THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 | SERVING TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893 | © 2020 STUDENT MEDIA
MOND ON A MISSION Second in single game passing touchdowns Third in career passing touchdowns Third in career passing yards
Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION
Senior quarterback Kellen Mond is close to breaking several Texas A&M football program records.
Despite losing longtime teammate Jhamon Ausbon, senior quarterback Kellen Mond is carrying newfound confidence into 2020 season By Hannah Underwood @hannahbunderwoo
T
exas A&M’s dynamic offensive duo is no more. A&M fans have seen quarterback Kellen Mond and wide receiver Jhamon Ausbon take the field together for the past three years, but that won’t be the case this season. Mond’s relationship with Ausbon goes back to their high school days, when they were roommates at IMG Academy. They were both committed to Baylor before ultimately choosing the Aggies over the Bears. This will be the first fall since 2015 that the pair won’t see the field together as Ausbon has elected to sit out of the 2020 season to focus on the 2021 NFL draft. Though he never considered opting out of this season, Mond said he and Ausbon discussed the right path for the receiver.
“Me and him had conversations going back to probably a week before he decided to opt out, maybe even two weeks,” Mond said. “Being his roommate, best friend and everything, I always want to put his mental health first, and if he doesn’t think he can be on the field at the time, then I never want to pressure anybody to be back on the field.” Despite the history between the pair, A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said Mond has taken his friend’s decision in stride. “I’m sure inside it hurt him, and I know it did,” Fisher said. “The responsibility he has to this program and his other teammates, I think is a tribute to him about how he’s handled that situation. I’m sure inside he hates it, but it’s been the same Kellen the whole time.” Fisher said Mond’s reaction to the news is a testament to his maturity. “From the day he got here this camp, he hasn’t changed a lick,” Fisher said. “He’s been outstanding. His demeanor, his ideas with the
team, the way he’s played, his personality, his influence on guys, the way he’s pushed guys, he’s been exactly the same. When Jhamon elected to do that, what you saw was the maturity out of Kellen. You didn’t see anything different.”
“I feel really confident going into this season, and I look forward to executing in Game 1 and then moving on from there.” KELLEN MOND, A&M QUARTERBACK
This maturity isn’t something new though. “It’s not that he’s mature [now], because
he’s always been very mature, but you see him growing up, and he’s turned into a man,” Fisher said. “He’s going through reads [in practice] and doing the things he needs to, but I saw him grabbing guys on the side, other quarterbacks, and teaching them … receivers, running backs, even the linemen. … You felt his presence and leadership.” It is his experiences over the past three years that have developed that quality in him. Throughout his time at A&M, Mond has battled for and lost the starting spot, only to be thrust back into it in the first game of his college career when now-San Jose State quarterback Nick Starkel went down with a broken ankle against UCLA in the season opener of Mond’s freshman campaign. In 2018, he earned the starting role and is A&M’s first home-grown senior starting quarterback since Ryan Tannehill in 2011. Another trait that has helped Mond MOND ON PG. 3
Returning to Kyle Field Texas A&M football to kick off 2020 season against Vanderbilt after delay By Meghan Sharber @meghan_olivia02 The wait has officially come to an end as Texas A&M football prepares to open the 2020 season against Vanderbilt this Saturday. Senior linebacker Buddy Johnson said despite the uncertainties of COVID-19, the team is ready for its first game. “From the moment that we knew we were going to play or even they said that we may not, we were still preparing to play,” Johnson said. “Coach [Jimbo] Fisher would tell us to not wait to play — prepare to play. The team is fired up and ready to go.” Senior quarterback Kellen Mond said it is
important to start this year off right and adjust to Kyle Field’s reduced capacity of 25 percent. The stadium’s normal seating capacity is 102,733, but attendance during the 2020 season will be limited to approximately 25,700. “I think we are still going to have a good turnout with the 12th Man,” Mond said. “It is definitely not going to be what it would be like 100 percent obviously, but that just puts more accountability on us as players. We have to be able to create that energy on the sideline and within our place.” While five players have decided to opt out this season, Fisher said he is understanding of the decision due to the current circumstances. “All of the things that have happened out there today in recent times, there are so many different ways on how they affect young men and families,” Fisher said. “We do not know GAME PREVIEW ON PG. 3
Meredith Seaver — THE BATTALION
Kyle Field’s new capacity will be around 25,000 to accommodate the 25 percent crowd limit.
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