Signed in Blood
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2018 STUDENT MEDIA
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Annie Lui — THE BATTALION
Found in Cushing Library’s Rare Books and Manuscripts collection, “De Occulta Philosophia Libri Tres” explores occult religions and philosophies.
Centuries-old occult book housed in the Cushing Memorial Library contains series of eerie additions By Salvador Garcia @SalGarJr Used books often bear traces left by previous readers. Sometimes these marks are as familiar as coffee stains; other times they can be as uncanny as the devil’s signature. In the Rare Books and Manuscripts collection in the Cushing Library lies Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa’s “De Occulta Philosophia Libri Tres.” In fear of condemnation from the church, Agrippa hesitated before allowing his writings to be published in 1533. Opening the book reveals occult symbols and descriptions for their use, but it also exposes the stories of
those who have held it before. Pages corrupted by stains and fading ink sketch the tendencies of readers. During its circulation, the book also gained a note and signature that appears to be written in blood. English Ph.D. student Micheala Baca said even though Agrippa’s book might be viewed as containing conjurations, the author did not intend for his work to offer anything more than a scientific understanding for people curious about occult religions and philosophies. “There’s no sort of spell-type stuff,” Baca said. “This is like a science textbook, basically. It discusses all of the various symbols and elements and things that make up human life in the world and creates the balance between all of them.” Baca said she’s particularly interested in the notes found in the book’s margins, such as the bloody message and signature. According to Baca, the translation of this message states “When
you have done all that is contained here, I will be at your command — Beelzebub.” Since preserving the book means the page can’t be tested, it’s unclear whether the message is truly written in blood. However, Baca said the signature “Beelzebub,” often used as synonym for the devil, indicates serious occult possibilities. Other surviving copies of this book do not contain such unique and unsettling marks. “I can’t prove anything one way or another, but I think [our copy] is probably completely unique,” Baca said. “This one seems to have been used differently, like it was used by someone who was invested in it, rather than just looking at it from a scientific application standpoint.” Assistant professor in the department of performance studies BOOK ON PG. 2
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2015 TB145 was discovered three years ago but will not appear near Earth again until 2080.
Spooky sight in the night sky PROVIDED
Aggie astronomers weigh in on ‘Halloween’ asteroid
Local shops in Downtown Bryan have come together to host a pub crawl, costume contests and giveaways during the Halloween season.
By Vanessa Hernandez @Galileaaa6
Dawn of the downtown dead
A skull-shaped asteroid is passing by Earth again just a short while after Halloween. The asteroid is named 2015 TB145, but it has been called the ‘Halloween asteroid’ because of the time it came into view three years ago. It was first observed in October of 2015, and will be passing by Earth again in early November. Paul Chodas, manager of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Center for Near Earth Object Studies, told CNN that this
Bryan prepares for sixth annual Zombie Pub Crawl on Saturday By Savannah Mehrtens @SJMehrtens Encouraging community members to dress up as zombies for the Halloween season, Downtown Bryan restaurants, bars and other businesses are
hosting the sixth annual Zombie Pub Crawl on Saturday. A $5 wristband will give attendees access to special deals and events at all of the participating businesses, as well as the zombification station face painting booth located outside of The Village and Downtown Uncorked Wine Bar. Additionally, attendees who purchase a ticket ZOMBIE ON PG. 3
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time the asteroid will not come close enough to appear “any larger than a dot of light.” Postdoctoral researcher in physics and astronomy Peter Brown said getting people excited and thinking about astronomy is important, and he -believes the skull-shaped asteroid does just that. Although the asteroid won’t pass as close to Earth as it did in 2015, it’s still an interesting occurrence, Brown said. According to Brown, this particular asteroid coming into view at this time is completely random. If the asteroid came around any other time, it probably would not have been interpreted as skull shaped.
“Sometimes our eyes tend to find faces in objects because our brains are tuned to find faces, so we happen to do that in nature, like the skull-shaped asteroid,” Brown said. Astronomy professor Darren DePoy said that while he never heard of a skull-shaped asteroid before this one, asteroids tend to come in all shapes and sizes. “Asteroids are material left over from the formation of the solar system that did not incorporate into planets,” DePoy said. “They generally formed early in the history of the solar system from material in the disk of material that was around the Sun as it collapsed to become a ASTEROID ON PG. 6
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Megan Rodriguez, Editor in Chief THE BATTALION is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the 2018 fall semester and 2019 spring semester (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. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3315; E-mail: editor@ thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt. com. For campus, local, and national display advertising call 979-845-2687. For classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email: battads@thebatt.com.
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The Battalion | 10.19.18
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The Palace Theater in Bryan is hosting the eighth annual Fright Nights haunted house through November.
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(979) 260-0452 BAKEDORFRIED.COM NORTHGATE 311 CHURCH AVE. COLLEGE STATION, TX 77840
Fun and frights for your October nights Bryan and College Station welcome Halloween spirit with community events Fright Nights — Oct. 19, 20, 26, 27, 31 and Nov. 2 StageCenter Community Theatre and Downtown Bryan are coming together to host their eighth annual haunted house in the Palace Theater. Fright Nights are held from 8 p.m. to midnight and tickets are $10 each.
Rockie’s Grill Halloween Hoedown — Oct. 27 Starting at 9 p.m., Rockie’s Grill & Saloon on Texas Ave. South will be hosting a Halloween Hoedown with a total of $1,000 in cash prizes for their costume contest.
Mo’s First Halloween Bash — Oct. 27 Mo’s Irish Pub on University Drive is hosting their first annual Halloween bash from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. At 11 p.m., partygoers can participate in a costume contest. They will be awarding $50 gift cards to the sexiest and scariest costumes, and $100 gift cards to the best-dressed individual and best dressed couple.
Halloween Food Bank Fundraiser — Oct. 26 and 27 Specialties Photography, Inc. is raising money for the Brazos Valley Food Bank by offering complimentary pictures of children in their Halloween costumes in exchange for donations. The fundraiser is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Specialties Photography’s studio on Copperfield Drive in Bryan.
Old Army is Dead — Oct. 27 Second Regiment is hosting a haunted house in Fountain Hall. Entry is $10 for the public and $5 for cadets. Company N1’s BBQ will be cooking food for the event.
Boo Fest — Oct. 28 From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Brazos Valley Bombers will be hosting the 2018 Boo Fest. The free event taking place at Bryan’s Nutrabolt Stadium will have candy, food trucks and costume contests for all ages.
BOOK CONTINUED
rials are going to degrade it, so the body itself is what ultimately destroys the book. The body is what the books in the library have to be protected from, even if it’s what makes the books in the library interesting.” But not all interactions with books are damaging. Another unique aspect of Agrippa’s book is the cover that was changed by an unknown person with unknown intentions. Cataloger and Italian resources librarian Felicia Piscitelli said this
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REQUIRED • Be a Texas A&M student in good standing with the University and enrolled in at least six credit hours (4 if a graduate student) during the term of office (unless fewer credits are required to graduate); • Have at least a 2.25 cumulative grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) and at least a 2.25 grade point ratio (3.25 if a graduate student) in the semester immediately prior to the appointment, the semester of appointment and semester during the term of office. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (4 if a graduate student) must have been taken for that semester; PREFERRED • Have completed JOUR 301 or COMM 307 (Mass Communication, Law, and Society); • Have demonstrated ability in writing, editing and graphic design through university coursework or equivalent experience; • Have at least one year experience in a responsible position on the Aggieland or comparable yearbook.
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James Ball said signatures like these are powerful regardless of whether the blood is real because they are able to generate conversations about books as artifactual knowledge. “It’s the unique symbol that attests to the writer’s presence, but it’s also a paradox because it’s also the clearest evidence of the way that writing is detachable from an author,” Ball said.
“There’s all sorts of effects and forces that tumble out from this artifact of a signature in blood of some occult incantation.” Ball said when he teaches his Performing Literature class, he encourages students to consider that they are leaving a part of themselves behind in each book they touch. “The use of the books degrades them,” Ball said. “Every time I touch the book I’m leaving part of my body on it, and those mate-
cover contains sacred music. This ironic way of refurbishing a book containing the devil’s signature seems almost sacrilegious, but instead adds to the book’s mystery. “It looks like whoever covered the book got a couple of pages from a chant book and used it as the cover,” Piscitelli said. “Whether they were trying to make fun of the chant or whether they just thought it looked pretty, I don’t know.”
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The Battalion | 10.19.18
Top six horrifying Halloween movies Halloween is coming up, and that means it’s time to get in the scary spirit. One of the best ways to prepare for the haunted holiday is to watch some truly terrifying horror movies. Life & Arts writer Keagan Miller has compiled the best and scariest films around. By Keagan Miller
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The Silence of the Lambs 1991
I don’t consider this movie to be classical horror, but it does make good use of horror elements. This film is a classic in every sense of the word. From the director’s masterful use of background noise to create suspense to Anthony Hopkins’ legendary performance as pop culture’s most recognizable psychopath, “Silence of the Lambs” earns a spot on this list despite not being a purely horror film.
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This recent release starring John Krasinski is close to a modern horror masterpiece. The idea is simple: make a sound and the monsters will find you. The execution is beautiful. Both terrifying and emotional, the film creates a world in which noise means death. This movie is legitimately scary, but there’s so much more than straight horror. This film tells a family’s touching story of survival in a new and terrifying world.
ZOMBIE CONTINUED can get $5 off their entry to the Fright Nights haunted house at The Palace Theater. Kristy Petty, owner of The Village, said this event is a way for downtown businesses to be involved in local Halloween festivities. “It started pretty much six years ago as a collaboration between the bars and the restaurants as a way to celebrate Halloween without going against the actual day of Halloween,” Petty said. According to Petty, the pub crawl is not only a way to celebrate the Halloween season, but also a chance for people to learn more about the restaurants and bars of Downtown Bryan. “When you do pub crawls, it just encourages everybody and makes them realize how many places there are to go in one setting down here, which I think is always helpful,” Petty said.
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The Shining 1980
The Exorcist 1973
Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece is a quintessential horror movie. Charting its main character’s slow decline into homicidal madness, “The Shining” is one of the most influential horror films of all time. It’s not one of my favorite films, but its legendary status as a true classic earns it a spot on this list.
I have to confess, I have not personally seen this movie. Its placement on this list was earned solely by its influence on the horror genre. This film defined horror. From its use of subliminal images of demons, to creepy sounds, to crafty use of film techniques, everything about this movie screams terror. “The Exorcist” is truly frightening film fit for any movie-lover’s Halloween.
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A Quiet Place 2018
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The Babadook 2014
Even thinking about this movie gives me the shivers. My personal favorite horror film of all time, “The Babadook” tells the story of a problem child and his widowed mother. It’s a story of resentment, hatred and grief. Almost the entire film focuses on just two characters, but it does so in such a way that leaves you feeling isolated, left alone with the monster under the bed. The movie is a study of childhood and innocence, and it details the mother’s terrifying spiral into depression and hatred for her own son by using supernatural elements as strong metaphors. This film is scary, not only because of the horrifying nature of the mostly unseen monster, but also because it’s clear that the real monster is the mother. This film brings profound meaning to its genre. If you’re only going to watch one film on this list, make it this one.
Melba Tucker, owner and manager of Downtown Uncorked Wine Bar, will help host the zombification station. Downtown Uncorked and the other participating bars will be offering $4 specials to those who purchase the pub crawl wristband. “With our special, if you do come in and purchase it, you will also get a balloon,” Tulker said. “When you pop the balloon, inside is a piece of paper and you have an option of winning a free pizza, a free drink, 20 percent off your bill, et cetera, et cetera.” Jai Girard, general manager of Halo and doctoral candidate in recreation, park and tourism sciences at Texas A&M, said this will be the second October they will be open and participating since the bar recovered from a fire. Halo will be participating in the Pub Crawl by hosting an event called “Scream Queens” to benefit Long Way Home Animal Rescue. “We do closet giveaways and costume contests for people and for dogs, and then we have drag queens that perform and help put on the event,” Girard said. “What we’ll do is move
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Hereditary 2018
This is by far the most utterly horrifying, tense, sweatthrough-your-shirt scary movie that I’ve ever seen. The film relies heavily on the background of its shots, frequently hiding creepy images just out of focus. This film’s only real fault is its slow start. The first half of the movie fools you into thinking it’s a psychological drama, but it ends up being something completely different. The entire movie builds tension, it just builds and builds and never releases. Most horror movies will throw in the occasional jumpscare to release the tension and give audiences a chance to catch their breath, but not “Hereditary.” Once the movie gets going, it doesn’t stop. It suffocates you with tension and subtle creepiness until the very end. Not even the conclusion of the film released the tension. If you like horror movies, see this film. You’ll be more afraid than you ever have been in a movie before, I can guarantee it. Just don’t watch it at night.
everybody downstairs and then all the zombie pub crawlers will be able to come in, so we have drink specials for them and we let them come in without a cover charge.” Another major component of the event is the costume contest. The overall winners will be crowned at midnight at the Grand Stafford Theater. Brooke Conrad, Class of 2012, has participated in the pub crawl with her husband since 2013, and said their costumes have become increasingly elaborate over the years. “We heard about it from a friend the first time and it was really last minute and we just pulled random costumes together and didn’t make a big deal out of it,” Conrad said. “Then we got there and our friends were like totally decked out. They were zombie bride and groom and I think they actually wound up winning. Ever since then, we’ve gotten more and more into it.” More information on the Downtown Bryan Zombie Pub Crawl is available at tx.ag/ZombiePubCrawl.
FOOTBALL
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The Battalion | 10.19.18
AROUND THE SEC A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE FOR WEEK 8
With a big slate of divisional games on the horizon, the SEC is truly heating up. Several teams are taking advantage of bye weeks, but several key matchups still remain going into week eight. Here’s a preview of what’s going down this weekend in college football’s most storied conference.
By Dylan Poitevint @Poitite
No. 5 LSU (6-1) at No. 22 Mississippi State (4-2)
Ole Miss (5-2) vs. Auburn (4-3)
Saturday Oct. 20 — Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field — Starkville, Mississippi 6 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday, Oct. 20 — Vaught-Hemingway Stadium — Oxford, Mississippi 11 a.m. on ESPN
This showdown should be an interesting one as LSU is a proven SEC powerhouse, and Mississippi State is a team with some questions yet to be answered. The Tigers are coming off a shocking win that rocked the conference, and the NCAA in general. Their win over Georgia resolidified their spot as a top-tier team. Junior quarterback Joe Burrow has played well enough with 1,415 yards through the air so far, but the real focus of the team is LSU’s defense led by junior linebacker Devin White. He has 66 tackles on the year, and the Tiger defense, while only ranked eighth in the SEC, is a dominant force. When factoring in LSU’s opponents thus far, the Tigers are scary on defense and have one of the best resumes in college football overall. Mississippi State is coming off a restful bye week after winning their last game against Auburn in week six. The Bulldogs have been on and off with big wins over Auburn and Kansas State, but have dropped crucial games to Florida and Kentucky. Mississippi State will play hard for a big win over a division rival, but will have to improve in the pass, and protecting senior quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. The Bulldogs will also try to pressure the Tiger offense with their eighth-ranked national defense. Watch for this game to be close, with LSU pulling away at home.
Ole Miss and Auburn are two middle of the pack Western teams in search of a big win. The Rebels have put together a strong season so far, especially considering the current sanctions placed on the school, but are still looking for a big divisional win. Senior quarterback Jordan Ta’amu is one of the conference’s top quarterbacks with 2,298 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions. When Ta’amu throws for 300 yards — something he has done in multiple contests this season — the odds are in the Rebels’ favor. Auburn on the other hand has struggled in a shocking manner, losing three conference games. The Tigers struggled in the pass game last week, allowing Tennessee’s Jarrett Guarantano to throw for 328 yards. Auburn will have to do their best to limit Ta’amu in that regard, but if they can, the Tigers will be able to pull off the big win they need. Look for Ole Miss to score big and use their home crowd to their advantage.
Prediction: LSU 28, Mississippi State 17
Prediction: Ole Miss 32, Auburn 28
No. 1 Alabama (7-0) at Tennessee (3-3)
Missouri (3-3) vs. Memphis (4-3)
Saturday, Oct. 20 — Neyland Stadium — Knoxville, TN 2:30 p.m. on CBS
Saturday, Oct. 20 — Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium — Columbia, Missouri 3 p.m. on SECN
In one of the SEC’s most storied rivalries, the Tennessee Volunteers will host the Crimson Tide for Saturday’s interdivisional showdown. Alabama is dominating in every aspect of the game this season, on route to a sensational championship run. Sophomore Tua Tagovailoa is the nation’s best quarterback, with 1,760 yards, 21 touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Heisman-favorite signal-caller suffered a hand injury last week in Alabama’s win over Missouri. It will be interesting to see if that bothers him in this week’s matchup. Tennessee on the other hand has had its struggles in 2018, especially in conference games. The Volunteers are coming off of a huge win over Auburn last week, and will try to ride that momentum into Saturday. Sophomore quarterback Jarrett Guarantano has struggled thus far with only six touchdowns and two interceptions. Guarantano will need to play the game of his career to even keep this one close. Watch for the Tide to score early and junior Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts to see significant time on the field.
This game pits two struggling teams in dire need for a big win, which should lead to an interesting clash. Missouri has played statistically well in many aspects of the game this season, but has struggled to put away teams on big stages. Memphis will have to limit their mistakes — an aspect the team has struggled with lately, turning the ball over seven times in the past three games. Senior quarterback Drew Lock is playing well, throwing for 1,629 passing yards this season, but he hasn’t found the end zone as many times as he’d like, racking up 12 touchdowns. Lock has also been a factor in Missouri’s turnover issue, with six interceptions. Meanwhile, Memphis is in the same boat as Missouri, with almost an identical record. With that said, Memphis has a couple of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball in junior running back Darrell Henderson and junior quarterback Brady White. Henderson is the top back in the nation in terms of yards, while White has thrown for more than 200 yards in all but one contest, completing 15 touchdowns and one interception. Missouri will need to play superb defense to contain these two. All in all this should be a close one, but the Tigers from Missouri will come out on top with more overall talent and the home field advantage.
Prediction: Alabama 48, Tennessee 14
Prediction: Missouri 34, Memphis 28
WEEK 8: STAFF PICKS No. 1 Alabama (7-0) at Tennessee (3-3)
Ole Miss (5-2) vs. Auburn (4-3)
No. 5 LSU (6-1) at No. 22 Mississippi State (4-2)
TAYLOR
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Jesse Everett
Asst. Photo Chief @JesseEverett17
No Tua. No dub. Gig ‘em Vols.
Luke Henkhaus
Managing Editor @luke_henkhaus
“Time and Tide wait for no man.”
Angel Franco
Sports Editor @angelmadison_
Remember when Auburn was supposed to challenge Bama to win the SEC West??? Lol yeah me neither.
Samantha Mahler
Asst. Life & Arts Editor @mahlersamantha
If it has anything to do with the state of Alabama, I’m not cheering for it.
Abigail Ochoa
Asst. Sports Editor @AbigailOchoa88
Just not a fan of Lousiana ... that’s it.
Anthony Pangonas News Editor @apangonas
Just getting ready for the cowbells that are coming in the future...
FOOTBALL
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The Battalion | 10.19.18
Aggie season analysis: bye week means it’s time to look back With No. 17 Texas A&M off this week, The Battalion sports staff decided to analyze A&M’s performance through the first half of the season. Here’s what they said:
By Angel Franco @angelmadison_
By Abigail Ochoa @AbigailOchoa88
Junior defensive back Charles Oliver has one interception.
This season has been a roller coaster of a season for Texas A&M. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. While there have been highs and lows this season, the one constant for A&M has been their ability to stay in games despite being down — with the exception of the Alabama game. With the past coaching staff there was an overwhelming sense of defeat once they were down. Jimbo Fisher has instilled something that hasn’t been seen in a while – grit. Both the Clemson and the Kentucky games were very good for the team in terms of showing their grit. While A&M lost to Clemson by two points, its important that A&M wasn’t left behind by the No. 2 team in the country. Additionally, several DBs have been ejected for targeting which hasn’t been good for A&M. However, while those are bright spots in A&M’s program this year, there have been a lot of weaknesses in the program. The biggest being A&M’s secondary which has given up explosive plays in several games. Additionally, there has been times where the A&M run game has stalled. Rendering the offense one dimensional, which relies heavily on Kellen Mond. Mond has had the most intriguing individual performance. There are days where he looks like a veteran quarterback who has had multiple seasons in Fisher’s offense and there are days where he looks completely lost and makes questionable decisions, some of which have paid off while others have been costly. A&M will have to find ways to keep the run game from stalling out to avoid adding pressure to the wide receiving corps and Mond. The better the offense is balanced the more success A&M will have down the stretch.
In my first year covering Texas A&M football there has been dominant tight end play, a punter redefining the position, nail-biting matchups and a coach willing to do what it takes to care for his players. Needless to say, it’s become quite the football season in Aggieland. With two road games ahead and three home games to close out the year, A&M’s season is far from over. Penalties and turnovers have become a recurring problem for the Aggies, racking up 47 penalties for a total loss of 418 yards this season, not mention the eight fumbles also on record. Behind center, sophomore quarterback Kellen Mond has had his struggles since playing No. 1 Alabama in week four. Mond has thrown five interceptions since, and has had a rough time staying in the pocket with 16 sacks since Alabama to prove it. If the Aggies are able to get penalties, sacks and defensive ejections under control, the team will be in good shape to win games without being in close margins. Despite their troubles, A&M is showing they have what it takes to play against highly-ranked teams. The A&M defense is leading the SEC in holding offenses, only allowing opponents an average of 81.6 rushing yards per game. The Aggies also rank second in the nation in stopping teams from scoring during third down conversions. As for the offense, they are dominating time of possession and yards per game. A&M is averaging 486.7 offensive yards per game, and leads the SEC in time of possession averaging 36 minutes and 32 seconds per game. With both the offense and defense taking the SEC by storm, the Aggies are a force to be reckoned with going into the second half of the season.
By Grant Spika @GrantSpika
By Dylan Poitevint @Poitite
By Brian Bass @brianbass4
As they head into the bye week, the No. 17 Texas A&M football team is off to a solid start under new head coach Jimbo Fisher, with a starting record of 5-2 (3-1 SEC). So far, the run defense has been spectacular for defensive coordinator Mike Elko. Thanks to a strong front seven led by senior defensive lineman Kingsley Keke and junior linebacker Tyrel Dodson, the run defense is No. 4 in the nation, with the Aggies at No. 21 in total defense. On the offensive side of the ball, junior tight end Jace Sternberger has shined. Sternberger has already broken A&M’s single-season tight end record for receiving touchdowns, with six on the year. With the special teams, punter Braden Mann has been an absolute weapon for Fisher and the Aggies. Mann leads the NCAA in punting, averaging 54.5 yards a kick, and has been the best punter in college football this season. Looking forward, two things the Aggies need to fix are the secondary play and red zone offense. The defensive secondary has allowed 1,692 passing yards in just seven games, which is 92nd in the nation. The Aggies had trouble closing out Arkansas, Kentucky and South Carolina in their last three games due to their lackluster red zone offense. A&M’s red zone offense ranks 78th in the country with only 21 touchdowns in 35 red zone attempts. After the bye week, two key SEC West road games await the Aggies in No. 24 Mississippi State and Auburn. If the Aggies are able hold quarterbacks to a respectable amount of yards and finish drives without having to kick field goals, they should see a lot of success in the second half of the season.
The Good: In their seven games this season, Texas A&M has only lost to Clemson and Alabama. The Aggies are looking like a solid team with a bright future under Jimbo Fisher. The defense has surprised many, especially in the run game, where the Aggies are currently leading the SEC in yards allowed. Junior and senior linebackers Tyrel Dodson and Otaro Alaka have brought prestige back to a position that left plenty to be desired under Kevin Sumlin. On the defensive line, senior defensive end Kingsley Keke and sophomore defensive tackle Justin Madubuike have been punishing any back that challenges them. On the offensive side of the ball, sophomore quarterback Kellen Mond has made strides in his game following his freshman campaign, and has really developed as a team leader. Junior running back Trayveon Williams leads the conference in rushing yards, and he might just be the heart and soul of this offensive unit. Overall, A&M has done exceptionally well thus far, and if they continue this trend, we could be seeing them in a New Year’s Six bowl game. The Bad: While the Aggies have put together an impressive defensive front, the secondary is playing well under par. They rank only 92nd in the nation in passing yards allowed, and this has hurt us in games, such as our losses to Alabama and Clemson. For the Aggies to compete, they must clean up their secondary. Offensively, A&M has been rather inconsistent, whether it be penalties or red zone efficiency. In order to win tight games, they need to produce consistently. The Key: Kellen Mond’s performance going forward will make or break this team. If we get Clemson-Mond we could see the Aggies run the table, if Arkansas-Mond appears, this season could slip right from A&M’s fingers.
It has been a series of ups and downs for the Aggies, but things are looking rather bright right now. A&M has played very well on the defensive front, currently holding the fourth overall rush defense in the country. Mike Elko has created a monster in his first season as defensive coordinator, but the secondary has not lived up to those championship expectations just yet. Junior punter Braden Mann has also been a major strength of this team. He creates opportunities for the defense and gives the opposing offense frustrating field position nearly every punt. Mann is on a quick track to the most 60-yard-plus punts ever put up by a punter, and he’s undoubtedly the best punter in Aggieland since Shane Lechler. Offensively, inconsistencies have held A&M back from being a truly great team, but they have significantly improved since Jimbo Fisher arrived. Most specifically, Kellen Mond has seen a lot of improvement from week-to-week and has put together big drives when its mattered. Trayveon Williams is first in rushing yards in the SEC. He remains a clutch factor that can be dangerous when given space and has patience when waiting for gaps. Williams does need to see more consistency because more than 100 yards per game goes a long way. Penalties, third down conversion rates and decision making by the offense are the key problems that have to be addressed to go unscathed through the rest of the season. Fisher has done a good job cleaning some things up, but it matters now more than ever.
Jesse Everett — THE BATTALION
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Naval ROTC oufit C-2 celebrates a tradition where a selected junior is honored to dress as the Great Pumpkin, a character made famous by the 1966 Charlie Brown special.
Corps outfit in costume C-2 prepares for Flight of the Great Pumpkin By Meagan Sheffield @mshef350 The Corps of Cadets celebrates a tradition inspired by the 1966 television special “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” Flight of the Great Pumpkin, also called Flight, will occur on Friday Oct. 26 at 10:31 p.m. on the Quad. Freshmen dressed in masks will start handing out candy at 9:30 p.m. This event is a tradition of Company C-2, a Naval ROTC outfit, where juniors and seniors march and carry torches around the Quad. A junior will be dressed up as the Great Pumpkin in the center of the formation. In recent years, the Aggie Band has played music during Flight. However, the band might attend this year because of the football
team’s away game against Mississippi State on Oct. 27. Company C-2 Commander and construction science senior Cinco Winston is in charge of leading the formation around the Quad. Winston said the tradition is also a type of ceremony for the juniors in the company. “[Flight is] symbolic of the juniors finally earning this tradition and really becoming a part of C-2 as a family and really taking ownership of the outfit,” Winston said. One junior is selected the day of Flight to be dressed as the Great Pumpkin, which is considered to be an honor. “[We pick] someone who we think is a real unifier of the class and someone that shows that they’re willing to honor the tradition and what it stands for and who is willing to be a leader of the outfit when they get to become a senior,” Winston said.
ASTEROID CONTINUED star.” According to DePoy, asteroids are some of the oldest objects in the solar system that are in a primordial state, meaning still very little has happened to them over the past five billion years. “We know a fair amount about asteroids because they occasionally bump into each other and the resulting fragments can be found here on Earth when they fall as meteors,” DePoy said. “Several asteroids are large enough to be officially categorized as dwarf planets, and at least one NASA mission has orbited two of them.” Astronomy graduate student Yaswant Devarakonda said the shapes and sizes of asteroids depend a lot on the time they are from and how they form. Other factors such as an asteroid’s significant heating, collisions
The tradition started back in the 1960s when an upper classman wanted to make a freshman run through the band dorms dressed as the Great Pumpkin. Later, the tradition became a fight between C-2 and the Aggie band. “It’s evolved a lot since then,” Winston said. “We’re trying to make it become something that can build camaraderie between us and the band and ultimately the entire Corps.” Because the event has been going on for about 55 years, alumni have become involved in the tradition as well. “[Flight has] been something that has really made me proud to be a member of C-2,” Winston said. “It [has] showed me that in C-2, there’s a real brotherhood. It gives me a reason to stay connected with the alumni and gives me a reason to stay connected to C-2 in the future.”
with other asteroids and radiation play a part as well. “From what I’ve gathered, the most likely explanation for the skull-shaped asteroid is based off the asteroid’s highly eccentric orbit,” Devarakonda said. “Asteroids have more circular orbits, while comets have more centric elliptic orbits, so it is believed that this particular asteroid used to be a comet that ran out of ice and dust.” Devarakonda said without the ice and dust that is usually on the comet shell, there is only a rocky core left. This could potentially leave holes in the asteroid. “If those holes were where all the ice, gas and dust was located, then once it is all blown off we’re left with the scarred surface of the asteroid,” Devarakonda said. “The end result would be the coincidental skullshaped asteroid visiting near Halloween this year.”
BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION
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