TheBatt04-12-2013

thebattalion

football | 6 Campaign kick off

l friday,

april 12, 2013

l serving

texas a&m since 1893

l first paper free – additional copies $1 l © 2013 student media

Weekend lineups

Johnny Manziel and A&M football unofficially start the season Saturday at the annual Maroon and White game.

For the first time in school history, though, there’s a catch — ESPN will be airing the Aggies live on a national broadcast.

softball | 9 End in sight For A&M softball, the 2013 season has brought historic firsts for the program unforeseen at the season’s beginning. Now in the midst of conference play, the No. 10 ranked Aggies look to build a legacy as they face off with league rival No. 13 LSU.

baseball | 7 Breaking speeds The A&M baseball season may be on the downhill slope, but the most vital series lie ahead for the Aggies. Kicking off the beginning of the season’s end will be Mississippi State from Friday through Sunday at Olsen Field — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Echo Taps honors Army sergeant

inside campus | 11 Alternative Ring Dunk The unofficial ring dunk tradition is often associated with a pitcher of beer, but many students have found ways to stretch the custom to express their personalities in unique ways.

campus

Chase Krumholz — THE BATTALION

The Corps of Cadets honors Army Sgt. Graham Woody, Class of 2008, in an Echo Taps ceremony Thursday. Woody died in a training accident April 5 at Fort Bliss in El Paso. “He was the voice of reason — he was definitely our sanity check most of the time,” said Matt Duhs, a former member of Company N-1.

campus

thebatt.com

HOUSING GUIDE spring 2013

See inside

inside campus | 5 Ag outreach Campus agricultural organizations took to Academic Plaza on Thursday to advocate for a young movement in the farming populace and awareness of public food sources.

lifestyles | 2 Chilly encounter “Bus Stop,” the newest play from the Department of Performance Studies, takes audiences to a snowy night in the 1950s, where eight people are forced to define their relationships.

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Parents’ Weekend brims with variety of events Jessica Smarr

The Battalion ggieland will welcome back to campus its proud parents starting Friday for the 94th annual Parents’ Weekend.

Parents’ Weekend, a Texas A&M tradition that has existed under different labels since 1919, will be held Friday through Sunday, giving parents the opportunity to share the campus experience through a variety of events. The weekend is organized by the 40 students on the Parents’ Weekend Committee.

Alex Pruett, senior biomedical sciences major and director of the Parents’ Weekend Committee, said students work year-round to make sure the weekend represents the values and spirit of A&M to visitors.

“We are an entirely student-run organization, so we have to get the food vendors, our sponsors, contact them all, follow up with them and just make sure everything is ready, which can be really challenging just because of everyone’s expectations,” Pruett

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said. “A lot of people think that A&M is in charge of it, and that it isn’t a student organization, but we work really, really hard to keep everyone happy and make sure the weekend is successful.”

The weekend will consist of many attractions, from sporting events such as the Maroon and White spring football game to the “Taste of Aggieland,” an event that brings local food vendors together on Duncan Drill Field.

Pruett said her favorite part of the weekend is Friday afternoon, when many students will receive their Aggie rings.

“For all the people getting their rings, it’s a really exciting time for them,” Pruett said.

“I received my ring last year and I know how special it is to everyone.”

Friday will also feature the first Midnight Yell for the recently elected 2013-2014 yell leaders. Chris Powell, junior sociology major and senior yell leader, said he is honored See Parents’ Weekend on page 3

Ring day brings tangible evidence to hard work

Kadie McDougald

Special to The Battalion or many upperclassmen, Friday’s bright atmosphere may be due to more than the sunny forecast — for the first time, they will get to flash their new Aggie Rings.

Kathryn Greenwade, Class of 1988 and vice president for communication and human resources for the Clayton Williams Alumni Center, said 4,100 students are expected throughout the day, making Friday the center’s largest Aggie Ring Day. Greenwade said the day is big for students because of the anticipation that has been building since before many even began their first class.

“It’s a milestone that students look forward to from Fish Camp or maybe even from their new student conference,” she said.

Tyler Stamps, junior industrial distribution major, said upperclassmen look forward to getting their rings because of all the work that goes into getting one.

“I think it’s a pretty big deal,” Stamps said. “It’s about being a part of the Aggie family and the academic achievement.”

Because of the academic requirements that must be met and the Aggie family it represents, Greenwade said the Aggie Ring becomes an important in-

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dication of hard work and high standards.

“It’s such a visible symbol of the Aggie network and spirit and it’s not something easily obtained,” Greenwade said.

“It symbolizes our core values and what’s important to us as Aggies.”

Jessica Demny, junior industrial distribution major, will be one of the students receiving an Aggie Ring on Friday.

Demny said she will recognize the big accomplishment as she puts on her ring, but the significance of the moment and what it represents will take more time to fully process.

“I’m going to be thinking, ‘Is this real life?’” Demny said.

“I’ve never felt like I would actually get my ring. It feels like yesterday I was a freshman going to my first ring ceremony. It’s incredible and unbelievable.”

The greatest part about getting the ring, Demny said, is being aware that her time here at A&M will soon come to an end and the next phase of life will begin.

“The most exciting part is the knowledge that the end is in sight, we’ve worked so hard to get to this point,” she said. “[The ring is] just the symbol that we’re growing up and there’s a purpose to your goals.

It proves that life is going to keep going.”

4/11/13 11:10 PM

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ATING SENIOR RADU S

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Play immerses audience in history, explores relationships Colin Wisdom The Battalion

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hat happens when eight people with nothing in common find themselves stranded in a diner during a blizzard? You get “Bus Stop,” a witty, comical and evocative play that takes audience members into history and explores the complexities of relationships.

“Bus Stop,” presented by the Texas A&M Department of Performance Studies’ Theater Program and performed by students, premiered Thursday to a soldout crowd. It examines the culture of the 1950s and the interactions between individuals of different backgrounds.

The play was originally written by William Igne in 1955 and follows the tale of eight characters caught in a diner during a freak blizzard. The story revolves around character interactions, especially between the cowboy Bo and nightclub singer Cheri, played by freshman Sean Gordon, biological and agricultural engineering major, and senior Anna Pruitt, theatre arts major.

Amy Guerin, professor for the Department of Performance Studies, directs the play.

“You get to see people as they are, with all their quirks, the good and the bad,” Guerin said. “It is a play about its time. The play is really about the question [of] how we love.”

Josh Hardcastle, senior agricultural communication and journalism major and theatre arts minor, said the play delves into the complexities of interpersonal relationships.

“When Igne wrote this play, he wanted to display a variety of relationships,” Hardcastle said. “[The play] deals with complexity and relationships and how people define them.”

“Bus Stop” premiered on Broadway in 1955 and was adapted into a Marilyn Monroe film a year later. This production places a particular emphasis on historical accuracy, utilizing checkerboard floors and homemade pies to take audience members to Kansas in 1950. Cast members said the process of developing the characters and set was as detailed as possible.

thebattalion

Jade Bedell — THE BATTALION

Anna Pruitt, senior theatre arts major, and Breyon Roberson, junior theatre arts major, have a final dress rehearsal in preparation for “Bus Stop,” a student-run play that opened Thursday.

Hardcastle, the dramaturg for the play, was responsible for researching and fact checking for background and context. He said his job gave him a new perspective on the play, and that the rendition being performed on campus is his favorite, by far.

“I’ve been researching the 1950s and Kansas to provide context for the cast,” Hardcastle said. “This process has made the play new for me again. I’ve seen it three or four times and this is the best production I’ve seen. This cast, they have everything down. They do an excellent job of performing the entire play.”

With the sold-out Thursday perfor-

When & where “Bus Stop” will show in Rudder Forum from Friday through Sunday, and again from April 17 to 20. Tickets are available at the MSC Box Office. mance, the play is looking to be a showstopper.

“We are going to do it right, make it funny and show what A&M Theater is all about,” Gordon said.

corrections

Trevor Stevens Editor-in-Chief

The Independent Student Voice of Texas A&M since 1893

The following Aggies have been selected as the recipients of the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for 2012-2013:

The Battalion is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. Offices are in Suite L400 of the Memorial Student Center.

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News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; email: editor@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com.

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lifestyles

Aspiring movie critic reviews films in blog Emily Villani

The Battalion y the glow of a computer screen, Shelbi LeMeilleur, freshman English major, began a blog in February of 2011. LeMeilleur had a distinct mission in mind for her little corner of the Internet — she would watch and review every movie listed in the book “1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.” “Half the time, the critics don’t get it right, so I want to let people know my opinion,” LeMeilleur said.

“Also, it gives me a great excuse to write about anything.”

She was initially inspired to blog after seeing the movie “Julie and Julia,” which follows the story of a woman who cooks her way through every recipe in a cookbook and blogs about each attempt. Like in the movie, LeMeilleur’s objective was originally to watch and review the 1,001 movies from the book “1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die,” but since then the scope of her blog has broadened to include any movie she sees.

Two years, 4,086 hits and more than 82 movies later, LeMeilleur still writes and reviews regularly.

She fully intends to watch and review the remaining 919 movies in the book, as well as any other film that comes up along the way.

“I won’t truly feel accomplished until I have finished them all,” LeMeilleur said.

Her goal is to one day be a movie critic, and she sees her blog as a gateway into a world of opportunities that could lead her down that path.

“I’d be able to do two of my favorite things — write, and watch movies,” LeMeilleur said. “[The blog] could possibly open doors for me when I look to make a career out of writing.”

For LeMeilleur, watching movies provides a temporary escape from the noise of the world.

“It gives you an outsider’s perspective on different things,” LeMeilleur said. “It’s no different than sitting back and reading a book, except with movies, you’re getting pictures behind another person’s imagination.”

Because she has become the film guru within her circle of friends,

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thebattalion 4.12.2013 page3

world news China pulls ‘Django Unchained’ from showing in theaters

The Hollywood film “Django Unchained” was pulled from Chinese theaters on its opening day Thursday, in a rare move despite weeks of promotion in the country for director Quentin Tarantino’s violent slaverevenge saga. The suspension order by importer China Film Group Corporation cited an unspecified technical problem. Calls there and to China’s regulatory agency, the State Administration of Radio Film and Television, were unanswered. The China office of Sony Pictures, which released the film, refused to comment.

Associated Press Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION

Shelbi LeMeilleur, freshman english major, based her website on the book-to-blog idea from “Julie and Julia,”and reviews movies from the book “1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.”

“[The blog] could possibly open doors for me when I look to make a career out of writing.”

— Shelbi LeMeilleur, freshman english major

she is the first person they go to for movie advice.

“It was weird at first, but I love that they want my opinion,” LeMeilleur said.

After considering placing ads on her blog to generate revenue, LeMeilleur decided against it.

“Even though it would be nice to earn some money from this, I don’t feel like ads are the right way to do that,” LeMeilleur said. “Ads are annoying and I don’t want to annoy my readers and give them an excuse to stop reading. This blog is for other people just as much as it is for me.”

Jacob Triska, junior ocean engineering major, said he reads LeMeil-

leur’s film reviews because they give readers a deeper understanding of film analysis.

“I’m always interested in expanding the knowledge I have when it comes to film, and this blog helps me do that,” Triska said. “Not only does it help me in a way where I can find new and exciting films to watch, but I can also gather new perspectives on films I’ve already seen.”

Matthew Herrera, freshman physics major, said he appreciates LeMeilleur’s writing style.

“I think she gives great insight into the movies she’s reviewed,” Herrera said. “It’s really neat. I really enjoyed her review of ‘The Evil Dead.’”

Read the reviews LeMeilleur’s blog can be found at thequestfor1001movies. blogspot.com.

Parents’ Weekend Continued from page 1

the student body allowed him the opportunity to walk onto Kyle Field and help lead his first yell practice.

“It’s kind of hard to put into words,” Powell said. “I’m just really excited and looking forward to doing all I can to give as much back while wearing the uniform. I can’t say enough about how excited I am and how really humbled I am by getting the opportunity to do this.”

Powell said the weekend is also special to him for more personal reasons. He will get to share this experience with his mother and sisters, who are new to Aggie traditions.

“I’m actually from the East Coast, so I really don’t get to see my mom or sisters much,” Powell said. “I’m going to be getting my ring on Friday as well, so it’ll be really cool to share that with my family, especially since my mom didn’t go to A&M. [It will] kind

of give her a taste of what I’ll be doing this next year, so it’s going to be awesome because I’m going to be able to share it with my family.”

Sunday’s events will include the presentation of a Parent of the Year award. Last year’s recipients of the award, Brien and Kathy Smith, spent the year connecting with Aggie students. Kathy, Class of 1981 and mother to three Aggies, said getting to interact with so many members of the Aggie family was the most cherished part of her year.

Kathy said Parents’ Weekend is a great way for parents to get involved in their children’s college experience and that parents should make sure they participate.

“Whether they’re Aggies or not Aggies, [parents should] make sure that they come to a Midnight Yell practice and go to an Aggie football game and come to Parents’ Weekend,” Kathy said.

“You’ve got to share that experience … to really appreciate what you’re child’s going through.”

CONGRATULATIONS! Join the celebration as 4,100 shiny new Aggie Rings are delivered today at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center

Church Street BBQ

GRAND RE-OPENING! with Seth Candan & Co. day r u t Sa l 13 Apri

& The Dukes of York

April 12 • Aggie Ring Day 1:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Ring Tickets distributed online at AggieNetwork.com.

Limited tickets available at Alumni Center.

Approximate Schedule for Groups to Enter the Ring Delivery Area Group #1 Group #2 Group #3 Group #4 Group #5 Group #6 Groups #1-6 Group #7 Group #8 Group #9

1:30 pm 1:45 pm 2:00 pm 2:15 pm 2:30 pm 2:45 pm 3:00 pm 3:15 pm 3:30 pm 3:45 pm

Groups #1-9 Group #10 Group #11 Group #12 Groups #1-12 Group #13 Group #14 Group #15 Groups #1-15 Group #16

4:00 pm 4:15 pm 4:30 pm 4:45 pm 5:00 pm 5:15 pm 5:30 pm 5:45 pm 6:00 pm 6:15 pm

Group #17 Group #18 Groups #1-18 Group #19 Group #20 Group #21 Groups #1-21 Group #22 Group #23

6:30 pm 6:45 pm 7:00 pm 7:15 pm 7:30 pm 7:45 pm 8:00 pm 8:15 pm 8:30 pm

If your group’s time has already passed, please wait until the top of the hour when your group will be called once again. Entry into the Ring Delivery Area will only be allowed if it is either your group’s approximated time slot or when your grouping is called at the top of the hour (see schedule for clarification).

www.ChurchStreetBBQ.com

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Parking is available with a valid parking permit in PA 100. Those without valid permits may park at the University Center Garage, as available, and the West Campus Garage (WCG). All garage parking is based on an hourly rate.

AggieNetwork.com

4/11/13 8:48 PM

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4/11/13 10:07:09 AM

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page 5 friday 4.12.2013

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Event bolsters agricultural awareness efforts Chris Scoggins

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. w w wthebatt.com Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

Garrett Stribling, Katrina Buerger and Ali Cantrell sit on couches in front of Sbisa and inform people about agriculture for Farmers Fight with other students in the Freshman Leadership Experience (FLE).

The event is the culmination of a weeklong campaign, during which advocates of agriculture education have been visiting schools and distributing coloring books to children regarding where their food comes from. Farmers Fight Day seeks to be a tool to solve the problem of a growing gap between consumers and producers.

“As people grow more and more concerned with where their food comes from, agriculturalists must meet that consumer demand by being transparent and educational in their practices,” Lastovica said. “We must reach out to those who are less connected to farms and ranches to assure them that the methods and practices of our farms and ranches are humane, ethical and devoted to providing consumers with the safest food products.”

The event also provided an

avenue for career interest in an industry that needs willing farmers and ranchers.

“The average age of a farmer is 70 years old,” Jack said. “As that population is getting older and older, we need people to replace those jobs. Some of the people we reach on campus may get excited and want to do that as a career.”

Farmers Fight plans on continuing to educate and advocate by organizing a national advocacy conference for fall 2013.

“It is essential that farmers and ranchers are directly connected to the people who keep them in business – consumers,” Lastovica said.

“Honest, accurate and truthful dissemination of information is necessary to assure those who purchase agricultural goods that they are investing in the best products in the world.”

u.s. senate Debate to begin on gun-control legislation

texas legislature Committee passes campus carry

WASHINGTON — Congress’ most serious gun-control effort in years cleared its first hurdle Thursday as the Senate pushed past conservatives’ attempted blockade under the teary gaze of families of victims of December’s Connecticut school shootings. The bipartisan 68-31 vote rebuffed an effort to keep debate from even starting, giving an early victory — and perhaps political momentum — to President Barack Obama and his gun control allies. Even so, few supporters of the legislation are confident of victory. Several weeks of emotional, unpredictable Senate debate lie ahead, and a mix of gun-rights amendments, opposition from the National Rifle Association and skepticism from House Republican leaders leave big questions about what will emerge from Congress.

AUSTIN — The House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee voted 7-1 Thursday to allow concealed handgun license holders to carry weapons into college buildings and classrooms. Gun rights supporters say the bill, by Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, is self-defense measure that will help prevent campus shootings and assaults. Opponents argue that allowing guns into campus buildings, particularly classrooms, only increases the chances for violence. Fletcher’s bill gives the state’s public universities and colleges a chance to opt out of the provision if they first consult with students, faculty and staff. Private universities could opt in.

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FAIRWAYS apartment homes

famers fight

The Battalion or students who wonder where the shirts they put on, the milk they drink or the cereals they eat in the morning come from — Farmers Fight Day provided answers Thursday.

Farmers Fight Day is designed to promote awareness of agricultural industries and educate students about the importance of agriculture.

“We live in a world that is generations removed from the farm at the fast pace of today’s society,” said Mollie Lastovica, communications lead advocate for the event and junior agricultural communications and journalism major.

“From what we eat to what we wear, we are dependent on the industry in a number of ways.”

Agricultural organizations on campus selected their own area of interest to promote.

Senior agribusiness major Brandy Dangelmayr advocated for the Agricultural Economics Society by informing students about the Farm Bill, which helps support farmers against bankruptcy during difficult economic conditions.

“What we’re trying to do is spark interest and get people thinking about agriculture and how it impacts our world,” Dangelmayr said.

The event was originally conceived in 2012 as a movement on campus to combat negative media portrayals of the industry and has grown into an advocacy event. The goal of the event was to reconnect students with the importance of agriculture in daily life.

“Students are increasingly getting removed from agriculture,” Emily Jack, campus outreach coordinator and sophomore animal science major said. “Part of our goal is bringing those organizations on campus, to show [students] that agriculture is producing all of this for you and that farmers and ranchers are working hard.”

Re Ne no wl va y te d

Bring your Parents by for Parent’s Weekend!

April 12th & 13th!

Associated Press

4/11/13 9:32 PM

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Maroon&White @battsports

GAME

Matt Joeckel

Second string uncertainty

Saturday’s spring game adds to buzz surrounding A&M football

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he annual Maroon & White game will bring spring practices to a close at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kyle Field. For the first time in A&M football history, the game will be aired by ESPN for a national television audience.

The game brings plenty of hype surrounding an A&M team with returning quarterback Johnny Manziel — the reigning Heisman Trophy winner — along with many of the key players that contributed to last year’s 11-2 record in the inaugural SEC season and 41-13 Cotton Bowl victory over Oklahoma.

The anticipation for the 2013 season doesn’t come without changes. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and special teams coordinator Brian Polian left for head coaching jobs at Texas Tech and Nevada, respectively.

Head coach Kevin SumJake Spavital lin replaced the departed coaches, promoting running backs coach Clarence McKinney to offensive coordinator and hiring Jake Spavital as cooffensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Spavital, a former mentor of West Virginia’s

Geno Smith and Oklahoma State’s Brandon Weeden, will tutor Johnny Manziel as he tries to improve upon his record-setting freshman season.

“We lost two guys last year that are now head coaches,” Sumlin said. “And one guy that went from position coach to coordinator with a substantial raise.

You’re trying to avoid [falling behind] and I think our administration addressed that.”

Sumlin also added Jeff Banks to coach the special teams and tight ends and Mark Hagen to coach Mark Hagen linebackers to complete his coaching staff. Additionally, the staff was given raises during the offseason to help keep key coaches in College Station as A&M jumps into the national championship discussion this season.

Role change S

enior Nate Askew was recruited by A&M to compete for a spot within the wide receiver corps. Heading into his final season with the Aggies, Sumlin and his defensive staff decided Askew’s highcaliber athleticism was advantageous at linebacker.

Sumlin said Askew has adjusted well to the change, providing a new edge to his defensive capabilities.

“There’s some good, some bad,” Sumlin said. “I think the great thing about [Askew changing positions] has been his attitude — how he’s approached the position, how he wants to get better, how he doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s one of the top four athletes on this whole team. He can really help us if he continues to get better the way he’s gotten better the last couple weeks.”

For junior linebacker Donnie Baggs, Askew’s role change has come naturally in the few weeks of spring practice.

“It’s almost like he should’ve been playing there his entire career,” Baggs said For football players, changing positions is difficult even within one’s own unit, such as moving from cornerback to safety. Switching from offense to defense, though, and in a month’s time is beyond impressive.

Due to his former position as a wide receiver, he adds a new dimension to the pass defense, a valuable skill set to have against top SEC quarterbacks such as Alabama’s A.J. McCarron or Mississippi State’s Nate Askew Tyler Russell.

A

serious question flying under the radar of most fans is who will be there to step in to replace Johnny Manziel in case of injury. The battle for the backup position likely boils down to redshirt freshman Matt Davis and redshirt junior Matt Joeckel.

Davis was a highly touted dual-threat quarterback coming out of high school, and at 6 foot 2 inches and 200 pounds his skill and athletic build closely resembles Manziel’s. “[Davis] is learning how to run our offense right now,” McKinney said. “When [Manziel] leaves, he’s going to be right there in the competition to take over the spot.”

Joeckel, at 6 foot 4 inches and 230 pounds, is the only backup with game experience. Joeckel saw action in five games last season, completing five passes for 42 yards.

Neither has emerged as the clear backup this spring, but Joeckel started as the second string quarterback in the Friday Night Lights scrimmage last week.

Following Manziel’s short, yet distressing, leave of abscence from the field during the regular season finale against Missouri, finding a suitable backup is a necessity for Sumlin and his offensive staff.

Former backup Jameill Showers transferred to UTEP after last season, leaving the spot open for Davis or Joeckel. Expect each to earn playing time in the spring game to give coaches the opportunity to evaluate them in gameday conditions.

Staff Reports

A ‘Clear’ advantage A

s a high school recruit from Memphis, Tenn., Cameron Clear ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the state and one of the top athletes in the country. After spending a season with Tennessee, Clear transferred to Arizona Western Community College before joining Texas A&M as a December mid-term enrollee.

Sumlin said Clear allows the A&M offense a separate dimension with his size advantage and athletic ability in both the passing and running games. “[Clear] gives us a different type of player Cameron Clear than we’ve had,” Sumlin said. “He’s a tight end, a 6-foot-6, 270 pound guy. We didn’t play with a tight end at Houston because we couldn’t recruit one, or not one like [Clear].

When we’ve had tight ends before in the past at different places, we’ve been able to utilize them. We were lucky to get [Clear] in here.”

Clear has the build to be a run-blocking tight end and the size to create mismatches within the secondary. The addition of a proficient tight end creates seemingly endless options for Sumlin’s alreadydangerous offense, a factor Clear has proven during spring training.

Media monster Sean Lester: The offseason has shaped Johnny Football — now, more than ever, it’s time to shine

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ogether — you and I — we have created a monster. Like the careful construction of Frankenstein, we have taken Jonathan Paul Manziel and turned him into Johnny Football — the most talked about figure in collegiate sports.

Heisman-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel is crowded by reporters and cameras during the initial practice of spring training.

No need for a history lesson. Manziel’s meteoric rise — from a virtual unknown to a Heisman Trophy winner to a national celebrity, all in less than a calendar year — has been well documented.

But it hasn’t just been his play on the field that has captured the interest of thousands across the nation. His actions off of it have contributed as well.

In a generation where social media dominates offseason athletics, fans and media personalities alike have the opportunity to take a closer look into the lives of stars such as Manziel. A simple Instagram picture now has the ability to turn him from hero to villain and back.

With each concert Manziel attended and each celebrity he met, social media culture and its craze for minute-by-minute information forced him into the limelight.

It was only a matter of time before Johnny Football’s carefree offseason attitude clashed with that of his more than 300,000 followers.

“A lot of people are complaining, saying [Manziel’s] got to do this, he’s got to do that,”

Surely Ware doesn’t think Manziel’s transgressions are as bad as those Heisman-winners before him. Auburn’s Cam Newton was accused of taking money from boosters and USC’s O.J. Simpson is in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping.

Comments like Ware’s have driven Manziel away from his Twitter account and the classrooms of Texas A&M’s campus. He has even explored the idea of a personal media ban similar to the one Sumlin imposed on him as a freshman.

Things were easier then, I’m sure. With media critics waiting to attack his every action, can you blame him?

Despite his antics during the offseason, Manziel has shown maturity with these decisions. The media’s interest in Johnny Football spiked the quarterback’s ascent in the social media realm, but it was Manziel who found the maturity to take a break from Twitter. Instead of Sumlin forcing a ban on him, he was able to detox on his own.

To make that decision shows he has learned something along the way. Manziel

BAT_04-12-13_A6.indd 1

A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said in February.

“Who’s to say how he’s supposed to react? It’s never been done before. How do you know how he’s supposed to react? Have you ever been in his shoes? He’s the first.”

As the first freshman to win college football’s most coveted individual honor, Manziel had a story surrounding him each week of the offseason. Media members entrenched themselves within the confines of the ever evolving story and, with the help of social media tools, have exposed aspects of his personal life.

Just last week Andre Ware — the 1989 Heisman Trophy winner and a Texas-born quarterback for Houston — took to ESPN’s College Football Live show to pick Manziel apart.

“Tone it down,” Ware said when asked about how Manziel conducted himself off the field this offseason. “You’re not the same guy you were before you won the Heisman Trophy. There’s a responsibility that comes with it to not only yourself and the Texas A&M program, but for past Heisman-winners as well.”

Chase Krumholz — THE BATTALION

has emerged as the leader of this Texas A&M football team and his role begins with eliminating distractions and focusing on football.

For the first time in school history, the annual Maroon and White spring scrimmage will be aired in front of a national audience on ESPN this Saturday. All signs point to A&M securing a Top 5 preseason ranking and Manziel as the favorite to defend his Heisman Trophy.

With the spotlight and our undivided attention once again shining bright on Manziel, let’s encourage A&M’s star to continue to find his footing as a team leader. Despite the negativity thrown Manziel’s way, despite every doubter, the time for A&M to become a national powerhouse football program is now.

Sean Lester is a junior Agricultural Communications and Journalism major and sports writer for The Battalion

4/11/13 9:24 PM

Friday | A&M baseball battles Mississippi State at 6:35 p.m. at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.

Saturday | The series continues against the Bulldogs with first pitch set for 12:30 p.m.

baseball

Sunday | The Aggies conclude the three-game series agasinst MSU with a 1:05 p.m. first pitch.

thebattalion 4.12.2013 page7

season

rewind 21-13

Texas A&M’s overall record through 60 percent of college baseball’s regular season. Despite holding a spot in the Top 30 for a majority of the year, A&M dropped out following a 1-2 home series against Auburn last weekend.

6-6

The Aggies’ league record against the Southeastern Conference. A&M started off 3-0 with a sweep of Georgia but has, more recently, been swept by South Carolina and gone 1-2 against Auburn.

New additions to the A&M bullpen establish strong Olsen presence

.388

Photos by Tanner Garza and Aggie Athletics

The five freshmen pitchers (clockwise from bottom left): Grayson Long, Matt Kent, Andrew Vinson, Ty Schlottmann and A.J. Minter.

A freshman progression have done a great job — they go out and throw strikes and make the other team earn everything they get.”

On the year, only one of the five true freshmen — Long — has started for the Aggies, notching a 3-1 record in six starts. The other four — Matt Kent, Andrew Vinson, Ty Schlottmann and A.J. Minter — have contributed from the bullpen, combining for 41 appearances and 39 innings pitched on the season.

James Sullivan

The Battalion

T

he pitcher’s mound is considered one of the loneliest positions in sports. When five true freshmen made their college debuts on Olsen Field this season, another emotion gripped them on the mound — security.

Grayson Long first took to the mound in as early as the third game of the season against the University of Illinois-Chicago, throwing one inning as a relief pitcher. The freshman said he felt assured of his defense, allowing him more focus on pitching and less on the nerves of a college debut.

“You have to trust yourself and trust the people behind you and it will all work out,” Long said.

“You have to tell yourself, ‘With the guys behind me, I don’t have to go out there and make a perfect pitch every time. If I miss high, miss low or the guy hits it, I still have one of the best defenses in the country behind me.’”

Since the arrival of head coach Rob Childress in 2005, A&M has surged as a pitching-centric program, churning out 26 MLB draftees at the position — including two first round selections. The recent success has proven to be a magnet for high-caliber pitching talent from around Texas, which all five freshmen call home.

Childress’ baseball philosophy strategizes around the position, saying a pitcher’s success on the mound serves as the engine driving a winning program.

“It all starts on the mound,” Childress said.

“You’re only as good as the guy who has the ball in his hand when the game starts. Those young guys

“It all starts on the mound. You’re only as good as the guy who has the ball in his hand when the game starts.”

— Rob Childress, Texas A&M head baseball coach

The young group has embraced its role in the Aggies’ loaded bullpen, garnering key outs in late innings to finish tight matchups. Kent said much of the credit rests on the experience of his defense and, particularly, junior catcher Troy Stein.

“It doesn’t matter what time of the game we come in,” Kent said. “We know who’s going to be behind the plate and Troy [Stein] is going to give us a good glove to throw to. He receives the ball well — one of the best ever had behind the plate.”

As a former pitching coach, Childress has developed methods to increase his players’ effectiveness over years of training. Vinson, who has only

had months with his new head coach, said he has already begun to notice a tougher range of pitches to attack batters with.

“Coach [Childress] has definitely added a lot to our abilities,” Vinson said. “We definitely aren’t at our full potential yet. He’s helped us become more competitive, more effective, and makes our [pitching] even better, but we definitely have a long way to go. The more experience you get, the more you learn to trust yourself on the mound.”

Childress said starting his players earlier with smaller roles provides invaluable experience down the road.

“The more opportunities we can give them, the better they’re going to be,” Childress said. “I’m very proud of the young guys being able to throw in the schedule. It’s been a challenge and its only going to continue to be that way. They have to grow up on the job.”

Unfortunately, that type of philosophy comes with a snare for the true freshmen. Kent, Long and Vinson all hold three of the team’s highest six earned run averages — one of the downsides of learning on the run.

For sophomore Cole Lankford, the Aggies’ first baseman, the other members of the team remain confident in the bullpen and some of its best assets, the newly indoctrinated freshmen five.

“The guys never lose faith,” Lankford said. “The guys in the dugout always have our back. This team is always together; it’s not split up. It’s not pitchers, it’s not guys in the dugout, it’s not offense; it’s all of us together and we’re one team. It’s a marathon; it’s not a sprint.”

The batting average of the Aggies’ leading offensive weapon — shortstop Mikey Reynolds. The senior has accumulated 50 hits and 24 runs with 17 RBIs for the season as A&M’s leadoff hitter.

17-5

Texas A&M’s home record this season. The Aggies are 10-0 against nonconference opponents in weekday matches and have gone 4-2 against league opponents.

9

A&M’s home runs on the season. Seven players have contributed to the stat, including Troy Stein’s three-run homer in last Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over Sam Houston State.

4-7

The Aggies’ record versus ranked opponents during the season. A&M’s most notable wins include two over then-No. 6 Ole Miss and one over then-No. 8 Cal State-Fullerton, all three of which came in road series.

A&M takes aim at ranked Mississippi State 3.24 Michael Ayo The Battalion

T

he Texas A&M baseball team enters the final stretch of a current eight-game home stand where it will face off against No. 16 Mississippi State in a three-game Friday through Sunday series. The Aggies are 3-2 in their first five games of the home stand and hold a 17-5 record at Olsen Field so far this season.

A&M (21-13, 6-6) enters the series one game ahead of the Bulldogs in the SEC West division, but have lost five of its last six conference games dating back to March 28. The Aggies have been competitive in recent games, but have failed to score in critical situations. In the last 12 games, A&M lost four matches by three runs or less.

“We played pretty well the last couple of games,” said Blake Allemand, sophomore third baseman. “We just had a few innings get away from us that made the difference in the game.”

The Aggies will look to senior Brandon Wood this weekend, who has seen his playing time increase. In 24 games this season, Wood has a batting average of .302 with two doubles and nine runs. In his last five games, Wood has hit .333 including a 3-for-3 outing in A&M’s 11-4 victory over UTSA. Sophomore first baseman Cole Lankford will

Texas A&M’s average ERA for the season. The Aggie bullpen consists of 15 pitchers with three consistent weekend starters, including sophomore Daniel Mengden and seniors Rafael Pineda and Kyle Martin. Up-and-comer freshman Grayson Long has also found himself throwing on the mound during weekends and Tuesday matchups.

be key for the Aggies this weekend as well. Like Wood, Lankford has come on strong as of late and has surged to the top of the team in major offensive categories. He is currently second on the team in batting average, hitting .368, and leads the team in doubles and runs batted in, with eight and 20 respectively. “[Lankford] has got himself going and has really played well,” head coach Rob Childress said. “He has been really good for us the last three weeks.”

Texas A&M pitching staff will have its hands full as they attempt to quiet the Bulldogs’ streaking catcher and outfielder Hunter Renfroe.

Renfroe ranks second in the SEC with 10 home runs and third with 38 RBIs. “[The pitching staff] has done a great job,” Childress said. “They go out and throw strikes and make the other team earn everything they get. It’s been a challenge and it’s going to continue to be that way.”

The A&M offense will also face challenges against the Mississippi State pitching staff, particularly right-hander Kendall Graveman.

Graveman was recently named SEC Pitcher of the Week after shutting out Florida 2-0 and throwing his second complete game in two weekends. On the season, Graveman holds a 4-2 record with a 1.99 ERA.

Ole Miss

Aggie baseball’s best series win of the season.

After falling 8-2 during the Friday match, A&M surged during a Sunday doubleheader to defeat the Rebels 2-1 and 10-6.

.974

Friday’s Projected Pitching Matchup Texas A&M Daniel Mengden

ERA: 1.86 W-L: 4-1 BAT_04-12-13_A7.indd 1

vs

Mississippi State Luis Pollorena

ERA: 3.29 W-L: 5-1

Chase Krumholz — THE BATTALION

Sophomore first baseman Cole Lankford leads A&M in doubles and RBIs, batting .368 on the year.

Texas A&M’s average fielding percentage during the season. The A&M defense has played a major role in containing strong opposing offesnses.

4/11/13 9:33 PM

news

page 8 friday 4.12.2013

thebattalion

read more at thebatt.com

courtesy

The Texas A&M Singing Cadets perform the national anthem during the Texas Rangers baseball game Sunday in Arlington.

Singing Cadets

Dark Dining

Film on Kyle

The Singing Cadets will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday in Rudder Theatre.

For this globetrotting organization, the opportunity to perform to Aggie friends and family doesn’t come often.

To increase public awareness of the day-to-day experiences of the blind and visually impaired, a Sunday dinner will be held — with the lights off. A blind wait staff will serve participants at the event, which begins at 5 p.m in the MSC ballroom.

The Student Athlete Advisory Committee invites students to Kyle Field at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday for a free viewing of Space Jam as a means of saying ‘thank you’ to community members for their support of the athletic department this year.

Let the love of learning rule humanity.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the Office of Undergraduate Studies

Proudly Announces Our New Members for 2013 Induction Ceremony & Introduction of the Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Juniors for Texas A&M University, Texas A&M at Galveston and Texas A&M University at Qatar Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 2:00 PM Rudder Theatre The mission of Phi Kappa Phi is to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education & to engage the community of scholars in service to others. www.phikappaphi.org COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES

Mollie Lastovica, Outstanding Junior John Adams William Allen Alice Baker Francis Beecher Matthew Berg Mac Bohanan Matthew Cleaver Elizabeth Collins Christine Cruz Kandace Davenport Stephen Davis Crystal Dube Kevin Fath Christy Flatt Megan Frey Chad Guidry Taylor Haliburton Joshua Hardcastle Everleigh Hayes Stacy Hudman Pamela Hunt Kristin Hurst Sarah Jones John Jordan, Jr. Ingrid Karklins Jana Kubecka Ji-in Lee Victoria Liere Marco Mack Stanton Miller Maura Palacios Mejia Jeremy Purser Miranda Reinhard Barrett Riddle Nicole Rispoli Madahy Romero Courtnie Seamans Bianca Smith Byron Stauffer Meghan Wanstrath Lindsay Ward Jacob Welty Madeline Wiersig

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE Brian Sowell, Outstanding Junior Lance Kubiak Michael Lopez Michael Martin Ethan Miller Youngre Noh Sukjoon Oh Kindall Stephens Rachel Westmoreland

MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL Taylor Vestal, Outstanding Junior Justin Chang Suzanne Corbin Michael Cozzi Lisa Driver Christina Ferguson Jimmy Frost IV Cynthia Gonzalez Morgan Grifn Jennifer Herron Michael Ingram Kendall King Michael Michlik Andrew Miesch Abigail Miller Catherine Neil Amy Neshyba Jacob Nixon Tyler Silva Todd Spillers, Jr. Christopher Taylor Reid Williams

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Brandi Piercy, Outstanding Junior Lena Bartrug Bevin Bazar Shannon Blankenship Alison Bowen Robb Brewer Stephanie Bullick

BAT_04-12-13_A8.indd 1

Victoria Bynum Lindsey Campbell Mindy Chapa Marissa Cilento Violet Delgado Kathleen Duffy Michelle Farrell Jamie Ferguson Lauren Fetick Martha Flowers Eddie Foley Jessica Franklin Courtney Gabrysch Stephanie Gabrysch Lauren Galyon Rosalinda Garcia Madison Garren Magen Guerrero Emily Hardy Dietrich Heide Karina Hernandez Britt Hoefs Kathy Hogan Brent Jankowiak Sarah Johnson Amanda Kelly Leah Kennedy Kelsey Lagrone Andra Lancaster Melissa Lee Ryan Lee Brittanie Lockard Heather Luedeker Geraldine Marquez Santiago Clarissa McDaniel Kendall McKinney Natalie Merki Sheri Merritt Kaitlin Mohr Alexander Murray Emily Null Jordan Peoples Debra Phillips Gabriela Pinon Heather Reed Kyla Schacherl Christopher Shemanski Marianne Snow Lindsey Sohr Lauren Spurlock Lauren Taylor Andrea Wilson Kelsey Wittmeyer Victoria Young Kaitlyn Zimmerman

DWIGHT LOOK COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Aaron Moore, Outstanding Junior Ayat Abdel-Rahman Mohammad Ahmed Ahmed Assem Daniel Attaway Ryan Bartling David Blackketter Patrick Bosley Megan Brooks Gregory Cook Jennifer Erchinger Jason Gamble Shramana Ghosh Ezra Ginder Virginia Giroir Kenneth Harris Carter Henderson Amir Hessami Earl Hoover III Brendon Hoyt Robert Hutchinson, Jr. Daniel LaCook Caitlin Laneri Jennifer Lange Autumn Leveridge Peng Li Yifan Lu Ryan Nokelby Krishna Nunna Okenwa Okose Oluwafemi Oyedokun John Pergerson Can Pu Michael Rickey Hunter Ritter Owais Sarwar

Christina Schmidt William Scholten Robert Seager, Jr. Smriti Shankar Akshay Shiralikar Aaron-Dakotah Sicking Wyatt Smitherman Zachary Steelman Jeffrey Stine Ellen Tendall Shiva Thapa Francisco Tovar Bradly Vance Emily Veerkamp Michael Wampler Shuilian Xie, Jr.

COLLEGE OF GEOSCIENCES Cody Henry, Outstanding Junior Carly Covington Megan Fowler Ellen Gass Fangyuan Qu Dakota Wilson

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Rachel Byrd, Outstanding Junior Maria Aguilar Caroline Banick Alexandra Brown Erica Codd Haifeng Diao Amanda Dick Carli Domenico Margaret Fleming William Fonder Alexa Gervasi Joshua Goodpaster Adriana Gramsas Jessi Green Thomas Griggs Lauren Hovde Allison Joffrion Nahua Kang Bradley Kerr Kamiar Kordi Victoria Lance Marie LaSalle Xiangyu Lin LeGrand Lindquist Sophia Makris Amanda McKinney Joseph McLaughlin Ellen McNeff Elizabeth Melnik Lauren Mitchell Katherine Nelson Rebecca Neumann Tony Nguyen Kayla Northcut Miguel Novoa Margaret Orozco Erich Paulos Shelbi Polk Hilary Porter Harrison Royalty Cara Rzucidlo Marianne Sabando Matthew Sechelski Audrey Smith Eleanor Smith Hadley Smith Rebecca Smith Hollie Statzer Johanna Storm Emily Townsend Kaitlin Vickers Kevin Warner

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE

Himanshu Patel, Outstanding Junior Bibaswan Biswas Angela Brown Shannon Corbitt Stephen Dauphin Rebekah Davis Francisco Gomez Hayley Gordon Vishruth Gowda Oliver Hateld Zhanyong Li Nilkamal Mahanta Steven Montalvo

James Moore Jared Moore Kevin Ozment William Payne Roshni Philip Stephanie Pollack Bianca Ramirez Detchat Samart Kendra Smale Deborah Smith Guadalupe Torres Eliana Vasquez Kyle Williams Wei Zhao

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES Nikita Patel, Outstanding Junior Jillian Athey Megan Brinkman Elise Brune Allison Dietert Kimberly Doll Lauren Ehle Michael Hoffmann Susannah Jones Maryam Khan Jonathan Lidbury Benjamin Naovarat Shane Reynal Juliana Shaffer Jivanni Shah Aaron Wang Austin Wang Julia Wiatrek Robert Willams

Faculty

Mohamed Nounou Nicholas Suntzeff

TEXAS A&M AT GALVESTON Kelly Rozas, Outstanding Junior Rachael Bergman Suzanne Corbin Lauren Cucci Carolyn Davis Kayla Driver Michael Hallaway Zachary Harrell Jason Hopkins Alex James Morgan Jasken Devlin Joubert Val Keyser James Kuslich Garrett Lange Burkely Pettijohn Travis Rhodes Tina Roberts Kayla Sjoberg Glenda Swiney Lindsay Ward Kevin Warner Tyler Winkler Selina Zalesak David Zghaib

TEXAS A&M AT QATAR

Moiz Bohra, Outstanding Junior Mansoor Abbas Ivan Abraham Shaik Afzal Muhammad Anas Roza Espandeary Huda Hamza Rinchu Mathew Akanksha Menon Morcos Metry Mujtaba Qureshi Aravindh Rajan Regetha Reghunath Asma Sadia Muaz Selam

THE GEORGE BUSH SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICES Andrew Comstock

4/11/13 6:11 PM

softball

thebattalion 4.12.2013 page9

A&M preps for season tough LSU series rewind 33-7

Texas A&M’s overall record through 75 percent of college softball’s regular season. The Aggies are currently No. 10 in the nation and started off the year with a 19-game winning streak.

5-6

The Aggies’ league record against the Southeastern Conference. A&M began league play with a 4-1 record but have recently lost series to Alabama and Tennessee to drop to 5-6.

Jenna Rabel — THE BATTALION

Junior third baseman Amber Garza prepares to swing during A&M’s 9-0 victory over Lamar on Tuesday.

Sean Lester The Battalion

T

he Texas A&M softball team will face its eighth ranked opponent of the season in a three-game series Friday-through-Sunday with No. 13 LSU at the Aggie Softball Complex.

The No. 10 Aggies (33-7, 5-6) have a 6-7 record against ranked opponents this season, having most recently lost two of three games at home against No. 4 Alabama two weeks ago.

“We’re expecting a really great series,” senior catcher Meagan May said. “They’re a really tough team. LSU is going to help us a lot if we can put up three wins, or even just a series win. It would be really great in terms of our SEC standings. They’ve got a lot of speed in their lineup and our defense is going to have to be on their toes.”

While the matchup may not be the season’s most important in terms of rankings, it could be the most watched.

Saturday’s game will be aired on ESPN and Sunday’s will be broadcasted on Fox Sports Southwest.

LSU (33-8, 9-3) is a year removed from attending the Women’s College World Series. Shortstop Bianka Bell leads the team with nine home runs and 36 RBIs. Bell earned her second straight SEC Freshman of the Week honor Monday.

The Aggies will be keeping a close eye on outfielder AJ Andrews on the base paths.

The sophomore has a perfect stolen base record this season with 16 steals in as many attempts.

“Their team has come off the world series appearance last year and is having a really good year,” A&M head coach Jo Evans said. “Their team is scoring runs. They steal a

lot of bases. They’re mostly speed and their pitching holds down the opponents.”

The team’s ace, Rachele Fico (20-6), was recently selected as the top pick in the National Pro Fastpitch draft and boasts a 1.80 ERA. A&M will counter with Mel Dumezich (22-5) on the mound, who was selected 15th overall in the NPF. Her 22 victories are the most in the SEC. “They have a great pitcher in Rachele Fico, an AllAmerican, and she throws a majority of their innings,” Evans said. “She doesn’t give up home runs very often. We need to make sure to have discipline at the plate, but we’re going to try and be aggressive early.”

The Aggies are led on offense by junior Nicole Morgan, who leads the team with a .394 batting average and 44 RBIs. Currently on a five-game winning streak, A&M hosted Lamar in a doubleheader Tuesday, sweeping both games in five-inning run-rule victories.

While this will be the first conference series between A&M and LSU, the two teams met previously in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 NCAA Regionals. A&M leads the all-time series 5-4, having lost two games to the Tigers in the NCAA College Station Regional last season.

“We’re looking to go out, play our game and have fun on the field,” junior third baseman Amber Garza said.

“We’re looking out for their pitchers. We’re going to do everything we can to win the series.”

Game one is slated for a 7 p.m. first pitch Friday. Saturday’s contest will start at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday’s series finale is set for a 12:37 p.m. start time.

.394

The batting average of the Aggies’ leading offensive weapon — first baseman Nicole Morgan. The junior has accumulated 43 hits, 13 home runs and 44 RBIs on the season, the best in all three categories

23-2

Texas A&M’s home record this season. The Aggies’ only two losses came at the hands of No. 4 Alabama, where the Crimson Tide defeated A&M by a combined 7 runs.

68

Number of A&M home runs on the season. Nine players have contributed to the stat, including two with grand slams.

2.07

The Aggies’ average ERA on the season. With only four pitchers, including two who have pitched 94 percent of those innings, A&M has dominated opposing batting lineups.

5-4

Texas A&M’s program record against LSU, who visits for a three-game series this weekend. The Aggies’ series lead is tainted, though, by the fact that the Tigers won the previous two games in last season’s NCAA Regional.

Take a piece of Texas a&M hisTory wiTh you · Reserve your 2014 Aggieland The 112th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook will chronicle traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, ResLife, Greeks, campus organizations and seniors and graduate students. Distribution will be during Fall 2014. Go to the optional services box in Howdy when you register for fall.

· Order your 2013 Aggieland (if you haven’t)

The 2013 Aggieland yearbook will be a record of the 2012-2013 Texas A&M school year. Books will be mailed out during Fall 2013.

· Purchase the 2012 Aggieland (if you haven’t)

The 2012 Aggieland is a photojournalistic record of the 2011–2012 school year.

By credit card go online to http://aggieland.tamu.edu or call 979-845-2696. Or drop by the Student Media office in the Memorial Student Center, Room L400. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday.

tennis Men’s squad hosts Mississippi State, women’s visits Starkville The No. 14 ranked Texas A&M men’s tennis team will face off against No. 11 Mississippi State in a pivotal Southeastern Conference matchup on Friday at the Mitchell Tennis Center.

The Aggies (14-11, 5-5), who are coming off a road win over Alabama, will have to get past a rolling Bulldogs squad who has won five of their past six matches and holds a 17-6 overall record and a 6-5 SEC tally. A&M will lean heavily on the doubles teams as all three of its pairings hold double-digit win totals, including top tandem Jeremy Efferding and Jordan Szabo. Individually, the Aggies will look to national No. 40 Efferding as well as No. 78 Shane Vinsant.

Mississippi State holds a talented squad, Jeremy Efferding highlighted by two Top 60 players.

Meanwhile, the A&M women’s team will travel to Starkville, Miss. to match up with Mississippi State on Friday. The No. 3 ranked Aggies will close their season on the road against the Lady Bulldogs, hoping to solidify a high ranking before the postseason begins. A&M will lean heavily in both doubles and individually on No. 4 Cristina SanchezCristina Sanchez-Quintanar.

Quintanar

BAT_04-12-13_A9.indd 1

4/11/13 9:27 PM

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2bd/2ba 4-plex. Spacious floorplan, W/D connections, close to campus. $550/mo. www.aggielandleasing.com 979-776-6079.

2bd/2ba unique floorplans w/balcony views of Kyle Field.

Brand new luxury apartment condos. Fullsize stainless steel appliances, W/D, designer ammenities granite/wood/tile, bus stop. Only 36units on Holleman at Wolf Pen. www.broadstoneranchatwolfpen.com, www.aggielandleasing.com, 979-776-6079.

3/2 duplex, 1922 Holleman Dr. West. Available August. Great location, wood floors, tile, new carpet, newly updated, fenced backyard, W/D, shuttle, bike to campus. Pets ok. $1095/mo.

979-731-8257. www.brazosvalleyrentals.com 3/2 Duplexes, prelease August, very nice, 5mins to campus, W/D, lawn care, security system, $900-950/mo. 979-691-0304, 979-571-6020.

3/3,3/2 Houses, Townhouses &Apartments, 1250-1400sqft.

Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, walk-in pantry &closets, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing, excellent specials.

979-694-0320. www.luxormanagement.com 3/2/2 house off of Holleman.

1104 Taurus Cr. $1100/mo.

979-693-5885.

3/2/2 huge house. Walk to campus. 3905 Oaklawn, $1250/mo. 979-693-5885.

3/2/2 huge huge house! Walk to campus. 4000 Oaklawn, $1300/mo. 979-693-5885.

3/3 Spacious Duplexes off Graham. All Appliances, Tile Floor, Available August 3.

979-571-3036.

3/3 Spacious Duplexes off Graham. Aggie Owned. 1411sqft.

W/D and lawncare included.

Wood floors. $1000/mo.

713-397-3444 or Lweaver00@hotmail.com.

3bd/2ba mobile home on one acre, 3131 Cain Rd. CS, $550/mo, call 777-2395.

3bd/3ba townhome, newer, granite, ceramic, shuttle, cable/Internet included. May and August.

Broker/owner 979-777-5477.

3bd/3ba, with 3-reserved parking spaces, @Fox Run Condominiums, 801 Luther Road West. Gated community, $1500/mo+utilities.

281-414-7676.

3or4 bedroom, 2-bath house. $1200-$1400/mo. Very clean. Hot tub. Close to campus.

979-777-2849.

4-bedroom houses close to campus, large yards w/decks. $1300-$1600/mo. Call JC/broker (254)721-6179.

PRIVATE PARTY WANT ADS

City of Bryan now hiring lifeguards and water safety instructors, do not have to be certified, apply online bryantxjobs.com call 979-209-5222 for more information.

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

Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment.

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

4/2/2 available August. 1208-Hawk Tree. $1495/mo. W/D, updated, great floorplan, no pets.

979-731-8257, www.BrazosValleyRentals.com

5/2/2 available August. 1202-Westover. Large game room. Great neighborhood. $1795/mo. W/D, updated, great floorplan, no pets.

979-731-8257, www.BrazosValleyRentals.com

4/2/2 available August. 1508-Austin. $1495/mo. W/D, updated, great floorplan, no pets.

979-731-8257, www.BrazosValleyRentals.com

5/4.5, like new. High ceilings, huge closets, large front porch, tile floors, all appliances, many extras. $1750/mo. Preleasing for August. 979-229-6326. See photos and info at www.texagrentals.com

4/2/2 house, 1203 Westover. Available August. Close to campus & multiple bus routes. Recently updated, large fenced backyard.

Pets OK. $1495/mo. 979-255-9432.

Across street from Tamu. 4/2/2.

Newly remodeled large house.

216 Redmond. $1,750/mo.

979-595-5800.

4/2/2 huge house. Walk to campus. 3903 Oaklawn, $1350/mo. 979-693-5885.

August Leasing. 4bd/2ba house.

Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, W/D, fenced yards. 979-776-6079. www.aggielandleasing.com

4/2/2, available August. 1118 Berkeley, corner lot, great floor plan, W/D, no pets, $1695/mo, 979-731-8257 www.BrazosValleyRentals.com

Available August. 4/4 house in Buena Vida. W/D, new appliances, granite, fenced. gigem95@verizon.net 713-252-5555.

4/3, 3/3 &3/2 Houses, Townhouses, Duplexes &Fourplexes, 1250-1700sqft. Very spacious, ethernet, large kitchen, extra storage, W/D, great amenities, on bus route, now pre-leasing, excellent specials.

979-694-0320. www.luxormanagement.com

Available now 2/2 duplex, fenced yard, pets ok, great location, and on shuttle, $700/mo.

979-693-1448.

Available now 3/2 house with two car garage, remodled on inside, large fenced backyard, stainless appliances. 1708 Treehouse Trail. $1300/mo. 979-693-1448.

4/4 University Place condo, W/D, private bath, pool, on shuttle, student community, $300/room, Call 979-690-8213 or 979-422-9849.

4/4.5 plus bonus room, like new.

High ceilings, huge closets, large front porch, tile floors, all appliances, fenced backyard, many extras. $1750/mo. Preleasing for August. 979-229-6326. See photos and info at http://www.texagrentals.com/

Bedroom for rent in 4-bedroom house. On bus route, $475/mo. all bills paid. Available June 1st. Female only, 2-roommates. To inquire: 830-660-9882.

Brand new luxury condos, granite countertops, tile flooring, great location. 979-693-4900.

4bd/2ba house on bus route.

Lease can start May or August $1450/mo. Call or text Matt 254-289-5683.

C.S. Spacious 3/2 duplex, Wolf Pen Creek. W/D, shuttle. Available May. $895/mo. 979-693-0551.

4bd/2ba house. Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, granite countertops, W/D, fenced yards. 979-776-6079. www.aggielandleasing.com

College Station: 3/2, 1240sqft.

Newly remodeled! New appliances! Close to shuttle, W/D, lawn/pest/maintenance included. 905 Balcones (off Welch), $850/mo. KAZ Realty 979-324-9666.

4bd/4.5ba house available in August, Southern Trace Subdivision. $1,700/mo, pets ok.

979-314-4505.

College Station: 3/2, 1240sqft.

Newly remodeled! New stainless steel appliances, tile, cabinets!

Close to shuttle, W/D, lawn/pest/maintenance included. 905 Balcones (off Welch), $1,000/mo. KAZ Realty 979-324-9666.

Brand New, 4bd/4ba houses. walking distance from campus, AAF 979-693-4900.

4bd/4ba private bathroom, $325 per room, Summer $260 per room, Wood/tile floors, large living room, new refrigerator, w/d, central a/c, walk-in closets, on shuttle. Student community, large pool, basketball court, sand beach volleyball. 979-574-0040, 281-639-8847.

Duplex available 8/1/13 for serious minded student or professional.

2bd/1.5ba $700/mo + utilities, 1.5 miles from campus, on bus route, W/D included. Privately owned, great landlords! Contact sw8914@gmail.com 713-240-9725, 281-788-6659 for more info and e-flyer. See it Parent Weekend by appt.

4bd/4ba University Place Condo for rent starting August 2013. $1660/mo. All utilities paid including internet. No pets. www.collegestationrent.com/tx/collegestation/227678-4-bed-4-bathcondo-all-bills-paid. Fred 281-460-0439.

Duplex, CS, nice 2bd/1ba, 3-minutes from campus, W/D, remodeled, fenced front and backyard, beautiful with many extras, one week free, $570/mo, 979-422-3427.

4bd/home off Rock Prairie, built 2008, 3-rooms available June1st, two at $525/mo. (shared bathroom), one at $600/mo. master bedroom w/bath, all bills paid including wifi, 361-463-1515, publisher@rockportpilot.com for information.

REPAIR

FOR RENT

Free locatoring service, Houses Duplexes and Apartments, 979-693-4900.

puzzle answers can be found online at www.thebatt.com 2800 694979-

1 yr Warranty & Certified Techs

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2-duplexes, 1202 Vineyard Ct., Both 2bd/2ba. Plantation blinds, W/D, ceiling fans, fenced backyard, lawn care provided. Near A&M bus stop and dog park. $800/mo+utils. (210)213-8823 or (210)213-9177.

FOR RENT

SPECIAL

see ads at thebatt.com

Book Keeper to work full-time w/benefits. Good computer and phone skills are a plus. Contact 979-574-3910.

Horse Lover’s Dream. 3bd/1ba, covered carport on 4acres wit pond and horse facilities. Minutes from TAMU. Recently updated all appliances including W/D. Pet and livestock friendly.

Available August. Rent $1399/mo. aggielandrentals.com 979-776-8984 Just available! Close to campus, College Main and Eastgate areas.

2bd/1ba., some w/dishwasher, 1-fenced, some bills paid. $325-$450/mo. 979-219-3217.

Large 2bedroom with office or 3bedroom. Recently updated, fenced, 2car carport, W/D, biking distance to TAMU. Rent $750-799/mo. Available August.

4units available! aggielandrentals.com 979-776-8984.

Large 4bd/2ba with gameroom.

Granite, 2car garage, large patio/deck, fenced, updated.

Lawncare included.

1404 Dominik. $1799/mo. aggielandrentals.com 979-776-8984.

Looking for: huge closets, vanities longer than bathtubs, dedicated shoeracks, covered parking? 1/1, 2/2, 2/2.5. Falcon Point Condos.

Broker/owner 979-777-5477.

New townhouses close to campus.

4bd/4ba and 2bd/2ba available.

On TAMU shuttle. Call JC/broker (254)721-6179, www.gamedaybcs.com Newer 1/1, 1/1.5 loft, 2/2, 3/3.

Granite, ceramic, w/d, walk-in closets, cable and internet, shuttle. $820-$1560. Broker owner 979-777-5477.

Nice! 4/2 2013-Rayburn. $1550/mo. Available Aug1st. Call Scott at 979-229-5007.

Northgate. Newer 1/1, 2/2, 3/3 and 3/2. Washer/dryer. Walk to campus. Summer and 1 year leases okay. aggievillas.net. Call 979-255-5648.

Now Leasing and pre-leasing for August! 4bdrm/2bth houses. Spacious floorplans. Great Location.

Close to campus, wood floors, tile floors, ceiling fans, w/d, fenced yards, refridgerator, icemaker,lawncare.

979-776-6079, www.aggielandleasing.com Now preleasing large 3/2 duplexes, May-Aug leasing options, off of Holleman, on shuttle, view duplexes seven days a week, 979-774-4575.

One month free rent on efficiencies and 2-bdrms, great move-in specials, free cable and ethernet. aggieapartment.com. Tamu shuttle route. 979-693-1906.

Pre-lease for May or August 2/2 Duplex with large fence backyard.

Pets ok, walk-in closets, great location, and shuttle. $775/mo.

979-693-1448.

Storage for rent. Climate and non-climate. Starting at $29/month, and one month free.

979-693-0551.

Summer house sublease.

2bd/$350/mo. W/D. University Oaks. Utilities paid.

281-865-2247.

Sutter’s Mill 2bd/1.5ba Condo, $850/mo. deposit required, pets ok, pool, bus route, W/D, 361-563-8214.

Two newer built 5/4’s for lease.

Available 8/1. Northgate area!

281-814-0665

Cotton Patch-College Station now hiring servers and greeters.

Lunch availability desired. Apply at Rock Prairie and Hwy-6. An equal opportunity employer!

Data entry w/excellent computer skills. Part-time, South College Station. 979-574-3910.

Help needed to house-sit and care for animals at a ranch house in Plantersville. Person with some knowledge of horses required.

Free rent, utilities, & horse boarding offered to chosen individual or couple. No yardwork required. Contact Debbie/Harry. hander1240@aol.com, 936-894-2767.

Immediate opening. Energetic, high-energy office assistant for tele-marketing and busy real-estate office. 12:00-5:00pm.

Call 979-693-3700 and ask for ext 437 Little Guys Movers now hiring FT/PT employees. Must be at least 21 w/valid D.L. Apply in person at 3209 Earl Rudder Freeway.

979-693-6683.

Part-time architectural autocad drafter.

ENDS and COSI only.

Call 694-7059.

Part-time job helping handicapped. Male student preferred. $360/mo. 5-10hrs/wk.

979-846-3376.

Part-time summer help, apply in person, Conlee-Garrett Moving and Storage, 600 South Bryan Ave., Bryan.

PT leasing agent, Saturdays a must. Call 979-693-1906.

PT openings, customer sales/svc, no experience necessary, all majors welcome, start now for summer, internships available, 979-260-4555.

Retail sales associate, now thru September 1st, P/t. Evenings weekends, additional hours if your schedule permits. 15-35/hrs.

Apply at Once Upon a Child 2220 Texas Ave. STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in College Station. 100% free to join. Click on surveys.

Wanted: Energetic people for Kids Klub After-School Program.

Fall semester employment begins 08/19/13. Application deadline May 3. www.cstx.gov/kidsklub, 979-764-3831.

PETS 2 male Yorkie puppies, 2-3lbs, 4mo. old, $800, linda_d_54@yahoo.com, 979-324-2866.

REAL ESTATE B/CS. Sell/Buy/Invest! Michael McGrann TAMU ‘93 Civil Engineering 979-739-2035, mike@aggierealtor.com Nadia McGrann 979-777-6211, Town & Country Realty.

New 2bd/1.5ba townhouse for sale, near TAMU & Blinn, all new appliances, $68,999, Open House: Sat. All Day, Sun. 1-4, Bea Green Beag@century21bcs.com, 979-777-8527.

ROOMMATES 2 or 3 roommates needed for 4bd/4ba apartment. Fully furnished with W/D. $475/mo includes utilities. Contact Kendall at k_aggie14@neo.tamu.edu.

2-rooms available in 4bdrm home off of Graham. Female, non-partiers, mostly furnished. $450/mo. 903-456-6543.

Female roommate wanted, $499/mo utilities included, pets welcomed, call 281-380-8428.

FOR SALE Huffy 24in. Blue, 15-speed ladies bike. Excellent condition, $60.

Also have new cable-key lock, $10. (409)365-9726.

New townhouses close to campus.

4bd/4ba and 2bd/2ba available.

On TAMU shuttle. Call JC/broker (254)721-6179, www.gamedaybcs.com

GARAGE SALES Antiqueables Grand Opening!

A&M items, collectibles, furniture and more, 1301 South College Bryan, TX.

Need female roommate, 4bd/3ba, 2400sgft house, Dove Crossing, huge closet, $450/mo, 713-516-2044.

TUTORS Need a Tutor? Friendly, helpful one-on-one private tutors for all subjects at TAMU/Blinn and Sam Houston State. Check us out at www.99tutors.com, 979-268-8867.

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news

page 11 friday 4.12.2013

thebattalion

ring dunks

Personalities shine in dunks with twists

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Aggie Pets Love Their Aggie Vets

Student who choose to dunk their rings in something other than beer sometimes choose sweet tea or gatorade, or an off-the-wall “coonskin coozie.”

John Odom The Battalion

W

hile the unofficial tradition of the ring dunk has entrenched itself in Aggie lore, ring dunkers have more wiggle room in choosing the contents of their pitchers.

Some stray away from the tradition’s most common interpretation — dropping the ring in a pitcher of beer and downing it — by seeking alternate modes of dunking that better reflect their personalities.

Alexandra Hoskins, junior biomedical science and entomology major, said although she knows that some people stick to the common view of the ring dunk, she feels that the tradition is open to interpretation.

“I don’t think there’s a real ring dunk procedure and I didn’t receive a handbook at my new student conference about ring dunking,” said Hoskins, who ‘dunked’ her ring in a platter of maroon whoopie pies. “I think it allows you to showcase yourself as part of the University while keeping the tradition but allowing it to be your own tradition.”

Jason Fenton, senior ecosystem science management major, said as a fifth year senior, he has had a fair amount of experience with the ring dunking tradition and wanted to go beyond the norm.

In adherence to the ceremonious nature of receiving an Aggie Ring, Fenton said he wanted his dunk atmosphere to have a ritualistic, tribal theme.

Fenton said highlights of the dunk will include, among other things, a flaming arrow shot to ignite a shrine of fire and start the celebration, a roasted hog that he hunted himself, and of course, the ring dunk.

Fenton will dunk with red Gatorade in a “‘coonskin coozie” — a self-tanned raccoon skin wrapped around a plastic container.

Fenton said part of the reason behind his “over-thetop” dunk was to be a type of outreach to those who have

Small Animal Hospital 979.845.2351

Large Animal Hospital 979.845.3541

Did you know?

• A&M students and staff members can receive a special discount on their pet’s medical care • We offer 24/7 emergency services • We have cat and dog packages to promote preventative care • You can drop your pet off for treatment while you are in class • Our large animal ambulatory service makes farm calls • The only veterinary school in Texas is at Texas A&M • Your veterinarian can refer cases to the VMTH

Senior Jason Fenton drinks Gatorade from the “coonskin coozie” pitcher he will use for his ring dunk. certain views of Christians as well as those who depend on alcohol as a means of having fun.

“I feel like a lot of people think that you can’t be a Christian and have fun and just be crazy — or that the only way to have fun and be crazy is with alcohol,” Fenton said. “I feel like I’m bucking both of those trends.”

Matt Hudgins, senior biology major, said he didn’t want to dunk in alcohol but was determined to use the pitcher.

After his friend dunked in cottage cheese, Hudgins said his goal was to make his dunk a story that would be told for years to come.

“Everyone knew about it and I was like, ‘My friend dunked in cottage cheese and it was disgusting,’” Hudgins said. “But I thought it was cool so I was like, ‘I want to do something epic and really memorable.’”

Hudgins said he originally attempted to blend up a box

of Laynes chicken fingers and drink it. After seeing that it failed to liquefy, he added Dr. Pepper.

“It didn’t work — It was disgusting and not palatable,” Hudgins said.

With two days remaining before his dunk, Hudgins said he decided to cook ten packages of oatmeal to fill his pitcher.

“It was rough,” Hudgins said. “It was 1,600 calories and I did it in 2 minutes and 23 seconds.”

Amanda Dawson, senior education major, said a person’s choice in the way he or she dunks a ring doesn’t define anyone as an Aggie.

“I don’t think it makes you any less of an Aggie as long as you’re going through the motions and celebrating getting your ring and being committed to Texas A&M — I think that’s what really matters,” Dawson said.

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STUDENTS Would you like to join the Aggie Spirit team?

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Then we want to talk to you!

We are hiring Aggie Spirit bus drivers.

No experience needed Work 12-39 hours per week $8/hr starting pay with regular raises and get paid while we train you!

Apply online at transport.tamu.edu or for further information call Holly at 979.845.0345

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4/11/13 9:07 PM

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4/11/13 10:14:26 AM