surprised.
“The Supreme Court has been trending in this direction over the past several years,” Burge said. “Chevron has been attacked for a long time because people are taking the view that this is too much power for unelected bureaucrats.”
Walters said the removal of the Chevron doctrine could mean uncertainties regarding A&M’s future.
“This is a very important area of law … it’s a little hard to predict exactly how it will all play out,” Walters said. “My read on the court is that it typically, at least right now, is a little bit worried about institutional disruption.”
Many federal institutions such as the IRS, the EPA and the Education Department relied on their ability to interpret laws, which has been removed along with Chevron. Burge said these disruptions will be particularly seen within the A&M system.
“Since the Chevron Doctrine is being overturned, any institution that deals with federal agencies will be impacted by the fact that many rules and regulations set up by those agencies are now subject to challenges they may not have been subject to before,” Burge said. “For an institution like A&M that has lots of dealings with the federal government, the loss of deference can add some uncertainty about the law.”
Interpretation of federal laws that have served college students for decades are now at risk of being removed, including Title IX, Walters
Texas women wanted state abortion laws to be less strict. The candidates were asked about their standpoint on the states’ rulings and a if they favor a hypothetical nationwide abortion ban.
“As far as the abortion ban, no, I’m not in favor of abortion ban,” Trump said. “But it doesn’t matter because this issue has now been taken over by the states.”
“And I pledge to you, when Congress passes a bill to put back in place the protections of Roe v. Wade, as president of the United States I will proudly sign it into law,” Harris said.
Issue #4: Healthcare
A&M also provides students with access to University Health Services
that treats most concerns except in extraneous circumstances — and with the number of students enrolled in Medicaid increasing from 8% to 13% since the passing of the Affordable Care Act, healthcare continues to be a topical issue impacting students daily.
“If we can come up with a plan that’s going to cost our people, our population, less money and be better healthcare than Obamacare, then I would absolutely do it,” Trump said. “But until then, I’d run it as good as it can be run.”
“The value I bring to this is that access to healthcare should be a right and not just a privilege of those who can afford it,” Harris said. “And the plan has to be to strengthen the Affordable Care Act, not get rid of it.”
the nation.
“There is a lot of hard work that goes into making sure the dog is ready,” Scoggin said. “They have to pass the Canine Good Citizen test, which is just a graduation requirement from our program.”
AGS has primary organizations that they work with often, including groups in Kansas, Florida, Washington and Oklahoma.
“We get updates from five, six years ago from dogs placed with their person,” Rogers said. “They always say, ‘I just never thought that my life would be the same ever again,’ and it’s so cool to see that impact.”
WEATHER CONTINUED
events like this could become more common as global warming continues. The high and low averages are lower than 2023 after El Nino, a weather phenomenon causing warmer temperatures worldwide, ended earlier this year.
“Climate change is mostly a large-scale phenomenon,” Nielson-Gammon said. “Houston’s had [Hurricanes] Harvey, Beryl … they bring all sorts of extreme weather with them. Strong winds, heavy rains, storm surge — and each one is affected by climate change.”
it may be something that we’ve introduced ourselves.”
The Ohio State paper discussed the similarity of discovered viruses that thrived during hot periods to modern viruses and the diversity of microorganisms that arose during those times.
“Nothing’s ever really new,” Neuman said. “It’s only new to us because we haven’t looked at it before.”
said.
“When the Department of Education decides to read a statute in a particular way, such as in Title IX of the Civil Rights Act, they may think they should best interpret the statute this way,” Walters said.
“This is a relevant example right now because the Department of Education recently promulgated a new rule under Title IX that said sex discrimination under Title IX includes discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and that interpretation of Title IX was a novel interpretation.”
As students prepare to vote in upcoming elections, Burge said these rulings could severely impact the executive branch’s role in government.
“The structure of our government and the checks and balances between the three branches — the Chevron Doctrine has been an important point of contention for several decades,” Burge said. “The overruling of Chevron is consistent with movement in the Supreme Court over the last several years to give less and less deference to the executive branch, to put restrictions on what the executive branch can do now.”
Burge said that, as with any overturning, there will always be mistakes in its interpretation.
“This decision is very much a matter of procedure for how the executive and judicial branches will relate to one another,” Burge said. “No matter how much we think we know what the future will look like under this new legal regime, we can look back in 10 or 15 years and find that we will have gotten it wrong in some areas, and we don’t exactly know what’s going to happen next.”
While heat waves may be increasing in number, other forms of extreme weather, like hurricanes, may be becoming less common, Nielson-Gammon said. But while they become rarer, the ones that do form might be stronger and more dangerous.
“We don’t get wind damage as frequently, but when you do, it’s worse,” Nielson-Gammon said. “Same thing with storm surge.”
Extreme weather may not be the only ecological event affected by climate change. In a scientific paper published in September, researchers from Ohio State University discovered over 1,700 new viral particles, the most ever found in a glacier to date.
Like the Ohio State researchers, A&M professor Benjamin Neuman, Ph.D., runs a lab searching for new viruses and fossil samples with evidence of viral activity.
“Everything is a little bit sick all the time,” Neuman said. “It turns out that’s a wonderful way of finding all the extra viruses that we didn’t know were there but were actually in apparently-healthy organisms.”
Viral particles from melting glaciers are being exposed to increasingly intense weather patterns, as global warming creates more opportunities for violent storms. Though they may not pose a threat to humans, these viral particles could signal an increase in viral mutations that align with global warming.
“There’s people that crack open really old salt crystals, half a billion years old … and sometimes there’s bacteria in those pockets,” Neuman said. “And they’ve sequenced those bacteria, and they turn out to be fairly similar to things you find around. But, of course, we’ve been mining salt and spreading it on the roads, so
In Neuman’s lab, fossilized viruses show predictable patterns of mutations that can be tracked based on the number of small changes. The slowly-changing climate can also be monitored and will require different emergency responses as extreme weather changes occur.
“As a general rule, the changes are incremental,” Nielson-Gammon said. “You don’t have to scrap what’s being done — you just may have to increase the efforts in some areas, and on the other hand, shift some resources around to threats that are emerging more rapidly than others.”
Climate change has faced challenges over the years, including the denial of its scientific validity, public ambivalence and a lack of policy changes. Nielson-Gammon said he has seen the changes in attitude towards this issue for over two decades.
“When I became the state climatologist in 2000, climate change wasn’t really a thing,” Nielson-Gammon said. “It was something that potentially was happening and something that was potentially significant. Since then, it’s become clear that it is happening, and in many ways, it is significant. That changes how we look at everything that involves the outdoor environment.”
Similarly, Neuman’s research depends on the preservation of delicate fossils — work that is becoming increasingly precarious as the conditions required to maintain fossils are deteriorating along with the climate. Climate change, Neuman said, is just one of the many pressures placed on scientists in the modern era.
“It affects everything all the time,” Neuman said. “How do you separate out the impact of that from the impact of culture, the impact of industry? They’re all these things, and they’re all moving — and it’s really hard to compartmentalize. And I don’t know that we can do much about any of them.”
Graphic by Chi-Chi Zhang — THE BATTALION
Top: Makinna Rodgers and Sondra Scoggin sit with Lily before a weekly group training session outside the Liberal Arts and Humanities Building on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Bottom: A student gives a command to Ember, a Black labrador retriever, before giving her a treat during an AGS training session on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.
Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
ENTERTAINMENT
Something Jace LaViolette might do while the pitcher's not looking (2 words)
What most clip-on wearers cannot do (3 words)
Where both toddlers and astronauts rest (2 words)
"En pointe" (2 words)
Redheaded sidekick in "Doctor Who"
If you played video games on this, it might be time for reading glasses
21 Nick _____ of "Cape Fear"
23 Computer system derived from telegraph code
24 He slapped CR at the 2022 AA
25 Party poopers at the ofce
28 Knead, in an outdated way of speaking
Oh, snap! A Chick-fil-A trap
CADET SLOUCH
by Corynn Young
Photo of the Week: Soccer Celebrates
The best snap from Batt Photo, as selected by our photo chiefs
The Aggies celebrate after Texas A&M midfelder Taylor Pounds’ (9) goal during Texas A&M’s game against Louisiana Tech at Ellis Field on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. Pounds scored two back-to-back goals within a minute in the Maroon and White's 2-0 win against the Lady Techsters. (Sarthak Dalal/The Battalion)
This Week in History
Sept. 15, 1963 The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing kills four children as part of a hate crime committed by the KKK in response to Alabama being ordered to integrate their schools.
Sept. 16, 1620 The Mayfower departs Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers to America.
14, 1814 "The Star-Spangled Banner" is written by Francis Scott Key.
Sept. 17, 1862 The bloodiest day of the Civil War occurs during The Battle of Antietam.
Sept. 17, 1787 Delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia sign the U.S. Constitution.
Sept. 18, 1973 Future President Jimmy Carter submits a report to the International UFO Bureau that says he saw an unidentifed fying object in 1969.
Sept. 19, 1893 New Zealand becomes the frst country to allow women to vote.
Out of the Archives: Sept. 15, 1955
Image colorized from black and white
This photograph of Reveille II originally appeared on Page 7 of the Sept. 15, 1955 issue of The Battalion. Here is the caption and accompanying brief from the original article:
MAN'S BEST FRIEND—No. It's Reveille II, the Aggie mascot, and the canine who once brought forth a startling quotation from a Battalion photographer: 'Look out for the d . . n dog; it bites.' Anyway, it's been vacationing in Borger during the summer and has now returned. It's ofcial now. School defnitely will be starting. It has to, for Reveille has returned.
She smelled something awful when she frst made her appearance back at A&M last week — but she looked fatter. Seems as though the summer vacation she spent with Clarence Kerns, senior from Borger, was good for her. She smells better now; she had a bath.
Kerns' kindness in keeping the Aggie Mascot solved a problem which has bothered last year's Student Senate. Rev's regular roommate, Sam Netterville from Beaumont, had to attend summer ROTC camp, so Rev had no home.
The whole school owes Kerns a favor. He took Rev away for the summer.
Sept. 13, 1993 The Oslo Accords, a landmark Israel-Palestine peace agreement, is signed.
Sept. 14, 1964 Pop-Tarts hit shelves for the frst time.
Sept. 14, 1901 William McKinley becomes the third US president to be assassinated.
Sept.
From Scarlet Knight to Maroon and White
Rutgers transfer Allison Lowrey looks to find success at
A&M
By Braxton Dore’ Asst. Sports Editor
The sports atmosphere in Aggieland is unlike any other. From the stadium noise to the 12th Man’s dedication, every aspect of Texas A&M sports just feels different — something Allison Lowrey could feel when she attended the Aggies’ baseball game against Oregon while on a visit to Texas A&M.
“The fans were wrapping their arms around us for the War Hymn, and there’s bubbles going everywhere,” Lowrey said. “It was crazy and a complete culture shock. The fans, the way they care and are a part of it. The whole 12th Man is so real.”
A&M soccer landed star transfers from the Big 12, the West Coast Conference and the Big Ten during the ofseason. One Rutgers transfer in particular is looking to make a name for herself in Aggieland: graduate forward Allison Lowrey.
“I spent four years at Rutgers and lived 20 minutes away from home,” Lowrey said. “I felt that it was time for me to get out of my comfort zone. So I entered the portal and looked at some great schools. A&M was my last visit. I got on campus — and just something about it. I called my parents
that night in the hotel. I was like, ‘We didn’t talk money. We didn’t talk about anything, but this is where I’m going.’”
The New Jersey native stayed close to home at Rutgers, scoring 21 goals and 15 assists in her four years in New Brunswick while securing a College Cup appearance in 2021.
“They were my family away from home,” Lowrey said. “I learned a lot of lessons there and got to see a lot of parts of the game. I had great seasons. I had not-as-
great of seasons. We went to the Final Four, won the Big 10. I was a starter, [and] I was not a starter. I kind of got to see the game from all aspects, and that’s something that I defnitely use a lot to talk to girls who are younger on the teams I play for, because I’ve been where they are. I’ve worked my way up in the same way.”
After the Rutgers star realized she needed a change, she knew the transition wouldn’t be easy and thanked her new teammates for their support.
“The girls were so great to me,” Lowrey said. “Over the summer, I was kind of bouncing from place to place. I didn’t have a place to live until August, so they were all so good to me and just helped me get acclimated so well.”
Upon moving to Aggieland in the summer, Lowrey relied on her helpful new teammates for a temporary home while she waited for her lease to begin. She cited how kind and accommodating her new friends were, and how welcoming the culture of the university was.
Lowrey says A&M felt diferent from the other schools she considered. She fell in love with the history, culture, coaches and more — a “phenomenal and great frst impression,” she said.
Playing four years of collegiate level soccer has given her many impactful memories with former teammates, and with the Aggies set to face SEC opponents housing some of her former teammates, Lowrey said more than a few matches will feel like a homecoming.
“I mean, it’s kind of crazy, transferring from Jersey to Texas,” Lowrey said. “A lot of the teams I’m playing against, I know girls on. Which is kind of crazy, like we had Fairfeld come here I knew a player. When TCU came, there was a girl who transferred from Rutgers. So it’s cool to wrap up my last year, seeing all these girls that I’ve played with before and again, to play against them.”
While Lowrey cherished the time she spent at Rutgers, this year is diferent. Now in the SEC, expectations are high — and the time Lowrey has to accomplish her dreams is running short.
“Obviously, I want to be a part of this team and win an SEC championship,” Lowrey said. “I take this goal because I believe that is 100% something that we can achieve, and I’m really excited to be a part of it. I’ve seen the way these girls work and how they work with each other, and I think once we get into SEC play, we will be a diferent team.”
Aggies prepare for Connecticut road trip
A&M to face Central Connecticut State, UConn this week
By Ian Curtis Features Editor
Welcome to the Nutmeg State, Aggies.
After a pair of 2-0 victories over TCU and Louisiana Tech at Ellis Field last week, Texas A&M soccer is hitting the road for a pair of games in Connecticut. The Aggies will face Central Connecticut State in New Britain on Thursday evening before visiting UConn in Storrs at noon on Sunday.
“A big part of what we schedule is about trying to fnd teams that are traditional winners,” coach G Guerrieri said. “We want to play teams that are going to typically
be at the top of their leagues. And Central Connecticut is traditionally one of those teams … That’s a team that isn’t going to be on any other SEC schedule.”
The Blue Devils are a Northeast Conference dynasty, making the NCAA Tournament in fve of the last six years. But the streak may not continue this season: Central Connecticut is a dreadful 0-5-1 and has only scored a single goal this season, while being scored on nine times. Combine that with A&M’s strong defensive performance lately — the Aggies are the only team in the country to have three diferent goalkeepers record shutout wins: Freshman Sydney Fuller, freshman Maysen Veronda and graduate Grace McClellan, with Fuller and McClellan earning clean sheets in the Aggies’ last two matches.There may be a recipe for a blowout in store.
But games aren’t played on paper — as A&M well knows after its 3-2 loss to Denver — and having an SEC team visit New Britain is certainly a special occasion.
Both the Blue Devils and Huskies play on artifcial turf pitches instead of natural grass, so practice has looked a bit diferent for the Aggies this week. The Maroon and White have been practicing on turf at Penberthy Rec Sports Complex, Guerrieri said.
“We haven’t played on artifcial turf since we were in the Big 12,” Guerrieri said. “And it’s something I’ve intentionally not played on because I don’t like to roll the dice and play on it because of the potential of injuries. These have artifcial fll in both of these surfaces.”
After facing Central Connecticut, the Aggies head to one of the most historic venues in college soccer for a matchup against
UConn at Morrone Stadium. The Huskies are on a four-game win streak of their own and are 4-1-1 this season.
“UConn is one of those teams that is also a perennial NCAA Tournament team,” Guerrieri said. “[UConn] is a team that’s been to Final Fours, has been to national championship games [and] is always up there. Playing at Joe Morrone Stadium is also a cool setting.”
— this so
While the Huskies are on a hot streak — outscoring opponents 11-5 so far this season — they fell 2-1 to Wisconsin in their only game against power conference opposition so far.
Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M forward Allison Lowrey (35) walks to the sideline during Texas A&M’s game against Louisiana Tech at Ellis Field.
Texas A&M forward Allison Lowrey (35) watches TCU goalkeeper Lauren Kellett (1) pass the ball during Texas A&M’s game against TCU at Ellis Field.
Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
Aggies kick off SEC play in The Swamp
A&M football travels to Florida to take on the Gators
By DJ Burton Sports Writer
The last time Texas A&M football met Florida on the gridiron, it was a clash of future NFL stars. Former Aggie football player and current Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane led the effort against former Gator and current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson in 2022, and the Gators came out on top, 41-24, at Kyle Field. This time around, the Aggies are looking for revenge.
The two teams had a similar start to their 2024 campaigns, starting 1-1. Both dropped their Week 1 games to ranked opponents, one more narrowly than the other, and followed it up by demolishing FCS programs. Now, things get real with SEC play.
While the Maroon and White have yet to go on a road trip in 2024, the Aggies have not won a road matchup since Oct. 16, 2021, while coach Mike Elko was still defensive coordinator. The team has focused on duplicating that winning recipe and solidifying mechanics to prepare for the challenge.
“It’s going to be a very difficult environment Saturday to go down in The Swamp, one of the tougher places to play in this conference,” Elko said. “Getting the primetime
staff picks: Florida
afternoon slot, we know that place is going to be rocking.”
Florida freshman QB DJ Lagway filled in for redshirt senior Graham Mertz, who was out with a concussion, and threw for 456 yards and three touchdowns last week against Samford. Lagway’s performance was enough to earn some playing time against A&M, but not enough to replace Mertz as the starter.
“It’s a blessing to have two really good quarterbacks,” Florida coach Billy Napier said. “Certainly, one with a ton of experience and one without, but there is no doubt both these guys will make us harder to defend. We intend to use both of them.”
Florida senior RB Montrell Johnson Jr. has over 2,500 yards in his collegiate career and has 173 yards and three rushing touchdowns on the season. Combine Johnson with the Gators’ experienced offensive line, and the crew could create some serious problems for the Aggies.
“He’s a really talented back,” Elko said. “Offensively, it’s a group that’s played a lot of football — very, very, experienced and very, very, talented.”
A&M’s run defense has been lackluster thus far, allowing 189 yards and two scores to Notre Dame, and 180 yards to McNeese.
The team has focused on run stoppage all week, junior defensive end Shemar Stewart said.
“We try to pride ourselves on not letting the ball being ran on us,” Stewart said. “We’re trying to emphasize being more physical in the
run game.”
On the offensive side of the ball, the Aggies are coming off of a dominant victory against McNeese, where sophomore QB Conner Weigman completed 78.6% of passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns, a stark contrast to the week prior. Weigman and the Maroon and White’s air attack match up well against a thin Florida secondary.
“We’ll have contingency plans: Who’s the next best corner, safety, just like we did last week,” Napier said. “Just might be a different guy this week.”
A&M also performed well on the ground against McNeese, tallying 333 rushing yards and five rushing TDs.
“I feel real confident,” junior RB Amari Daniels, who accounted for two of the team’s touchdowns, said. “If we play our good football and play how we’re supposed to and how we’re coached, then we’ll be good.”
Saturday’s game serves as a homecoming for graduate transfer defensive back Jaydon Hill, junior transfer linebacker Scooby Williams and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. Bateman served as the Gators’ linebackers coach over the past two seasons before joining the Aggies.
“Just another day in college football,” Napier said. “Used to be just coaches. Now it’s players, too.”
The two teams will kick off on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on ABC.
Saturday, Sept. 14 at 2:30 p.m.
Charis Adkins
Mikayla
Kyle Heise — THE BATTALION
Left: Texas A&M defensive back Bryce Anderson (1) hypes up the crowd during Texas A&M’s game against Notre Dame at Kyle Field. Top Right: Texas A&M players swat at the ball for a drill during the
third day of fall football practice outside the Coolidge Football Performance Center. Bottom Right: Texas A&M defensive back Marcus Ratcliffe (3) runs toward defensive back Bryce Anderson (1) while running a drill during the fifth day of fall football practice outside the Coolidge Football Performance Center.
Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
Hannah Harrison — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M defensive lineman Nic Scourton (11) celebrates after a tackle during Texas A&M’s game against Notre Dame at Kyle Field.
Kyle Heise — THE BATTALION
Aggies’ explosive ofense preps for battle against tough Gator defense in SEC play
Weigman aims for bounce-back efort and Klein debuts ofense
By Mathias Cubillan Sports Writer
Following an encouraging bounce-back performance against McNeese State after a comatose season opener, Texas A&M football’s offense looks to build momentum as it takes on a fierce Florida defense Saturday.
Through the first two games of the season, it is clear that the Maroon and White want to create an identity as a hard-nosed rushing attack. Averaging 240 yards per game, the Aggies’ rushing offense ranks 24th nationally.
Junior running back Le’Veon Moss has been the bell cow for the ground operation with 154 yards and three touchdowns on the year. Coach Mike Elko said Moss was one of the team’s players of the game against McNeese State.
“[Moss] ran the ball really well,” Elko said. “[I] thought he made the strides that we had hoped to see him make from Week 1 to Week 2. [I] think he’ll continue to improve as the year goes on.”
If the Aggies want to continue their success on the ground, they will have to run into the teeth of the Gators’ defense. Senior defensive tackle Cam Jackson anchors a Florida rushing defense that only allows 103 yards per game. The 6-foot-6, 342-pound behemoth plays next to redshirt junior edge rusher Tyreak Sapp, who already has two sacks and
3.5 tackles for loss on the season.
Sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman quieted the chatter about his potential compatibility in offensive coordinator Collin Klein’s scheme against McNeese State. After finishing as Pro Football Focus’ worst passer in Week 1, Weigman was the nation’s highest-graded passer against the Cowboys.
Finishing his day when the starters got pulled after garnering 125 yards and two touchdowns, Weigman reminded the 12th Man of his 2023 campaign where he dazzled from
the pocket before his season-ending injury. While McNeese State was not the most rigorous competition, Weigman looked more comfortable operating within the structure of the offense, with highlight throws to junior wide receiver Noah Thomas and sophomore WR Jacob Bostick standing out. Against a stouter Gator defensive line, more of the onus for offensive production might fall onto Weigman to create with his legs. The Florida defense struggled to get off the field on third down, letting
opponents convert at a 44% rate and finding difficulties containing Miami senior QB Cam Ward on the ground in Week 1. Weigman tacked on 34 yards on the ground a week ago and might need to pick up a few timely firsts on his own on Saturday.
The Gators’ passing defense is patrolled by junior inside linebacker Shemar James, who hauled in his first career interception in Florida’s first game. The rangy playmaker was named to the 2024 Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List. Joining James
to slow down the Aggies’ aerial assault is senior cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., who led the team with 10 pass breakups in 2023.
“[Florida’s cornerbacks] can cover at an elite clip, which is always a challenge,” Elko said. “They have playmakers at the second level.”
After the starters were taken out of the McNeese State game, Aggie fans got an introduction to five-star phenom freshman athlete Terry Bussey. The jack-of-all-trades took a jet sweep 65 yards to the house late in the game to electrify the Kyle Field crowd. It appears to be a priority for Klein to get the ball in Bussey’s hands, with scripted touches potentially factoring in if the offense gets stagnant down in Gainesville, Florida.
“Terry has done a really good job,” Elko said. “Some of the decisions Terry’s making back [as a punt returner] are really smart, like letting the ball go over his head and not running back and catching it running backward inside the 10-yard line.”
Aside from the challenges Florida’s defense provides, the opening road trip of the season for the Aggies will mark the first time Weigman and the coaching staff will have to use the new in-helmet communication technology in a hostile environment.
“It’s going to be a very difficult environment Saturday to go down into The Swamp, one of the tougher places to play in this conference,” Elko said. “Getting the primetime afternoon slot, we know that place is going to be rocking.”
A&M travels to Gainesville to exploit an unsatisfactory Florida ofense Saturday
Aggie defense hopes to continue strong play on the road
By Eric Liu Sports Writer
After a comfortable 52-10 beatdown against McNeese State, Texas A&M heads down to The Swamp to face Florida in its first SEC matchup of the season.
The ferocious A&M defense lived up to its reputation last week, nabbing two interceptions while holding the Cowboys to under 100 passing yards. There were no sacks to show for it, but backup quarterback Kamden Sixkiller was pressured all day, leading to many off-kilter throws.
Despite the secondary being a no-fly zone, the front seven let up many chunk gains on the ground.
After giving up 198 rushing yards in their season-opening loss to Notre Dame, the Maroon and White struggled to stop the run again with McNeese gaining 180 yards.
“I think at halftime, we had really controlled the rushing game,” coach Mike Elko said. “In the second half, we didn’t do nearly what we wanted to do on defense in terms of running — stopping the run.”
The Aggies will have to perform much better plugging the gaps if they hope to prevent the Gators from exploiting their weakness.
The question on everyone’s mind this week will be who Florida head coach Billy Napier plans on starting at quarterback. Starting in place of senior quarterback Graham Mertz, who was out with a concussion, true freshman QB D.J. Lagway lit it up versus Samford, throwing for a Gator freshman-record 456 yards with an outstanding 18.24 yards per attempt.
Lagway’s last touchdown of the night didn’t require as much effort, with a simple flip to sophomore wide receiver Eugene Wilson III, who outran the entire Bulldog secondary.
Barring any setbacks, Mertz is in line to start this Saturday’s game, but don’t get it twisted. Lagway will see the field.
“When you look at them on offense, they’ve got two extremely talented quarterbacks who kind of have different skill sets,” Elko said.
“So it’ll be a challenge for us defensively to prepare for both and make sure that we’re ready for both.”
No matter who’s throwing the ball, the Aggies will have to keep a watch out for Florida’s biggest weapon: Wilson. The 5-foot-10 receiver has a slight build, but his
quickness and agility means he’s liable to take it to the house anytime he gets the ball.
Sophomore defensive back Jayvon Thomas will be the one tasked with containing Wilson. He will need help from the A&M pass rush to prevent routes from developing deep, an area of the field where the
Maroon and White can be exploited. Junior defensive lineman Nic Scourton will need to get to the quarterback quickly to disrupt the Gators’ timing.
Even if the Aggies stop the dynamic Florida pass catchers, it’ll be hard to win the game if they can’t stop anybody on the ground. Senior
running back Montrell Johnson Jr. is running behind an experienced offensive line, and the Gators will want to establish the run to open up the play-action game. A&M’s linebacker core, headlined by sophomore Taurean York, will have to shoot its gaps to stop a formidable rushing attack.
Hannah Harrison — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman (15) hands the ball off to Texas A&M Aggies running back Amari Daniels (5) during Texas A&M’s game against McNeese State at Kyle Field.
Texas A&M Aggies defensive lineman D.J. Hicks (13) breaks through the line during Texas A&M’s game against McNeese State at Kyle Field.
Adriano Espinosa — THE BATTALION
season, and the only one with more than two goals.
In that contest, junior forward Chioma Okafor, UConn’s leading scorer, was only able to muster two shots. Compare that to the Huskies’ last game — a 3-1 victory over Rhode Island — where the Malawi native was able to double her season total with a brace on seven shots.
Okafor is one of just a pair of Huskies with multiple goals this
By Shalina Sabih
Meanwhile, five Aggies have found the back of the net multiple times this season, led by junior midfielder Sydney Becerra with three goals. The versatility of the Aggies’ offense — and the opposite being true for the Huskies — may be the deciding factor against UConn.
Coming off of back-to-back shutout victories, Guerrieri says
No. 4 Alabama at Wisconsin
Saturday, Sept. 14 — 11 a.m. on FOX Camp Randall Stadium — Madison, Wisconsin
Alabama’s defense a run for its money. However, the Crimson Tide’s offense just might win this game due to their last-minute turnaround against South Florida last week. Freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams contributed 68 yards during the game and a touchdown during the fourth quarter, providing new life to the ’Bama offense.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Wisconsin 24
outscored their first two foes 89-0. Missouri will introduce a potent passing attack, led by senior QB Brady Cook, junior WR Luther Burden III and senior WR Theo Wease Jr., who have a well-established connection. Boston College’s hopes rest on sustained drives led by junior QB Thomas Castellanos, but Missouri’s formidable defense will make that difficult. The Tigers’ explosive offense and solid defense will give them the upper hand, earning them the win in this matchup.
A&M hopes to build off the win streak as they head into SEC play after this road trip.
“One of the themes of the win on Sunday night was to get on a roll,” Guerrieri said. “Let’s see if we can start that one. You’ve got to start with the first win, and then start stacking those wins together. And you can stack those wins together without the performances.”
Guerrieri credits the Aggies’ win
against TCU to their intensity and said it’ll be an important factor again against the Blue Devils.
“Going to their place and trying to play at our speed will be really important to us,” Guerrieri said. “That’ll be a consistent theme as we start to stack performances together. That process of putting things together will hopefully put together the process of the results that we want.”
No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky
Saturday, Sept. 14 — 6:30 p.m. on ABC Kroger Field — Lexington, Kentucky
Senior QB Carson Beck brings precision to the Bulldogs’ offense, and he’s backed by a powerful supporting cast including junior RB Trevor Etienne.
Despite Etienne sitting out Georgia’s season opener, his return to the lineup adds a potent rushing threat that complements an offensive line which has only allowed two sacks all season.The balance between a strong passing game and a revitalized rush-
ing attack makes Georgia’s offense difficult to contain.
On defense, junior defensive back Malaki Starks and sophomore inside linebacker CJ Allen have consistently shut down opposing offenses. Their ability to stifle the run game forces teams to rely on their passing attack. These Georgia playmakers will put immediate pressure on Kentucky junior QB Brock Vandagriff to carry the load through air.
Prediction: Georgia 38, Kentucky 17
South Carolina’s pass rush, led by fifth
Top Left: Texas A&M midfielder Sydney Becerra (7) dribbles past a defender during Texas A&M’s game against Louisiana Tech at Ellis Field. Top Right: Defender Macy Matula (18) kicks the ball downfield during Texas A&M’s game against Louisiana Tech. Middle Left: Midfielder Taylor Pounds (9) goes after the ball while a Louisiana Tech player falls during Texas A&M’s game against Louisiana. Middle Right: Forward MaKhiya McDonald (5) kicks the ball during Texas A&M’s game against Louisiana Tech. Bottom Left: Midfielder Sydney Becerra (7) looks to pass the ball during Texas A&M’s game against Louisiana Tech at Ellis Field. Bottom Right: The Aggies sing the War Hymn after Texas A&M’s win against Louisiana Tech. Sarthak Dalal, Micah Richter, Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
Around the country
From in-state rivalries to former foes, here’s what our sports writers think will come true in Week 3 CFB
By Luke White, Ian Curtis, Andrew Paredes, Roman Arteaga Sports Editor, Features Editor, Sports Writer, Sports Writer
Thanks to conference realignment, this Pacifc Northwest rivalry is no longer a Pac-12 matchup, with Oregon making the move to the Big Ten and no conference wanting custody of Oregon State. Although the changing landscape has done nothing to lessen the animosity between the two schools.
The Ducks are in search of their frst defnitive win this season to back up their top-10 ranking after slipping by Idaho and Boise State. The Beavers have taken down Idaho State, San Diego State and are looking to make a name for themselves with a nomadic schedule. Under frst-year coach Trent Bray, a win over Oregon would do just that.
The battle of the brothers has been a rivalry since the 19th century. Utah will be representing the Pac-12, while Utah State will be representing the Mountain West division.
The Aggies are coming of of a devastating loss to USC, but have secured a home win against Robert Morris. The Utes are coming into this game with a perfect 2-0 record, and are looking to stay undefeated.
Both teams are led by upperclassmen quarterbacks and after the Aggies’ horrendous loss to USC where junior quarterback Bryson Barnes only threw for 103 yards and an interception, he def nitely will be looking for a bounce
hard-hitting defense. In their frst two games, the Sun Devils have run the ball on 72% of their offensive plays.
No. 12 Utah at Utah State
Both programs boast transfers at quarterback, albeit at two diferent levels. The Ducks reeled in senior Dillon Gabriel, a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy, from Oklahoma. On the other hand, the Beavers are run by Idaho transfer redshirt junior Gevani McCoy. McCoy’s stats don’t match those of Gabriel, although Oregon State has a pair of running backs with three touchdowns. Reser Stadium will pose a hostile environment for Oregon, and rivalries often bring the best out of teams. The Ducks’ roster is littered with talent, and Gabriel and the playmakers will do just enough to eke out another victory.
Arizona State and Texas State both are exciting teams that have made strides in the last two seasons. In 2023, the Bobcats made it to their frst-ever bowl game appearance in school history in their rst season under head coach G.J. Kinne. As for the Sun Devils, they are entering year two with head coach Kenny Dillingham, after bringing in 30 players from the transfer portal.
The Sun Devils started their season 2-0 for the frst time since the 2021 season, with wins over Wyoming and Mississippi State.
Dillingham has established an old-school style of play that relies on a heavy-run ofense and
The Bobcats are riding high after beating Lamar and UTSA to start their season 2-0, the frst time since 2013. In those two games, transfer senior QB Jordan McCloud passed for 550 yards and 5 touchdowns. McCloud transferred to Texas State this past ofseason after coming of a 35-touchdown season with James Madison. Both teams have found excitement in their recent success and this game should be an intriguing test for them.
West Virginia at Pittsburgh
back game. The Utes’ senior QB Cameron Rising is coming o a two touchdown and zero interception game. Because Utah tallied 170 rushing yards on the ground against Baylor in their last match, and Utah State allowed 249 rushing yards against USC, it is safe to say that the Aggies’ defense will be tested in the rushing game.
Merlin Olsen Field will defnitely be a hostile environment for the Utah Utes and everybody will be waiting to see which team remains supreme in the state.
However, I do not think this will be much of a contest. I predict the Utes will blowout the Aggies.
In a world where conference realignment has robbed us of so much, it’s nice to see schools reignite a long-standing rivalry with a non-conference home-and-home series like Pitt and West Virginia have.
West Virginia took the win at home last year in a 17-6 victory, as part of a 9-4 season that likely saved head coach Neal Brown’s job.
This time, it’s coach Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers looking for a rebound year after last season’s
SENIOR BOOT BAG
3-9 efort. But unlike the Mountaineers, Pitt has proven they can win close games and ugly games, with a 21-point comeback efort in a 28-27 win over Cincinnati last week.
That experience will come through in the Backyard Brawl, a rivalry known for its particular brand of messiness. It’ll be wild, it’ll be weird, and there will likely be chants involving the consumption of feces set to “Sweet Caroline,” and Pitt will get revenge for last season by a single possession.
Arizona State vs Texas State
No. 8 Oregon at Oregon State
Graphic by Ethan Mattson
