thebattalion Big 12 or SEC?
campus news
ExCel to engage diversity ExCEL (Excellence uniting Culture, Education, and Leadership) will hold its 24th Annual Conference on Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27. The conference is ExCEL’s highlight event of the year, and showcases organizations focused on getting underrepresented groups of people at A&M involved on campus. The goal of ExCEL is to create wellrounded and culturally aware students, and members are eligible for a $1,000 scholarship. “ExCEL is growing in both numbers and diversity in our 24th year with over 300 participants of all backgrounds,” said Jared Jones, public relations chair of ExCEL. Online registration will be open until Thursday, and the conference costs $40 to attend. To register or for more information go to excel.tamu.edu or call the office at 979-862-2642.
● wednesday,
august 24, 2011
“From a student’s perspective, I think the competition would be and the atmosphere would be .” — Aggie Angels President Jennifer Roberts
awesome amazing
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media
major upheaval
“The Big 12 went through a last year. We’ve gone through another one more recently. You can judge for yourself if that’s stability or not, but more importantly if you , and other conferences as well, you’ll find a .” — University President R. Bowen Loftin
look at the different kind
SEC of record
“I like being able to beat the hell out of T.U. ...The only thing that scares me about leaving the Big 12 is I don’t want to lose that opportunity,” — Corps of Cadets Col. Pat Reeves
Madeline Burns, staff reporter
coming monday
Bills make waves for university How will the state’s 82nd Legislative Session affect Texas A&M? Read about the budget cuts and bills that will affect our university and what our students, administrators and state legislators think about them on Monday.
no worries
“We have about things this team “It’s important that with any change we embrace doesn’t control. No time is spent talking about and and culture .” that define the Spirit of Aggieland.” — head football coach Mike Sherman — Student Body President Jeff Pickering
preserve the traditions
what-ifs
“We just got to play the people they put on our schedule. Whether it’s Oklahoma, Texas, the Big 12 schools or the SEC schools. .” — senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill
matter to us
It doesn’t
inside voices | 3a Tips on academic success Learn why you shouldn’t pull all-nighters before exams to achieve high grades.
I think it would be a great “I don’t think anybody is going “I’d like that move.” — Bryan point guard and A&M commit move for ALL sports.” to be going anywhere.”
sports | 2b Soccer freshmen stand out Meghan Streight, Allie Bailey and Kelley Monogue highlight A&M’s incoming class as the squad looks to extend its streak of 16 straight NCAA tournament appearances.
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— Reed Rowdies President Matt Ashley
EDITORIAL
news | 1b Quake shakes East US A 5.8 earthquake occurred on the East Coast that shook things up from North Carolina to Ontario, Canada. An A&M student who felt the tectonic activity in Washington, D.C., comments on his experience.
J-Mychal Reese
— Texas Gov. Rick Perry
It’s time for Texas A&M to leave
T
he Board of Regents has granted University President R. Bowen Loftin the authority to negotiate and make decisions regarding A&M’s athletic conference alignment. If the Southeastern Conference opens its doors, Loftin should carry this university through. From his office on the tenth floor of Rudder Tower, Loftin must be able to see the implications of staying in the Big 12. A&M’s exposure remains limited to a few, lightly populated states in the central U.S.; its chief rival, Texas, cements conference inequality with a 20-year, $300 million dowry from ESPN; and current and former students alike wistfully watch the SEC from afar. Some worry aloud that A&M will be unable to compete in the SEC, but as an athletic department there is little substance to support this claim. In 2010-2011, the Aggies grabbed three team NCAA championships, multiple individual titles, and made strong postseason appearances in many other sports, including a trip to the College World Series. These accomplishments culminated in the school’s second-consecutive top-ten finish in the Director’s Cup, which ranks athletic
programs based on national – not conference – performance. Although six SEC members grabbed top-25 spots in the 2011 rankings, only No. 2 Florida ranked higher than No. 8 A&M. This decision isn’t just about one sport, but everyone is concerned about football. A&M fans have little tolerance for losing seasons, but it’s entirely possible that the Aggies will have rough years (especially early) at the hands of SEC powerhouses. After all, A&M football has a mediocre .577 win percentage in the past ten years. But, as President Loftin told assembled media, this is a long-term decision. Winning or losing, it isn’t about the first three, four or five years at Kyle Field. The SEC offers stability absent from the Big 12 along with a robust CBS television contract. It also promises national exposure benefiting academic and athletic recruit-
ing. The short-term dollars and cents need to be analyzed, and the distance between A&M and many SEC members is not desirable, but there is no question as to which conference offers a better longterm outlook for A&M. Moreover, A&M has the facilities, recruiting potential and donor network to be successful in any conference, including the SEC. Success may not come easily, but it is within A&M’s capacity. As for the Big 12, this university didn’t cast the first stone (Colorado and Nebraska), nor did it subject nine of the ten remaining conference members to humiliating inequality (Texas, ESPN and the $300 million Longhorn Network). No Aggie wants to surrender meaningful rivalry games, but A&M’s hand has been forced. The Big 12 promises turbulence in coming years and if the conference crumbles after A&M’s departure, it will be ultimately attributable to the top-heavy instability inflicted by UT and poor leadership from the Big 12. In the end, the decision to leave the Big 12 is not about what is left behind, but rather the opportunities.
theBOARD The Battalion’s editorial opinion is determined by its Board of Opinion, with the editor in chief having final responsibility. Robert Carpenter Editor in Chief senior applied math major Emily Villani Managing Editor sophomore English major Jared Baxter Managing Editor senior media studies major Adrian O’Hanlon III senior ag journalism major Taylor Wolken senior economics major
8/23/11 11:40 PM
news
page 1b wednesday 8.24.2011
thebattalion
Quake shakes East Coast A&M professor advises preparation at local level Natalee Blanchat & Luis Cavazos The Battalion Millions of people on the East Coast felt the second-most powerful earthquake in Virginia’s history Tuesday. The quake, with a magnitude reported at 5.8, struck at 1:51 p.m. about 90 miles from Washington, D.C. It shook buildings from Georgia to Maine. There were no reports of deaths or serious injuries. Two aftershocks were recorded later in the afternoon with magnitudes of 2.8 and 2.2, respectively. The last quake of equal power to strike the East Coast happened in New York in 1944. A&M senior sociology major Matt Woolbright found himself in the middle of the seismic activity while eating a late lunch at We, The Pizza on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. “At first, no one knew what it was,” Woolbright said. “ You could tell that the people in the streets didn’t know what was going on.” After the quake, a number of buildings were evacuated throughout the city. “Thousands of people were in the street and I was running around taking pictures, so I didn’t feel any of the aftershocks,” Woolbright added. “I was just really shocked; it lasted about 10 seconds.” Most federal buildings in Washington had reopened by late Tuesday. There were also reports that the quake caused a tilt in the Washington Monument; however, The National Park Service found the monument to be structurally sound.
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Shawn Jones, public information officer for the Richmond, Va. Fire Department, said the earthquake was completely unexpected. “We were preparing for a strong storm system to hit the state over the weekend, but nothing like this has ever happened before,” Jones said. Jones, who has been working with the city for more than 12 years, said residents in an 11-story senior living facility located downtown started evacuating the building shortly after a rear stairwell buckled. The fire department decided to evacuate the rest of the building through the elevator system shortly after reports of damage on the second and third stories. “Due to growing concerns of potential aftershock, we decided it was in the best interest of the residents to evacuate the rest if the building,“ Jones said. The 398 tenants were allowed to re-enter the building at approximately 6:30 p.m. Three residents were taken to a local hospital due to minor injuries caused during evacuation. “The fact of the matter is we did what we thought was necessary to save lives,” Jones said. An unusual number of gas leaks and fire alarms were also reported throughout the city, he said. Jones believes after this occurrence he has learned to “expect the unexpected” and advises residents to always have a backup plan in the chance an unforeseen situation arises. “Right now, all we [the Richmond Fire Department] can do is go back, look at the evaluations of the city, and learn from our mistakes to see what we can do better and what plans we can revise,” Jones said. “If you have a family, make sure it’s
Photos by ASSOCIATED PRESS
People stand in Foley Square in New York after being evacuated from the Federal and State buildings that surround it Tuesday. The 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered northwest of Richmond, Va., shook much of Washington, D.C., and was felt as far north as Rhode Island and New York City.
Thousands of people were in the street and I was running around taking pictures, so I didn’t feel any of the aftershocks. Matt Woolbright, Texas A&M student
common knowledge to have a place to relocate; whether it be a brother’s house, a neighbor or a friend. Preparation is key.” Ben Duan, an assistant professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at Texas A&M, explains that this quake is pretty significant for the eastern part of the United States, but not uncommon. Another earthquake of 5.8 magnitude hit Giles County, Va. on May 31, 1897, with continuing aftershocks following through June 6, 1897. “To compare, earthquakes in the Pacific Coast — where seismic activity occurs quite frequently for the indigenous people living in Japan and Chile — this earthquake is a relatively small one,” Duan said. “The final damage is how people prepare for
Ben Gayle picks up broken glass and liquor bottles after an earthquake shook the ABC Store on Route 218 in Stafford, Va. these sort of natural disasters.” Duan said people living in places toward the northeastern part of the country could be better prepared and informed for future quakes. “In California, people are very active in faulting and earthquake awareness. There is an earthquake center that is focused on the ratio of earthquakes, and in Northern California they have a yearly drill to make
people aware of possible hazards,” Duan said. “Because we have relatively less frequent earthquakes and it takes a long time to have a big one, people tend to think this part of the country is safe from these sorts of natural disasters, but that’s not true. I think the public needs to be more aware of the possible risks involved in where they live.”
8/23/11 11:51 PM
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thebattalion
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owdy! If you’re new to campus, then welcome to Aggieland. I hope you’re excited to begin this new chapter in your life. If you’re returning to campus this fall, then welcome back. Thank you for all that you do to make Texas A&M such a special place.
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the Big Event (15,600), to last fall’s Wall Street Journal survey that ranked Texas A&M second nationally in producing graduates who are academically well-rounded and prepared for the workforce, to the record 30,000 young people who sought admission to the Class of 2015, and to our national championships in several varsity and club sports. We have a lot to look forward to. I’ll bring you up to date on what’s ahead for this year in my address at Academic Convocation on September 16. And as always, I’ll keep you informed through my Tuesday emails to students, faculty and staff. Good luck in this new academic year, and be sure to share a “Howdy!� as you walk across campus!
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owdy! This is going to be a year we remember. To everyone from the classes of 2014, 2013, 2012, victory lappers of 2011 and graduate students, welcome back home.
I am honored to welcome all of you, each of you, here; you are now a loved and cared-for member of this community. As your Student Body President, my goal is a more united Texas A&M. To accomplish this, I need to hold me .com acwww.you villagefoods countable to a few things. We make it easy to eat... First, I want to be a campus leader--a leader who communicates and connects with you—not only from my office in Koldus, but wherever you are on campus. Expect campuswide emails, video updates, town halls and visits to your student organization meetings and conferences. Connections all over campus are essential to a more united Texas A&M.
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Second, I want our Student Government Association to be inclusive of and responsive to the students we serve. When Student Senate passes a bill and I sign it, it becomes the official opinion of all of us, which is then expressed to our university administration, system leadership, state and federal government and the general public. The power of SGA is in your hands when you contact your senators and come by my office—we are here for you. It’s going to be a great year. Thanks & Gig ’em.
thebattalion THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF TEXAS A&M SINCE 1893
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402 Nagle Street College Station, TX Tel: 979-260-9811
Spirit is not only alive, but it is thriving. When we become Aggies, we become part of a culture of excellence that allows us to celebrate our rich history and traditions as well as our status as one of the nation’s top research universities. Economic challenges have made the past year a difficult one for universities across Texas and the United States. However, because of the planning we did last year, we are prepared. It is time to focus on the challenges and opportunities ahead, most notably, our Vision 2020 goal of becoming one of the nation’s 10 best public universities over the next decade. I remain convinced that by working together, we can achieve our loftiest goals. The bottom line is this: The world is paying attention to Texas A&M, in areas ranging from our record-breaking year in the number of students participating in
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Robert Carpenter, Editor in Chief THE BATTALION (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) at Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1111. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in Student Media, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs. News ofďŹ ces are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901. Newsroom phone: 979-845-3313; Fax: 979-845-2647; E-mail: metro@thebatt.com; website: http://www.thebatt.com. Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus, local, and national display advertising, call 979-845-2696. For classiďŹ ed advertising, call 979-845-0569. Advertising ofďŹ ces are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and ofďŹ ce hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 979-845-2678. Subscriptions: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy of The Battalion. First copy free, additional copies $1. Mail subscriptions are $125 per school year. To charge by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express, call 979-845-2613.
8/23/11 10:09 PM
sports
page 2b wednesday 8.24.2011
thebattalion
Upcoming home games
soccer
Sept. 2 Dartmouth 6:30 p.m.
Freshmen players show promise
Setting new goals
Sept. 5 Mcneese State 1:30 p.m. Sept. 11 North Carolina 11 a.m. Sept.16 Baylor 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 Fordham 12:30 p.m. Sept. 23 Iowa State 6:30 p.m.
The Battalion Winning has become synonymous with the Texas A&M soccer program, a proud tradition that has seen the Aggies win more than 300 games in 19 seasons, claiming 11 Big 12 titles and appearing in 16 straight NCAA tournaments. But none of those accolades and success is possible without top recruits, and the 2011 class is no exception. Out of the highly touted 10 freshmen recruiting class general studies major Meghan Streight, general studies major Allie Bailey and human resource developement major Kelley Monogue stand out. The three freshmen were selected to the ESPN RISE Winter All-American Team and are poised to have huge contributing freshman seasons. “We are looking forward to the 2011 season with the talented new players on the A&M soccer team,” said head coach G Guerrieri. “Our signees are leaders on-and-off of the field all across the nation and I am extremely proud of them. Their talent will make the Aggies an even bigger force in the soccer world.” Streight and Monogue came to Aggieland as high school teammates out
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Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION
support,” Bailey said. Streight and Monogue decided on Texas A&M based on its renowned soccer program and facilities as well as its fans, who are unparalleled to any other program in the nation. “The atmosphere here is great,” Monogue said. “When we came to games here there were so many fans, and I know there are no other colleges out there that supports its team like A&M does.” In the season opener for the Aggies, three freshmen scored to beat
Fresno State, 4–2. Bailey was among the three freshmen, scoring two goals of her own, and Monogue contributed with an assist to fellow freshmen Leigh Edwards. “I plan on enjoying the ride,” Streight said. “I am loving every moment of it.” As the Aggies vie for another conference championship and a run in the NCAA tournament, coach G Guerrieri and his coaching staff have to feel fortunate to have one of the most acclaimed freshmen classes in the nation.
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HELP WANTED Cleaning commercial buildings at night, M-F. Call 979-823-5031 for appointment. Cotton Patch-College Station now hiring servers and greeters. Lunch availability desired. Apply at Rock Prairie and Hwy-6. An equal opportunity employer! FAST PITCH COACHES WANTED! We need enthusiastic, positive, motivational volunteer coaches for Girls Fast Pitch Softball. Call 979-764-3424. FLAG FOOTBALL leagues are forming now! For team or individual registration information, visit cstx.gov/sports or call 979-764-3424. FOOTBALL COACHES WANTED! We need enthusiastic, positive, motivational volunteer coaches for youth flag football. Call 979-764-3424. Help Wanted Part Time, Building Attendant for the Brazos Center. $10.10 hourly. Work schedule will vary from 12-20 hours a week. Janitorial duties and customer service. Must be reliable. Apply: Brazos County HR Dept. County Courthouse. Visit our website for more info. @ www.co.brazos.tx.us
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Grand-Opening of Do-Re-Me Music and Dance! August 29th from 6-8pm! 1804 Brothers Blvd. Suite-A.
Prepbooks.com, is hiring campus representatives for part-time positions. Apply on website under careers. Printroom, Inc. is looking for outgoing and motivated fan photographers to capture images for the Ags this football season. For more info, please visit the Careers section on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/printroom
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of McKinney Boyd, where the duo led their high school team to back-toback state titles. “It’s always an honor to be selected to something of that caliber,” said Monogue regarding the selection. “There are so many great players out there and [ESPN chose] us. It’s such a great honor.” Bailey hails from San Diego, Calif., where she led her high school to a state title in 2011. Bailey is no stranger to the ESPN RISE Winter All-American Team, as she was also chosen for the team in 2009. Bailey was recruited by every school along the West Coast, including Notre Dame and Northwestern, but after a trip down to Aggieland while in high school to play in a tournament, she has found herself in maroon and white. “I came to A&M because of the team and the coaches and all of the
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EDITOR’SNOTE The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants in this paper do not necessarily reflect those of Texas A&M University, The Battalion or its staff.
MAILCALL GUESTCOLUMNS Make your opinion known by submitting Mail Call or guest columns to The Battalion. Mail
call must be fewer than 200 words and include the author’s name, classification, major and phone number. Staff and faculty must include title. Guest columns must be fewer than 700 words. All submissions should focus on issues not personalities, become property of The Battalion and are subject to editing for style, clarity and space concerns. Anonymous letters
Direct all correspondence to: Editor in chief of The Battalion (979) 845-3315 | mailcall@thebatt.com
Academic success Robert Carpenter: Tips for students from students
The Editor’s corner
I
love the atmosphere the freshman class brings to town every August. The University awakens from its summer slumber with renewed vigor and friendly “howdies.” Freshmen are a reminder that college is about the experience, almost as much as the education ... Almost.
Unfortunately, a number of freshmen will learn life lessons the hard way. They’ll find that in order to turn the college experience into a degree, they need good grades, or at least not deplorable ones. Something similar can be said of finding a job after graduation. To help ease the transition and save professors from a headache, I turned to several resident 2-percenters. Top-2-percenters, that is. Recognized as Phi Kappa Phi honor society’s outstanding juniors last year, these students were ranked among the top-2 percent of their college peers academically. Odds are: you and I may work for them some day. Talking with these students, it’s clear that there is no “cookie-cutter” mold for success. Their study habits, locations and preferences are as unique as their academic disciplines, which spanned five colleges. However, a few common attributes did surface. Most of the top-2-percenters began their freshman year studying more than necessary. They refrained from tempting fate on exam day. For Aaron Burkhard, senior applied mathematics and economics double major, this meant 40 hours of studying per week. He managed the load through discipline, coupled with football and video games. “I always thought, ‘All right, I’m going to start doing this, and I’m not going to stop until I complete it.’ Then, afterward, I’d take a break.” Burkhard said. “In the fall, I watched a lot of football, or played video games. Recently I’ve been going to the REC for release.” Hilary Albrecht, senior political science major, was class president, speaker of the student senate and finished second in student body president elections in the spring. Being a successful college student isn’t at odds with having an enjoyable college career.
Pg. 3a-08.24.11.indd 1
‘
will be read, but not printed. The Battalion will print only one letter per author per month. No mail call will appear in The Battalion’s print or online editions before it is verified.
It just takes resourcefulness. “I made use of the short blocks of time between classes, brought notes to study before meetings, and made a bigger effort to pay attention during class,” Albrecht said. This distinguished group was recognizable by adjustments made in their first semesters. Fatimah Al-Ismael, a senior geophysics major, rebounded from a poor round of exams by visiting professors and reviewing notes nightly, rather than cramming before exams. Predictably, she closed that dangerous first semester in style. “Never pull an all-nighter before exams. It makes you lose focus, and forget a lot of what you had studied,” Al-Ismael said. For senior community health major Laura Terrell, an outside tutoring service filled the gaps left by confusing lectures. The winning combination for her coupled these tutoring sessions with mandatory sorority study time. If you’re not familiar with these tutoring services, wait a week. They advertise around campus to no end. Other students preferred supplemental instruction sessions, taught by graduate students or seasoned upperclassmen. Or they would compare notes with classmates to learn from a second or third perspective. The most pragmatic advice came from Joseph Hayden, a senior biological sciences major: “As the courses went by, I studied more effectively.” College is tough. Successful students will reconsider habits and try new methods throughout a college career until finding a routine that works.
voices thebattalion 08.24.2011 page3a
little things
W
Andy Rowell: Everything that no one ever told you
elcome to Aggieland. Or, welcome back to Aggieland. Or, if you were here over the summer like me, I’ll just offer my congratulations on surviving the heat and boredom.
Each August starts a slew of experiences. It is with this in mind that I’d like to talk about some of the things this year may offer to those of you who are starting your first year at A&M. This might sound like the beginning of the typical, boring piece about the transition from high school to college, responsibilities and new-found independence, but it’s not. This will actually be, you know, worth reading. What makes this piece different is that it focuses on some of the more unsung aspects of life at A&M. If you’re looking for help on “finding yourself,” this is not for you. If you’re looking for help on finding something to worry about that I’ve ridiculously exaggerated, keep on truckin’. A prime example of what I’m talking about is trains. Train schedules are usually not at the top of a checklist when preparing for college, but in C-Stat, it’s vital. You see, the urban planners designed the city’s roadways to make it impossible to drive from any point A to any point B without crossing a railroad at least sixteen times. It doesn’t matter where you’re going, it’s going to happen, and most likely on the day you’re late for that test. And you’re not in the clear just because you live on campus. Think a freight train won’t spontaneously plow down the sidewalk between Evans and the H2O Fountain? We all saw Inception. It happens. Usually included in the cliché “Welcome Robert Carpenter is a senior applied mathematics to College” editorial is something about balmajor and editor-in-chief of The Battalion. ancing priorities, which is definitely impor-
tant. But hardly ever factored in is the time needed for TV, which ranks somewhere Because you between afternoon naps and StumbleUpon in didn’t ask importance. Thing is, no matter what cop show/officeplace comedy/chorally-based high school drama you’re addicted to, that late night lab of yours is going to occur smack-dab in the middle of the show. Say goodbye to live TV. Between Hulu and Netflix, after a month you won’t remember what live TV is. Then you’ll wonder how you used to sit through threeminute commercial breaks when the 30-second webmercials drive you insane. At Texas A&M there are three very important questions you need to ask yourself before you can be taken seriously: Freebirds or Chipotle? Cane’s or Layne’s? And Fro-YoYo, Spoons, Yogurtland, Red Mango, or why the heck aren’t you just eating ice cream? It seems trivial, but the most heated arguments I’ve seen revolve around these decisions. And when you pick a side, you’d better back it up. Not that it will matter. You won’t change anyone’s mind, but you don’t want to be defending your tastes with points like “I like shiny foil.” Though now that I think of it, that’s one of the better thought-out rationales.
Andy Rowell is a senior university studies major and opinion columnist.
8/23/11 11:02 PM
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1741 University Dr. men coming in who feel like high school didn’t prepare them. They’re usually not ill-prepared. It’s just reminding them to make use of their skills in this environment.� Kenley and De La Garza both said lack of motivation is a reason why many students fail to adjust in their first year. Learning not only how to study harder but “smarter� is something Kenley said is key to being successful at A&M. “It’s a personal adjustment, and sometimes it takes getting outside of your environment and getting help,� De La Garza said. “It can take a counseling service, a mentor or a department to get a different perspective on what you’re not doing well. What obstacles are out there? What strengths do I have? That’s what I like to remind freshmen—this is your transition, this is you becoming more independent as a person.�
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page 4b wednesday 8.24.2011
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volleyball | A&M plays Creighton at 2:30 p.m. and UTSA at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at Reed Arena.
soccer | The Aggies will be on the road in Knoxville, Tenn., to play Florida on Friday and Tennessee on Sunday.
sports
football | Practice takes place at 4:05 p.m. Wednesday in the McFerrin Indoor Facility, followed by “Countdown to Kickoff Dinner.” thebattalion 08.24.2011 page5a
Osa Okundaye — THE BATTALION
Bad blood
Across the board
Chandler Smith: Move to SEC
Adrian O’Hanlon III: A&M
jeopardizes rivalries
competitive in SEC scenario
L
G
oodbye to texas university, so long to the orange and the white. Good luck to dear old Texas Aggies, they are the boys who show the real old fight.
If A&M is truly leaving for the SEC, and most signs suggest as much, these time-honored lyrics to the Aggie War Hymn could garner an ironic new meaning. Though the move would be with A&M’s best interest at heart, leaving the Big 12 for the SEC would mean completely severing ties with some of its most traditional and bitter rivals. No more Tech. No more Baylor. And — just maybe — no more Texas. Aggies, Raiders, Bears, Longhorns and everyone in between have certainly pondered what a strange world it would be if these matchups were to vanish as early as the 2012 season. Whether or not you support A&M’s move to the SEC or claim not to care about the dissolution of such rivalries, the absence of these cherished matchups could make for an awkward start. Just ask Arkansas. Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has been especially adamant about convincing A&M to stay in the Big 12. His argument (besides the conference losing gobs of money and all legitimacy as a long-term entity): rivalries. “Obviously, there’s a significant number of Aggie supporters who are interested in going [to the SEC],” Beebe said. “There’s a huge risk if an institution leaves its geographic proximity and rivalries. In the long run, it can create a lot of problems.” Unfortunately for Beebe, A&M likely has its mind made up. The SEC presents the best opportunity to move forward in terms of visibility and revenue while the Big 12’s future remains firmly in a Longhorn vicegrip. The argument that suggests A&M leaving behind its rivalries creates “problems” is vague and mediocre at best. This begs the question: how new is the SEC; really? Already set with regional and very real - rivalries, there is no doubt that A&M could also rapidly adapt to their potential new home. Two rivals come to mind immediately and another would make sense. Already playing in the so-called “Southwest Classic,” A&M-Arkansas is a no-brainer. As a former SWC team, and one that already endured the “new kid on the block” tag after leaving for the SEC in 1992, the
Pg. 5a-08.24.11.indd 1
Aggie-Razorback rivalry would flourish. Combining for 30 total SWC football titles between the two, the A&M-Arkansas game has often been for high stakes. Though Arkansas has formed a solid rivalry with LSU over the years, A&M would give them a true and traditional conference rival. LSU and A&M also share a considerable amount of history. The series sits as the 9th and 8th most played for LSU and A&M, respectively. Combine the great series history with two of the most passionate fan bases in the country, and one can only imagine the intensity. LSU head football coach Les Miles — who coached against the Aggies at both LSU and Oklahoma State — sees great potential in a renewed A&M-LSU series. “I certainly understand the want to be in this league,” Miles said. “There are some great advantages [to joining the SEC]… if [A&M] gets on the schedule, we’ll look forward to that competition.” As for a third rival: Alabama.. The two share more history than the 4 game series would indicate. Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant is a legend at both schools, giving A&M its only Heisman Trophy winner in John David Crow and collecting 6 national championships as head coach of the Crimson Tide. Gene Stallings, one of A&M’s “Junction Boys,” led the Aggies to a SWC championship in 1967 and coached Alabama to a national championship victory in 1992. Stallings victory over “Bear” Bryant’s Tide in the 1968 Cotton Bowl is regarded as one of the greatest moments in Aggie history. And yet, there’s still something to be said about the old Texas rivalries that goes way beyond the field or court. Aggies, as mostly Texans, often work or live with Raiders, Bears and Longhorns alike. Those rivalries, for generations, have been an integral piece of the Texas cultural fabric. Then there’s the history and tradition. With Tech, who can forget the evercolorful Mike Leach era and how “once in a while, a pirate can beat a soldier?” The 1926 brawl with Baylor is the stuff of legend among both Aggies and Bears. With Texas, bonfire remains one of A&M’s most cherSee Rivalries on page 6a
evel of competition is questioned when analyzing Texas A&M’s potential move to the SEC, but Aggie fans need not worry about their chances of vying for conference titles. Here is a breakdown of each sport and how A&M would fare in the SEC: Basketball College Station is on the map for collegiate basketball as the Aggie men have made six-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and the women won the 2011 NCAA Championship. The Big 12 is somewhat of a basketball league with national powerhouse Kansas on the men’s side, postseason mainstay Baylor on the women’s side and tournament staples Texas and Oklahoma. A move to the SEC will bring historic basketball teams to Reed Arena each year, as the men would face seven-time national champions Kentucky and the women would play eight-time champions Tennessee. Both squads dominate the conference postseason tournament. The Wildcats boast a win percentage of .838 while the Lady Vols claim 14 conference titles. Outside the dominant SEC teams, the men have consistent programs in Florida and LSU while Georgia and Vanderbilt are dependable programs for the women. Heated rivalries with Baylor, Texas and Oklahoma decline if A&M leaves, but the Aggies will play old Southwest Conference foes in Arkansas and LSU. Advantage: SEC Baseball Baseball is called America’s pastime and A&M fans certainly enjoy the transition from winter to summer by watching the Aggies play ball. The Aggies are two-time defending Big 12 postseason champs, beating out perennial national contender Texas. Texas has seven regular-season and four postseason titles in the Big 12, but SEC teams are more prominent in the College World Series. Since 2000, 23 SEC squads advanced to the postseason tournament, whereas only 10 Big 12 schools made the postseason. Texas annually ranks near the top of the Big 12 standings, but A&M would face historic contender LSU and two-time defending champion South Carolina in the SEC. Advantage: Big 12 Softball Two national titles and three runner-up finishes still leave A&M softball at a disadvantage in the SEC. The Aggies consistently
challenge the Big 12 title but the SEC offers tougher competition with a handful of seasonal contenders. Current Big 12 teams account for one title and 11 top-5 finishes since 2000, compared to the SEC’s 17, including 10 since 2008. Numbers don’t lie, and they favor staying in the Big 12. Advantage: Big 12 Tennis Tennis is another sport A&M steadily improves toward contending for a title. The Aggies established themselves as a perennial contender in doubles, but every SEC school competes and produces competitive programs. In the SEC men’s tournament, Georgia holds a slight advantage with 15 league titles. The national title advantage also favors the SEC as Georgia claims six compared to Baylor’s one. Women’s tennis faces similar circumstances in an SEC scenario as top competitors Georgia and Florida would replace Big 12 frontrunners Baylor and Texas. The difference in the top two programs from each league is the national prestige. Texas won two national titles before a shift of conference power favored Baylor, which has yet to capitalize with a championship. Defending champ Florida has reached the top of NCAA competition five times while Georgia claims two titles. Advantage: Big 12 Golf Golf gets a little tricky. Men’s golf faces national force Oklahoma State each year, upending the Cowboys lately with several tournament wins and a national title in 2009. A&M would face perennial powers Georgia and Florida in the SEC, similar to the contenders it faces in the Big 12, Texas and Oklahoma. Overall, the Big 12 is a more historic conference, namely because OSU has won 12 national titles compared to the SEC’s 10, so A&M may enjoy more success in the SEC, staying in the Big 12 would offer a greater challenge. The Aggie women made progress in recent years but will face stiffer competition in the SEC. The SEC has claimed three team titles (GeorSee Scenario on page 6a
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2012 Aggieland
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The 110th edition of Texas A&M University’s official yearbook will chronicle traditions, academics, the other education, sports, the Corps, Greeks, campus organizations and seniors and graduate students. Distribution will be during Fall 2012. Cost is $75, plus tax. Go to the optional services box in Howdy when you register for fall or by credit card go online to http:// aggieland.tamu.edu. For info,
ished traditions. As A&M bids adieu to the Big 12, however, it seems unlikely that a series with Tech or Baylor would continue. Meanwhile, the fate of the 117 year-old A&MTexas game on Thanksgiving is still up in the air and, according to A&M President Dr. R. Bowen Loftin, would be the Longhorns decision to make. “That’s a historic rivalry,� Loftin said. “We see no reason why it could not continue under a different conference arrangement if they chose to do so. We certainly
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want to make that part of any discussion we have with another conference.� Common sense would say that too much tradition and money would be lost if the Longhorns decided to blackball the Aggies. After all, Florida-Florida State, South Carolina-Clemson and Georgia-Georgia Tech all have annual non-conference battles with no issues whatsoever. Then again, with emotions running so high, who’s to say the Longhorns wouldn’t leave A&M hanging out of spite? Fortunately for the Aggies, if the Longhorns proceed with the latter, A&M would be far from alone.
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Scenario Continued from page 5a
gia in 2001, Florida 1985, 1986) and produced five individual champs. Current Big 12 teams have produced just three individual champs and no team titles. A&M will continue its success in the Big 12, but a move to the SEC raises the bar for the future. Advantage: Men-Big 12, Women-SEC Soccer A&M women’s soccer has at least a share of the Big 12 title in six of the last 10 seasons, bearing resemblance to Florida’s dominance in the SEC with five consecutive regular season titles. Florida won the national title in 1998 and contends for the SEC title each season. Former Florida soccer players include 2008 U.S. Olympic gold winner Heather Mitts and the fourth-leading goal scorer in U.S. women’s soccer history, Abby Wambach. Although Florida annually contends for the title, the Big 12 is historically better as a conference with OSU and Texas making the postseason often. Advantage: Big 12
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Volleyball A&M competed in a prestigious volleyball league with Texas and Nebraska always in the national spotlight, but the Aggies would fare well in the SEC against rival LSU and perennial contender Florida. The Aggies dropped a match against LSU last season but posted wins against LSU and Arkansas in 2009. The decision will affect few of the athletes on those teams, but the history of each conference proves a move to the SEC will benefit the Aggies in the win column. Advantage: SEC Membership in the SEC gains momentum as most of Aggie sports teams benefit with the move, but it will take more than an athletic advantage to sway A&M officials.
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Track A&M established its track dynasty after both men and women completed a threepeat in the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Close finishes in several title meets against LSU and Florida captures the imagination of many a track fan. If
the Aggies joined the SEC, the conference will become a track super-conference with three perennial top-five programs. A&M tests LSU in a dual meet each indoor season, winning the team titles in 2011, and competes against Florida in a couple meets throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons. The SEC has won five women’s indoor titles since 2000, while the men’s side won every indoor championship from 2001 to 2005. Although the Big 12 has competitive programs in Texas, Baylor and Oklahoma, the SEC has the upper hand with contenders Georgia and Tennessee, and top-five programs in LSU and Florida. Advantage: SEC
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news
page 7a wednesday 8.24.2011
thebattalion
Gig ’em week Events offer inexpensive food, fun to students Today FREE ice cream ‘Nuff said, go to Simpson Drill Field 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Movie night
Study smarter
“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” playing in Rudder Auditorium 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Learn strong study habits to make the grades you want in 301 Rudder 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Hillel meet & greet
Safety tips
Free food and a chance to meet the Texas A&M Jewish community in 501 Rudder 6:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
Learn personal safety strategies in 502 Rudder 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Thursday FREE pizza taste-off
Money management
Sampling of local pizza, competing for your vote on Simpson Drill Field 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Learn to make and keep your college budget in 110 Harrington 11 a.m. to noon
Brandon Rhyder concert Country music on the steps of the Administration Building 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Credit cards, scores
Pie party
Quick lessons on how credit lenders work and the way to protect your score for the future in 110 Harrington 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Chance to learn about the Wesley Foundation over all-you-can-eat pie, at 201 Tauber Street 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday Aggieland Market Coupons and merchandise from local businesses, complete in Academic Plaza 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CTF
Coffeehouse
Capture the flag on Simpson Drill Field, free popsicles included, with A&M Womens’ Rugby 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Coffee and music at the Baptist Student Ministry on 203 College Main 9 p.m. to midnight
Liberal Arts social
MSC OPAS
Free snow cones and popcorn with the College of Liberal Arts in the Coke Building 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Meet the leadership of the performing arts club and learn the lineup in 308 Rudder 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
www.TakeDefensiveDrivingOnline.com for Ticket Dismissal 1-888-428-8296
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