Meatballs and love: ‘Lady and the Tramp’ movie review with a Valentine’s Day spin A5
SPORTS
Changing of the guard: A&M baseball starts the Michael Earley era ranked No. 1 B1
‘We are proud of our history’
Conservation efforts aimed at protecting wildlife, restoring habitats bore fruit
By Amber Pettit News Reporter
College Station was officially designated as a Bird City Texas by Audubon Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife in January following years of dedicated conservation efforts and active community participation.
This designation recognizes communities that have implemented effective bird conservation programs and practices and requires the collection of annual data recording conservation progress and plans to continue these efforts for at least three years.
The prestigious environmental recognition highlights College Station’s commitment to environmental stewardship and wildlife conservation and has a variety of benefits, including boosts in ecotourism and long-term sustainability gains.
The city has implemented several measures to expand local habitats, heighten environmental protection and increase awareness about bird conservation in recent years. Since 2023, the city has planted hundreds of native plants and trees and removed invasive species to restore and stabilize local habitats.
In addition, the city provides opportunities for environmental edu cation through com munity demonstration gardens, monthly birding classes and an annual Migratory Bird Day Festival in May alongside a Lights Out for Birds and Dark Sky initiative to reduce light usage during peak migration times.
Aggie students, professors celebrate Black History Month, Africana studies despite recent efforts to disrupt the federal rememberance holidays
By Tenny Luhrs Associate News Editor
Amidst a federal pushback on celebrations of heritage and race, marked in part by federal agencies pausing observances of Black History Month, MLK Day and Juneteenth, some of Texas A&M’s Black faculty and student organization members say they remain determined to continue their observance of the holiday.
“It’s still something I’m going to celebrate,” said psychology junior Sydney Middleton, recruitment and retention chair for the Memorial Student Center Woodson Black Awareness Committee, or MSC WBAC. “For my community, I think we will all celebrate as is because we are proud of our history and what we’ve been able to come through and accomplish.”
MSC WBAC members said Black History Month highlights the forgotten –– or oftentimes omitted –– history of Black oppression, accomplishments and progression.
“As much as we know about George Washington, [Alexander] Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, we should know about other people,” graduate student and chair of MSC WBAC Madison Webb said. “With Carter G. Woodson, it shouldn’t be like, ‘Who is that?’”
Be-
cause College Station encompasses both the Blackland Prairie and Post Oak Savanna, the biomes’ rare species establish homes throughout the city, often in backyards and campus buildings.
Laurie Brown, recreation supervisor for the City of College Station and founder of the Conservation Advisory Group, explained the importance of the Bird City designation when it comes to maintaining local and state bird populations.
“A big part of Bird City is gaining protection and spreading action to be able to help save these birds,” City recreation supervisor Laurie Brown said. “The concept for College Station’s bird city was uniting all the good conservation work under one banner so that we can do big work as a big group.” Brown also founded the Conservation Advisory Group, which promotes wildlife conservation locally. The project required a dedicated cohort of environmentally focused individuals to make it possible.
“It really has been a community effort … the biggest piece of this was that we had to create a collaborative group which started as 16 people and is now 61 people that work on different projects and pieces,” Brown said.
MSC WBAC’s namesake Carter G. Woodson was the father of Black History Month. The historian designated the second week in February 1926 as Negro History Week, coinciding with both Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass’ birthdays. By 1976, support for the holiday had grown enough for President Gerald R. Ford to extend Negro History Week into Black History Month.
“Black History Month is a symbol of victory, of victory over more than a century of oppression … talking about the past helps us
move toward the future with a sense of victory,” associate professor of Hispanic and Africana studies and coordinator of A&M’s Africana studies program Alain Lawo-Sukam said.
Webb said the limits placed on diversity initiatives by SB 17, the state’s anti-DEI law, has impacted MSC WBAC particularly in the loss of grants and allocations from the MSC Programs. The recent pause on observance holidays has
stirred up further uncertainty and unease.
“The removal of certain things, the erasure, censoring, that’s kind of what I’m worried about,” Middleton said.
Lawo-Sukam said the Africana studies department has also lost funding –– due to small class sizes and lack of visibility –– and is far from where it started.
“If you ask me, ‘Where is the Africana studies program office?’”
Lawo-Sukam said. “You know what it is? It was two boxes. We used to be a program in a suite on the top floor of the anthropology building. But after 10 years, we are reduced to two boxes.” Rebecca Hankins, a professor in the department of global language and culture, feels that the small population of Black students at A&M should not inhibit Africana studies from flourishing.
Faculty Senate discusses DEI,
Senators expressed worries about police in classrooms, anti-DEI implementation
By David Swope News Reporter
The Texas A&M Faculty Senate met on Monday to discuss the launch of new faculty and citizenship initiatives, DEI legislation, research funding and ICE protocol. Joe Pettibon II, vice president for planning, assessment and strategy, began the meeting by announcing an employee engagement survey ran by consulting firm Korn Ferry designed to gauge faculty satisfaction and identify areas for improvement. The responses will help create tar-
geted action plans in areas identified as opportunities for growth.
“I have a feeling an awful lot of people are highly suspicious of this if they are asked to put in any identifiable information,” professor Dale Rice said. “I’m thinking a lot of people I know in the current political climate are probably not even going to be honest if they do fill it out.”
“Timing is everything,” Pettibon said. “The climate, the way that it is, is going to create some hesitation for some individuals to complete it …. We’ve tried to take some steps by allowing Korn Ferry to keep the data instead of having it sent to us on an individual level.”
Professor Catharina Laporte asked if Korn Ferry is subject to freedom of information act requests. Pettibon replied that he was uncertain.
MSC WBAC Director sophomore Josiah Coleman sings karaoke during the Black History Month Kickoff at the MSC Gates Ballroom on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.
Armani Jones —
CAMPUS
A&M announces modular nuclear reactor partnership
Chancellor John Sharp announced the Energy Proving Ground effort for the RELLIS campus
By Nicholas Gutteridge Editor-in-Chief
The Texas A&M System announced last week that it is offering land on the RELLIS campus outside of Bryan to four companies to build small modular nuclear reactors.
“Plain and simple: the United States needs more power,” Chancellor John Sharp said during the announcement ceremony. “And nowhere in the country, other than Texas, is anyone willing to step up and build the power plants we need. Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Greg Abbott and others in Texas state government, Texas A&M System stands ready to step up and do what is necessary for the country to thrive.”
The chief executive officers of each company — Kairos Power, Natura Resources, Terrestrial Energy and Aalo Atomics — all agreed to build reactors on the technology-focused campus grounds as part of a project titled “The Energy Proving Ground.”
The first reactors could be completed within five years and will supply energy to ERCOT, the state’s independent power supply, according to a press release.
“We are excited about the momentum for new nuclear deployment at Texas A&M-RELLIS and its potential to support U.S. energy
security and continued economic growth,” Kairos Power CEO Mike Laufer said. “We look forward to collaborating with the Texas A&M
System to advance Kairos Power’s clean energy mission and play a new role in developing the nation’s future nuclear workforce.”
Sharp said Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gave him the idea. Natura Resources CEO Douglass Robison said the System has been an integral partner for five years, as the two collaborated to develop the Natura MSC-1 demonstration system.
Terrestrial Energy CEO Simon Irish similarly said he hopes the partnership assists with the company’s Molten Salt Reactor, or IMSR.
“Siting an IMSR plant at the RELLIS campus leverages Texas A&M’s world-class research and nuclear engineering capabilities, provides a source of clean, firm electricity for the local grid and positions Texas as a leader in America’s nuclear technology sector,” Irish said.
Up to six Aalo Pods will result from the System’s partnership with Aalo Atomics, Matt Loszak, the company’s co-founder and CEO, said.
The System has begun the application process for an early site permit with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to develop commercial electrical and thermal power generation facilities at RELLIS.
The projects will ultimately produce one gigawatt of electricity, the same output as almost 300 wind turbines.
“This is the place that is going to be the nuclear renaissance,” Sharp said. “It will prove that nuclear power is part of the mix and part of the answer to our energy problems in this country.”
KARURA Project to compete in Mars Rover Challenge
Aggies collaborate with Japanese universities in annual international challenge to build the next generation’s rovers
By Erin Wunderlich News Reporter
Surrounded by hundreds of onlookers, Hirokuni Kakiuchi stood with his neck craned toward the ceiling at the 2011 Tokyo Aerospace Industry Exhibition. Staring up at the giant structure in front of him, his eyes filled with wonder at the return capsule from NASA’s 1966 Gemini project to Mars.
“Looking at it, I was inspired to become an aerospace engineer,” Kakiuchi said. “Even though it’s small compared to the entire rocket, the capsule holds everything
needed for humans to survive in space. It’s the only piece that returns to Earth.”
In that moment, he knew he had found his calling.
“Space exploration itself is the frontier for humanity, and I want to be a part of it,” Kakiuchi said.
The KARURA Project is an organization that unites students from Texas A&M and universities across Japan to advance international space exploration and compete in the University Rover Challenge, or URC, each year.
Founded in spring 2023 by Kakiuchi and Haruto Seto from Japan’s Shinshu University, KARURA began “with the intention of students getting hands-on robotics research that contributes towards a goal,” Kakiuchi said.
The URC is an annual robotics competition for college students held in southern Utah’s desert and funded by The Mars Society, a non-profit organization that works to educate the public, the media, and the government on the benefits of exploring Mars. Competing teams from around the world design and build the next generation of Mars rovers that will one day work alongside Mars Society astronauts.
Last year, KARURA was the first international and Japanese team to make it to the finals. This year, they intend to win.
“Currently, there are doubts
as to how much serious effort is being made in the field due to financial stress,” Seto said. “I hope KARURA will be a symbol of a new framework for space development that allows people to challenge those doubts and drive innovation.”
In the organization, there are three departments that correspond to a set of missions given by the URC: business, science and engineering. Each challenge is designed to mimic what a rover would need to do to assist astronauts on Mars.
The business department is responsible for handling the team’s public relations, social media engagement and marketing. Their goal is to obtain sponsorships to finance the rover.
“The thing I really love about being involved in KARURA is learning to foster global relationships,” U.S. business leader for KARURA and management information systems sophomore Anoushka Pai said. “This experience is not something I could get anywhere else. I get to learn a little bit about everything and put into practice what I’ve been learning in my classes.”
The science department is focused on utilizing various chemical reactions and tools to improve their build design.To complete the URC science mission, KARURA equips their rover with high-resolution cameras and electron microscopes to collect samples of the “Mars” soil through remote control.
“The goal is to try and detect some indication of life, so that could be microfossils, actual cells or just any kind of living matter,” biomedical engineering senior and KARURA science leader Casey Batten said. “The analysis happens live during the competition. This year we are focusing on improving the drilling and excavating system to collect the samples we need.”
The engineering department is responsible for constructing
the rover, including its software, mobility and arm. Working with the science department, the team designs a robotic arm to operate a probe that collects rocks and activates switches, buttons and communication tools via a large console.
“Last year, the arm had a lot of trouble picking heavy objects up and carrying them far distances,” aerospace engineering senior and U.S. engineering leader for KARURA Benjamin Davis said.
“In Japan, we have been designing custom cycloidal gears for one of our joints, which should improve the strength and torque.”
One of the harder challenges of the competition includes the autonomous navigation mission, where the rover is required to guide itself, with no outside controls, to different markers in the desert. KARURA equipped their rover with high-precision GPS navigation and marker recognition to help it traverse the land, which can change from sand to gravel to large chunks of rocks.
“The biggest thing we are improving this year is the weight of the rover,” Davis said. “There are a lot of things from last year’s competition that we realized were completely pointless — like the material and size of the wheels — that we could take off to make our rover lighter and able to traverse terrain easily.”
Kakiuchi stresses the importance of global collaboration in
the space field, as NASA is planning to retire the International Space Station by 2031, according to an article by NPR.
“If you’re trying to go beyond the moon to Mars, then just working on that project by yourself, or only with your own country, is limiting both technological and funding wise,” Kakiuchi said. “There should be a way to separate our differences and focus more on sincere scientific exploration.”
A&M has a long history with space exploration. It’s the only university in the nation to have four former astronauts on faculty and access to many technologically advanced facilities, like the TRIGA Reactor for simulating zero gravity via deep water.
Recently, the Texas Legislature awarded the university $200 million to build facilities next to NASA’s Johnson Space Center. These resources would support student research and technology development.
KARURA fills a gap within A&M’s space program by providing hands-on research opportunities that allow students to apply skills they learn in class to real-world problems.
“My biggest goal in life is to make space research more open and free,” Kakiuchi said. “The way to do that is through collaboration, and my hope is that everyone who dreams of going to space can one day do so.”
A render of nuclear reactor company Aalo Atomics “Aalo Pods” machinery.
She said non-black students would benefit just as much –– if not more –– from these courses because Black history is not taught in most public schools.
For Hankins, the importance of learning it lies in the ability to avoid repeating it.
“What happens in this country is circular,” Hankins said. “To say that it is not important to celebrate Black history is a throwback to the Jim Crow era and if that’s where we want to go back to, we need an opposition to that and I’m in opposition.”
The problem, according to Hankins, lies in a lack of support the department receives from the university to facilitate visibility and growth.
“We have been marginalized ever since Gates,” Hankins said. “When Robert Gates was president, he really took an interest in building
Africana studies. He was extremely supportive, and even when [Elsa Morano] was president, she was supportive. But since then, we’ve basically been a blip.”
Hankins went on to allege that A&M’s Black community has historically been on the quieter side. They often settle for small wins, such as the statue of Matthew Gaines erected outside the MSC, which satisfied students enough to halt their protests against the Sul Ross statue, Hankins says.
“The university has learned over the years how to pacify, how to give them just the crumbs they can to keep them pacified,” Hankins said.
“The majority of people, including the Black community, won’t stand up, won’t fight against it, they’ll take their little crumbs and move on.”
There are misconceptions surrounding Africana studies at A&M that need to be broken down to facilitate visibility for the
Brigadier General (Ret.) Kim Field, director of strategic initiatives, then presented details about a new initiative designed to bolster patriotism and civic responsibility within graduating A&M students.
The push includes handing out copies of the Constitution, offering
DESIGNATION CONTINUED
As Bird City Texas designations grow in recognition, they have the potential to drive ecotourism, especially as birdwatching has surged in popularity. The recreational activity now generates billions of dollars annually in the United States.
Perry Barboza, Ph.D., a professor in the rangeland, wildlife and fisheries management department said new plans will focus on expanding green spaces and incorporating more birdfriendly regulations in new builds.
“Bird City has the possibility of changing building regulations in a way that is going to be helpful in the long run,” Barboza said. “People want to have access to green spaces. It improves quality of life and real
a speaker and debate series and adding a course designed to give students a core credit for exhibiting civic values and understanding.
A possible review of POLS 206 and POLS 207 curriculum was also mentioned. Field assured senators that the initiative is non-partisan.
The plan consists of four main goals: instilling Aggie Core Values,
estate value.”
Barboza said that despite resistance from individuals due to the cost of implementing protection measures, the benefits far outweigh the costs.
One of the most notable measures involves installing screens to make windows more visible to birds.
Although the initial costs are sometimes high, the screens reduce heating costs, resulting in long-term cost savings for residents.
As part of ongoing conservation efforts, College Station is taking part in the 2025 City Nature Challenge, urging residents to record wildlife sightings through the iNaturalist app.
With over 400 species found in College Station annually, it’s crucial
SENIOR BOOT BAG
department, both Lawo-Sukam and Hankins said.
“There is a misunderstanding that, first, Africana studies is for Black students,” Lawo-Sukam said. “And two, for Black people, they think because they are Black, they don’t need Africana studies.”
Despite the obstacles, Webb said MSC WBAC won’t let it stop them from celebrating their history.
Despite the increasing obstacles the Black community faces, the Africana studies department and organizations like MSC WBAC are committed to surviving, continuing their work and making their presence known at A&M, they said.
“I’m an Aggie too,” Webb said. “This organization has been here since 1969. We are the oldest Black organization on campus, and we do important work. I would hate to see that work not be supported and potentially not given the support it needs to continue on, that would be very disappointing.”
teaching constitution-based civics, navigating differences in policy and media literacy and encouraging civic engagement. Senators quickly raised concerns with the possibly contradictory nature of the initiative and current DEI legislation.
“The idea sounds great, my concern is teaching that without diversity and inclusion,” professor Leonard Bright said. “Is this just a play on words you are doing, or are you committed to teaching students what really needs to be taught … America is diverse, so how do you avoid that conversation in a topic like this?”
Field noted that educators are allowed to have classroom conversations regarding the topics, even if they are no longer permitted to use DEI policies.
“I don’t think it would be avoided,” Field said. “You all own the expertise in what actually conveys this idea of free competition of ideas, but all I can say is that the initiative is absolutely committed to that.”
Executive Vice President and Provost Alan Sams was called upon to speak about the recent federal changes to National Institutes of Health and research funding.
“There’s a lot swirling around, and one constant is that it’s continuing to change. … We are working quite feverishly to keep up with it, to understand it, to know
for the local community to support scientific research.
Brown said the initiative provides important data to scientists that allows them to understand local species’ living patterns.
“This is a huge conservation project that allows scientists to see what wildlife looks like each year,” Brown said.
Barboza emphasized the importance of thinking critically about conservation, particularly for students, who he says have the power to make an impact in preserving natural habitats and species both locally and abroad.
“Students have a huge voice,” Barboza said. “Many of the resources that we have provided have come directly from student funds.”
what the impact is,” Sams said.
Profesor Ren Mu shared her experience involving other forms of governmental oversight blocking academic research. Executive order GA-48, issued by Gov. Greg Abbott late last year, is designed to protect the national security interests of the state of Texas by instating a variety of precautionary measures before engaging with countries the state deems foreign adversaries. North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro are listed.
“Nov. 26, days after GA-48 was issued, three research collaborations that I had with Chinese colleagues were disapproved,” Mu said. “They cited a single reason: CCP and Chinese state affiliation. … These studies have no connection to sensitive technologies or critical infrastructure. This makes me deeply concerned that GA-48 could be implemented too broadly, potentially stopping research collaborations with China.”
Fundamental research, which is typically open-access within a field of study, is exempt from such export controls. However, other members of the senate also reported having their research collaborations denied, despite being based on public data.
“We don’t have the final process for the implementation of [GA 48],” Sams said. “It’s being developed,
and we will let you know as soon as that’s ready.”
Senators also raised concerns about the recent university-wide email sent out by Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President Peter Lange reiterating that ICE agents are allowed under federal law to enter campus. Several faculty senators were anxious the immigration policy will increase the number of law enforcement officers on campus.
“Just to have someone randomly show up and stick a warrant in their face is highly, highly unlikely,” Lange said. “My current interpretation of what’s happening around the country is that there are known subjects on lists that have worked through the process of warrants … some sort of random question for information is highly unlikely.”
When asked about how faculty should interact with ICE agents, Lange said they should refrain from having direct or combative interactions with federal agents. He also raised awareness on the possibility of impersonators and said faculty should allow other law enforcement officials to verify the identity and warrants of ICE agents if they come to Bryan-College Station.
“Call UPD,” Lange said. “Let them sort that information out for you.”
Armani Jones — THE BATTALION
Chrissy Ransome, enterpreneurship program coordinator of the REACH Project, shares tips during The Black History Month Kickoff at the MSC Gates Ballroom on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025.
Faulty raises their hands during the faculty senate meeting in Rudder Tower on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025.
Ashely Bautista — THE BATTALION
Micah Richter — THE BATTALION
A bird blind at Lick Creek Park on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025.
DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Fossils allow Aggies to study past climate data
A&M analyzes 50,000 teeth to model a framework for conservation practices
By Erin Wunderlich News Reporter
New research makes it possible to reconstruct ancient ecosystems by analyzing the teeth of over 50,000 carnivorous animal communities from across the world.
This exciting collaboration between Student Life and local property managers is designed to create a supportive off-campus living experience for students. By committing to high standards in resident safety, property maintenance, fair leasing practices, and open communication with the university, we’re ensuring that students can thrive in their home away from home.
Join us in fostering a vibrant community where everyone feels secure and connected!
Michelle Lawing, Ph.D., is a paleoecologist who specializes in combining the fields of conservation biology and paleontology. Her lab focuses on ecometrics, the study of traits and how they relate to the environment, to see how wildlife is responding to climate change, agricultural expansion, and other harmful disturbances.
According to a study published in 2024, led by Texas A&M former student and Texas State University Assistant Professor Leila Siciliano-Martina, Lawing’s lab used numerical models to successfully reconstruct the paleoclimates of seven North American prehistoric ecosystems. Researchers are hopeful these models will prove useful for conservation efforts.
“The whole point of our research is to use the fossil record to understand what we see today,” Lawing said. “How has the environment changed, and in turn, how have these communities of animals changed? We are looking for specific traits, such as what a species eats, to identify why populations have declined and communities have changed. We’re modeling the framework for conservation management.”
The key to finding a connection is to look at functional traits, or characteristics that aid an animal in surviving, Lawing said. The lower carnassial tooth allows researchers to do just that.
This tooth is commonly found in terrestrial carnivorans, or a group of species such as bears, wolves and raccoons that live on land and consume varying amounts of meat in their diet.
Chosen for its unique ability to both tear meat and grind plants, this tooth makes it perfect for analyzing food availability at the community level. The community level encompasses groups of many species that live in a specific geographic location.
In other words, it gives researchers a window into what communities of animals were eating in the past — whether there were more meat-eaters or veggie-lovers.
“By measuring the teeth of fossils and skeletal specimens, we can infer what kind of food was available to communities in the past,” Lawing said. “Comparing the results to similar communities today, we can see what has changed and if food availability plays a role in declining biodiversity.”
However, food is not the only factor that contributes to a group of animals’ survival. Researchers also considered the average annual rainfall and temperature of the environment of each community. These two factors indicated if food availability was connected to a change in climate over time.
The study found that warmer, wetter climates favored communities with smaller carnassial blades. This is likely because they had a diverse food supply of meat, nuts and fruit to choose from. A carnassial tooth with a smaller blade has room for both grinding vegetation and tearing flesh.
For example, South American coatis, a small diurnal mammal, live in moist, abundant rainforests and are known to eat berries and insects, but will also consume small mammals from time to time.
“By reconstructing these environments, we have a clearer view of how animals survived in the past and under what conditions. We look at communities of animals, and not individual species, because an ecosystem can’t function without all the facets that make it stable,” Lawing said.
The study also found that cooler, dryer climates favored communities with larger carnassial blades, meaning the food was likely sparse and limited to other animals. A larger blade is more useful for tearing into meat.
For example, the Asian snow leopard primarily eats wild sheep and deer due to harsh winter conditions, but will occasionally munch on shrubs or leaves if they are available.
The result of combining these connections is a reconstructed ancient ecosystem, or paleoclimate, that is full of many coexisting communities of animals, Lawing said.
“The methodology that combines functional traits with environmental variables have this huge potential to predict how the climate is changing,” said Maria Alejandra Hurtado Materon, a Ph.D. student studying ecometric traits in Lawing’s lab. “Ancient animal communities will tell us what the paleoclimate looked like in the past and what we can do in the future to maintain the optimal functionality of these ecosystems — and the animals that live within them.”
In her dissertation, Hurtado is looking at functional traits associated with locomotion, or how an organism moves, via measuring a specific ankle bone.
Similar to the connection between teeth, temperature and precipitation, looking at communities’ range of movements could identify if they lived in open or enclosed environments based on the way their bones were formed.
She is also in the process of building a mammalian “periodic table of niches,” or a chart that categorizes functional traits, habitats, inter-species interactions and more by species.
This would give researchers an ‘overview’ of how specific species live and interact with the world — something that is not currently available and extremely hard to classify, Hurtado says.
Similarly, Lawing and her lab are working on an ecometric database.
It will provide scientists with readily available records on functional traits for all types of mammalian species throughout time.
“It would be amazing to build up a database with different ecometric traits not just associated with diet or feeding, but also with locomotion, physiology, and behavior,” Lawing said. “The goal is to incorporate all aspects of a species’ ecology so we can get a clearer idea about what types of species compose communities.”
These findings may be an integral tool in predicting the responses of vital communities amid rapid climate change.
Restoration plans to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functionality in endangered environments could incorporate the persistence of key functional traits, Lawing says.
For example, using a reconstructed paleoclimate to determine how to help in degraded or dry habitats. Prioritizing the reintroduction of drought-tolerant plants and animal species that used to thrive there could help restore ecosystem stability.
“This approach would ensure that essential functional traits — such as those exhibiting burrowing behavior, seed-dispersal, and soil aeration from small mammals — would remain present and active within the ecosystem,” Lawing said. “Focusing on traits that support ecosystems’ ability to flourish will allow conservative strategies to be better suited to environmental change.”
Photos courtesy Dr. Michelle Lawing Lab
Be your own Valentine's date
Choose you: Self-love is the key to happiness this Feb. 14 holiday
By Maddie McMurrough Opinion Columnist
As you approach your midtwenties, there is a crushing narrative pushed upon you, and it reaches its peak during Valentine’s Day. It’s this idea that for you to be special and complete, you have to be in a relationship. If you are not taken, then you are not worth taking.
I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a load of crap.
Being in a relationship — or
sans relationship, for that matter — doesn’t make you special. Loving yourself, single or taken, makes you special.
I’ve spent Valentine's Days with boyfriends and found myself disappointed.
I’ve also spent Valentine's Days alone and disappointed. In both scenarios, I’ve been miserable. I figured out why: Missing in the Valentine’s Days of my past was self love.
I found myself in bad relationships because I wanted validation that I was good enough. I found myself alone and thought that was proof that I wasn’t. But this year, having a boyfriend or not isn’t going to change how much I love and accept myself.
This Valentine’s Day, I am making myself the priority and choosing to be my own Valentine. I am taking myself out to dinner, watching my favorite movie and buying myself flowers. Because at the end of the day, the only person who absolutely has to love me for all my flaws and quirks is me. Now, I am not saying dump your partners and celebrate alone. I am simply suggesting that you show yourself some love during the holiday.
It feels great to be loved by someone, and Valentine's Day is a fantastic opportunity to make your significant other and friends feel special. But while you’re showering love on the important people in your lives, don’t forget
to sprinkle some on yourself. So whether or not you’re sharing your Valentine's Day with someone this year or spending it alone, make sure you are showing love to yourself in the process. Roses are red and violets are blue, say I do to your one and only: you. If you love yourself, single or taken, you’ll never find your heart alone and breakin’. Take yourself for better or worse, and in times of doubt, just remember this verse. Choose yourself, and it’ll all be fine. This year, be your own Valentine.
Maddie McMurrough is an agricultural communications and journalism senior and opinion columnist for The Battalion
Men deserve some flowers too
Show your appreciation with a bouquet of love
By Joshua Abraham
I walk up to your doorstep for our date — a James Dean daydream look in my eyes. I have a bouquet of flowers in my hand, eager to give you a great night. You’ve got that red lip classic thing that I like and I compliment the hell out of you; you’re a queen and you deserve every compliment in the world.
Because chivalry isn’t dead, I open your car door, and we head to our date. I push your seat in for you, take care of the bill and escort you back to your place safely after a couple of glasses of wine and a great conversation. If this night were to happen to me, I’d never text you again.
It’s ending in burning flames, not paradise.
Do you know what’s missing from
this? Any sort of reciprocation of affection that I’m showing you. I go through all my trouble to give you a nice night and be a gentleman towards you. What do I get in return? Absolutely nothing.
I want to feel appreciated, not because this is a transactional relationship but because I want to be treated nice, too. Is that too much to ask for?
You’re a queen and deserve the entire world, but every queen must have a king to rule with. Kings of kingdoms aren’t treated poorly, I want to be treated like the king that I am.
So, bring your king the flowers he deserves.
Men are never given flowers. As much as I would love to give you the fields of flowers you deserve, I would be satisfied with even one rose. Flowers are beautiful
creatures, ones that deserve appreciation from everyone — it’s not just exclusive to one gender.
I want my woman to have a bouquet of flowers in her hands when she greets me, or maybe even a box of chocolates — just something that shows you care as much about me as I care about you. I’m asking for the bare minimum here. I know my worth and my value. If you don’t think I’m worthy of a singular flower, then I’m sorry but you’re not worthy of anything I can give you.
Roses aren’t a cliche; get your man some flowers this Valentine’s Day and show your appreciation for him. It’ll never go out of style.
Joshua Abraham is a kinesiology junior and opinion writer for The Battalion
Sometimes, love is a meatball
'Lady and the Tramp' captures the little notes of finding puppy love
By Charis Adkins Opinion Editor
Disney has shown us that love can be anything. It can be a somnophilic kiss. It can be a handprint on a mailbox. And, in this case, it can be a meatball shared between street dogs.
“Lady and the Tramp,” , for those of you who don’t remember, is a touching love story between purebred lapdog Lady and stray mutt Tramp. It’s an Aladdin-style tale of the rich girl getting swept away on a blue-collar trip by a cute homeless guy. Happens to us all. The animation? Nostalgic. The voice acting? Phenomenal. The characters? A little racist if we’re being honest with each other, but there was hardly a culture they didn’t make fun of, so maybe we look past that one. Besides, the character
development was downright impressive for an animated children’s film. Lady and Tramp are perfect foils for one another, and they both become a more wellrounded pooch for having known the other.
Jerome K. Jerome once wrote that “fox-terriers are born with about four times as much original sin in them as other dogs.” Tramp, then, being a terrier mutt, must be at least one-fourth fox-terrier.
Obligatory English major digression: in that quote Jerome was referring to Montmorency, the eponymous dog in his novel “Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog).” I highly recommend it if you’re into 1800s English satire or, more generally, fox-terriers harassing the British. “Lady and the Tramp” is a beautiful film because it perfectly captures being in love — it’s all about the little moments. There’s no serenading scene, no huge confession, no slow narrative exposé.
Instead, we get snapshots. We see Tramp wake up before Lady and snuggle up to her instead
of running off. We see him stalling on the walk back to her house to spend more time with her.
We see the hungry-lean street dog who’s at least one-fourth fox-terrier offer the last meatball to his lady love instead of taking it for himself. And I think that’s beautiful.
So, this Valentine’s Day, I hope you can appreciate the small things. The unspoken ways that the world, and the people in it, say “I love you” all around us.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Ags. I hope you all find someone who would give you the last meatball.
Charis Adkins is an English senior and opinion editor for The Battalion
A situationship-in-a blanket gone wrong
By Kaleb Blizzard Opinion Writer
I wake up.
The date: Feb.14, 2024.
The time: 4:45 a.m.
As I mutter curses to myself in disgust of the early hour, I stumble out of my bed and into a small, cramped kitchen. I can’t believe I’m up this early, but then again, it’s Valentine’s Day — and I’m on a mission.
I’m sorting through my fridge now. Various leftover condiments, several Uber Eats meals that I regretted the second I saw them on my doorstep, and so on. After a few more seconds, I see what I’m looking for: croissant dough, a package of small sausages and some grape jelly.
Again, I’m reminded of how weird it is — the food, I mean. But it’s worth more than fifteen dollars.
Earlier that week, my friend — who happens to be single and also (hopefully) into me — told me that she didn’t have any Valentine’s Day plans. Coincidentally, she also informed me that she hadn’t found the time recently to make one of her favorite foods: pigs-ina-blanket with grape jelly.
Upon hearing those two things, my plan became simple: Deliver those grape pigs-in-a-blanket to her doorstep before she woke up, — but also not too late that they went cold.
“It’ll be such a romantic gesture,” I thought to myself. “I mean, who does this anyway? It will show that I listen, and also that I’m willing to make sacrifices for her (and getting up at 4:45 a.m. was indeed a sacrifice). She’s been showing signs she likes me for weeks, what could go wrong?”
Set comfortably in my delusional optimism, I began to work. And — after I was done with the pigsin-a-blanket — I made a cup of coffee to boot.
Finally, after what felt like just a blink of time, the most important part of the morning came: the signing of the card. It was appropriately friendly while also being flirty — but how should I end it?
“Sincerely?” No, that’s just a little cold.
“Love?” Too forward.
“Regards?” What the hell is this, a business meeting invitation? No.
Finally, after much strained deliberation, I settled on “your best friend” — primarily because “your friend” would have been just a little too weak.
Signing with a hesitant excitement, I dropped off the card and food. Now, I just had to wait. It was an anxious drive home — one that gave me the same muted elation that I thought criminals must feel fleeing crime scenes — but before I knew it, I was back and checking my phone.
Before long, my phone pinged. A message!
“omg thanks so much for the food! It’s LITERALLY my favorite. I mean, it’s just like you knew exactly how to make it! I wanted to get together so bad too but there’s something that came up. and tbh I think it’s kind of weird for friends to get together on valentine’s, you know? Hangout soon though!” It seemed that the “ship” part of my situationship had just sailed. It had been a fun — although brief — journey.
Better luck next time.
Kaleb Blizzard is a philosophy sophomore and opinion writer for The Battalion.
Illustration by Zoe Rich — THE BATTALION
ENTERTAINMENT
Gutteridge Editor-in-Chief
GALLERY: Lunar New Year arrives in style on A&M campus
Top left: A dancer from TAMU CSSA performs a performative art dance in Rudder Auditorium on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Bottom left: The TAMU CSSA group China Hong, poses at the end of their performance for the Lunar New Year Concert on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Middle top: Younger family members of TAMU CSSA students perform a traditional dance for the audience during the Lunar New Year Concert on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Center: The pop style dance group, Imaginary Friends, performs for TAMU CSSA during the Lunar New Year Concert on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Right top: A dancer for TAMU CSSA performs a mesmerizing slow dance to captivate the audience during the Lunar New Year Concert on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. Right bottom: A pianist for TAMU CSSA performs classical works in Rudder Auditorium during the Lunar New Year Concert on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025.
Chinese Students and Scholars Association hosts holiday concert, performance night at Rudder Auditorium
‘It’s part of the culture, everybody knows about The Chicken’
Aggies describe how Dixie Chicken has contributed to Aggieland for the past 50 years
By Brook Dryden Life & Arts Writer
Eight years ago, a group of upperclassmen invited now-graduate student Merrick Irvin to a certain hangout spot in College Station. He quickly became fond of the site accompanied by pool tables and a variety of games. Students were laughing together, chowing down on what looked like delicious food, and it seemed like there wasn’t a stranger in the room. Everyone welcomed each other and were enjoying themselves. From this first impression, Irvin knew that he was going to have a great time.
Ever since, Irvin has become a regular at the Dixie Chicken, the oldest bar on Northgate.
The iconic Aggieland restaurant and bar has had its doors swinging open for 51 years. The Dixie Chicken, or “The Chicken” has played a significant role in Aggie culture since its opening on June 15, 1974.
“I think it’s quite the staple because it’s just iconic,” Irvin said. “People are like ‘We’re going to go to The Chicken,’ and they’re going to have a pitcher, go play pool, go play dominoes, and they all enjoy it. It just seems like it’s always been the hangout.”
As the years have passed, the Dixie Chicken has kept its charm. The spot is decorated with wooden tables and walls which contain sketches of Aggies’ names along with their class year.
The bar is notorious for its Bottle Cap Alley — a side street next to the bar overflowing with used beer bottle caps that were served there.
“The Chicken” also houses a rattlesnake, Sneaky Snake, that is kept behind thick glass on display next to an aged cow skull. The spot’s design has hardly changed over the years, allowing former students to relive their college memories all again.
Going to “The Chicken” was a mostly every weekend event during his undergrad years, Pfeiffer said. Whenever he and his wife visit Aggieland, they always return to the beloved site.
“For me, it has a lot of good memories, and we established a lot of friendships here,” Pfeiffer said. “Usually we always had at least a couple of tables, and if you didn’t come over with anybody, you’d always see somebody you knew here.”
Whenever he has time in between studying, Irvin said he likes to come to “The Chicken” at least once a week. He enjoys the variety of entertainment at the spot including pool tables and dominoes while listening to good Western music.
“You got all the options you could want,” Irvin said. “It depends on what day it is, how many friends you got with you, and what you want to do.”
Irvin says “The Chicken” is the embodiment of the phrase “good times.”
“The Chicken is an iconic staple,” Irvin said. “It’s been here for a long time, and it’s always a good place where you can introduce new Ags, meet the old Ags, and all the Ags that are here currently.” Irvin’s favorite memory at the Dixie Chicken was dunking his Aggie ring at the establishment. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented him from dunking moments after receiving the ring, so he waited until he could celebrate with his loved ones where the ring dunk tradition began.
“I put my ring in a pitcher and over the next hour, I drank it all and just had a good time playing dominoes with them, enjoying myself here at the chicken, and having that classic Aggie ring dunk,” Irvin said.
The restaurant proved to be not just a bar, but a place where people can come together.
“I’ve enjoyed all the people that I’ve met, the friends I’ve made here and the lifelong friendships and relationships that I’ve built up and fostered,” Irvin said. “It’s a great place to come and enjoy with your friends and family.”
Photos by Steve Carrasco IV Staff Photographer
Previewing A&M’s 2025 season, with stakes higher than ever as it enters a new era under coach Michael Earley
By Noah Ruiz Sports Writer
As fans may recall, the 2024 Texas A&M baseball season was nothing short of historic. From broken records to stomping rivals and impossible odds to improbable comebacks, the Aggies made it known quite clearly that they were a force to be reckoned with.
The hype was real, as was the dream, but to the dismay of many, A&M came up just one game short of winning its first NCAA title in an impassioned College World Series Championship Game against Tennessee on June 24, 2024.
Now eight months later, the dust has settled, the roster has been set and all of America is aware of the near-unanimous ranking of the Maroon and White ball club: No. 1. A familiar face is the commander-in-chief of the Fighting Farmers, and he is ready to cash in on the talent A&M has retained. Initially coaxed away by the rival Texas Longhorns as an assistant coach, coach Michael Earley takes charge of the revenge tour that surely has its sights set on Omaha once more. The 36-yearold Indiana native returns to the corner of Bush and Olsen after previously serving as A&M’s hitting coach for the past three seasons.
“My family and I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity,” Earley said in his inaugural press conference. “Being a part of this university and this program are a dream come true. I will not let you down. See you in Omaha.”
The coaching expertise of Earley was paramount in the development of 2024 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year
third baseman Gavin Grahovac, a young man who is looking to pick up right where he left off after setting a new A&M freshman home run record with 23 this past season.
On any other team, Gravohac would steal the spotlight by a long shot. But here in College Station, the man fans call “Lord Tubbington” is the center of attention of every pitching staff.
Giant 6-foot-6 outfielder junior Jace LaViolette was one of the top three players alongside Grahovac to go yard at least 20 times, and the Katy native is a top college prospect for Major League Baseball.
A rare mix of speed, strength and fielding ability, LaViolette lives up to his unanimous firstteam All-American status.
A program record of 64 drawn walks and back-to-back seasons of 20-plus home runs are reason enough to anticipate another monster season from one of America’s finest.
The key returns of junior infielder Kaeden Kent and sophomore OF Caden Sorrell provide incalculable advantages for the Aggies to make a deep run. Kent’s dominance in the NCAA Tournament displayed an eagerness to compete, and Sorrell seemed to make improbable save after save from his spot at left field.
He also earned a 2024 Freshman All-SEC bid. Expect strong and timely supporting roles from the almost-name twins.
To the shock of the A&M faithful, the transfer portal, once thought to be a harbinger of doom, has created a spoil of riches for the Aggies in key positions as well as in the bullpen.
Juniors Jacob Galloway and Jamal George, as well as sophomore Connor “Bear” Harrison, are all viable choices for starting catcher. Still, the expectation is that Harrison will be the starter.
Senior INF/OF Gavin Kash out of Texas Tech will likely be slated as the starting first baseman, with his contributions expected to shore up a dominant infield: Welcome to the SEC, Ags.
The Maroon and White is no stranger to picking up Ivy League talent, demonstrated by former All-Conference C Jackson Appel and current graduate designated hitter and 12th Man Hayden Schott, transferring in from Penn and Columbia, respectively, in the 2023 offseason and greatly attributing to success in an unforgettable season.
This year will be more of the same as unanimous Ivy League Player of the Year senior INF Wyatt Henseler brings his threetime first-team all-conference talents to Aggieland. If Henseler is to replicate his 22 home runs from last season in his final campaign, it is likely the Aggies will have their three-headed terror in the batting order once again — look for Henseler at the second base spot.
Switching over to the bullpen, the last hurrah for redshirt junior left-handed pitcher Ryan Prager is anticipated to be his most admirable performance yet. Prager returned to A&M after being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the third round of the MLB Draft and looks to further improve his 9-1 starting record and secondnational best 6.20 strikeout-towalk ratio from last season.
Experienced pitchers are not too hard to come by for the Aggies, with the likes of junior LHP Justin Lamkin playing himself back into a weekend starter role following utter dominance in Omaha and junior LHP Shane Sdao who sported a 5-1 record in 2024.
Sdao will aim to return to the high he left his sophomore season on before being lost to injury toward the end of the year. Senior RHP Josh Stewart will also be in contention to start for the Aggies, having flashes of excellence throughout 2024, including 12 punchouts in the College World Series.
Relief will be spearheaded by senior RHP Brad Rudis, whose 6-0 record last year makes him an invaluable veteran presence in the bullpen.
Blink and you could miss a pitch from Cisco College transfer junior Kyrin LeBlanc, firing rockets clocking in at 102 miles per hour. Poached out of his bubbles, a little Chuck Connors’
Clockwise from left: Texas A&M pitcher Shane Sdao (38) watches the postgame fireworks following the inaugural First Pitch scrimmage. The Aggies sing the War Hymn on home plate after the inaugural First Pitch scrimmage. Texas A&M outfielder Caden Sorrell (13) embraces outfielder Jace Laviolette (17) after hitting a home run. Texas A&M infielder Kaeden Kent (6) looks as the Maroon team is introduced before the inaugural First Pitch scrimmage.
Photos by Micah Richter & Chris Swann — THE BATTALION
TWO TITANS OF THE COURT
Men’s tennis is the underdog to watch
By Mathias Cubillan Associate Sports Editor
Get on the rocket ship before it Look, I get it. You don’t have any more time for new sports in your life. Maybe you’re gearing up for March Madness or grinding the tape of some mid-round NFL Draft prospects, but bear with me — No. 14 Texas A&M men’s tennis is worth your attention.
The Aggies have been knocking on the door of a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, culminating in a Super Regional appearance last season. Since joining the Southeastern Conference in 2012, A&M has laid claim to three regular season conference titles and been perennially relevant in the
But now, A&M might finally have the piece to follow their women counterparts’ lead and put Aggieland on the map as a tennis powerhouse: freshman Theo Pa-
The most exciting thing as a sports fan is when your team has a truly great young player on the preface of superstardom, and the 12th Man has the opportunity to experience that. With lanky French wonderkids having a moment in the Lone Star State, Papamalamis has the look of a future
Referred to as a “freshman sensation” by coach Steve Denton, the Lessy, France native plays an aggressive, entertaining brand of tennis in which he gets near the net to volley with a formidable
Papamalamis is already No. 60 in the ITA singles rankings as a freshman and frequently draws the opponent’s toughest matchup. Keep in mind, this is still the
youngest he’s going to be.
However, this isn’t some multiyear developmental project I’m saddling you with. The Aggies are poised to make a run down in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in the SEC Tournament this April with a veteran group that gives the team a sturdy floor. Pair that with Denton, the winningest head coach in A&M tennis history, and the Aggies will never come across a situation they haven’t prepared for.
No. 71 senior JC Roddick remains a steady presence for the Maroon and White, having notched 26 singles wins in his A&M career en route to All-SEC honors a year ago. His most frequent doubles partner, senior Luke Casper, is also no stranger to the big stage, winning his two matchups in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
A key member of any overachieving team is the adrenaline-fueled berserker who willingly goes head-to-head against the scariest opponents week in and week out
—
A&M has one in Istanbul native junior Torgan Tokac. The former Florida transfer often featured in the back half of the Aggies’ lineup, but managed to knock off five ranked opponents in singles. Tokac was also a kingslayer in his doubles matchups, beating the No. 4 and No. 6 partnerships last season.
A&M men’s tennis is not only a team that’s ready to win now, but it has laid the foundation for years of success in the future.
It’s time to get on board. Believe in the power of Papamalamis. Invite the glory that is Torgan Tokac into your heart. Trust in … the Dentonator? The ingredients are all there for something special — now it’s time to watch.
TENNIS 3X SEC Regular Season Champions Tournament Champions
Semifinalist SEC Regular Season Champions NCAA Division I Champions ITA Player of the Year in 2024: Mary Stoiana 1X 1X
WOMEN’S TENNIS
Defending National Champions look to start a new dynasty
By Fallon Ferguson Associate Life & Arts Editor
Let me preface this by saying that I love all Texas A&M sports teams. I am thrilled to go to a place with such an amazing athletic program. This is part of what makes the university so special. However, there is one team that stands above it all.
The women’s tennis team at A&M continues each season to shatter new records for the university. Just last year, the Maroon and White claimed A&M’s first ever women’s tennis NCAA national championship.
Star players for A&M — junior Nicole Khirin, senior Mary Stoiana and junior Mia Kupres — were all rewarded First Team All-SEC for the 2024 season, with Mary Stoiana also being recognized as Player of the Year in all of the SEC for 2024.
The Aggies are ranked No. 2 in the country in the ITA Poll. The Aggies are also undefeated with a 7-1 record.
I understand there is an oft-repeated rhetoric of tennis being a boring sport to watch. However, from the slighting, biased perspective of an Aggie student and ex-tennis player, the women’s team is continuously soaring to new heights, and they deserve just as much love as any other team in Aggieland.
A&M is also home to a renowned men’s tennis team who are currently ranked No. 14, might I add ranked below No. 3 Texas. The men’s team has had a great season with a current record of 3-2.
While both teams are worthy of recognition and support, if you had to pick between which team to watch I would highly recommend attending the women’s teams’ matches.
Not only did the Aggies take home a recent national championship, but they are well on the road to having a fair shot at another NCAA Title. Players like Stoiana, the ITA National Player of the Year in 2024, for example, continue to gain recognition in the SEC and around the country for solid performances on the court.
As you watch the Maroon and White, you will not only gain an understanding of the level of skill the Aggie women’s team holds but also the dedication, camaraderie and excellence that this group of women continue to display match after match.
Tennis is not necessarily an elitist sport or a game for old people to use as a source of exercise or entertainment. Rather, it’s a demonstration of intense practice and fastpaced decision-making. This sport is as much about consistency and hard work as it is about bringing more women in sports into the limelight.
If we as a society have learned anything from tennis icons entering the media — such as professional superstars Serena Williams and Coco Gauff — women’s tennis is the sport
to watch, and A&M is no exception. Tune in to see the Aggies play No. 15 Pepperdine on Feb. 16. We can all admit Zendaya was the star of “Challengers” dir. Luca Guadagnino. Sorry, Mike Faist.
NFL Aggies: From Kyle Field to the Super Bowl
From proven veterans to rookies, here’s how former A&M players performed on Sundays this year
After the Philadelphia Eagles blew out the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Sunday, the 2024 NFL season has officially come to an end. Here’s an overview of how the Aggies that have made it to the next level performed this year.
Edgerrin Cooper, linebacker, Green Bay Packers
Cooper was the highest-selected Aggie in the 2024 NFL Draft, being taken with the 45th overall pick by the Packers. During his four seasons playing for the Maroon and White, he recorded 205 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.
After battling an injury early, Cooper earned his way to significant snaps and even a starting position by the end of the year. The Covington, Louisiana native recorded 94 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception on the season.
Cooper was named NFL Defensive Player of the Week in both Week 8 and Week 15 and found himself on the 2024 NFL All-Rookie Team.
“It was a huge learning curve coming from Texas A&M to here,”
Cincinnati Bengals
Jackson was the second Aggie taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, going to the Cincinnati Bengals with the 97th overall pick. In his time at A&M, Jackson was responsible for 87 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
Jackson was sidelined early with an injury that landed him on the injured reserve list until Week 5. He did not receive significant playing time until Week 9 when he saw an expanded role on the Bengals.
Jackson’s slow start haunted him on the stat sheet, only recording 15 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble on the season. Expect a fully healthy Jackson to make a bigger impression next season.
Layden Robinson, offensive guard, New England Patriots
Robinson was taken in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Patriots. The Manvel native started 33 games at right guard for the Aggies and only gave up five sacks during his four years in
guard, starting the last 11 games of the season for the Patriots. In his 602 snaps, Robinson allowed four
Ainias Smith, wide receiver, Philadelphia
Smith was selected by the Eagles with the 152nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Smith joined the Aggies as a running back but found his niche as a wide receiver.
While at A&M, Smith accounted for 405 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 2,407 receiving yards and 19 receiving touchdowns.
The start to Smith’s rookie season has been nowhere near conventional. Before he could compete in the NFL Combine, Smith was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his shin. The injury set him back, forcing Smith to watch parts of camp from the sideline.
Since returning to the gridiron in Week 8, Smith recorded seven receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run.
Demani Richardson, free safety, Carolina Panthers
Richardson joined the Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. In his five seasons with the
Jaylon Jones, cornerback, Indianapolis Colts
Jones was the Colts’ seventhround pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, going 221st overall. The cornerback recorded 98 tackles, three interceptions and 17 passes defended in his three years with the Aggies.
The cornerback earned a starting role in Week 5 of his rookie year and has not looked back. In 2024, Jones recorded 100 tackles, a forced fumble, 12 passes defensed and two interceptions.
His best game of the season was against the Chicago Bears in Week 3, where he recorded five tackles and a pair of interceptions.
Madubuike was selected by the Ravens with the 71st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The McKinney North High School alum recorded 105 tackles, 11 sacks, 26 tackles for loss and an interception for the Maroon and White.
In his fifth season, Madubuike recorded 43 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and a forced fumble for the Ravens. He also earned his second Pro Bowl of his career.
Myles Garrett, defensive end, Cleveland Browns
Garrett joined the Browns after they selected him with the first pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. The superstar
make it through the preseason, being waived after the final game.
The safety was re-signed to the practice squad, where he battled his way back on the active roster in late September. By late October, he found himself in a starting role due to injuries from the starters. Richardson accounted for 51 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception. Panthers coach Dave Canales said Richardson has a lot of the right skills and a lot of room to grow.
De’Von Achane, running back, Miami Dolphins
Achane joined the Dolphins when he was selected 84th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Achane jumped into the hearts of Aggies when he returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown in A&M’s 41-38 victory over the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide in 2021.
The Missouri City native racked up 2,376 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground while wearing the maroon. In his second year with the Dolphins, Achane had 907 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
The speedster was a reliable passcatching back, catching 78 passes for 592 yards and six touchdowns, ranking first out of 47 running backs in all three statistics.
immediate success with the Browns, being named to the Pro Football Writers All-Rookie Team. In 2023, Garrett amassed 42 tackles, 14 sacks and four forced fumbles on his way to being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
This year, Garrett recorded 47 tackles, 14 sacks and a career-high 22 tackles for loss on his way to AP First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods, as well as a third-place finish for Defensive Player of the Year. Wherever Garrett ends up next season after a trade request, he will make an immediate impact.
Mike Evans, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Johnny Manziel’s favorite target was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. In just two seasons for the Aggies, Evans accounted for 2,499 yards and 17 touchdowns.
The receiver finished his 11th season with 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns. In Week 7, he joined elite company in that game, catching his 100th career touchdown pass. Evans is a six-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro.
The Ball High School alum recorded his 11th consecutive 1,000-plus yard season, tying the legendary Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for most all-time.
Washington
Men’s basketball, junior forward
Facing an 11-point deficit against Georgia, A&M needed Washington to take over the offensive duties down the stretch. The 6-foot-7 wing showed up in a big way with 17 points, five rebounds and three stocks to close out a 69-53 comeback.
Even in the equestrian team’s loss to No. 8 South Carolina, the 2024 SEC
of the Month for October totaled 85 points in the Fences category for her team.
Winny Bii
Track and Field, junior Bii set meet and facility records with a 13.82-meter triple jump, shattering her previous best of 12.95 meters. The Oklahoma State transfer continued her hot career start in Aggieland by capturing her third-consecutive triple jump meet title.
Emiley Kennedy
Softball, senior left-handed pitcher
The Woodlands native struck out eight batters and allowed only two runs in her first start against Purdue. The All-American kept the pace going against Purdue the second time, throwing her second-ever no-hitter.
Hounding the Hogs: Battle in the paint
No. 8 A&M men’s basketball’s welcomes Arkansas to Reed Arena
By Ian Curtis Managing Editor
Over the past few seasons, the Arkansas Razorbacks have been a thorn in the side of No. 8 Texas A&M men’s basketball. Take, for example, last season’s buzzerbeater loss to the Hogs on the road and a late-season Quad 3 loss at home that had the Aggies sliding dangerously close to the NCAA Tournament bubble.
But this year, things are looking up for the Maroon and White.
A&M is closing in on a 2-seed in March Madness, coming in at a 2.24 in the Bracket Matrix, a composite average of bracketology projections.
Meanwhile, Arkansas is squarely on the bubble in coach John Calipari’s first year in Fayetteville, Arkansas after leaving Kentucky in the offseason. With both teams boasting impressive KenPom defensive efficiency numbers — 27th in the nation for the Razorbacks, while the Aggies are No. 6 — Saturday’s matchup has the look of a rock fight.
That’s the way A&M likes it. It’s coming off a 69-53 win over Georgia, in which the Maroon and White held the visitors to a stretch of 14 minutes without a single bucket from the field.
“When they scored their first basket, [assistant coach Devin Johnson] was like, “Hey, Coach,’” coach Buzz Williams said after the Aggies’ win over Georgia on Tuesday. “ … And I turn around and I go, ‘What?’ He goes, ‘You know, that was their first basket.’ I go, ‘Yeah, I don’t want them to score again, though. See how long we can do it again.’”
Paint prowess
While the high-flying guard duo of graduate Wade Taylor IV and senior Zhuric Phelps gets a lot of attention — and it is by all means deserved, as the backcourt duo averages 15 and 14.5 points per game, respectively — it’s
the Aggies’ frontcourt that has allowed them to reach their top10 ranking.
In the Maroon and White’s past two games, it’s been junior forwards Pharrel Payne and Solomon Washington carrying the load on offense. Payne led all scorers with 20 points in A&M’s road victory over thenNo. 15 Missouri on Feb. 8, and Washington had 17 points, five boards, a block and a pair of steals in the Aggies’ blowout victory over the Georgia Bulldogs on Tuesday.
“We’re everybody’s Super Bowl,” Washington said after the game. “We know everybody’s gonna throw their best first punch against us.”
And don’t forget about senior F Andersson Garcia and graduate F Henry Coleman III, who are each tied for A&M’s rebounding lead with 132 boards on the year.
“I really like our four [forwards],” Williams said after
the Georgia game. “And I think that our four, we were playing with three of them a lot tonight, just like they were, and some of that rotational mix ended up being good for us. A lot of that is because of what Solo and Andy are able to do on the weak side.”
But if the Aggies want to secure another conference win as they chase No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference standings, they’ll have to get past an NCAA Tournament-caliber squad to do it.
Calling the Hogs
While A&M’s big men have had great seasons so far, they’ll be up against one of their largest tests — literally — in 7-foot-2 sophomore F Zvonimir Ivišic. Ivišic followed Calipari to Arkansas from Kentucky, and it’s been a good move for the Croatia native so far. He ranks second in
the SEC in blocked shots and had 14 points — a dozen of them from 3-point shots — in the Razorbacks’ win over a top15 Kentucky team in Coach Cal’s return to Rupp Arena. How many times do you see a 7-footer shoot 43% from behind the arc on the year?Arkansas has beat ranked teams on the road before, and they can do it again. But if the Aggies want to prove they belong in the SEC’s top tier, these are the types of games they have to win on a consistent basis.
“Our toughness, our grit, our connectivity, all of those things are prerequisites relative to how we play,” Williams said. “And we have to continue to be prepared, including Saturday morning at 11 o’clock, for being able to not only understand the plan, but to be able to execute it. And so I have great confidence in who we are and how we’re going about it, and it’s just the endurance required to do it day after day after day.”
Around the SEC: Feb. 15
By Matthew Seaver Associate Sports Editor
Saturday, Feb. 15 — 3 p.m.
This hardwood rendition of the Iron Bowl pits the two best teams in the nation against each other. The in-state rivals face off for the first time this season with more than bragging rights on the line.
The Crimson Tide have been on a tear, with seven wins in a row as they welcome the Tigers to town.
Auburn sits atop the throne of hoops with only two losses this season.
The result of this matchup will have huge implications on not just SEC standings, but will also
Prediction:
determine seedings come Selection Sunday. There will be plenty of points to go around for both squads as Alabama has the highest scoring offense in the country and Auburn trails not far behind, as the two teams average 90.5 and 84.8 points, respectively. With the season winding down, these top-tier games just mean more, so securing a win of this magnitude means a ton for either program.The Crimson Tide are going to keep rolling and steal the No. 1 crown from the travelling Tigers.
No. 15 Kentucky at Texas
Saturday, Feb. 15 — 7 p.m. on ABC Moody Center — Austin, Texas
For the first time since the 2008 season, Kentucky is led by a coach not named John Calipari, but like any true blue blood of college basketball, the Wildcats are not letting a different man in charge derail their success. Meanwhile, there has been a learning curve for Texas and coach Rodney Terry in the program’s first season as a member of the SEC. The Longhorns have heavily depended on future NBA lottery pick freshman G Tre Johnson all season. The new-look Wildcats have shifted from their former reliance on one-
and-dones, now utilizing the experience and grown-man strength of seasoned upperclassmen.
Kentucky will be looking to string together victories over teams in orange and white, as it most recently took down the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers. Texas will be hoping its home court advantage plays a factor, as it did against ranked teams Texas A&M and Missouri. New coach, who dis?
It’s Mark Pope, and he’s leading his alma mater to a win in the Moody Center.
Prediction: Kentucky 91, Texas 78
No. 22 Mississippi State at No. 19 Ole Miss
Saturday, Feb. 15 — 5 p.m. on ESPN
The Sandy and John Black Pavilion — Oxford, Mississippi
Egg Bowl? More like Egg Ballin’, because both these teams find themselves part of the stacked SEC. Mississippi State has already defeated Ole Miss once this season due to a scoring burst from junior guard Riley Kugel in a narrow 84-81 victory. This time around, the Bulldogs have to trek into Rebel territory, where the boys in Navy and Cardinal recently knocked off the No. 14 Kentucky Wildcats. These two teams are similar on paper, with only a one-point differential in points per game and three
points separating their defensive averages. The Bulldogs need a better showing from sophomore G Josh Hubbard, who went 2-for-13 from the field in the close win. Ole Miss senior G Sean Pedulla will look to replicate his past performance against Miss State where he dropped 18 points despite poor shooting from 3-point range.
Ole Miss and its Rebel offense have too much scoring artillery, as coach Chris Beard looks to lead them to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019.
Perennial powerhouse Tennessee has been on a tear in its 10th season under coach Rick Barnes, with only losses against ranked teams Kentucky, Auburn and Florida. Oh, and the unranked Vanderbilt Commodores who stormed the court after narrowly upsetting the Volunteers, 76-75. Senior G Chaz Lanier missed a free throw in the clutch to tie things up, putting a huge asterisk on his excellent 17-point outing.
The Commodores will be travelling to Rocky Top this time around, where the fans are sure to let the
traveling players hear every decibel of anger. Tennessee expects the best on the court, and a season with two losses to the Black and Gold is not acceptable for its standards.
Vanderbilt junior G Jason Edwards hopes to recreate his successful performance from three-point range once again.
Clutch-factor isn’t really a skill you can teach, so if Tennessee wants to beat Vanderbilt — and more importantly — make its first Final Four appearance with Barnes, you have to make your free throws.
Prediction: Tennessee 87, Vanderbilt 77
Solomon
Devon Thomas Equestrian, fifth-year
Rider
File photo by Katelynn Ivey — THE BATTALION
Trinity Hindman — THE BATTALION
File photo by CJ Smith — THE BATTALION
Mia Kupres Women’s tennis, junior
Jackson Stanley — THE BATTALION
Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps (1) attempts a layup during Texas A&M’s game against Georgia at Reed Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
Men’s 4x400m relay sets national No. 1 time, host of personal bests highlight the Aggies’ final regular season indoor home meet. A&M will host the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships from Feb. 27 to March 1.
1. Send
3. Complete
Charlie Thomas Invitational at the Murray Fasken Indoor
two of the Charlie Thomas Invitational at the Murray Fasken Indoor Track on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.
Heather Abadie, the current school record holder, competes during the women’s pole vault on day two of the Charlie Thomas Invitational at the Murray Fasken Indoor Track on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. The starting pistol is fired during day one of the Charlie Thomas Invitational at the Murray Fasken Indoor Track on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Freshman Jaydon Shield lands in the sand pit during the men’s triple jump on day two of the Charlie Thomas Invitational at the Murray Fasken Indoor Track on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.
Trinity Hindman — THE BATTALION Trinity Hindman — THE BATTALION
Hindman — THE BATTALION
Micah Richter — THE BATTALION Trinity Hindman — THE BATTALION
