thebattalion l tuesday,
august 6, 2013
l serving
texas a&m since 1893
l first paper free – additional copies $1 l © 2013 student media
Camp begins, questions linger Amid inquiry, Manziel, A&M suit up for first practice Sean Lester The Battalion
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n front of a packed room of media representatives, Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin on Monday fielded questions before the first football practice of the year, but Johnny Manziel’s off-the-field behavior once again trumped pre-season preparations. Sumlin faced few football-related questions entering fall practices. The focus was instead on accusations that came to light Sunday alleging that Johnny Manziel took monetary compensation for signing memorabilia. Sumlin was asked if he was annoyed by so much attention to off-the-field issues on the first day of practice. “What do you think?” Sumlin said. “You could answer that. It’s the first day of practice and for the first time in my six years of being a head coach, nobody’s asking me about the new guys or the fact that we signed 31 players and all of them are eligible. That probably annoys me more than anything else.” The ESPN report surfaced Sunday and claimed Manziel signed more than 1,000 items in return for a five-figure sum, though sources say they did not see an exchange of money. On Monday, Dan Wolken of USA Today reported the same law firm that helped keep Cam Newton eligible in 2010 at Auburn has been hired by A&M to do the same for Manziel. If the accusations of Manziel taking money in exchange for signed memorabilia are proven true, he could be ruled ineligible by the NCAA or suspended by the team. Sumlin said he learned of the accusations in the 24 hours preceding the conference and he would not comment until the University and the NCAA provide him with facts. “That’s a situation that, for me as a coach, that’s happened in a 24-hour period and our University is doing its due diligence to find out the facts,” Sumlin said. Texas A&M sports information director Alan
Photos by Mark Doré — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was all smiles, joking with coaches and teammates, as the team returned to the football fields Monday amid accusations that Manziel took money in exchange for signing memorabilia in January.
It’s the first day of practice and for the first time in my six years of being a head coach, nobody’s asking me about the new guys or the fact that we signed 31 players and all of them are eligible. That probably annoys me more than anything else.” — Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M head football coach
See Manziel on page 3
agriculture
Texas A&M professor researches origins of ‘suspicious’ honey Allison Rubenak The Battalion
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oney consumers who adore the food for its sweet taste, thick texture and natural health benefits may be surprised when they discover that their favorite brand may not adhere to what the label claims, according to one Texas A&M professor. Vaughn Bryant, professor of anthropology and one of the few experts in the world in melissopalynology — the study of pollen and honey — has devoted more than thirty years to honey research. A customs reauthorization bill proposed by the U.S. Senate addressed the longstanding issue of honey fraud. If approved, the bill would enforce more regulations for honey identification. “The problem is that when we go to the store and pick up a bottle and it says clover, wildflower or buckwheat — how do you know what you’re buying?” Bryant said. In order to determine the origin of honey, pollen must be present. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require pollen to be present in honey, therefore the laws make it impossible to tell where some honey originated and
COURTESY
A bill proposed by the U.S. Senate could enforce more regulations for honey identification. A&M professor Vaughn Bryant said he is hopeful for the future of the honey industry if the bill passes. whether they are of a higher quality and worthy of higher prices. “Large importing companies take all the pollen out of honey because they claim it makes the honey clearer and prevents crystallization, therefore
making it easier to sell,” Bryant said. “However, by removing the pollen, you also remove clues needed to verify See Honey on page 4
agriculture
Professor develops egg sanitization machine Nancy Yuezhang
Special to The Battalion n egg-sanitizing machine with the potential to provide the poultry industry with an increase in viable chicks has been invented by A&M researcher Craig Coufal, and is undergoing the final trials before it enters commercial markets. Coufal, assistant professor and extension specialist of poultry science, said every egg laid by a chicken has bacteria on the shell. The natural defenses of the egg should keep bacteria from invading. Bacteria that does reach the interior of the egg can cause rotting, an aborted embryo or a
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deformed chick. “Ninety-nine percent of the time the natural barriers work,” Coufal said. “But one percent of eggs become rotten or do not hatch because the bacteria invade them.” Most of the modern poultry industry does not engage in any egg sanitation methods beCraig Coufal cause of the cost of and toxicity of the chemicals used. Coufal said even though relying on natural defenses works 99 percent of
the time, one percent can add up on a large commercial scale. “But when you are talking about millions of eggs — one percent is a lot.” Coufal said. “If we can reduce it by half, that would be a lot.” Coufal’s research is in part motivated to increase the number of viable eggs, but he said the main research purpose is to keep the hatchery environment as sanitized as possible. “I kind of think the hatchery is like the hospital. There are all these chicks being
football A&M announces Polo Manukainiu’s funeral arrangements Monday marked one week since Texas A&M redshirt freshman defensive lineman Polo Manukainiu was killed in a rollover car accident in New Mexico. Texas A&M sports information director Alan Cannon announced Monday that the team would attend a Saturday funeral in Dallas for Manukainiu. The school will also honor Manukainiu at the Sept. 3 Silver Taps. Defensive coordinator Polo Manukainiu Mark Snyder said no decision has been made on how the team will honor Manukainiu during the season. A Facebook group of Texas A&M students and fans with more than 520 members has started a campaign to honor Manukainiu for the Aug. 31 football opening game against Rice with T-shirts.
Sumlin suspends Ennis; status of Raven, Everett still in question Sumlin addressed the status of three Texas A&M players who had run-ins with the law during the offseason. Starting defensive lineman Kirby Ennis will be suspended for the Rice game after being arrested in February by College Station police for disorderly conduct and display of a firearm according to Brazos Valley jail records. The status of juniors Floyd Raven Jr. and Deshazor Everett is still in question according to Sumlin, who said the school is “still gathering information.” The school and team will continue to investigate what happened in Raven’s and Everett’s arrests and determine a decision from there. Everett and Raven turned themselves in to Brazos County authorities on July 2 following an April assault case in which both players were charged with two counts of assault causing bodily injury and criminal mischief. Staff reports
See Sanitization on page 2
8/5/13 10:12 PM