10/01/2018

Monday, October 1, 2018

The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University

OUR

Students Dedicated to Professional Journalism Volume 130 | Issue 3

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The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleCommunityNews | Monday, October 1, 2018

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our news

Safety First The Huntsville Police Department and University Police Department hosted the Kats Safety Bash recently at Bowers Stadium. The events included a Life Flight landing, a mock dorm fire and a Jaws of Life demonstration. Traditionally, HPD has conducted National Night Out independently from the Safety Bash, but this year the departments partnered to produce one unified occasion.

Kacie Ging

Pokemon ‘GO’es to Huntsville Prison Museum

BY CHEREE SMITH News Editor The Pokémon Go Group of Huntsville celebrated Community Day Sept. 22 at the Huntsville Prison Museum.

“Community Day is a [monthly] event that is organized by Niantic,” administrator of the Pokémon Go Huntsville TX Discord Michael Bosquez said.

“It is a world-wide event that is supposed to organize and encourage local events and local gatherings. Community Day gets the community of Pokémon Go players together as one body as opposed to just a bunch of individual people playing on their phone.”

Pokémon Go is an interactive game available as an app that allows players to go out and catch Pokémon or battle in gyms.

Pokémon are fictional creatures with special abilities that players may catch, collect and battle.

About 40 people attended Community Day last Saturday.

Attendance was lower compared to the past because of the rainy weather.

“On a good day, weather pending, we can get about 70 people out here. However, these past couple of months, it has been raining literally every single Community Day in which case we get about 40 people out here,” Bosquez said.

A rainy day does not mean the event is washed out for Pokémon Go players.

“When it rains, you get people out here in ponchos and weather gear and putting phones in little plastic baggies,” Bosquez said. “We are a dedicated bunch, regardless if it rains or not, we are still here.”

This month there was a contest to see who could catch the heaviest shiny Pokémon and a small prize was awarded to the winner. A shiny Pokémon is one that shimmers once the player taps on it. Shiny Pokémon appear by chance and are not guaranteed to any player.

“A shiny is an alternate colored form of the Pokémon.

[They] are caught in the game and are something that is completely random and is not going to be the same for each player,” Bosquez said. “There is no way to the rig this individual contest.”

Community Day is held at the Prison Museum every month.

Everyone is welcome to go out

Cheree Smith GOTTA CATCH ‘EM ALL. Community members gathered at the Prison Museum Saturday to play Pokémon Go.

and participate. There are young players and older players.

“You like Pokémon and we like Pokémon,” Bosquez said. “Come on out and join us. It’s a lot of fun and you will get to meet a lot of new people. If you are more reserved, that is OK too.”

The Pokémon Go group in Huntsville will be out at the Prison Museum Oct. 21 for the next Community Day.

The Houstonian | bit.ly/SHSUCampusNews | Monday, October 1, 2018

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our news

Hispanic Heritage Month: What You Need to Know

BY ZACHARY LEONARD Contributing Reporter The Diversity Council hosted the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Sept. 17 at the Lowman Student Center (LSC) mall.

Students received free shirts and bags of candy after they learned some facts about Hispanic Heritage Month.

There was also a chance for students to create a Papel Picado.

A Papel Picado is a form of Mexican folk art made out of paper that is cut into elaborate designs.

“I feel like now more than ever it is important to get involved and learn more about different cultures,” Music Therapy major Devan Elliot said. “Even though I feel pretty knowledgeable, there are still some things I don’t know.”

Hispanic Heritage Month was initially known as Hispanic Heritage Week. Ronald Reagan changed this in 1988. Hispanic Heritage Month starts Sept. 15

and lasts until Oct. 15. The dates of the month are significant to several Latin American countries because they fall in or around the anniversary of the countries’ independence.

Each academic year, the Diversity Council and the Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs celebrates 6 different national heritage and history months.

The Diversity Council is tasked with creating and facilitating programs that inform Sam Houston State University students about different people and cultures across the globe.

“Sam Houston is very diverse and there are a lot of different cultures represented at our school,” Diversity Council Marketing Director Tiana Hale said. “It’s important that we are able to work with and get along with all types of people after we graduate.”

Diversity Council will host their next celebration on Oct. 1 for LBGTQ History Month.

Presented by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences

OUR NEWS

Bearkats Unite for Family Weekend, Rain or Shine

Gavin Guinther

The Houstonian | bit.ly/SHSUCampusNews | Monday, October 1, 2018

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our news

Common Reader Program is “What Unites Us”

BY TYLER JOSEFSEN Editor-in-Chief This year’s Common Reader program brings one of Sam Houston State University’s most renowned alumnus—Dan Rather. The selection committee decided that Dan Rather’s “What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism” presents “timely, relevant and cross-disciplinary topics affecting [SHSU] students.”

According to the Common Reader website, “The overarching goal of the Common Reader Program is to provide a campus-wide common intellectual experience, leading to informed and educated perspectives about complex subjects.”

Every year, a new book is selected for the program, and students are provided with contests each fall that have scholarships attached to them for the winners.

In addition to the variety of contests, there are events during the Common Reader week for students, faculty, and alumni.

This year’s events will take place Oct. 8-11, with Rather—the author and esteemed journalist—in attendance for the events Oct. 10 and 11.

“We’ve made this event about students, faculty, staff, and alumni,” Director of First Year Experience Kay Angrove said.

Rather actually specifically requested to be with students.

He will be escorted to and from events by Mass Communications students and the University Police Department.

Beginning that Monday (Oct. 8), there will be the Get out the Vote: Critical Thinking through Deliberative Dialogues event from 4-7 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom. Student groups will compete for a first place prize of $500 and a second place prize of $250 by using critical thinking to work through hypothetical situations. Dinner will be provided.

On Tuesday, the Free Speech and Expressive Activity Forum will take place in the LSC room 320 from 12:30-1:50 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Later that evening from 5-6 p.m. will be the Fine Arts Juried Show and

Awards Ceremony in the LSC Art Gallery. SHSU Common Reader student art will be exhibited, and contest winners will be announced. Light refreshments will be provided accompanied by music. Tuesday will conclude with the Service as a Virtue: Friends Help Friends Community Service Fair presented by the Student Money Management Center. Free popcorn and food will be provided along with a scholarship drawing for $250.

Wednesday and Thursday will give students, faculty and alumni a few opportunities to meet Rather at public events.

Wednesday at 1 p.m. there is a Dan Rather Meet-and-Greet Photo Opportunity in the LSC Art Gallery from 1-3 p.m. A reservation is required and can be requested at ssi@shsu.edu.

Later that evening is the Third Annual Mass Comm Film Festival in the Olson Auditorium in Academic Building IV from 7:30-9 p.m. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students’ short films based on Rather’s book will be shown, and the film contest winners will be announced.

Thursday will feature Rather as the keynote speaker at the Common Reader Finale Event.

The event is free; however, a ticket is required. Tickets will be available to faculty, staff and students with a valid Bearkat OneCard that morning in the Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center (GPAC) lobby. The event itself will be from 2-3:15 p.m. in the Payne Concert Hall.

Once seating there fills up, the event will be broadcast in the LSC Ballroom as an overflow.

Alumni can reserve a limited number of advanced tickets by emailing alumni@shsu.edu. The week of events will conclude Thursday afternoon with a Book Signing from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the Payne Concert Hall. The line will start in the lobby.

For more information about the schedule of events or for answers to any other questions surrounding the Common Reader Program, contact the First Year Experience office at fye@shsu.edu.

“We can share our differences under the common umbrella of humanity.”

- Dan Rather in “What Unites Us”

The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianOpinions | Monday, October 1, 2018

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our voice

A Letter from The Houstonian Staff: United We Stand Is this country falling apart?

What about the world as a whole? Why has society developed in a way that division is easily accepted and unification seems like an afterthought?

These are a few of the questions that prompted The Houstonian to spend all of last week focusing on what unifies us. Our News can be unify our society, arts and entertainment can unify Our Lives, opinions can unify Our Voice and sports can be Our Fight.

Each of these sections of life has the potential to unify us as a nation, so why do they consistently divide us?

News is information, and information is power. Through the spread of news we can empower more citizens and rally around each other. We should be using information as a platform for unity, not a source of controversy and distrust as journalism seems to have fallen victim to in

recent decades. There was a time when the media was considered the fourth branch of government—“the watchdog.” A feeling of integrity bound the media and the public, a bind that has since disintegrated.

Art and entertainment over the years has been designed to bring people together for pure enjoyment. Classical literature was intended to inform and entertain, the theatre originated as a sense of laissez-faire recreation. It seems this original intent of the arts has given way to competition and criticism.

Voicing your opinion should work towards unifying people, and not just those with the

same thoughts as you. Opposing viewpoints don’t need to be divisive. Opinions on historically controversial topics like politics and religion have segregated

UNITED WE STAND

should not be the case. Differing viewpoints are often what lead to progress, but opposing sides should conduct themselves in a constructive manner that does not look to tear others down.

Even sports has a juxtaposed history of either unifying entire cities or creating a riff of tension between fans. Fights have broken out, social media has fueled virtual trash talking and friendly rivalry takes a backseat to cutthroat competition. Hurricane Harvey was devastating to the Houston area last year, and while an entire city and most of the country united together through the destruction, select groups of people saw the event as ammunition for trash talking during

DIVIDED WE FALL this country—Republicans versus Democrats being a prime example. We are not saying that we expect everyone to agree on all matters; that actually

sporting events.

The Houston Astros and Texas Rangers played a Major League Baseball game at a neutral site in Tampa Bay during the disaster, and Rangers’ fans were seen with signs that read “We’re going to hit Houston harder than Hurricane Harvey.” This was not an isolated incident. This can be seen across all sports and simply acts as a reminder that society is of the mind that division is easier than unification.

We at The Houstonian implore you to acknowledge the weaknesses that a divided country suffers. America is built on a strong foundation of freedom and unity, but recently society has experienced cracks in that structure.

The solution is within reach, we just need a unified front to make the first move.

Democracy Falls When Good Citizens Do Nothing

BY SHARON RAISSI Associate Editor In the midst of one of the most divisive eras in American history, citizens need to be reminded that their voices, be them voices of dissent or approval, deserve to be heard now more than ever. What unites us as Americans is our inalienable right to vote—a right that, for many, has been long fought for and hard-won.

For some, the path to the polls has been notoriously littered with obstacles. Historically disenfranchised groups like women and African Americans had to

spend years rallying to even get suffrage consideration. These obstacles did not disappear with each voting amendment to the constitution. However, the way is cleared for voters now more than ever. Each person has the right to vote and should exercise that right, no matter the circumstances.

Especially in the wake of the last presidential election, many Americans are finding themselves increasingly disillusioned with the idea of voting. The candidate with the popular vote did not take office, leaving some citizens wondering why they should even bother voting in the first place.

This attitude is contagious in our society. If everyone starts to believe that their vote doesn’t count, if they stop voting, then, eventually, that belief will become a reality. The best way to assure the downfall of our democracy is to stop participating in it.

“When the voice of the people is stifled, little by little, the nation becomes silent.”

This nation was not founded on the idea of biting your

tongue. This nation was founded by a group of wide-eyed revolutionaries who spoke their minds and fought for their rights no matter the consequences. We, however, are not in the same position as our country’s forefathers. You can get by in this world without doing much.

I see it every day in college students. You can tread choppy waters forever and barely keep your head above them. For many, that is enough. You don’t have to care. You don’t have to research any candidates, fill out any forms or walk yourself to the polls.

But I would argue that it is your civic responsibility as a functioning, educated adult to care.

It is your responsibility to keep yourself informed so that you may be registered and prepared to vote. No matter how or for whom you vote, keep this country’s head above water.

Keep the power to choose in the hands of the governed.

In this country, we all have choices. I implore you to make the wisest ones you can.

For a printable mail-in Walker County voter registration form, visit http://www.co.walker.tx.us and click on the “Register to Vote” tab on the left side menu.

You can also visit 1301 Sam Houston Avenue Suite 114 for in-person registry.

The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianAandE | Monday, October 1, 2018

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our lives

Reynolds Interns with Rather in New York

RATHER NICE PAIR. Dan Rather and senior Ryan Reynolds during the Dan Rather Internship.

Wayne Nelson,” Reynolds said.

“I heard a door open and shut behind me, and Angela [former Dan Rather intern and current News and Guts employee] from her desk was just like, ‘Good morning, Mr. Rather.’ I was sitting there looking at Wayne kind of bug-eyed. I remember telling myself, ‘Oh man, Dan Rather’s behind me.’ I stand up, and I look at him and he says, ‘You must be Ryan,’ and I look at him in his eyes and I’m like, ‘That’s me. Ryan Reynolds, nice to meet you Mr. Rather.’”

After that, the pair of former Houstonian editors shook hands and got acquainted. Through the course of his summer internship, Reynolds found himself writing, fact-checking scripts and transcribing entire AXS TV productions word-for-word.

“I would say the biggest thing I learned from the internship is the art of preparation,” Reynolds said. “I got to see the preproduction of an interview-style show in action, and I got to help the crew prepare for shoots.”

versities because of a low ACT score. When he found SHSU and received his acceptance letter, there was still a stipulation.

Taped on his closet door at his “I got accepted into SHSU home in League City is a rejecas a PREP student, meaning I tion letter from the University had to take a class on campus of Houston with a handwritten to further prepare for college,” red note scrawled across the botReynolds said. “Keep in mind tom that reads: “Work harder!!!”

I’m an A/B student. All of this Now each time senior Mass was because of one test score.

Communications major Ryan That’s how I ended up at Sam Reynolds looks at that note, he Houston State. I’m blessed that does so as a Dan Rather intern. they gave me a chance and I’m Over the summer, Reynolds just trying to make the most of was presented with the opporit. It still motivates me to this tunity to go to New York City day that I’m labeled as a PREP and work with esteemed SHSU student.” alumnus Dan Rather. Reynolds Before his first semester at says he takes his life and his SHSU ever started, Reynolds work one step at a time, but attended an event called “media when he was selected for the inmadness,” where he met the ternship, he decided to go ahead then Editor-in-Chief and Sports and make the leap.

Editor of the Houstonian.

“It’s the highest honor the After linking up with the sports Mass Comm department at Sam editor, Reynolds was assigned Houston State can give out,” the Cross Country beat for the Reynolds said. “Of course, me sports section. During this time, being the go-getter that I am, the Houstonian published twice I wanted to take a stab at it. I a week. wanted to put my hand in the “Printing two times a week, pot and you need see if I a lot of could be content,” the one Reynolds lucky said. “I was student to grinding. I come out was writwith an ing two to internship. four stories Luckily, I a week was that while also person.” washing

By June dishes at 4, ReynMoe’s and olds’s taking like plane 15 credit touched hours. I down in think apBEHIND THE SCENES. This photo was taken by Ryan Reynolds on the New York plying that City; two work load set of CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, featuring Rather alongside Cooper days later, early on reduring a taping of the program. he officialally helped ly started me adjust his work in the News and Guts The road to New York was to how things would become office in Rockefeller Center. Dur- not always a smooth ride, later on with the duties that I ing his first official day on the though. Reynolds revealed the held.” job, he met Mr. Rather himself. stresses of his senior year of When Reynolds started at “I was talking to one of the high school and how he was The Houstonian, the publicaAXS TV’s executive producers, rejected by three different unition was in the midst of a rough

BY TYLER JOSEFSEN Editor-in-Chief

ARMY ROTC -Be part of something bigger than yourself.

-Gain valuable leadership skills -Compete for tuition scholarships -Earn an Army commission

-Complete commissioning requirements in 2 1/2 years -Either undergrad or Master's -Earn $420/month stipend

Contact Mr. Derr at 936-294-4994 or dld013@shsu.edu ABIII, Room 327

patch. Upon inheriting The Houstonian, he realized he still had another mountain to climb.

“When I first started at The Houstonian in Fall 2014, I saw the kind of state the paper was at, and it wasn’t a good one,” Reynolds said. “There were certain departments that would just flat out refuse to speak to The Houstonian. The publication itself had a bad rep.”

Over time, Reynolds worked his way up the chain of command from beat writer, to layout editor, to sports editor then to editor-in-chief. Nevertheless, the state of the newspaper served as a starting place for him to take it to new heights.

“I think the one thing that I would say I changed a lot at the Houstonian was bringing back integrity,” Reynolds said.

“I brought the integrity of journalism back to the Houstonian.”

Before the pair parted, Rather and Reynolds sat down for a final one-on-one talk. During the talk, Rather provided some words of encouragement.

“He brought me into his office, he sat me down, looked me in the eyes, and said ‘What I’ve seen of you these past eight or

nine weeks, the sky is the limit for you. I’m not just sitting here and feeding you this because I’m a straight shooter. The sky’s the limit for you, but the one thing you need to work on is your literary knowledge. You need to close that gap in order to move forward.’”

Moving forward, for Reynolds, seems inevitable. He has moved on from his position at The Houstonian and is an employee at Bearkat Sports Network working with a new project called BSN Xtra where he hosts a weekly podcast called Chasing the Cup. He plans to graduate at the end of the Fall 2018 semester and attend graduate school for Sport Management.

“I take life and work one step at a time, one day at a time,” Reynolds said. “I don’t really have just one vision. Yeah, it would be cool to work at ESPN. It would be cool to work at Fox Sports or Barstool or something along those lines, but it doesn’t scare me. I’ve been doing it my whole life. To be honest, wherever life brings me, that’s where I’m meant to be.”

OUR

LIVES

The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianAandE | Monday, October 1, 2018

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our lives

Book Review: Unification in a Divided Nation

Politics and Prose

BY KAY ANGROVE SHSU Faculty

The SHSU Common Reader program rests on a simple idea: that reading the same book brings people closer together as an educated community by creating common ground for discussion, and the common reader is chosen with a broad array of interests in mind. Each year the book selection committee— made up of students, faculty, and staff— is charged with selecting a book that (1) addresses complex issues relevant to students, (2) aligns with faculty expertise on these issues and (3) appeals to students and faculty from a wide array of disciplines. After rigorous analysis and discussion the 2018-2019 SHSU Common Reader selection is What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism, by esteemed alumnus, Dan Rather and Elliott Kirschner. This book was chosen from over 100 book choice nominations solicited from the university community.

So how is Rather’s book relevant to students on our SHSU

campus? First, Rather’s message is a positive one. One of the strong themes is his call to action to find your voice and to use it for the good of humanity.

He uses examples of historical events where voice has mattered in changing the landscape of the American culture. In illustrating the role of “voice” as a journalist he states, “no one has a monopoly on the truth, but the whole premise of our democracy is that truth and justice must win out. And the role of a trained journalist is to get as close to the truth as is humanly possible.”

Rather discusses the history and power of voice through our right to vote, and in our freedom to disagree with the status quo.

One of the SHSU Common Reader events designed to apply Rather’s concepts is “Get out the Vote: Critical thinking through Deliberative Dialogues”. Deliberative dialogues enables students to work through complex problems using logic, evidence, and empathy: skills that Rather promotes in his book.

Rather discusses the importance of expressing your voice

through the arts. He believes that “art is an attempt to capture the truths of the world as you see it in a medium you can share with others.” He encourages artists to lend their voice and perspective to local, national, and global conversations. To help students apply this concept to their work, the SHSU Common Reader program holds an art competition for student artists to express themes in the book.

The book is divided into five major topics whose themes are relevant to college students today: Freedom, Community, Exploration, Responsibility, and Character. His characterization of America is, “a nation not only of dreamers, but also of fixers.

We have looked at our land and people, and said, time and time again, this is not good enough; we can be better.” Rather’s advice is that “a democracy requires open access to ideas.

It requires a willingness to struggle and learn, to question our own suppositions and biases, to open ourselves as citizens, and a nation, to a world of books and thought.”

Reading this book across dis-

ciplines gives students a shared experience. Moderated discussions, curriculum infusion, and co-curricular events based on the book are designed to engage students in critical thinking about their role in the future of our society. Using Rather’s book as the SHSU Common Reader provides a vehicle for demonstrating the value of a college education for work, life, and global citizenship.

The culminating experience for the university community

will be to hear Mr. Rather speak at the Keynote event on Thursday, October 11th at 2:00 pm in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center (GPAC). Tickets will be released to current faculty, staff, and students at 1:00 pm on the day of the event in the GPAC lobby. Please bring your Bearkat OneCard and your book. A limited number of advance tickets for alumni can be obtained through the Office of Alumni Relations by e-mail alumni@shsu.edu.

News and Guts

Review: The Era of Streaming Services

BY ALICIA SANCHEZ Contributing Writer Picture a time when it was just you, your television set and your TV Guide. It’s hard to imagine that a few decades ago, people debated with family in their living rooms on whether to watch the new episode of “Murphy Brown” or Monday Night Football. Even though we still struggle to decide what to watch, the how and when is all up to us now.

In April 1953, the first issue

of TV Guide was available on newsstands nationwide. The guide helped create a dialogue and choosing a program together became a bonding activity for many families. Easily being able to find out what was going to be on weeks in advance allowed viewers to carve out time in their busy schedules and make time for programs and company they enjoyed.

The TV Guide took out the guess work and pointless channel surfing, but it was home VCRs that brought about new changes to television. As early as 1965, VCRs gave consumers the

ability to record TV and watch it whenever it was convenient.

This technology allowed working or busy parents to sit with their children and watch TV together. From VCRs to DVRs, more options and channels like MTV and HBO allowed for greater variety, more viewers, and more popularity. Thus, TV easily became a staple of casual conversations and became something to have in common. It gave a sense of community.

As life got faster and social needs advanced, so did the method of viewing entertainment.

Along came the introduction

of streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. These online platforms, among others, give more power and freedom to the viewer with countless opportunities to get together with people and watch what they want, when they want. No longer do we have to rely on networks to set the date and time of our favorite programs.

Not to mention the gift and curse of living in the Golden Age of Television. The amount of content available on streaming services is astronomical. Not only were shows like “The Brady Bunch” and “Friends” digitalized, but networks continue to produce and distribute original content. Other shows that popular TV networks were afraid to greenlight now have a home on online platforms.

With the most flexibility of all time due to streaming services, it has managed to unite us the most. There is no waiting for re-runs or “classics” to air to share the joy of a show with younger generations. Shows such as “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and “Full House” are online and allow younger audiences to discover these shows for the first time. Streaming has also helped spark the rediscovery of classic shows like “Star Trek” and “Cheers.” It has created a multi-generational conversation.

We were once limited to relatives, neighbors, friends and colleagues to discuss and debate our favorite shows with. Now,

streaming combined with social media can instantly start conversations with people worldwide. There’s live tweeting, live voting, hashtags, discussion boards and sometimes exclusive show clips for social media followers. By simply mentioning a TV show on social media, a viewer can instantly connect with fans anywhere. There’s kinship in fandoms that could have never been predicted when radio shows and black and white TV dominated entertainment.

However, it still seems like it was just yesterday when we raced our siblings and relatives home to snag the TV remote.

According to 2017 Neilson’s quarterly report, almost 70 million American households have a connected TV-streaming device and most adults spend an average of 10 hours a day consuming media. Every time we log on to social media, every time we stream a show, it is a privilege and opportunity to relate with others. Streaming services have changed our lives for the better, and maybe for the worse. It has changed our present, and will likely have an impact in ways that have yet to be realized. The only certain thing is that it will continue to shape our lives for generations to come.

/HoustonianSHSU @HoustonianNews @houstoniannews

The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleSports | Monday, October 1, 2018

8

our fight

94th Annual Battle of the Piney Woods a ‘must-win’

BY TYLER JOSEFSEN Editor-in-Chief There is a lot on the line for Sam Houston State University football as the Bearkats head to Houston Saturday to battle the rival Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in the 94th annual Battle of the Piney Woods. SHSU will enter NRG Stadium just 2-2 this season, but they are riding a seven-game winning streak against SFA. What’s at stake?

Head coach K.C. Keeler said a couple weeks ago, “Our backs are against the wall” after the team’s devastating loss to the Nicholls Colonels on Sept. 22. The defeat in Louisiana meant the Kats started the season 1-2—not the figure that anyone was hoping for when the 2018 campaign began. The pair of early losses basically means that the Bearkats are in a position where they need to run the table the rest of the season. Now with an even .500 record, every game matters, and there will be particular emphasis on Saturday’s matchup as SHSU looks to continue their recent dominance against the Lumberjacks.

The Kats finished the 2017 season 12-2, going 8-1 against Southland Conference opponents with their loss coming at the hands of the University of Central Arkansas Bears—which the Bearkats avenged Saturday with an overtime victory. SHSU began last season a perfect 2-0 in non-conference play before picking up a dominating 66-17 victory against the Nicholls Colonels. A similar schedule to start 2018 resulted in that alarming 1-2 record (with losses coming against North Dakota and Nicholls).

SHSU’s perfect 3-0 start in 2017 was thwarted by a loss to UCA before beating SFA the

following weekend and winning out the remainder of their regular season schedule. The Bearkats entered the FCS (Football Championship Series) playoffs and beat South Dakota and a tough Kennesaw State team to advance to the semi-finals.

The road this season will not be quite so free of adversity as SHSU will have to fight for their playoff spot with every contest they play.

Axe the Jacks SFA comes into this contest 1-3 overall in 2018. SHSU has won every matchup against the Jacks since 2011, outscoring them 318202. With the resignation of head coach Clint Conque at the end of last year, SFA has been under the control of interim head coach Jeff Byrd who also serves as the defensive coordinator. After surrendering 63 points to the Bearkats in 2016, SFA held SHSU to 27 in Byrd’s first season last year.

Despite being 1-3 to open up 2018, SFA has

held their opponents to under 31 points in three of the season’s first four contests.

On the other side of the ball, SHSU’s offense is 2-0 this season when scoring at least 30 points, and 0-2 when they fail to do so. What does this mean? One of the Bearkats keys to the game is to put 30 points on the scoreboard Saturday and force senior quarterback Foster Sawyer and the rest of SFA’s offense to match that figure.

The Quarterback Situation All evidence suggests that redshirt freshman Ty Brock will be the starter for SHSU. Junior Mike Dare scuffled to begin the year, and after losing to Nicholls Keeler decided it was time for a switch. Brock took advantage of his first collegiate start, throwing for 305 yards and a touchdown. His mobility both in and out of the pocket played a key role in the win, as well. He picked up 73 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

“When they told me I was going

to be the starter, that’s probably the most nervous I was all week,” Brock said. “As the week went on I just got this feeling of ‘I’m going to get to play football,’ which for me is a huge blessing.”

Brock’s agility seemed to open up the playbook a bit for offensive coordinator Ryan Carty.

While SHSU fans are not used to watching mobile quarterbacks the last few years, the idea of seeing a QB use his legs might be reminiscent of former quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe’s 26-yard touchdown run in last year’s 27-16 victory over SFA. SHSU’s offense has not been the potent machine Bearkat fans have grown accustomed to seeing, but Brock is coming off a successful start that the program can only hope was the start of a turnaround this season. The dual-threat the freshman provides in the pocket is going to give SFA a different look at the Kats than the past few seasons when the Lumberjack defense looked across the line at Briscoe.

The Goal “If you want to get to 9-2, you have to get to 2-2,”Keeler said following the overtime victory over UCA. “We got to 2-2, now we have to worry about getting to 3-2.”

The only thing standing between Keeler’s program and a winning record are the Lumberjacks. A 9-2 season would put the perennial national champion contending Bearkats back in the hunt for a decent seed in the FCS Playoffs. All eyes are now on one of the oldest rivalries in college football as SHSU looks for an eighth consecutive victory over their foes.

The Battle of the Piney Woods kicks off Saturday at 1 p.m. at NRG Stadium in Houston.

@HoustonianSport

Alpha Omega fans, volunteers creates fun football atmosphere

BY JORDAN SMITH Sports Editor A brand new sport was recently added at Alpha Omega Academy in Huntsville— football, with a twist. It is not just regular 11-on-11 high school football. This is six-on-six football.

What exactly is six-on-six football? It is a reduced version of 11-on-11 football with a few changes. For example, a first down is not after 10 yards like in 11-man football. It is in fact after 15 yards within four consecutive plays.

The Lions of Alpha Omega Academy are 0-2 heading into their fifth game of the season,

with the past two weeks resulting in a cancellation due to weather. This week, the Lions will take on Baytown Christian Friday at 7 p.m. in their first game since Sept. 8.

Lions head coach Ron Lynch talked about the atmosphere at games and how it helps with the game day experience.

“If you come to one of our games, you will see a lot of people and volunteers in the bleachers,” Lynch said. “A lot of grandparents, a lot of parents, our place is a good crowd. Usually, the people we play from Conroe and Bryan, they bring a good crowd and the private schools, they really have a lot of family support and parent support. They work together

and pull together since they all help with volunteer stuff for the events that you put on.”

Alpha Omega Academy after care program teacher and parent volunteer with Lions athletics Amy Balch, who has two kids on the team, talked about the kind of atmosphere that the fans and family of the team bring.

“It’s a great atmosphere,” Balch said. “There’s a lot of excitement. The players are excited to play. I see this all around in all the sports. They really do exhibit good sportsmanship. I really do see a lot of it just in the way they are taught because that attitude throughout every subject that they are in, not just athletics, to be gracious and to not give up. That’s another thing

Hannah Taylor

that Coach [Lynch] always points out. They never really get down, even though it looks like, in times, they would surely lose; they just rally together. They don’t get down and just keep giving it their all.”

The Lions will look to claim their first-ever victory in program history starting at 7 p.m. this Friday as they take on Baytown Christian in Baytown in a

non-conference match-up.

OUR FIGHT