The Battalion: September 2, 2011

Page 1

● friday,

september 2, 2011

● serving

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● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media

Senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill speaks on hyp ype, marriage and his desire for football perfection. pagge pa ge 1111

Breakdow wns on football, volleyball and soccer as A&M enters its last season in the Big 12 Conference. page gees 22,, 4 & 10

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Why seniorr vollleybball player Senior soccer defender and andd bronzze medaal winner Kelsey captain Rachael Balaguer on Black is reaady for her best how everyy play counts. seasoon yet. ppaage ge 2

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friday 9.2.2011

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Black returns for final season Courtney Nelson The Battalion Senior volleyball player Kelsey Black has been busy winning a bronze medal at the USA National Team Championships this summer, in addition to preparing for her last season in an Aggie uniform. Black has been a part of the A&M volleyball team since her freshman year, but really came into her own last year as a fulltime starter. She had played in most games the previous years, but she really found her niche as the junior outside hitter who could lead her team. “It’s tremendous how much Kelsey has grown over the last few years in her volleyball and also in her mental maturity,”A&M Head Coach Laurie Corbelli said. “She’s one of the most competitive collegiate athletes I’ve ever coached in 25 years, and it just shows when she plays.” Black began playing when she was six years old, thanks to a club coach who approached her at her sister’s tournament. Despite being relatively short, the coach saw talent in her that he wanted to develop further. “I was just messing around… and he started teaching me. From then on, I had a love for the game that I just couldn’t get away from,” Black said. Most athletes train for a certain position in which they excel, but not Black. During her freshman year, Black was the designated libero, where she could only play in the back row. In her sophomore season, she proved her versatility by playing every position on the

Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION

Team captain Kelsey Black, senior university studies major, is on the court at the start of her final season with the Aggie volleyball team. floor except for setter. Black made a name for herself in NCAA competition and on the world stage as a member of the USA national team, winning bronze medals in two consecutive years. Black said making the A2 National Team her biggest volleyball accomplishment so far. “The Big 12 is very fast and tries to push the pace at a quick level, whereas international players are generally taller and can get up to swing at a different level,” Black said. The awards have piled up for Black as she has received the Texas A&M Most Improved, MVP and Best Offensive Player awards, AllBig 12 First Team and the two bronze medals as a part

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an Aggie volleyball game or simply seen Black at practice. Junior Tori Mellinger mentioned that Black’s competitive nature and refusal to lose makes her the quality player that she is for A&M. “Kelsey’s a very dynamic and passionate player and it’s a blast playing next to her,” said senior teammate Chelsea Ringel. “Someone who’s very intense and knowledgeable to play with really helps me to improve my game as well.” Black will graduate in December with a degree in University Studies with a focus on Leadership. She hopes to go overseas to play professionally for a few years before coming back and coaching at the collegiate level.

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of the USA A2 team at the national championships. While Black is one of the shortest hitters on the team, she is a force to be reckoned with, thanks to her passing and versatility. Her favorite play to run offensively is the back row attack because it is done quickly in the middle of the court and the blockers rarely see it coming. “Many people have told me I wouldn’t be able to compete because I am shorter than most other players around me,” Black said. “I say it’s not the size of the person that matters, but the size of their heart, and no one can take that away.” Her intensity and competitive drive can be seen by anyone who has ever been to

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1. Texas: The Longhorns will begin the 2011 season as the frontrunner for the Big 12 title and ranked fourth in the AVCA Preseason Poll. They are led by Rachael Adams, who hit .443 last season and was named the Big 12 preseason player of the year. Michelle Kocher averaged 10.44 assists per game last season, and will set the tone for the team. UT returns nine letter winners and will prove to be the team to beat in 2011. 2. Iowa State: The Cyclones are ranked No.18 in the AVCA preseason poll and are looking to improve their 13-7 conference record from 2010. Senior Carly Jenson and Junior Jamie Straube will be the players to watch for Iowa State, while Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year Hannah Wilms will try to make her mark as a standout hitter. 3.Oklahoma: The Sooner squad will show their experience as they welcome back ten letter winners from a team that went to the second round of NCAAs last season. Seniors Brianne Barker and Suzy Boulavsky are a killer duo who can set and hit the ball as well as anyone in the Big 12. Sallie McLaurin will also be an offensive threat for the team, who placed 16th in the AVCA preseason poll.

4. Texas A&M: Although A&M had a disappointing 7-13 conference record last season, they have the much needed experience and a huge amount of talent that could get them far this year. They are led by senior Kelsey Black, who averaged 4.08 kills per set last season and won bronze with the national team this summer. Libero Tori Mellinger will be all over the floor making sure nothing touches, while Allie Sawatzky will continue to make a name for herself as one of the best setters in the conference. 5. Missouri: Mizzou will have an extremely young team this season, with only three upperclassmen and eleven freshmen and sophomores. Senior Brittney Brimmage, who was named to the All-Big 12 preseason team can hit from the middle or outside and has a deadly swing. Setter Molly Kreklow, also named to the All-Big 12 preseason team, is just a sophomore but has very quick hands. 6. Baylor: Middle blocker Torri Campbell is the only Baylor Bear to make the All-Big 12 preseason team, hitting .305 and averaging .86 kills per set. After going 9-11 in conference in 2010, the Bears are counting on the experience of their nine upperclassmen to come in handy.

7. Kansas: Kansas is the only team in the Big 12 that did not have any player make the All-Big 12 preseason team. Allison Mayfield is one of the consistent starters for the Jayhawks and will receive much of the attention from their opponents. They are another young team that will most likely use this as a rebuilding year. 8. Kansas State: The Wildcats finished 6-4 in Big 12 play last season, and are projected to do the same this season as they have no seniors on the team. Sophomore Kaitlynn Pelger was named to the Big 12 Conference All- Freshmen team last season and also to the All-Big 12 preseason team this year. With the most experience on the team, setter Caitlyn Donahue will try to involve the offense as much as possible. 9. Texas Tech: Finishing last in conference last year with a 2-18 record, the Red Raiders are likely to have a repeat performance in 2011. Amanda Dowdy, named to the All-Big 12 preseason team, boasted an enormous 4.12 kills per set last season, and will be the go-to girl for Tech this year. They need another player that can step up and contribute offensively or it will be another tough season. Courtney Nelson, staff writer

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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 offices 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 classified advertising, call 979-845-0569. Advertising offices are in The Grove, Bldg. 8901, and office 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.

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Courtney Nelson The Battalion In the wide world of sports these days, it is an uncommon occurrence for a coach to remain with one team for more than a few years. However, when it comes to Texas A&M Volleyball Head Coach Laurie Corbelli, that is not the case. Corbelli is entering the 2011 season with a record of 376-186 in her eighteen seasons at the helm of Aggie Volleyball. As she approaches her 19th year, Corbelli looks to return to the promised land of the NCAA tournament after going 7-13 in conference play last season. Since her arrival in College Station in 1993, Laurie Corbelli has transformed the program, drawing in some of the nation’s top recruits. While most fans know about her record as a winning volleyball coach at A&M, many do not realize that she was a tremendous player before deciding to coach. In addition to her height, the influence of her older sister enticed Corbelli to try volleyball. Corbelli played for three years at Texas Lutheran College before leaving to train with the national team in 1978. Along with many other collegiate players, she headed to Colorado Springs to begin training for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. “I gave up my job, school and everything for this opportunity,” Corbelli said. “None of us had any money or a degree so it was devastating when we learned about boycotting the Moscow Games.” Despite the disappointment of not getting to compete in the 1980 Games, Corbelli decided to stay and train for the Los Angeles Olympics in

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Coach Laurie Corbelli sings the National Anthem with her Aggie volleyball players. 1984, where the team captured the silver medal. “The best experience as a player was by far the Olympic games,” Corbelli said. “Playing for a gold medal was such a thrill, but the whole experience was remarkable because we had devoted our entire lives to this tournament for the last seven years.” With the Olympics under her belt, Corbelli retired from the USA team before playing in the newly-formed Major League Volleyball league. After playing for three seasons as a middle blocker and outside hitter, she would move her career into the coaching world. “I knew as I went through my training that I had a passion for the game, and I wanted it to be in my life forever,” Corbelli said. “All the years of being a player kind of groomed me to love the excitement of competition.” Before settling down at A&M, Corbelli was the head coach at the University of San Francisco and Santa Clara University. She coached several AllAmericans, led her team to fourteen NCAA tournaments, achieved a .669 winning percentage, and

was named the Texas A&M Coach of the Year for 1999-2000. One thing that sets Corbelli apart from many competitors is the involvement of her husband, Assistant Coach John Corbelli. Although she realizes it can be a challenge at times, she discovered many positive aspects. “It’s really awesome most of the time because we can pretty much say what the other one is thinking and can read each other’s minds pretty well,” Corbelli said. “The challenging times are definitely there but that is something you have to be strong through and pick our battles wisely.” After a rebuilding season last year, she is ready to come out strong and achieve the high results she has gotten many times before. With talk of the future, Corbelli has no plans of stopping any time soon. “When my voice runs out or I lose any love for coaching, I will stop because no one can survive in this industry if you don’t have that zest for the game,” she said.

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Scoring the Big 12 Aggies, Cowgirls enter soccer season as league favorites, Sooners look to spoil Oklahoma State and Texas A&M return in 2011 as the perennial championship darlings that look best The Battalion suited to win the conference title. Last season, the As the new-look Big 12 gears up for the 2011 Cowgirls (20-4-2) captured a third-straight Big 12 soccer season, the remaining 10 schools will field championship and became the sixth Big 12 team teams that contributed to a 65-30-9 record against to ever advance to the NCAA Championship Elite non-conference opponents last season. Eight, marking the Cowgirls’ first trip to the quarThe Conference fielded two teams that finished terfinals in program history. the 2010 season ranked, Texas A&M and Oklahoma The Aggies, meanwhile, (15-5-3) boasted their State, at Nos. 16 and 5, respectively. Both schools sixth regular-season conference title as they went were nationally ranked throughout the season. 8-1-1 in league play. James Solano

Baylor University The Lady Bears finished the 2010 season ninth in the Conference (4-6-0 Big 12, 11-7-2 overall). But relief is on the way, as Baylor welcomes standout freshman Natalie Huggins to its squad. The top Baylor recruit was recently named to the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Team of the Week, after a two-goal, two-assist performance that led her team, FC Dallas, to a pair of wins. The freshman phenom also contributed to three straight state titles at her Dallas high school, Ursuline Academy. Iowa State The Cyclones are a young team, composed of 24 freshmen and sophomores, and only three juniors and four seniors. After finishing behind Baylor in 2010 (3-7-0 Big 12, 8-10-2 overall), look for the Cyclones to improve with a young, talented squad led by the sophomore duo of Emily Goldstein and Maddie Jobe. Goldstein was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week last season, and Jobe was named Defensive Player of the Week. Kansas Despite a dismal 2010 season (1-9-0 Big 12, 6-13-0 overall), in which the Jayhawks finished last in the Conference, things are looking up in Lawrence for 2011. Fresh from the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup playing field, Kansas welcomes Colombian natives Liana Salazar and Ingrid Vidal from the Colombian national team. The Jayhawks will look for them to bring a missing spark to the field. Missouri The Tigers are another young team on the rise that will likely field a team in the post-season NCAA Championships. After a modest (5-5-0 Big 12, 7-10-2

overall) 2010 season, the Tigers return a talented team that has progressively improved throughout the offseason, with numerous players encountering success at the national level on club teams. Missouri will welcome back All-Newcomer Team selection Dominique Richardson, and four other players that need to be on everyone’s scouting report: Caroline Stanley, Kaysie Clark, Allison Hu and Alyssa Diggs. Oklahoma Finishing fourth in the Conference last season (5-4-1 Big 12, 12-8-3 Big 12) behind now-departed Nebraska, the Sooners steadily won games and even made it to the Big 12 championship game, where they fell to Oklahoma State. The Sooners will look to build on that success as they vie to be conference spoilers. The Sooners lost four key starters from last season and will look to fill those shoes early. Look for Caitlin Mooney—selected to the AllNewcomer Team—and Dria Hampton to maintain last season’s dynamic combination. Oklahoma State As the three-time defending Big 12 champions, advancing last season to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Championships, and finishing ranked No. 5 in the country, it’s no wonder the Cowgirls have expectations of conference and national championship contention. The Cowgirls finished behind the Aggies last season in conference play (8-2-0 Big 12, 20-4-2 overall), where the Aggies narrowly won the regular season by 25 to 24 points. But Oklahoma State will return an ample amount of talent this fall. The Cowgirls welcome back four All-Big 12 First Team selections, two of which, junior Melinda Mercado and sophomore Adrianna Franch, were named to the NCAA AllAmerican Second Team.

Texas The Longhorns enjoyed a winning season last year (4-3-3 Big 12, 11-6-4 overall) as one of four schools representing the Big 12 in the NCAA Championships field. The Longhorns enter this season as a relatively young team, led by five seniors and five juniors, but they look to make some noise as they play the role of spoiler to the Aggies and Cowgirls. All-Big 12 Second Team selections Kylie Doniak and Alexa Gaul are the team’s top upperclassmen, and Nina Frausing Pedersen and Lexi Harris, from the AllNewcomer Team, will be catalysts for future success. Texas A&M The Aggies have the most consistent winning program in the history of the Big 12. Last season’s NCAA Championships appearance marked the team’s 16th straight trip (8-1-1 Big 12, 15-5-3 overall). The Aggies will undoubtedly knock heads with the Cowgirls this year for the honor of the conference crown, but soccer fans will have to wait until Oct. 23 to see these two superb programs clash in College Station. The Aggie soccer team is loaded with talent from top to bottom. All-Big 12 First Team selections Bri Young, Rachel Lenz and Merritt Mathias return to help aid the Aggies to another conference championship and trip to the postseason. Texas Tech The Red Raiders finished last season in the middle of the pack of the Big 12, seventh overall (4-5-1 Big 12, 11-8-1 overall). The Red Raiders ranked No. 25 nationally in shutout percentage (0.500). They will look to sophomores Jessica Fuston and Whitney Sharpe, both selected to the All-Big 12 Team and All-Newcomer Team, for help this season.

Five players to watch 1. Adrianna French, sophomore, Oklahoma State

2. Bri Young, senior, Texas A&M 3. Melinda Mercado, senior, Oklahoma State

4. Merritt Mathias, senior, Texas A&M

5. Jessica Fuston, senior, Texas Tech

COURTESY PHOTOS

Clockwise from top: A&M’s Bri Young, Texas Tech’s Jessica Fuston and A&M’s Merritt Mathias are expected to be among the Big 12’s elite players this year.

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something, you maybe don’t win the game. “Every little play matters because you never know when something crazy can happen.� Something crazy like having nine starters being bitten by the injury bug before heading into the NCAA tournament? Crazy like getting shipped up to freezing Minnesota for the second round of playoffs instead of getting to play at the Aggie Soccer Stadium in College Station? “It’s soccer,� Guerrieri said. “If you need an example of ‘life isn’t fair,’ here’s your example, because it can happen. The great teams have got to be good all the time.� Balaguer is looking forward to putting last season’s secondround exit from the NCAA tournament behind her and focusing on the future — like remembering all the hard work that went into winning

In addition to anchoring the Aggie women’s soccer team’s defensive line, senior defender Rachael Balaguer is called upon to set the tone for future years by instilling a love for the game in the team’s talented freshmen class. last year’s conference championship and instilling that work ethic into a promising new crop of talent. “I believe in actions,� Balaguer said. “Making that big tackle in the first five minutes, or telling people to step up and press. I’ve had to do a lot more of that this year since our front line is mostly freshman, so I’m just trying to get them to really fight every single play.� Balaguer’s relentless motor and charisma have been her trademark since she came to College Station four years ago and earned a starting spot as a freshman by beating out the team’s defensive MVP from the previous year. Guerrieri said her attitude is

infectious, which is especially important on a team experiencing a youth movement. “She leads by example,� Guerrieri said. “And she takes care of her business on the field. Nobody works harder than she does on the field. When it comes to fitness, you can always count on her to be at the front. When it comes to getting things done technically, you always know she’s going to take care of business.� And, in the end, that’s what a defender is supposed to do: take care of business, sweep out the garbage, keep the box clear of opposing forwards. After three years, Balaguer’s got it down to an art.

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The Battalion Soccer is known worldwide as “the beautiful game.� A soccer match isn’t like a basketball game, where 90 points will be scored; it’s a sport where one moment, one split second, can alter the entire course of the game and ensure the thrill of a win or the gravity of a loss. “In football, if you gain 755 yards rushing, there’s a good chance you’ve scored a few touchdowns,� head coach G Guerrieri said. “You could fumble 14 times, but you’re still probably going to win the game. Well, in soccer, you could outshoot a team 755 to one and lose. In soccer, sometimes that magic bullet is real.� Guerrieri makes sure that his team leaders understand what a fragile thing a lead can be. Thankfully for him, senior defender Rachael Balaguer gets it. Balaguer’s play has been defined by her constant vigilance and the aggressive way she defends the back line. “We have a thing outside of our wall called ‘Inches,’� Balaguer said. “It’s about how little inches can win or lose a game. If you come in for a tackle and you didn’t come in hard enough and you miss the ball by this much, they shoot and score. Or if you don’t get to that space and make that run where the ball goes out of bounds, instead of you getting it and being able to create

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The Texas A&M Competition Squad jump in celebration at Daytona Beach, Fla. where they competed in the 2011 National Cheerleading Association College Nationals.

A&M cheerleaders looking for more success Alex Lotz The Battalion Whoever said cheerleading was not a sport was seriously mistaken. After tumbling their way to capture fifth place at National Cheerleading Association Collegiate Nationals last May, the Texas A&M Competition Squad is determined to be the best in the nation this upcoming season. Formally beginning as a student organization in 2001 known as Ag Elite, the Texas A&M Competition Squad was invited to become a University club sport in 2009 and was officially recognized by Rec Sports to compete at a national university level. Their dedication to the sport is evident as the team takes each practice seriously as they cannot meet every day. “[We] have ittoeasy work to... twice We make as hard to make the most of the time that we do have,� says current president and senior education major Lauren Lock. To be on the team is no

easy feat. Potential members must have high athletic tumbling and cheerleading skills to be considered for tryouts, held later this month. “The requirements are at least standing two connected back handsprings, and running round off back handspring back tuck,� said Lindsay Shanahan, former club president and senior business major. “It would be great if they had a standing back tuck, good jumps, experience and good technique with either flying or basing.� This past season, Texas A&M Competition Squad competed for the first time in the NCA collegiate sport called STUNT. This competition is set up in four quarters in which the teams may compete against www. villagefoods.com each other. The competition consists of a team performance, partner stunts, group jumps and tumbling, pyramids and basket tosses. “The belief that cheerleading is not a sport is what

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Despite the risks involved, the love of the sport and spirit keeps the team going. “We tumble, we stunt, we jump, we literally throw girls in the air and catch them,� Lock said. “It’s no simple task. We have to train hard, just like any other athletes.� The Texas A&M Competition Squad is having an informational at the MSC Open House to accept new members. Tryouts will be at 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 in the Rec Center Archery Room. “We want to win nationals so our name will be well known,� Shanahan said. “We spread the name of the most amazing school, Texas A&M University, and show others how not only our team, but our school is one big hard working family who wants to win!�

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Front row: senior Tara Upshaw and junior Katherine Devlin. Back row: senior Kevin Burnett, junior Henry Lelei, senior MacLean O’Donnell and junior Will Barry. A&M’s cross country teams expect a speedy season under firstyear distance coach Wendell McRaven.

Cross country hits ground running Adrian O’Hanlon III The Battalion A&M athletes are up and running for the 2011 cross country season, looking to new distance coach Wendell McRaven for guidance in their race to the national meet in Terre Haute, Indiana. Head Track and Field Coach Pat Henry is optimistic about the potential of this year’s squad under McRaven. “I think we have one of the better teams we’ve had in the last two or three years; of course it’s all about staying healthy,� Henry said. “[McRaven] is a great addition to our program. He starts with a group of pretty good distance people for us and we recruited some pretty good ones to come in.� The Aggies will depend on the veteran leadership of several upperclassmen returning for both the men’s and women’s squads. The Aggie women have a strong top-three in juniors Katherine Devlin, Natosha Rogers and Tara Upshaw, all with championship experience from previous seasons. Devlin placed fourth in the 10,000 meters at the 2010 Big 12 Championships with a time of 34:51.67. Rogers led the team in the 1,500 meters last season with her best time of the season. Upshaw ran her best time in the 3,000 meters at the Big 12 Championships. With this proven track record, McRaven said he is approaching the season with caution before letting excitement get the best of

him or the team. Seniors Kevin Burnett and MacLean O’Donnell will lead a seasoned men’s squad. They set the bar last season in cross country and look to improve even more this season. Burnett was a part of the last cross country team to compete for the NCAA championship in 2008, and holds the school record in the 3,000 meter distance. Junior Will Barry also brings experience to the team after setting personal bests in the mile, 5,000 and 3,000 meters in 2010. The Aggies also recruited a junior college champion to add talent and experience on the men’s side. Henry Lelei, a junior transfer from Central Arizona College, was a force in the 2010-11 NJCAA cross country and track seasons. He won individual gold in the cross-country championship, took silver in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and placed third in the 1,500 and 800 meters in the 2011 NJCAA Championships. McRaven said Lelei will push the men to another level of competition. “I’m excited about both teams,� McRaven said. “I think both [teams] have the potential to come up in the Big 12 [and] make a run at getting both teams to the national championships. That’s the goal: to get the whole crew up to Terre Haute, Indiana for nationals.� A fresh face for A&M cross country, McRaven will bring energy to the Aggie crew in his first year as distance coach. He

previously served as an assistant coach at Illinois for six years and head track coach at Kent State for five years prior. When former distance coach Dan Waters accepted the head coaching job at Alabama, McRaven said he was attracted to A&M by the impressive coaching staff and Henry’s rĂŠsumĂŠ as a builder of champions. “There’s a handful of places in the country – maybe less than a handful – that are the premier track programs in the country and this is one of them,â€? McRaven said. “Winning a lot of national championships is no coincidence. I hope that I can take a little from here learning from great minds and hopefully I can add to that by adding my own element and my strength to the program.â€? Now, McRaven is faced with bringing the Aggies to nationals for the first time since 2008. Athletes warmed to the new coach after discussing plans and training for the season. The athletes impressed McRaven with a positive reception and a high-quality demeanor, an attribute McRaven credits to Henry’s program. McRaven said everyone has trained hard to reach nationals but the team will need more than a couple practices to morph into a title contender. “This is a sport that is a process,â€? McRaven said. “A lot of this year will be the result of the work they’ve put in over the past few years. There’s no magic workout. The magic’s in the athletes.â€?

Hockey skates toward playoffs JT Sampson The Battalion At the Arctic Wolf Ice Center in College Station, A&M’s Club Hockey team skates across the ice with one goal in mind: advancing past the regional playoffs. As the only university in the state of Texas that has ever advanced to the national regional playoffs, the Aggies are looking to reach new heights after being eliminated the last two years in the first round of regionals. “The first year we went to regionals I think our team was a little starry-eyed,â€? said senior forward Aubrey Berkowitz. “I think we were just happy to be at regionals. Last year our team was really hampered by injuries ‌ I think that sense of just being happy to be there has worn off and our team expects a stronger performance. I think we all know we have the talent and the make-up to make a run at nationals — we just need to put it all together and play consistently.â€? “Our main goal is to move further into the regionals & take a shot at nationals,â€? said senior forward Nathan Banks. Looming in the horizon is a difficult schedule with outof-state trips to Utah, Colorado and Oklahoma. A&M will seek to avenge the loss of last year’s regionals, as they will travel to Logan, Utah, to take on the Aggies of Utah State. The team is in for another tough test when they

Pg. 7-09.02.11.indd 1

face University of Colorado. The University of Texas will likely be the Aggies’ strongest in-state opponent. “We have a challenging schedule and we’re trying to travel more and play a bigger variety of teams� said senior forward Nick Xenakis. Team members noted an increase in schedule difficulty each of the past few years. “We have the toughest schedule we’ve ever had before,� said Banks. “As a Division II team, we’ll be playing a showcase in Missouri against the defending national champion [Grand Valley State], and Division I schools in OU & OSU.� Unity will be key in the Aggies’ attempt to run past the regional playoffs. They feature an experienced lineup, and many of the players room together. “This year we have a lot of seniors,� said Banks. “Hopefully we’ll have one of our best seasons ever. It’s like a big family.� The players all felt that teamwork was a definite strength. Ultimately, the experience of the Aggies will be a major factor in how their season plays out. “It doesn’t matter what opponent we play or what coach asks of us. We play as a team, we make team decisions and we stand behind each other no matter what,� Xenakis said. Heading into the fall as the

#10 ranked school in West Region, A&M kicks off their season at home against Baylor on September 23. A hot state like Texas is not known as a hockey state, and sometimes

hockey is misunderstood. “The game can be so physical that often times the graceful elements are overlooked,� said Berkowitz.

9/1/11 11:13 PM

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thebattalion 9.2.2011 page8 PLACE

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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 Hostess and wait-staff needed, immediate openings available, apply in person, Ocean’s Bar&Grill. KICKBALL leagues are forming now! For team or individual registration information, visit cstx.gov/sports or call 979-764-3424.

HELP WANTED 7F-Lodge seeking part-time help, email resume or inquiries to stay@7flodge.com A&M Recycling Services Student Workers wanted (TAMU/Blinn student). Must be able to work 24hrs/week and summers. Apply in person: 204 S. College Ave. 979-862-2069. Ag Football Concession Staff. Champion Concessions will be providing Dippin’ Dots at all home football games. We ar looking for energetic students to work in a fun and fast-paced environment. Pay is $8.50-12.00/hr. Email marketing@championconcessions. com ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? NEED EXTRA CASH? We need officials for youth and adult flag football leagues. Pay ranges from $9.00-$20.00/game. Games last about one-hour. Call 979-764-3424. Athletic men for calendars, books, etc. $100-$200/hr, up to $1000/day. No experience. aggieresponse@gmail.com Camp For All is looking for creative and energetic staff who are interested in working with children and adults w/challenging illnesses and special needs. These paid positions will be trained to lead activities for our campers on the weekends. Please contact Jessicah jholloway@campforall.org or visit our website at www.campforall.org/joinourteam Child Care- FT & PT shifts available. Some nights & Saturdays required. Apply in person at 3609 E. 29th St., Bryan.

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Lawn crew member needed, $9/hr. Hrs Monday, Wednesday and Friday 11-6, experience required. 979-224-2511. Local dance/music school now hiring guitar instructors. Great pay, flexible hours! 979-693-1153. expressionsdance@suddenlinkmail.com Looking for people to pass out flyers door to door, call for details 979-690-3343.

HELP WANTED Personal Assistant. Assistant and cooking preperation, shopping for gifts and groceries, review bills, internet price comparison, some typing, and trips to bank or post office. Must be professional on telephone and in person. Punctual, friendly, able to complete assignments in a timely fashion and possess good organizational skills. Email: mpaull@suddenlinkmail.com or susanc@aggiealergist.com Piano, guitar, violin part-time teacher needed and pre-ballet and tap. marian_hanna123@hotmail.com 979-571-0306. Prepbooks.com, is hiring campus representatives for part-time positions. Apply on website under careers. PT help needed. Local hunting club needs PT guides. Freshman and Sophomore only. Average 1-2 weekends/month in offseason; 2-3 in Fall and Winter. Limited hunting privileges. Applications at www.yardbirdhunting.com

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The Corner now hiring all positions for daytime and afternoon shifts. Come by in person after 9pm to apply. Various duties from watering plants to driving tractor 2 days a week. Minimum 4-6hrs/wk. $8/hr. Respond to llgstar@aol.com, put your name and number in subject line, include 2-references. VOLLEYBALL COACHES WANTED! We need enthusiastic, positive, motivational volunteer coaches for girls volleyball. Call 979-764-6386. VOLLEYBALL leagues are forming now! For team or individual registration information, visit cstx.gov/sports or call 979-764-6386. Weekend merchandisers, PT line cleaner and PTsign room help. Budweiser has immediate openings for part-time positions. Great pay! Pre-employment drug screen. Apply at Jack Hilliard Dist., 1000 Independence, Bryan, TX.

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Sales person in fabric shop, sewing + sales experience preferred, flexible hours, apply in person, Pruitts Fabric, 318 George Bush Drive. Student worker needed. Must be able to work in all climates and not afraid of heights. 979-845-5444. STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In College Station. 100% Free To Join. Click On Surveys. The Battalion Advertising Office is hiring a clerk to work, Monday and Wednesday from 8am-11am. Student must be able to work both days. If interested, please come by The Grove, Building 8901 and ask for Joseph or Trish.

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Word Square Arrange the letters to form meaningful words such that they fit the word square to read the same word both horizontally and vertically. R(2), T(2), E(2), K, S(2), L(3), U(2), A(2) Thursday’s solution:

R I O T

I O T A

O T I S

T A S K

Siddharth Kumar — THE BATTALION

football

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thebattalion

friday 9.2.2011

SMU chomping at the bit

Sherman addresses Twelfth Man

Mustangs seek early upset

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elcome back to College Station for another year at Texas A&M University. For the freshmen, get ready, you’re in for the time of your life. I hope you all had a great summer and are ready for an unforgettable year in Aggieland.

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s talk surrounding A&M’s move to the SEC engulfs campus, the Aggie football team maintains its focus on an entirely separate agenda — beating the SMU Mustangs. Considering the amount of experience that this 2011 Mustang squad will feature — perhaps the most of any team on A&M’s schedule — concentration on the task at hand will be a necessity for the Aggies to come out with a win. The series between the former Southwest Conference rivals dates back to 1916, with the Aggies holding a 41-29-7 edge. SMU hasn’t won at Kyle Field since 1983 and hasn’t beaten the Aggies since 1984. The last meeting was ugly as the Aggies drubbed the Mustangs 66-8 in 2005. Despite the abysmal recent history, SMU is fielding what should be its best team since the program’s decimation by the infamous “death penalty.” Like A&M, the Mustangs return a whopping 18 starters and a plethora of key playmakers in all the right places. The Aggies and Mustangs are two of only four teams in the country that return a 1,000 yard passer, receiver and rusher. The epic battle of trios alone — A&M’s Ryan Tannehill, Cyrus Gray and Jeff Fuller versus SMU’s Kyle Padron, Zach Line and Cole Beasley — should make for an intense season debut that could be closer than rankings and recent series history suggest. Offensively, the Mustangs have dramatically increased their firepower under head coach June Jones’ run-and-shoot scheme. Under Jones’ tutelage, junior QB Kyle Padron now possesses school records for single-season passing yards (3,828), total yards (4,072), touchdowns (31), completions (302) and pass attempts (508). RB Zach Line (1,494 yards rushing in 2010) and WR Cole Beasley (1,060 yards receiving in 2010) add another dimension, making SMU that much harder to defend. Combine the impressive talent with a veteran offensive line and there’s no question that the Mustangs have potential to put up points in droves. “They are a unique offense. Everywhere he’s been, Coach Jones has been able to move the ball on people,” Aggie defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter said. “They do a great job within their scheme. They’ve got an extremely veteran group coming back. It will be a great challenge for our guys.” Defensively, SMU allowed 352.9 yards per game, good for second in the Conference USA. Junior linebacker Taylor Reed, who led Conference USA with 145 tackles, returns as a vicious force up the middle. Junior linebacker Ja’Gared Davis is a dangerous pass rusher off the edge and returns to the gridiron after a nine-sack campaign last season. Senior free safety Chris Banjo leads what should be an improved secondary with 92 tackles and two picks. All three defensive

COURTESY PHOTO

SMU quarterback Kyle Padron threw for 3,828 yards in 2010. linemen return and should give A&M’s stout offensive line a considerable opening test. “Their defensive guys play extremely hard. They’re very Chandler aggressive,” A&M Smith head coach Mike sophomore media Sherman said. studies major “They will come after you with all kinds of pressure.” And while SMU remains a stiff challenge for this A&M squad, they are not without chinks in their armor; the Mustangs are coming off a 7-7 campaign against relatively lighter competition. One of the worst teams in turnover margin (111th in the nation last year), they will struggle if they can’t hang onto the football. While A&M and SMU both struggled with turnovers at 30 and 27, respectively, the Aggies managed 25 defensive takeaways to SMU’s 15. In the context of a football game, turnover margin makes or breaks victory. Proving they could hang with tough competition on the road, the Mustangs nearly knocked off Big 12 foe Texas Tech in the 2010 season opener. SMU would rally late in the fourth quarter only to lose 35-27. The deal breaker: three SMU turnovers to Texas Tech’s zero. Meanwhile, DeRuyter, with his sights set on 30 turnovers last year, barely missed his goal with 25. This year, he feels his chances are even higher. “We talk about for P’s for takeaways: population, getting guys to the play; physicality; purpose; and plan, where they know beforehand about preparedness and playing fast,” DeRuyter said. “You’ve got to know your package and your opponents. I think our guys are at the point now here they are reacting and playing fast. Our takeaways should go dramatically up.” Regardless of statistics, rankings or sheer talent, however, there’s only one year that need be mentioned to keep the Aggies on their toes when playing the Mustangs — 1994. The 1994 Aggie football season

Game prep ◗ Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Kyle Field ◗ Yell practice is at midnight Saturday at Kyle Field.

◗ Corps march-in is two hours before kickoff remains one of the best in school history despite NCAA sanctions preventing A&M from attending a bowl game or winning the SWC title. The Aggies went 10-0-1 with only one blemish on their record, a tie with SMU. The coach of that Mustangs squad: A&M quarterback coach Tom Rossley, who understands the challenge at hand as he prepares against his former team. “They’re a good team. June (Jones) has done a great job. We know they’ll come out and play their best brand of football,” the former SMU coach said. “Just watch their TCU game last year…it was anyone’s game in the fourth quarter. They opened with Tech and played them right to the end. If we play our best, I think it’s going to be a heck of a game.” And though the game should be hard fought, anything but an Aggie victory at a sold-out Kyle Field would be absolutely shocking. If something is distracting the Aggies from this game, it’s certainly not the SEC. “We’ve talked to them and said, ‘Hey, the only thing we can control is what’s in front of us, and that’s SMU right now’,” DeRuyter said. “We have a group of seniors that want to have a special year and leave their mark on Aggie football. I’ll be honest: it’s all external stuff that our guys are not concerned with right now. They are focused on this week and focused on SMU.” Whether you realize it or not, it’s that time of year once again. With Kyle Field packed past Sports Pass capacity, and a Top 10 squad anxious to get out on the gridiron, this season opener sits as one of the most anticipated games in program history — a game that could set the tone for a magical 2011 season.

Your Aggie football team has been on campus this summer lifting weights and conditioning through the triple digit heat preparing for the upcoming season. We started practice on August 9 and have had an excellent fall camp leading up to our nationally televised Mike season opener against a very good Sherman SMU team on September 4 at 6:30 head football coach pm. Our players and coaches are pumped to get the season kicked off and we know you are too. Our last home game on Kyle Field in 2010 was a memorable one against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. There is no question that the Twelfth Man played a major role in our victory. It also made an unforgettable impression upon the recruits who were in attendance at the game, along with the millions of people who watched the nationally televised game. The atmosphere at that game was the best atmosphere in college football thanks to YOU, the greatest student body in the country. In 2010, your football team’s motto was “TAKE THE NEXT STEP.” Your team took the next step on the field with some great victories over teams like Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas. Just as importantly, you as students also took the next step by creating a home field advantage at Kyle Field that is unmatched anywhere in the country. This was especially evident at both the Oklahoma and Nebraska games where our opponents not only had to battle the 11 Aggies that represented you on the field each play, but also the 30,000 other students who were standing ready for their school with an unbridled spirit and passion. This year the motto for your football team is “PROVE IT.” We need to prove it to the world that the Aggies are one of the best teams in the country and will remain a force to be reckoned with. Our student body also has an opportunity to “PROVE IT” to the rest of the country; that the Nebraska game atmosphere is for real and Texas A&M does have the greatest student body in college football. After the victory over Nebraska, I truly felt a strong connection between our football team and the student body. If we continue to build on that connection, Kyle Field will remain the hardest place for other teams to play in the country. You have my word that your team will play at a very high level at every game. When Aggies unite on the field and in the stands, we are unbeatable. YOU do make a difference. YOU have an incredible affect on our football team. When your team sees the Twelfth Man towels and hears you rocking in the stands it gets them even more fired up to be representing Aggies everywhere. Not everyone can participate on the field, but your participation in the stands without question plays a direct role in the game. I am asking you to come to every game with that passion for Aggie Football that you showed in our games against Oklahoma and Nebraska. This is YOUR team and every day we work with a fanatical effort to make it a team all Aggies are proud of. As an extension of the student body we strive to demonstrate the same qualities on the field that Aggies hold in such high regard: Tradition, Passion, Toughness and Excellence. With these things in our heads and in our hearts your team is in an excellent position to “PROVE IT.” See you at midnight yell practice on September 3. It is an honor to be your coach. I have one last question: ARE YOU READY?

2012 Aggieland

Memories fade. Yearbooks last a lifetime. 2012 Aggieland* on sale

Senior Portraits

Group pictures

Work on the 2012 staff

If you haven’t already, reserve your copy of the 2012 Aggieland yearbook. Use one of these easy ways to order your 2012 Aggieland:

All seniors and graduating graduate students are encouraged to get their portraits made for the 2012 Aggieland yearbook beginning Tuesday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays, in Training Room 027 of the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center.

The 2012 Aggieland will feature shots of student groups. Your recognized student organization, sorority or fraternity, Corps outfit, residence hall or club sport may download a contract at http://aggieland. tamu.edu to purchase space for a group photo in the 2012 Aggieland.

The Aggieland is looking for new writers and photographers. If you are interested in working on the 2012 staff, email Kelbye Gaskill, editor in chief, at aggieland.yearbook@ gmail.com. Applications are available at http:// aggieland.tamu.edu.

1.

Go to the optional services box in Howdy when you register for fall classes. 2. Go to http://aggieland. tamu.edu and click on Ordering, Online Purchase. 3. Call the Student Media business office at (979) 845-2613.

The 110th Texas A&M University yearbook, chronicling the people and events of the 2011-2012 school year, will be distributed in Fall 2012.

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friday 9.2.2011

thebattalion

Trimmed for fall Austin Meek: Big 12 slimmer, sexier and more unstable than ever

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ow that Texas A&M has officially announced its departure from the Big 12, this athletic year takes on an added level of significance. While a move to the SEC seems likely, the Aggies could be playing in any number of major conferences Austin Meek in 2012. senior creative writing major

The 2011-2012 athletic season is an audition, one that will set the trajectory of the school for the foreseeable future. Fans and critics across the country will be intensely watching each sporting season unfold, endlessly hypothesizing the pros and cons of adding a school like A&M to their preferred conference. But everyone knows that football is King Henry, and what Sherman’s Boys do on the field this fall will do more to shape national opinion about Texas A&M than any of those other sports combined. Presumably when basketball season rolls around in November, and baseball in early spring, most of the SECession talk will have lost its luster, so it’s important to strike while the iron’s hot and make a mark. America loves the underdog. It’s as engrained in our national fabric as loving apple pie or fireworks, and as good as the Aggies look on paper, we’re still not the best the Big 12 has to offer. Oklahoma’s held that crown for the better part of a decade, and Oklahoma State

also makes a strong case. Texas will always be somewhere in that conversation, and even more so now that the Longhorn Network will broadcast every breath taken by a UT athlete for the rest of time. An unprecedented amount of press is being given to our school, and this football team has the unique opportunity to turn this season into a farewell party, debutante ball and fashion show all in one. It’s just good fortune that one of the best squads A&M has fielded in 15 years will be playing on Saturdays. To those who disagree with the move, or those who label all Aggies as kvetching ingrates, to all those conferences watching and school athletic directors planning their 2012 schedules, know that we’re aware the stakes are high. After all, there’s only one universal language in football: winning. And for Mike Sherman and his band of Fightin’ Aggies, that conversation starts Sunday.

Mike Sherman will roam the sidelines as a Big 12 coach for the last time this year while A&M looks for its next home.

The expectations I think have always been there. Certainly winning last year in the second half of the season really helped precipitate that.” - Head coach Mike Sherman Baylor University After losing a 1,000-yard rusher to the NFL (Jay Finley), the Bears will look to put even more offensive duties on the shoulders of QB Robert Griffin III. Because his hard work hasn’t translated into postseason success, it’s easy to sleep on Griffin. But this is a guy who threw for more than 3,500 yards and 22 touchdowns last season and has very capable pass catchers surrounding him. The Bears’ demise will be their porous defense that somehow manages to negate nearly every point Griffin engineers. Star watch: WR Kendall Wright. After leading the team in receiving yards for the last three years and flirting with 1,000 yards last season (he ended up with 952), the speedster is poised to break the barrier. It helps that the Bears will likely throw a lot trying to come back late in games. Iowa State The Cyclones’ most memorable moment last season came at the expense of the University of Texas when it beat the Longhorns 28-21 in Austin. Outside of that gem, the 5-7 campaign was a disappointment and the future isn’t looking any brighter for 2011. Steele Jantz or Jerome Tiller will eventually win the quarterback spot, but the cupboard of offensive weapons in Ames is Depression-era scarce. Star watch: DT Stephen Ruempolhamer. This leviathan – who started every game last season and blocked a field goal against Kansas to seal a Cyclone victory – will eat up space in the middle and open blitzing lanes for stud LBs Jake Knott and A.J. Klein. Kansas The Jayhawks, much like their fellow cellar dwellers Iowa State, don’t have much to get excited about after returning the majority of

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a team that ranked last in the Big 12 in scoring, scoring defense, and rushing. Head coach Turner Gill has gained the reputation of a program builder, and turning the lowly Jayhawks into contenders would undoubtedly be his finest accomplishment. Star watch: RB James Sims. The lone bright spot in last season’s miserable 3-9 campaign was the surprising amount of production from Sims, who rushed for 742 yards and nine touchdowns his first year in Lawrence. Kansas State The Wildcats are one of the most interesting teams in the Big 12. They didn’t lose a single game by more than 10 points last season, and were an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty away from beating Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl and finishing the year 8-5. QB Collin Klein gave defenses headaches with his running ability, and fellow QB Justin Tuggle could be featured on passing downs. Defensive issues are still glaring, especially on a rushing defense that allowed a conferenceworst 230 yds per game. But hey — it can’t get any worse, can it? Star watch: RB Bryce Brown. Brown, a transfer from Tennessee and the No. 1 RB coming out of high school, possesses prototypical size and will try to use his strength and vision to lead the Wildcats to another bowl game. Missouri Mizzou is the conference’s sleeping giant. Make no mistake: Missouri is the dark horse of the Big 12. Although the Tigers lost big names like Blaine Gabbert and Aldon Smith to the NFL draft, it returns 16 starters from a last season’s 10-win team. If QB James Franklin can tap into his prodigious athleticism and learn how to run this squad, members of the Big 12 will feel the Tigers’ roar.

Star watch: TE Michael Egnew. Egnew, a First-Team All-American, led the nation’s tight ends with 83 receptions. His 698 receiving yards were good for second place. New quarterbacks always keep their eyes peeled for big, reliable pass catchers, so Egnew is primed for a big year before he heads to the big leagues. Oklahoma No. 1 ranked team in the nation. Projected to finish first in the Big 12. The Sooners have all the accolades a football program could want and the reputation to back it up. Five of the last seven conference championships have been celebrated in Norman, and it brings back the majority of a team that beat Nebraska for the Big 12 crown last season. The connection between QB Landry Jones and WR Ryan Broyles is one of the strongest in the league and the defense has a mean streak — the only question for the Sooners is who will carry the rock? Star watch: LB Corey Nelson. An Aggie de-commit, Nelson will have his chance to shine while filling in for the injured Travis Lewis (broken foot), Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. He’ll try to make the most of his starting gig while harnessing that ferocity and speed that left A&M coaches salivating two seasons ago. Oklahoma State Is this the year the Cowpokes finally shake that Sooner-shaped monkey off their back? After losing only two games by a total of 16 points last season, many of the Stillwater faithful think that this is the year, especially with this year’s Bedlam Series taking place in Boone Pickens Stadium. An offense that ranked as one of the nation’s best returns 10 startes, and the tandem of QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon is arguably the most lethal in the nation. It helps that they’ll be protected by

the conference’s best offensive line. If the defense can play anywhere near the level of the offense, Oklahoma State could be headed for a BCS Bowl. Star watch: S Markelle Martin. What Blackmon is to offense, Martin is to defense. The ringleader of the Cowboys’ less heralded side of the ball, this super athlete may be the hardest hitter in the Big 12. Martin closed 2010 with a bang, garnering defensive player of the game honors at the Valero Bowl after breaking up two Arizona passes and returning an interception 62 yards for a touchdown. Texas For a football program defined by its stability, the Longhorns have had a tumultuous offseason. On the heels of a 5-7 campaign, defensive coordinator and ESPN darling Will Muschamp fled the crime scene for the head coaching gig at Florida. Boise State’s offensive guru Brian Harsin will team up with Major Applewhite as co-offensive coordinators, and their first job will be selecting a quarterback to lead this hyper-talented but rudderless team. The Horns are hoping that a pair of five-star recruits, RB Malcolm Brown and WR Jaxon Shipley, will see the openings in the depth chart and command their positions starting week one. Star Watch: WR Mike Davis. After racking up 478 yards his first season in Austin, (and setting a freshman record in the process), fans of the Longhorn Network are confident that Davis will emerge as the favorite target of QB Garret Gilbert. Or of Case McCoy. Or of Connor Wood. Or of David Ash. Texas A&M With a program and fan base known for hyping its players to astronomical levels (remember Reggie McNeal?), it’s necessary to take all information with a grain of salt. That being said, there is a lot to get excited about with this team. The Aggie Express will shoot through

Sequoia-sized gaps created by a terrific offensive line that returns four of last season’s five starters, and QB Ryan Tannehill throws to one of the conference’s deepest receiving corps. The big question for the Aggies is how to replace LBs Von Miller and Michael Hodges, but if last season taught the Aggie faithful anything, it’s to never doubt a Tim DeRuyterled defense. Star watch: WR Jeff Fuller. The 6-4 specimen became the first Aggie receiver to break the 1,000-yard plane and looks poised to do it again. Fuller’s been overlooked by critics claiming Blackmon or Broyles as the conference’s top pass catchers, but he could silence the critics with a big season and carve his spot as a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Texas Tech Newly minted defensive coordinator Chad Glasgow brings his 4-2-5 scheme from TCU, hoping to shore-up one of the conference’s weakest units last season. Head coach Tommy Tuberville’s first season was uneven, but he’s finally becoming more comfortable with life in Lubbock and is putting his own distinct stamp on an offense that was known for Mike Leach’s high flying aerial attack. With all five offensive linemen returning, look for Tuberville to pound the rock, primarily utilizing the skill set of the versatile RB Eric Stephens, a 2010 Big 12 Second Team selection. Star watch: G Lonnie Edwards. Texas Tech’s lone preseason Big 12 First Teamer, Edwards’ push on the offensive line will create holes for the shifty Stephens and will solidify his status as the top run blocker in the conference.

9/1/11 9:49 PM

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thebattalion

friday, september 2, 2011

Samantha Virnau — THE BATTALION

Senior quarterback Ryan Tannehill carries a 3.60 GPA in biology and was named to the 2010 ESPN Academic All-District team and the Academic All-Big 12 team.

Gameday perfectionist Jared Baxter The Battalion

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oice recorders, Flip cameras and notepads were out and in full journalistic swing at the Big 12 Media Conference in Dallas. The elegant Westin Hotel, connected to the four-story Galleria Mall, plays home to the Big 12 elite as head coaches and players field questions from campus reporters, ESPN analysts and everyone in between. Were this any other year in his time at Texas A&M, Ryan Tannehill probably could have breezed through his scheduled hour of one-on-one interviews — without voice recorders at his every turn and without questions about his quarterbacking makeup.

But this is not just any other year for the Tannehill and the Aggies. Reporters ask about his draft stock, his offseason preparation and the expectations of a preseason top-10 ranking, the program’s first since 1999. So much of Tannehill’s life on and off the field has yet to reach fruition; the story waiting to be written, as A&M’s head coach Mike Sherman calls it. On top of stepping into the star quarterback role, he’s also engaged to be married. Lauren Ufer, class of 2010 and his girlfriend of more than two years, will be Mrs. Tannehill in January. “I really love her and she’s great for me. She brings out the best in me,” Tannehill said. Their honeymoon — NFL draft depending — might be the only decompression time

back at the time. He’s never wavered in his confidence and his ability to do the job.” In his first season on the receiving end of the ball, Tannehill recorded 55 catches and 844 yards, turning heads early with a 12-catch, 210-yard performance against Kansas State. The following year, 2009, Tannehill appeared in all 13 games as wideout, while also acting as Johnson’s backup. But no amount of success catching the football his freshman and sophomore seasons could sway Tannehill from his desire to be quarterback. The same consistent determination that drove Tannehill to elite conditioning prepared him for another shot leading the Aggie offense. “There’s a split second that comes into your mind where you think, ‘Am I ever go-

Tyler Hosea — THE BATTALION

take on: team leader. He deferred to Johnson and McGee in years past, but now was his time to step in. He organized workouts and pushed his teammates through vomit-inducing mat drills in a period called “Junction,” where a player can take the right or wrong path toward development. “It’s definitely not fun to go through, but at the same time it brings our team closer together,” Tannehill said. “It’s a thing where you hate it when it’s going on, but you look back on it and see how far you’ve come.” Tannehill frequents the film room, breaking down every throw and three-step drop from under center in order to perfect his footwork, an inconsistency he admitted was quite embarrassing to watch on tape.

Ryan Tannehill and senior wide receiver Jeff Fuller ready themselves for another play at A&M’s fall camp on the Coolidge Practice Fields.

mounting expectations fuel Tannehill’s determination — not complacency. He’ll tell you that he forced throws last year; that despite Sherman’s insistence on spectacular defensive plays, he’s made mistakes. “It’s all a matter of proving it,” Tannehill said. “They can say that, and I could go out and tank every game and obviously it won’t mean much.” Tannehill said he hasn’t thought a whole lot about his last game at Kyle Field this season, the Thanksgiving regular season finale against the Longhorns. He doesn’t believe in the A&M senior quarterback curse that befell Johnson and McGee. When the time comes, Tannehill plans to be another former player who returns to Aggieland and watches another group of guys take it on all over again.

This is why we came to A&M. We’ve been out of the spotlight, off the path a little bit, struggling. It’s exciting to see that finally set in motion. We didn’t finish that last year—we started it. Tannehill has in the foreseeable future. The dual-threat prospect from Big Spring, Texas, has done a lot of growing since moving to College Station in 2007. After turning down offers from Texas Tech, Texas Christian University and Houston, Tannehill walked onto the Aggie squad and redshirted his freshman year, the last of former A&M head coach Dennis Franchione. When Sherman came on board in 2008, bringing his NFL pedigree and a serious dose of culture change, Tannehill found himself in a three-way battle for the starting quarterback job with Stephen McGee and Jerrod Johnson. Competitive as they come, Tannehill finished third and accepted the wide receiver role offered to him. “The one thing Ryan brings to the table — always has — is confidence,” Sherman said. “Even with Stephen [McGee] playing with the Dallas Cowboys right now. Stephen was a senior starting, Ryan thought he was the best one, and he was our third quarter-

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ing to get to play here?’” Tannehill said. When the Aggies started the 2010 season 3-3, Tannehill got his shot. A week before the October contest with Kansas, Sherman approached Tannehill and said he might split time with Johnson. It wasn’t a promise, a guarantee or anything solid, but it was enough for Tannehill to ready himself should the opportunity arise — and arise it did. Here A&M fans are, a season later. Tannehill went from reliable receiver to the quarterback who, along with the Wrecking Crew’s return, engineered the first Big 12 sweep of Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas in a 19-day span in November. “This is why we came to A&M. We’ve been out of the spotlight, off the path a little bit, struggling. It’s exciting to see that finally set in motion. We didn’t finish that last year — we started it,” Tannehill said. With his starting job locked down, Tannehill entered the spring and summer offseason workouts embracing a role he wanted to

The obsession is shared by Sherman, who, despite loosening up since arriving as the all-business coach, never goes long without drawing up a play or talking football strategy. It doesn’t surprise Tannehill to receive a napkin with a newly concocted play scribbled down., just as it doesn’t surprise Sherman that his quarterback’s toughest critic is himself. “He’s a perfectionist in his own way. I’m kind of hard on him, and he’s hard on himself. I have to be careful with him,” Sherman said. A&M’s No. 1 wide receiver and Biletnikoff Award nominee, Jeff Fuller, said Tannehill will have plenty of footballs to spread around the talented cast of returning offensive weapons, which includes the “Aggie Express” running back tandem of Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael. The plan is for Tannehill to be more pocket-bound, scrambling less and looking to make plays down the field as his come-of-age offensive line protects him. The award lists, draft predictions and

“The Twelfth Man still gives me chills every time. It’ll always be my home,” Tannehill said. Back at the Big 12 Media Conference, the questions are dying down. Tannehill’s personal space expands with each reporter who walks away satisfied with the quotes. Senior defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie sits to Tannehill’s left and smiles like he’s like up to something. Jerod-Eddie stands up, pulls out his phone and flashes a picture of Tannehill mid-answer. For a few moments, Tannehill breaks out of his focused, media mode and can’t help but to pause and laugh. “That’s the best thing about being at A&M. It’s the locker room we have,” Tannehill said. “We have guys that are consistently having fun, and when you’re having fun and playing football, there’s no better thing than that. Just the locker room—the guys you have trust in and they have trust in you—there’s something special about that. I’ll miss it when it’s gone.”

9/1/11 9:18 PM

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