The Battalion - October 21

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2021 STUDENT MEDIA

Serving those who are underserved Local health option now available for medical student training, patient care

By Kalin Kerr @KerrKalin A “first-of-its-kind” Health Hub has been opened by the Texas A&M Health Science

Center for the Brazos Valley.

The Health Science Center celebrated the opening of this institution on Oct. 6, which is designed to provide holistic treatment for all ages, for both the body and mind. The “Hub” represents a combination of training for future medical associates and treatment for those in need of any sort of health assistance.

Located on 29th St. in Bryan, the services

provided include urgent care, family care, psychiatry, heart health, telebehavioral care and pharmacy medication management all in one convenient center. The ultimate goal of this operation is to benefit the community as a whole.

“If you think about it, the largest amount of needs for a population is primary health and HEALTH SCIENCE ON PG. A3

This week includes a special edition insert created by journalism students at A&M Editor’s Note Submissions for The Battalion’s Halloween costume contest will remain open until Monday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. For more information, visit @batt_arts on Twitter.

BTHO food insecurity Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

One in five individuals in the Brazos Valley are food insecure, contributing to a statewide pattern of unreliable access to food. Local community members are working to fight this issue.

Local, university assistance organizations fight hunger throughout community in name of Selfless Service

By Caroline Wilburn @CarolineWilburn

D

espite the surface-level perfection Aggieland seems to offer, some of its residents are struggling with a bigger issue.

The Brazos Valley Food Bank, based in Bryan, serves as a regional hub

for Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Madison, Robertson and Washington counties. Program director Shannon Avila said the food bank distributes food to other organizations within the counties which then have the opportunity to provide meals to those in need.

“At the core, we work with partner agencies, and those are other non-profit organizations or church organizations,” Avila said. “In our six-county area, we work with 34 partner agencies, 27 of which are food pantries. The core of food banking are those partner agencies; about 60 percent of the food that goes out to the community from the food bank goes out through those organizations.”

According to a study done in 2014 by Hunger in America, one in five individuals struggle

with food insecurity in the Brazos Valley. To ensure people who need food assistance know where to go, Avila said she encourages the community to spread the word about food resources.

“There’s so many ways to get involved,” Avila said. “There’s six pantries in Bryan-College Station, including one on campus, that are always looking for volunteer assistants to help distribute food, or even pack it or sort it. You can always donate as well. Ourselves and all of our partners accept food and funds.”

The 12th Can is a student-run nonprofit organization that serves as an on-campus food bank for current students and staff. Biomedical sciences junior Jeffrey Welch said the organization’s goal is to eliminate food insecurity

on campus.

“At the beginning of every semester, we have openings in the fall and spring semesters,” Welch said. “We do food drives and profit shares that anyone in the community can utilize. There are also other food drives and food pantries around College Station that they can take advantage of, for instance, Brazos Valley Food Bank or [the] pocket pantries being set up around campus.”

Welch said 12th Can wants to make students and faculty aware of its purpose. He said he doesn’t want people to be embarrassed to use their services and wants others to know it’s a nonjudgmental resource that everyone is welcome to use.

FOOD INSECURITY ON PG. A3

Growing mental health awareness A&M graduate student business uses succulent kits to promote self-care

By Lauren Discher @laurendischer

Melanie McBride — THE BATTALION

As part of a class-led business initiave, students in the Mays Business School collaborated with the Active Minds organization to fund solutions for student mental health struggles.

Buds Plant Co. promotes mental health awareness by selling succulents kits with personality.

After being tasked with creating a start-up company as a class project, a group of graduate business students pondered how to complete the assignment while having a positive impact on the campus community. The end result was Buds Plant Co., a business selling succulent kits featuring fun stickers and personalized details. The proceeds go toward Active Minds, a national organization that works to end the stigma surrounding mental health.

In the beginning of the program, Buds Plant Co. director of marketing and graduate student Carly Boyles said she and her peers were tasked with doing market research on product ideas.

“We came up with a succulent kit, kind of on a whim,” Boyles said. “We had another product idea, and we realized that with the BUDS PLANT CO. ON PG. 4

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The Battalion | 10.21.21

Michaela Rush — THE BATTALION

Kicking off with a workshop on Monday, Oct. 18, the city of Bryan is on track to become the 31st city in Texas with a “music friendly” distinction.

Bryan seeks new sound through state music title Local bands spotlighted in city’s push for music diversification, promotion

By Michaela Rush @Michaela4Batt With hopes of getting the bands back together, the city of Bryan is seeking out a state seal of approval to bring musicians of all kinds to the community.

Following an announcement made by the Texas governor’s office, Bryan is the most recent candidate for the “music friendly city” designation through the Texas Music Office, or TMO. The city took the first step in the certification process by hosting a community workshop on Monday, Oct. 18, in conjunction with AdventGX at The Grand Stafford Theater.

“As we unleash the full might of the Texas economy, I look forward to continuing to work alongside community and business leaders in Bryan to ensure they have the knowledge and tools they need to succeed,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in an Oct. 14 press release.

“Music is a big part of the Texas brand and our local economies, and I thank the Texas Music Office for helping communities large and small to amplify creative partnerships and spur new business growth.”

Currently, 30 cities across the state hold the “music friendly” title. TMO director Brendon Anthony, Class of 1999, led the workshop and said Bryan — and the Stafford stage itself — have been instrumental in his musical career.

“I started playing violin at a very young age and decided that the classical violin route wasn’t going to be for me,” Anthony said. “I wasn’t going to be in a symphony because certainly no one would want to hear that. I got fascinated with country and rock. When I was able to go out on my own in high school a little bit, a guy named Jack Ingram came to play the Stafford … he pulled me up on the corner of the stage and asked me to start playing, and we played a few songs that sent me down this dark road I’ve been on for over 25 years now.”

Anthony said this workshop is not just another meeting in a series of commitments, but rather a homecoming to the Bryan-College Station community.

“When I was in high school, [my band] played [at the] Texas Hall of Fame, Hurricane Harry’s, The Tap, The Stafford and any other place that wouldn’t throw us out,” Anthony said. “As we got bigger, we played Wolf Penn [Amphitheater] and different arenas, but coming up, I see these places in my head. When I talk about what it means to come up playing in Texas, these are the stages I see in my

head when I’m envisioning going to work for them.”

For local organizations like AdventGX and Destination Bryan, this opportunity to bring attention and business to the area has been in the works for almost two years. Alyson Mullins, AdventGX’s community development liaison and event manager, said the initiative has been well-received and supported.

“This was an issue we wanted to work on pre-COVID[-19], and as we know, COVID[-19] happened, and things got delayed,” Mullins said. “We met back with [Anthony] back in April to restart the process and speak to him about what we need to do to get into this and bring everybody together.

That’s what started the conversation, and we had so many people who wanted to be on the advisory board, and great contacts.”

To complete the process, the city of Bryan is anticipated to host the workshop, create an official structure within the city government for music, register local musicians to the Texas state musician database, collaborate with music education programs, work with local music nonprofits and form an advisory board composed of local music industry stakeholders.

With the workshop complete and an advisory board formed, Bryan is already on its way to creating support structures for musicians.

Through the TMO, Anthony and his

co-workers hope music promotion will become an important part of state industry, and said college students will be critical in leading the economic and cultural growth.

“I’ve done a tremendous amount of work with my office, talking to people who run programs at colleges and universities across the state, and truly, if we’re going to build a workforce around this industry, [higher education is] where it’s gonna start,” Anthony said. “If those people have the idea that they can come out of college and work in an industry that’s being built up in a more robust way, and maybe even do it in the community where he or she is graduating, that would be a fantastic asset.”

When asked for his advice for college students looking into the music industry, Anthony said it’s critical his fellow Aggies continue to ask questions about their desired field and be ready to learn as they go.

“If I could go back and talk to myself in 1996 when I started playing in bands, I would tell myself to get more educated about what the entire industry is, what the different parts are and what they do and why they’re all important,” Anthony said. “Simply [ask] questions and [try] to educate yourself in the same way you would if you were trying to become a doctor or a lawyer or engineer. Get educated about the career you’re wanting to go into.”

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The Battalion | 10.21.21

HEALTH SCIENCE CONTINUED

Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

The Student Health Services offers the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by appointment for free at multiple locations on campus.

FOOD INSECURITY CONTINUED “The best way, in my opinion, to end food insecurity [is] getting rid of the stigma that’s behind [getting help],” Welch said. “Trying to go out there and get help is always the first step. If people don’t use our services to help themselves, then there’s not really anything that we can do for them.”

With 12th Can’s “Swipe Out Hunger” program, students have the opportunity to donate up to four meal swipes to fellow Aggies who may be struggling toward the end of the semester.

“Before I went to 12th Can, I was extremely privileged, and I didn’t have to think about where my next meal was coming from,” Welch said. “Now that I have had more experience working in the 12th Can, I realize that there are a lot of students on campus who

are struggling that day between [buying] textbooks or eating for the next week.”

In an effort to eliminate grocery gaps and food deserts, State Rep. Shawn Thierry, who represents part of Harris County, developed House Bill 209 in previous legislative sessions.

Thierry said the goal of the bill is to incentivize businesses to build in communities that do not have enough grocery stores. She said she believes the bill is one of few that targets food insecurity, an issue that was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Food banks across the state were overstressed and taxed,” Thierry said. “They could not provide food fast enough for the demand. People were out of work, and unemployment takes a toll on that. There’s many pieces to this. Anytime you have legislation that seeks to raise the minimum wage, or provide economic development opportunities in

wellness and mental health and wellness,” Dr. Sam Hogue of A&M Health and Family Care said. “So we put them together in a building where we could have team-based care, for caring for patients in the Brazos Valley, leveraging the expertise of our [Health] Science Center, pharmacy, medicine, nursing, public health, etc. all under one roof.”

Dr. Carly McCord, director of Telebehavioral Health at A&M’s College of Medicine, said Texas has one of the highest proportions of counties with mental health professional shortages. One of the motives for opening this health establishment is to equip medical students and future providers with either specialization or a broader expertise in order to accommodate the shortage, as well as equip them for any medical need.

“Texas A&M brings expertise, research, teaching and service delivery, and we put all of those together to provide the best care for our community,” McCord said. “At the same time, the training and education piece of the university is really important — equipping the next generation of health professionals to work together on physical and mental health.”

McCord said in addition to the ability for individuals to receive help for multiple services in one place, one of the best parts of the new Health Hub is the capability for patients to more easily connect with psychiatrists in the community.

“A big piece of what makes it so

neighborhoods, all of these things make a difference. They increase the opportunity for people to earn a decent livable wage, which is also a factor of food security.”

According to a study by The Food Trust, Texas has the largest “grocery gap” — an area with no access to supermarkets — in the nation. The study found an additional 185 supermarkets could be supported by the Harris County area alone, and up to 589 more grocery stores across the entire state.

“Many times, these grocery stores are built in higher-income communities, where they’re more Anglo; they’re not seeking to build in communities of color,” Thierry said.

“There’s a racial disparity aspect to this food insecurity and food desert issue.”

After failing to get it on past session calendars, Thierry said she plans to file the bill again in hopes of getting it approved. She encour-

unique is the psychiatry piece,” McCord said. “Generally, psychiatrists are working independently in this community, and so being a part of a larger healthcare system and team is part of what makes that unique.”

Executive Director of the Office of Clinical Initiatives Les Jebson said the first two floors of the Hub are primary care, which involves a 30-resident, fullscope family medicine training program. They also have funding for best practices in maternal health and education. This center could be compared to the different urgent cares located in the area; however, the difference is the combined aspect of multiple services in one place for underserved populations.

“Our mission is to serve the state of Texas, with concentration on rural and the underserved, so we try to graduate residents that will go into underserved rural areas across the nation, and we’ve been successful at that,” Jebson said.

McCord said the Health Science Center has given way to a new kind of health operation for the Bryan-College Station community to utilize.

“We want to provide high-quality, evidence-based services, physical and mental health and beyond for the whole person, accessible to everyone in the Brazos Valley,” McCord said.

“And on the training front to have an equipped generation of health professionals ready to work and serve in other underserved areas and to collaborate across disciplines, and to conduct cutting edge research that’s going to further patient care for decades to come.”

ages college students to collaborate with the food banks in their area and use the power of social media to spread awareness.

“We know that social media has a huge impact on policy and issues,” Theirry said.

“People in college should speak about these issues on their social media platforms to raise awareness. All of that helps me in the Texas Legislature because I am trying to raise awareness of this issue to my colleagues — if [they] would help amplify the issue and amplify [their] voices.”

Avila said she believes to end food insecurity, it’s important to look at the cause and provide others with the resources they need.

“We say in the food banking industry that we’re trying to put ourselves out of business,” Avila said. “We would love for that to happen. It’s not going to happen just with passing out food; it’s going to take more than that.”

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The Battalion |10.21.21

Transgender athletes may soon face new restrictions

Creative Commons

The Texas State Legislature passed House Bill 25, authored by Rep. Valoree Swanson, will restrict the rights of transgender high school students participating in UIL athletic competitions.

Texas high school athletes expected to perform with sex assigned at birth

By Kyle McClenagan @KMcclenagan Sports may soon look a little different for transgender athletes.

After passing through the Texas House and Senate last week, House Bill 25 will soon reach Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

On Sunday, Oct. 17, the Texas House of Representatives accepted the Senate’s final amendments on the bill in a 76-61 vote. If signed, the bill will only allow transgender althletes to compete in sports under the sex which appears on their birth certificate.

The bill claims to support gender equality in sports by protecting female athletes from what the author claims is unfair competition.

“The purpose of this act is to further the governmental interest of ensuring that sufficient interscholastic athletic opportunities remain available for girls to remedy past dis-

BUDS PLANT CO. CONTINUED budget we’re given for experience, it wouldn’t have been feasible to produce the product that we initially had in mind. We were sitting on the couch and talking about how stressed we were, because we didn’t have a good idea.”

Since the group was brainstorming product ideas around the time of the Olympics, Boyles said headlines about gold medalist Simone Biles were all over the TV and drew their focus toward promoting mental health.

“It just kind of all came together at once without us expecting it — kits that were centered around mental health awareness,” Boyles said. “It was pretty easy for everyone to agree that this would be a good product to sell, so we decided to run with the idea to do some more research on it. At the end of the semester, we presented it to one of our profes-

crimination on the basis of sex,” the bill states.

The author of the bill, Rep. Valoree Swanson, said during house debates that the University Interscholastic League, or UIL, has been asking for guidance on the issue from the state government.

“All this bill does is codify what UIL is already doing,” Swanson said.

With the bill working to force transgender students to compete with those of a gender with which they do not identify, Swanson said the mental health of young cisgender female althletes is at stake.

“I am very concerned also about the mental health of our girls,” Swanson said. “Who are unfairly and will be unfairly … made to compete against biological males in many sports that endangers their safety.”

Psychological and brain sciences professor Mindy Bergman said the bill could lead to further marginalization of students who are already at a higher risk for suicide.

“If the whole state is telling you [that] you shouldn’t be here, why would you stay,” Bergman said. “And so that’s where the sui-

cidal risk comes from, and I just can’t imagine that’s what anyone wants for our children.”

In response to similar criticism on the house floor, Swanson said she values all life.

“Every sucide is tragic,” Swanson said. “I firmly believe that every single person here and every single person in Texas is created by God, they’re very special … every single life is important.”

Health and kinesiology professor George Cunningham said research has shown for the majority of people, gender does not play a major role in sports.

“There’s been a lot of research in this area and the systematic reviews of that show that there are no differences in athletic performance,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham said legislation similar to House Bill 25 often try to solve a problem which doesn’t exist.

“If you say that somebody needs to protect it, it means they’re really not as good as somebody else or that they’re systematically disadvantaged, and that’s just simply not the case if we think about athletics and athletic

performance,” Cunningham said.

These bills also oppose the more inclusive regulations set by higher levels of athleticism, including the International Olympic Committee, or IOC, and NCAA, visualization senior and President of Transcend Fray Miller said.

“The NCAA and the IOC have adopted fully inclusive policies for transgender athlestes,” Miller said.

Miller agrees the bill not only hurts transgender women, but also cisgender women.

“It’s representing women in sports as being like a very narrow margin of estrogen and testosterone levels and also like a very specific body type in terms of height and muscle mass,” Miller said.

The bill affects beyond just the transgender community, Miller said.

“Supporting trans people is something that can be very cross cultural and not necessarily just for the trans community,” Miller said.

“Recognizing that these bills not only hurt trans people but also harm cis gender allies and cis gender kids specifically is very important.”

sors who was in charge of value creation. He loved the idea and we had the gist of the personalities then, and everyone just loved how it’d be a little family.”

The next step, Buds Plant Co. director of research and graduate student Lexton Garrett said, was accumulating inventory.

“We got all of our inventory and all the boxes, all of the succulents, all of the stuff that goes inside of our kits, like the stickers to personalize the succulents, the personalized name cards that give each of our kits a personality and then the stuffing that goes inside of the kit to make it look nice,” Garrett said. “We package each succulent ourselves. These succulents can act as a friend to our customers or just be something to take care of.”

Buds Plant Co. product coordinator and graduate student Sydney Kelley said the group’s main mission is to create conversation

among college students and young adults regarding mental health.

“A struggle with mental health is something that is extremely prevalent in our society,” Kelley said. “We’re all coming out of a really difficult, unprecedented time in history. Whether it’s in your personal life or it’s at work or at school, everyone has had some type of negative impacts by COVID-19.”

When they were looking to launch the company, Kelley said the group came to the conclusion that though succulents are fun, the real focus would be on mental health and “fighting the stigma” by advocating for college students.

“We’re in the perfect place to target that demographic,” Kelley said. “We’re also wanting to provide them with that feeling of community and that they aren’t alone in their struggle with their mental health. Not

everyone has a good relationship with it, and it comes in different shapes and sizes, but we want people to know that we can empathize with them and that we’re here for them.”

Going forward, Kelley said the business will end in December so the students can continue with their program.

“That’s just our due diligence to ourselves,” Kelley said. “It’s been really interesting and fun and definitely a challenge to run a startup business, but at the end of the day, we want the mission and goal of this business to continue. We want to leave some type of footprint at A&M where maybe we inspire some other students and they’re able to adapt the mission of the business to fit their own idea, instilling some type of change and having a positive impact.”

LET’S BE FRIENDS Myranda Campanella, Editor-in-Chief Julia Potts, Managing Editor Shelby McVey, Audience Engagement Abbey Santoro, Photo Chief Robert O’Brien, Asst. Photo Chief Aubrey Vogel, News Editor Nathan Varnell, Asst. News Editor Casey Stavenhagen, Sports Editor Jennifer Streeter, Sports Editor Ryan Faulkner, Asst. Sports Editor

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LIFE&ARTS

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The Battalion | 10.21.21

Ronin Farm & Restaurant hungry to serve Brazos Valley

FILE

Food served at Ronin Restaurant travels just seven miles between harvest at local farm and service to customers.

Aggies bring fresh, farm-to-table flavor to Downtown Bryan patrons

By Ryan Faulkner @ryanfaulk03 Even on a small, family-owned farm, work begins before daybreak.

Spanning 15 acres, the land is carved by hills and trenches, all dug without equipment or machinery. Rows of color paint the land, courtesy of all types of fruits and vegetables grown throughout the year — reds of peppers and tomatoes, greens of basil and kale, purples of beets and potatoes.

Nearby, a cacophony fills the air. A confusion of guinea fowl chatters, spurred on by the dogs which run and play freely. From their pen, chickens cluck, interrupted by an occasional rooster crow. Pigs squeal as the morning excitement rises.

Fueled by the sights and sounds of their workspace, farmhands tirelessly plant, cultivate and harvest, determined to reap produce

of the highest quality. From the farm, the food makes its way to Downtown Bryan, ready to find its way onto a serving plate.

The fruits and vegetables don’t have far to go, however. The farm, though functioning as a miniature, self-sustaining oasis, is actually part of the Brazos Valley community. And it’s all part of the work done by Bryan’s very own Ronin Farm & Restaurant.

Ronin owner and operations manager Amanda Light, Class of 2018, and her husband Brian set out years ago with a dream: “to preserve the gastronomic and cultural traditions of Texas by sharing sustainable foods and genuine experiences with our community,” according to Ronin’s website. The pair started a catering business, then soon converted an old barn into a kitchen to help with food production, and after being approached by a landlord suggesting the Lights serve from a brick-andmortar establishment, Ronin was born.

“It kind of serendipitously happened. It wasn’t really planned. It just organically grew into what it is today,” Light said. “Two years of planning and 11 months of construction

later, we opened, and we’ve been full speed ahead ever since.”

The restaurant gained popularity through its special attention paid to the food selection itself. The menu rotates changes to accommodate for what ingredients are freshest and of the highest quality on any particular day.

Ranging from “bar bites” of grilled elotes to “hearty fares” featuring picadillo tacos, the kitchen — led by Brian as executive chef — always serves something for everyone, Light said.

Part of the restaurant’s success comes from its proximity “to the sources,” horticulture senior and Ronin farm operations worker Lilly Bomberg said. With the produce grown on the farm just seven miles away, Ronin’s biggest strength is its involvement in every step of the farm-to-table process, she said.

“Absolutely everything about why I like my job is reflected in the way they cook the food at the restaurant,” Bomberg said. “I like this style of farming because I like that kind of food: high-quality, good for you and good for the planet. It’s definitely really nice to see

our produce prepared so beautifully and so deliciously.”

A Ronin bartender of two years, plant and soil science senior EJ De La Garza said the way in which the restaurant stores and prepares food further contributes to the “unique flavors” seen in the restaurant.

“I don’t think people realize how fresh it is,” De La Garza said. “We don’t even have a freezer in the restaurant. That’s really rare for a restaurant nowadays.”

In addition to its commitment to growing, harvesting and serving of food of the highest quality, Ronin also places emphasis on another value close to the Lights’ heart: family. As a Texas A&M graduate, Light said she knows the importance of community and the love that develops as a result. Not only did Light’s two children “grow up in the restaurant,” but the employees also think of themselves as a family, Light said.

This led to the creation of “family meal,” a nightly tradition in which all employees eat dinner together and prepare for the evening before opening to customers. Bomberg said this makes Ronin a special place among restaurants.

“My favorite part about Ronin is the people I work with,” Bomberg said. “It’s truly like a family company in every way. I feel very lucky to work with such wonderful people.”

De La Garza said this specified scope in priorities ensures Ronin stays involved in the community in which it serves. In this way, all customers who eat at Ronin are supporting the Brazos Valley and ensuring local businesses are well-taken care of.

“In every aspect, this business is local and family-owned,” De La Garza said. “And when I say local, it’s not only supporting a small family restaurant. It’s also supporting the ranchers where we get our meat; the farmers where we get our produce; small wineries, breweries and coffee shops. You’re supporting more than just us.”

As part of its commitment to the Bryan-College Station “family,” Ronin acts as more than just a farm and restaurant. The business caters and hosts events, including weddings, graduation celebrations and trivia nights, among other affairs.

Hungry to continue pursuing her passion of serving others, Light said Ronin offers something that can’t be found anywhere else in the community.

“Because everything comes from a place where we have a hand in it, all of our food has a story,” Light said. “It’s pretty unique in that aspect. It’s food with soul.”

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OPINION

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The Battalion | 10.21.21

OPINION Pilar Ibarra — THE BATTALION

Excused absences for family emergencies only apply to immediate relationships, causing inadequate accomodations for students.

When Aggies are not family Opinion writer Kaelin Connor argues A&M’s Student Rule 7.2.2.2 needs revision Kaelin Connor @KaelinAC

T

he Aggie Spirit is found in many places here at Texas A&M. It’s a sense of pride for our school’s traditions and values. It is found in the students’ and alumni’s loyalty to our school. It is found in our behavior and treatment of others. It is found in every “Whoop” and “Howdy.”

It’s not found in Student Rule 7.2.2.2.

For reference, I’m talking about the excused absence rule for emergencies within a student’s immediate family.

The rule states, “Immediate family may include: parents, siblings, grandparents, spouse, child, spouse’s child, spouse’s parents, spouse’s grandparents, step-parents, step-siblings, step-grandparents,

grandchild, step-grandchild, legal guardian and others as deemed appropriate by a faculty member or student’s academic dean or designee.”

Death is a terrible thing. It’s something always expected but never anticipated. However, with death should come sympathy, especially from professors. Fortunately, I have never experienced anything but. Others, though, have experienced the opposite when it comes to death and tragedy.

Recently, a member of my college household experienced death in her family. It was an appalling thing to watch unfold, and it came with missing classes.

Most of my professors were incredibly understanding and helpful. One professor even told me, “Go do what you need to do.”

College is hard. That’s a given. It’s one of the most academically challenging

parts of a person’s life. It takes a mental, physical and spiritual toll on the entire body. When a student is met with a major life event, such as a death, the school shouldn’t add to their grief.

My roommate, elementary education senior Hannah Taylor, caught the unsympathetic end of her professors. When explaining the situation, she was met with punishment rather than understanding.

“I’m disappointed in the Aggie Family. We praise our spirit and family, but then someone so close to me doesn’t even qualify for an excused absence,” she said.

A case worker from Student Assistance Services took Hannah’s case all the way to the dean. The dean said the exact same thing; it wouldn’t be excused. In a time of pain and sadness, Hannah would also be penalized for missing a class.

It’s a no-brainer that students lie and professors distrust students. I can’t even begin to imagine the tales professors have received in their inboxes and offices. However, when a student comes to a professor explaining a terribly awful situation, they shouldn’t be met with more anxiety. At the end of the day, students are paying for their education and are responsible for that education. If they decide to lie and miss class, that’s their moral bargain with themselves.

What’s interesting is, if Hannah would have lied — say she faked a symptom at the doctor — then she would’ve been excused. Rule 7.2.2.1 says a “personal injury or illness that is too severe or contagious for the student to attend class” counts as an excused absence. All a student needs to do is provide documentation.

It doesn’t make sense that students need to lie for one thing to be covered for another. For a school that harps on mental health, the university isn’t very considerate of it. Perhaps A&M could take a rule out of its own book and read their own grief guidelines. Students are impacted not only by their immediate family but also their Aggie Family. In the student rules handbook, Aggie Family doesn’t really mean much of anything.

But how do you separate the genuine students from the ethical ones? You don’t. If a student is struggling enough to lie for an excuse, then maybe they really needed a day off. If a student has documentation for their excuse, even better. Professors shouldn’t immediately disregard their students’ struggles. Sure, there will be the students who take advantage of missing class, but professors should offer a benefit-of-the-doubt mentality. Who knows what their students are actually enduring.

In line with the already-set rules, there should be an addition. Students who endure tragedy within their friend groups should be excused to attend funerals or visit hospitals. The university can require documentation if need be, but students shouldn’t be punished for missing a class.

I’m not suggesting professors should let their students run their classroom, but they should consider the bigger picture.

Death and sickness impact those who aren’t immediate family. Friendship and relationships should also warrant an excused absence if needed.

If we aren’t able to see that, then maybe we’re not a family at all.

Kaelin Connor is a psychology senior and opinion writer for The Battalion.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2021 STUDENT MEDIA

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A&M coaching lacks diversity

Abbey Santoro — THE BATTALION

Despite claims of increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in A&M athletics, all three head coaches hired in the last four months are white men.

A&M Athletics’ all-white head coaching demographic lacks representation of athletes despite inclusive messaging

By Ryan Faulkner @RyanFaulk03

W

ithin the realm of college athletics, Texas A&M is held back by its failures in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. As of presstime, A&M endorses 16 NCAA Division I athletic teams. Of those, all are led

by a white head coach. No person of color has served in such a role since Kevin Sumlin left A&M in 2017, reviving a period of marked racial inequality in the 12th Man Athletics program. To compound the issue, only three of the current head coaches identify as women — equestrian’s Tana McKay, softball’s Jo Evans and volleyball’s Laura “Bird” Kuhn — even though 10 different teams include women athletes, and eight teams’ rosters are entirely women.

This widening rift has caught the attention of others outside the maroon and white’s sports teams, including John Singer, Ph.D., an associate professor of sport management at A&M studying diversity in athletics. Having first become fascinated with race and its relationship to collegiate sports while studying as

a graduate student at a predominantly white university, Singer said A&M’s lack of diversity in coaching positions is reflective of a nationwide trend.

“We can’t have this conversation without understanding the nuance,” Singer said.

“There’s factors at the more broad, systemic level, the organizational level and the individual level.”

According to The Washington Post, Black students alone make up over 60 percent of all collegiate football and basketball rosters across the nation. Hispanic and Latinx students make up another 12 percent of athletes across all sports.

Competing on A&M’s nationally acclaimed soccer team as a “proud Black woman,” senior defender Karlina Sample said she experiences

firsthand the influence non-white athletes can hold within a championship-contending program. This is why including diversity within a team’s coaching staff should be an emphasis, she said.

“A lot of the athletes are people of color, so they need to be represented,” Sample said.

Singer added that athletic staffs should be held accountable for making hiring decisions which fail to reflect similar backgrounds of the athletes themselves.

“When you look at some sports, we see a high representation of racial minority students,” Singer said. “There’s really no excuse not to make [hiring coaches of color] a priority.”

A&M’s Department of Athletics estabDEI ON PG. B4

Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

Reveille X handler Lucas Scroggins accompanies the First Lady of Aggieland as she leads A&M football team onto Kyle Field at all home games.

Photos by Robert O’Brien and Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION

Running backs junior Isaiah Spiller and sophomore Devon Achane are both on pace to 1,000-yard rushing seasons before SEC play concludes.

Aggies look to fry Gamecocks Achane, Spiller dynamic duo for 3rd straight SEC victory Maroon and white ground game A&M dreams of staying unbeaten against unranked South Carolina

By Michael Horton @mhhort After a successful trip to Columbia, Mo., the Aggies are looking to continue their dominance over a familiar foe: the South Carolina Gamecocks.

The Aggies have a short but commanding history with the Gamecocks. Ahead of the teams’ first encounter in 2014, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry met with South Carolina’s governor at the time, Nikki Haley, to create the John Bonham trophy for the A&MSouth Carolina rivalry. The trophy was intended to honor Bonham, a native South Carolinian who lost his life during the Battle of the Alamo.

Since 2014, the programs have crossed paths annually. In those seven meetings, the maroon and white holds a 7-0 record and 17-point average margin of victory. The Aggies won a 48-3 blowout in Columbia, S.C., during their most recent encounter in 2020.

Texas A&M enters the weekend with a 5-2 overall record and a 2-2 record in SEC play.

The Aggies return to College Station fresh off a road test against Missouri. The result was never in doubt, as the Aggies jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and eventually flew home with a 35-14 victory over the Tigers.

One of the most notable storylines in College Station over the past two weeks has been the team’s improved passing game.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada has shown statistical improvement in his past two games, which has been vital for the team’s success. After throwing four touchdown passes through his first three Saturdays, Calzada has thrown five in his last two starts.

Junior wide receiver Ainias Smith has been Calzada’s favorite target this season, leading the way with 29 receptions, 319 receiving yards and six touchdowns — all team-highs among pass catchers.

Smith said he attributes Calzada’s improved play to the Georgia native becoming more relaxed and comfortable with his GAME PREVIEW ON PG. B3

supported on two rushing fronts

By Jennifer Streeter @jennystreeter3

When most people hear the term “two-headed monster,” they likely think of a fire-breathing dragon with dual skulls.

If they’re Aggies, odds are they’re thinking of something else. And, odds are, that “thing” is Texas A&M’s running back duo of sophomore Devon Achane and junior Isaiah Spiller. Alone, Achane and Spiller already serve as critical threats to opposing teams’ defenses.

Together, they are unstoppable.

A&M head football coach Jimbo Fisher said in the Southeastern Conference, having two running backs getting a multitude of carries is incredibly vital.

“Listen, [one player] can’t go play every play at running back,” Fisher said. “In this league, they used to hand it to [a single running back] 25, 35, 40 times a game. It’s just different now. You’ve got to have diversity … to be able to keep that balance and to go for a 12-game schedule, they’re vital.”

On Tuesday, Oct. 19, both Spiller and

Achane earned honorable mention accolades from the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award following A&M’s 35-14 win over Missouri on Oct. 16. At Memorial Stadium, the two-headed monster combined for 292 yards across 36 carries.

The pair’s monstrous number of rushing yards is even more impressive when compared to that of the Tigers. Mizzou senior running back Tyler Badie only managed to record 68 yards against the Aggies, exactly 100 yards fewer than Spiller.

Spiller and Achane’s performances on the field aren’t anything special to them — it’s simply the expectations they set for themselves, Spiller said.

“It’s just our job, doing our job every day, me and [Achane],” Spiller said. “I’m happy to see him get his over 100 [yards], so [I] can’t wait for next week.”

While Spiller and Achane are simply “doing their jobs,” Fisher said what they bring to the playing field is special because of their altruism. “[Spiller] and Achane are going to touch the ball plenty, I promise you, because they can catch it,” Fisher said. “They can run it.

I’m going to tell you what — they’re both TWO-HEADED ON PG. B3

SPORTS

AROUND THE SEC

By Kay Naegeli

Due to a lack of matchups between ranked opponents and mid-season byes, Week 8 will not be as eventful as a normal week of SEC play.

Tennessee (4-3) at No. 4 Alabama (6-1) Saturday, Oct. 23 - Bryant Denny Stadium - Tuscaloosa, Ala. 6 p.m. on ESPN Even though Texas A&M conquered the impossible and handed Alabama its only loss, not much is going to get in the way of Nick Saban’s team from here on out.

Coming off an impressive 49-9 win over Mississippi State, the Crimson Tide is using its loss to A&M as fuel to tower over their remaining opponents. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Young leads the Alabama offense, accumulating over 2,000 total yards, while junior linebacker Henry To’oto’o’s 54 season tackles have assisted in Alabama’s

defensive success. After a 31-26 loss at home and a $250,000 fine, Tennessee will head to Tuscaloosa seeking a turning point in its season. Tennessee’s offense averages 473 yards per game, but starting senior quarterback Hendon Hooker is questionable to play in the upcoming matchup due to a leg injury. A loss of Hooker at the quarterback position would force Tennessee’s defense to step up, make stops and create turnovers — all of which are necessary for the Volunteers to have a shot against the Crimson Tide.

Prediction: Alabama 41, Tennessee 10

Mississippi State (3-3) at Vanderbilt (2-5)

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A LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE FOR WEEK 8 @KayNaegeli

B2

The Battalion | 10.21.21

With Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Kentucky and Missouri all having a week off, the SEC presents matchups which look to be easy wins for the favorites of each game.

LSU (4-3) at No. 12 Ole Miss (5-1) Saturday, Oct. 23 - Vaught-Hemingway Stadium - Oxford, Miss.

3:30 p.m. on CBS After exciting Week 7 wins for the Tigers and Rebels, both teams are looking to continue the momentum with another victory. LSU’s 49-42 upset over then-No. 20 Florida proved the Tigers have what it takes to take down a ranked opponent, even with a significant amount of starters sidelined due to injuries.

Sophomore wide receiver Kayshon Boutte greatly contributes to LSU’s passing offense and is tied for second in receiving touchdowns, with nine accumulated this year. Although head coach Ed Orgeron and LSU will part ways at the end of the

season, he still has expectations to uphold his reputation and finishing strong at LSU. Just beginning his head coaching journey at Ole Miss is Lane Kiffin, who has led the Rebels to a 5-1 season thus far. Kiffin is transforming the program into an offensive powerhouse, averaging 553 yards a game.

One part of the game Ole Miss has recently struggled with is giving up 436 yards on average defensively. LSU’s passing offense may take it upon itself to exploit this Rebel weakness.

Prediction: Ole Miss 38, LSU 28

SEC football has had its fair share of upsets, shutouts and confusion, but one team that has especially ridden the roller coaster is Mississippi State. After a loss to unranked LSU and a win over then-No. 17 A&M, the Bulldogs were pounded into the ground

by Alabama last week, who quickly shut down their Air Raid style offense and left them confused on the direction of their season. Sophomore quarterback Will Rogers

has let the ball fly, with six receivers sitting at over 200 yards, and Vanderbilt, with the worst passing defense in the SEC, does not appear as though it will be stopping it this week. On the other hand, Miss. St.’s defense could have a field day facing Vanderbilt sophomore quarterback Ken Seals, who has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns this season.

Prediction: Mississippi State 24, Vanderbilt 10

Saturday, Oct. 23 - Vanderbilt Stadium - Nashville, Tenn.

4 p.m. on SEC Network

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SPORTS

B3

The Battalion |10.21.21

Robert O’Brien — THE BATTALION

In contrast to South Carolina’s running game, averaging under 4 yards per carry, A&M’s running back dynamic duo has scored at least one rushing touchdown in all but one SEC matchup.

TWO-HEADED CONTINUED selfless.”

In the 2021 Orange Bowl, Spiller hit the 1,000 season rushing-yard mark while playing on a fractured toe. After hitting this mark, Spiller sat out the remainder of the bowl game, with Achane taking his place. The then-freshman did not disappoint, recording 140 rushing yards and two touchdowns before being named the MVP of the contest.

But what was special about Spiller and Achane at the Orange Bowl was their dynamic, Fisher said. As seen on the sidelines, Spiller was the first one over to Achane on the

GAME PREVIEW CONTINUED place in the offense.

“Zach has definitely gained a lot of confidence,” Smith said. “He is not trying to do everything for everyone else. He believes in his teammates and he is standing in the pocket and delivering. [Zach] has shown great progression and has come a long way.”

The Aggies have matched their success through the air with success in the trenches.

The running back duo of junior Isaiah Spiller and sophomore Devon Achane had its most productive outing of the season against Missouri, combining for 300 rushing yards and three touchdown runs.

sidelines following a big play or touchdown. “[Spiller’s] leadership, he’s really emerged into a leader and how he practices and affects guys in a great way, not just his performance,” Fisher said. “It’s amazing. You know why he did it so well? He did it all camp. He’s been amazing in camp, as good as anybody we’ve got on our team this whole camp. Spiller’s been awesome.”

If the monster were to have a third head, it would belong to junior wide receiver Ainias Smith. On the season, the player, who formerly doubled as a running back, has 319 receiving yards and six touchdowns on the

season as of presstime.

Smith said the versatility both Spiller and Achane possess makes them an even bigger threat. “[The duo of Spiller and Achane] plays a big role in the offense,” Smith said. “They are both great players, and they can do a lot of great things with the ball in their hands. And they can both do something whether it’s in the receiving game or in the rushing game.

It’s just great to have them both.”

In the seven games played so far, Spiller has rushed for 659 yards and four touchdowns, while Achane currently holds 453 rushing

yards and four rushing touchdowns.

With a 12-game schedule and five games remaining, Achane and Spiller are both onpace to hit the 1,000-yard mark before postseason play begins.

Spiller said the duo of himself and Achane isn’t the only monster opposing teams have to worry about.

“We’re going to be a very explosive offense,” Spiller said. “We can do it all. We’ve got tight ends. We’ve got multiple running backs, multiple receivers that can run down the field, run past you, catch the ball.”

The maroon and white has also been disruptive on the defensive side of the ball, forcing a total of 21.0 sacks in its first six contests, tied for 19th in the nation and second in the SEC. Junior edge rusher DeMarvin Leal has led the way with 5.5 sacks, with senior defensive linemen Tyree Johnson and Michael Clemons also standing out, claiming 4.0 and 3.5 sacks, respectively.

Leal said the players’ progression through the season started with the habits they built during the spring and summer.

“We’re just applying what we worked on all through the offseason,” Leal said. “It’s all about countering back to the quarterback’s

Senior wide receiver Josh Vann has carried the visiting team’s receiving game with a team-leading 399 yards and two scores. The Gamecocks have found limited success on the ground, averaging under 4 yards per carry and totalling just three touchdown runs as a team this season.

Defensively, the Gamecocks have been ballhawks, leading the SEC with 10 intercepted passes. Senior defensive back Jaylan Foster has been the team’s leading disruptor, accumulating four picks and two forced fumbles this season. The squad has also shown an ability to create pressure on the opposing quarterback, registering 18 sacks. Senior defensive end Kingsley Enagbare has been the squad’s leader, with 4.5 sacks.

Based on the Aggies’ history of success against the Gamecocks and the hot streak the team has been on The 2022 Japan Exchange and Teaching Program during the past two games, fans have labeled this weekend’s game as a “trap game,” or a game in which the favored team could find itself underprepared.

Get paid to teach English Texas A&M head coach or work for a local government in Japan!

Jimbo Fisher said speculaJapanese ability appreciated but not required! tors should assume the A&M squad will be prepared for the weekend, because the team has made an effort to not let an opponent impact how they prepare.

Applications available at: “All games are trap games,” Fisher said. “You’ve got to understand the imporhttp://jetprogramusa.org/ tance; it doesn’t matter who you play. That’s when you Application deadline:Nov. 12 2021 start to become a program that doesn’t have practices that reflect who you play, but instead affect how you play.”

Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23, at For more information, contact the Kyle Field.

Consulate-General of Japan in Houston level, and then it’s just getting after it.”

South Carolina will come to Kyle Field with a 4-3 record and a 1-3 resume in the SEC. After allowing 101 total points in their first three conference losses, the Gamecocks stopped the bleeding with a 21-20 victory over SEC East rival Vanderbilt.

South Carolina sophomore quarterback Luke Doty has been inconsistent during the 2021 campaign, tossing five touchdowns and three interceptions in his five starts. In his most recent performance against Vanderbilt, the signal caller finished with a season-high two touchdowns and quarterback rating of 147.9.

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SPORTS

B4

The Battalion | 10.21.21

Abbey Santoro — The Battalion

Texas A&M soccer’s senior defender Karlina Sample helped found The B.L.U.E.print organization and currently serves as its president. Athletes from all other sports join her in the initiative.

DEI CONTINUED lished a Diversity and Inclusion program to help bridge the gap between 12th Man Athletics and the needs of athletes of color. According to its website, the project was created to “provide a safe, healthy, equitable, respectful, inclusive and supportive environment” which allows all athletes to “thrive.”

This included the creation of The Aggie Commitment initiative, The B.L.U.E.print program and the Unified Voices platform.

As both the deputy athletics director and chief diversity officer for 12th Man, Kristen Brown played a critical role in the implementation of these steps toward progress. Because she has 18 years of experience working as a Black woman in the sports industry, Brown — the athletic department’s highest-ranking woman administrator — said she has pushed the department to prioritize DEI policies on a daily basis.

“Our goal is to develop and implement plans and strategies to increase equity and maintain an environment of inclusiveness,” Brown said. “Then through that, we focus on unity, education and engagement.”

To some, however, these steps by the school administration are not enough. Sample, president of The B.L.U.E.print, or Black Leaders who Undertake Excellence, organization, said she felt a calling as a leader to push for representation and change not supplied by the university.

This does not focus only on athletics, Sam-

ple said, instead emphasizing the importance of growth in all aspects of an athlete’s life.

“We remind athletes that they’re so much more than just an athlete for the sport they play. They have so much more substance,” Sample said. “[The organization] tries to elevate student athletes and lift them up in terms of academics, careers and other resources outside of sports. It represents growing as a person and as an individual.”

Brown said the work of young adults like Sample on campus have helped advance A&M toward progress in areas in which even the Diversity and Inclusion program has fallen short. “[The B.L.U.E.print] has been an incredible organization where we’ve had so many student athletes who have stepped up in leadership roles, not just within their teams, but across the entire department,” Brown said.

But this fight for representation is not a war the athletes should wage on their own, Singer said. When it comes to keeping people of color out of head coaching positions, Singer said a variety of factors often worsen the situation: implicit and explicit biases, a supposed lack of hiring candidates or a lack of thoroughness and intentionality when hiring.

However, none of these reasons are valid excuses to pardon the lack of diversity among A&M’s head coaches, Singer said.

“If [hiring managers] have the will, skill and knowledge to get athletes of color here, then they should have the will, skill and knowledge to recruit coaches who reflect that,” Singer said. “People have a certain bias toward peo-

ple who look like them, think like them and have similar experiences. So, if an athletic director or hiring manager lacks those experiences, it can be subconsciously reflected in a coaching staff.”

Brown said the athletics department is aware of the issue and takes full responsibility for the situation.

“That fact is not lost on administration,” Brown said. “That responsibility lies on us as athletics department leadership to make sure that we are being intentional and inclusive in our hiring practices and making sure that we are seeking out every possible candidate for these positions.”

Moving forward, A&M must choose between two paths for the future. On one hand, the university can continue to admit there is an issue without implementing any real programs which attempt to solve the problem.

Or, administrators can begin taking seriously the raised concerns of students, athletes and other faculty members to better serve a community which has more than doubled in size at A&M since 2003, Sample said.

Sample said it is her vision to see the university take the latter approach, providing more support and opportunities for advancement to other athletes of color. This is especially pronounced by the capacity in which athletes of color can and should play a role in the hiring process of a new head coach, Sample said.

“I would just encourage A&M to be more intentional about hiring more people of color,” Sample said. “I think that’s overlooked

as if it’s not a big deal. And student athletes can be used as a vessel for improvement in that area.”

In line with the dream of the 2020 SEC Co-Defender of the Year, Brown said she hopes to use her position in the department to improve the overall culture and climate at A&M. “It’s all about continuing growth and continuing to make sure that A&M is inclusive and that when you walk onto our campus — no matter if you are Black, white, Hispanic, Asian, male, female, however you identify — that you feel at home, you feel welcome and you feel comfortable being exactly who you are in the skin that you’re in,” Brown said.

So there is cause for hope at A&M, Sample said. Student-led initiatives show the commitment young Aggies hold for their university, and programs implemented by the university aim to work toward a more diverse and inclusive sphere of maroon and white athletics.

But at some point, the university must “step up” and do more than what is currently in the works, Singer said. This begins with hiring a coach of color to which athletes can look for leadership, guidance and promise of success.

“At the end of the day, you can have all the diversity programs, rhetoric or statements of commitment to diversity that you want,” Singer said. “But if you don’t have decision makers with the will and intentionality to change the demographics of a coaching staff, it’s not going to get done.”

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PLACE AN AD

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SPORTS

B5

The Battalion | 10.21.21

WEEK 8: STAFF PICKS Texas A&M vs. South Carolina Saturday, Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network

Myranda Campanella

Julia Potts

Editor-in-Chief @MCampanella_

Managing Editor @juliaapotts

ha ha chicken.

All (Game)cock no (foot)balls.

MYRANDA Ryan Faulkner

Casey Stavenhagen

JULIA CASEY

Asst. Sports Editor @ryanfaulk03

Co-Sports Editor @CStavenhagen

We’re going to have South Carolina running around like a bunch of Gamecocks with their heads cut off.

This will be a game of inches. :)

RYAN Caleb Powell

CALEB

MICHAELA

Michaela Rush

Asst. Opinion Editor @calebpowell23

Life & Arts Editor @Michaela4Batt

You are what you eat. And they’re the (Game) cocks.

CORI

Jennifer Streeter

Cori Eckert

Co-Sports Editor @jennystreeter3

Design Editor @corieckert

JENNIFER

The War Grackle eats the Gamecocks for breakfast.

Beat the hell out of the ‘cocks? Yeah we should probably stick with #bthosouthcarolina.

Our “stadium” is bigger.

CONGRATULATIONS T f h o e ff B a a t s t t e a h lion for taking hom t o t s n o i t a l u t a r g n o e C rds from the College Media Associat a w a l a n o i t a n 2 1 f o l a i on a tot and Associated College Press

Associated College Press Pacemaker Awards

Second Place Breaking News Story of the Year Brady Stone, Hannah Underwood, Meredith Seaver

Third Place Local Climate Change Reporting Staff of The Battalion, JOUR 303 Media Writing II

Second Place COVID-19 Coverage Print: News or Features Staff of The Battalion

Fifth Place Reporter of the Year Brady Stone

Fifth Place Best Ad Special Section Staff of The Battalion

Honorable Mention Sports Feature Story of the Year Hannah Underwood

College Media Association Pinnacle Awards

First Place Best Sports Section Staff of The Battalion

Second Place Best Sports Game Story Hannah Underwood

Second Place Best Sports Columnist Ozioma Mgbahurike

Second Place Best Special Section Cover Gabrielle Shreve, Cori Eckert

Third Place Best Column Sam Somogye

Honorable Mention Best Breaking News Story Julia Potts, Bec Morris

SPORTS

B6

The Battalion | 10.21.21

4 players to look for in A&M-South Carolina

By Grant Gaspard @grant_gaspard

After a huge win on the road in Missouri, No. 17 Texas A&M will travel back

home to face off against South Carolina.

Here are the five players to look for in the

upcoming SEC matchup.

Jaylan Foster - South Carolina After spending two years as a walk-on, the senior safety is now one of the most dangerous defensive backs in the league.

Jaylan Foster is tied for first in the FBS in

interceptions with four, two of which came in South Carolina’s first conference matchup against No. 1 Georgia. He also ranks third in the SEC in total tackles, recording 58 through

seven games. Expect him to be a thorn in the secondary for the Aggies.

via gamecocksonline.com

Kenyon Green - A&M For the second time this season, junior guard Kenyon Green was named SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after a monster performance against Missouri. Green transitioned to left guard after playing left tackle the week before against Alabama, with the return of fifth-year left tackle Jahmir Johnson.

The offensive line made a huge impact in both the running and passing game for the Aggies. It opened gaps for A&M’s duo running backs to fly for 292 yards total in the game. In pass protection, the line allowed redshirt sophomore quarterback Zach Calzada to throw for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 25 attempts.

A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said the offensive line has grown significantly over the past few games.

“I am very proud of our team,” Fisher said. “I thought the front guys did an excellent job, for the most part, [in] being physical.” via 12thman.com

Kai Kroeger - South Carolina Sophomore punter Kai Kroger showed his leg power in South Carolina’s Saturday, Oct. 16, win against Vanderbilt. An incomplete pass from sophomore quarterback Luke Doty to se-

nior tight end Nick Muse set up a fourth-and-9 for the Gamecocks and a career-high 70-yard punt for Kroger.

The Aggies forced six punts on 12 drives last

week against Missouri. If they maintain this defensive front, expect a field day for Kroger on multiple Gamecock fourth downs.

via gamecocksonline.com

Isaiah Spiller - A&M Junior running back Spiller had an impressive performance on the road against Missouri. He averaged 8.4 yards per carry on 20 attempts, accompanied by a 48-yard touchdown halfway through the first quarter.

Spiller currently ranks third in the SEC in running backs with 659 total rushing yards.

A&M is 4-1 in games where Spiller receives 15 or more carries. Expect the Aggies to stick to the running game as they face a defense which

has given up 151.3 rushing yards per game this season and 10 rushing touchdowns.

“The O-line did a great job [against Missouri],” Spiller said. “It was just reading it, you know, hitting it; so that’s what I did.” via 12thman.com