Tredway selected as men’s golf head coach
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THE
PAN AMERICAN Are we T h e S t u d e n t N e w s p a p e r o f T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Te x a s - P a n A m e r i c a n
RGV heroes honored with scholarship
Safe?
By ANGELA SALAZAR The Pan American
Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, young Americans, mostly students, have been going off to fight for the freedoms we take for granted. The many who stayed behind have been trying to find a way to repay them for their courageous efforts. This year at UTPA, a new scholarship has been initiated as a way to give back to those who have fought and for those who have lost family members to the war. “This scholarship is important for two reasons,” said Griselda Castilla, assistant director of student financial services. “One, to memorialize the sacrifice of these young men and women, and two, to encourage family members of these fallen heroes and deserving veteran students to pursue their education.” In order to qualify for this scholarship, students must either be veterans with six months of active duty under their belts, or be a relative of a fallen Valley soldier. In addition, applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0, a minimum score of 20 on the ACT or 930 on the SAT, and be enrolled at least as a half-time student (six credit hours during the fall and spring semester). The 10 scholarship recipients
Q “I wish that all of the veterans attending Pan Am could receive the scholarship.” -Christopher Michael Simoes
for the upcoming semester have already been chosen and each has a story different from the next. One of the recipients is
See HEROES page 3
Q INDEX Editorial............................2 News..................................2 A&E...................................4 Sports................................7
July 28, 2005
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Joel de la Rosa/The Pan American
he border security issue boils over with concerns about terrorism coming to the fore By SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American As national newspapers continue to report mounting concern from government officials in Washington about possible terrorist infiltration through the South Texas-Mexico border, local border officials are singing quite a different song. “We haven’t had an encounter where terrorists or weapons of mass
destruction have tried to enter through our borders,” said Rick Pauza, spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Though, as in every border, “there certainly is some risk.” “We continue to maintain our mission to stop terrorists from crossing the border using our available resources and technology,” Pauza said. Those resources, including the
Border Patrol’s estimated 1,500 agents, are distributed along the border, which stretches along the Mexican border from Falcon Dam to Brownsville and along the Gulf Coast from Brownsville to Lake Jackson, for a total of 19 counties. With so much ground to cover, the Border Patrol must distribute resources and manpower according to need. The organization keeps
Hurricane’s impact felt in various ways
By ANA LEY The Pan American
Making landfall near San Fernando, Mexico (about 75 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, 85 miles south of Brownsville) at 6:35 a.m. Wednesday morning, Hurricane Emily's force was far less impressive than expected by most Valley residents. However, there was more to the storm than the damage it created, which was really nothing more than a few torn-up power lines, several knocked-over street signs and some minor flooding. Besides leaving residents feeling relieved and somewhat disappointed, it also made many thankful for the rain-drenched fields, whose well-being is crucial to keeping the agricultural Rio Grande Valley's economy in sync. The rainfall, in some areas as much as five inches, came in handy. It also alerted city officials in various Valley towns as to the status of their drainage situation. More importantly, it watered the land. South Texas, which enjoyed two surprisingly wet years in 2003-04, fell into a nearly record-breaking drought in the first six months of 2005 until Emily hit. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regional director Carlos Rubinstein believes Hurricane Emily's rainfall will help alleviate the severity of the situation. "Now we've gotten some good rains out of Emily and it will eliminate the (water) demand from the extreme
See WATER page 3
See BORDER page 3
Bridging the gap between RGV, DC By EMMA CLARK The Pan American The Rio Grande Valley’s continuous growth is bringing much more than just new roads to the area. Local political leaders are getting in on the action this summer, by moving their offices to the heart of the growth. Congressman Ruben Hinojosa officially opened his District 15 office July 8, on Trenton Road in Edinburg, a move which he said
reflects the significance of the three-time AllAmerican city in his political and congressional career. “The district now stretches from Bastrop County near Austin to the Rio Grande Valley,” began Hinojosa. “I knew I would have to move, and
Edinburg was always my first choice as a new location.” With Trenton Road having become the center of much business in the area, a nexus linking Pharr, McAllen and Edinburg, Hinojosa said he felt his office needed to be there. “Trenton Road is a major artery in the county, and people travel to Edinburg on a reg-
See OFFICES page 3
Joel de la Rosa/The Pan American
SOAKED - Rio Grande Valley cotton farmers benefited from the rains that accompanied Hurricane Emily.
NEWS Seguridad Fronteriza un Problema Continuo Por SANDRA GONZALEZ The Pan American Traducido por CELSIO GONZALEZ In the spirit of diversity and the Rio Grande Valley’s demographics, The Pan American has decided to start translating a news story each week from English to Spanish, to better serve the percentage of its readers who are either bilingual or speak Spanish as a first language. Mientras los periódicos nacionales continuan comunicando la reciente inquietud de los funcionarios del gobierno en Washington sobre la posible infiltración terrorista por la frontera del Sur de Texas con México, oficiales fronterizos tienen otra opinión. “Nosotros no hemos tenido ningún encuentro, ni con terroristas ni con armas destructivas, que hayan tratado de entrar por nuestras fronteras,” dijo Rick Pauza, el portavoz para el Buró de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza, sin embargo, como en cada frontera, “ciertamente hay algún riesgo.” “Utilizando los recursos y tec-
nología que tenemos disponibles, continuamos manteniendo nuestra misión de evitar que terroristas crucen la frontera,” dijo Pauza. Esos recursos, que incluyen los 1.500 agentes de la Patrulla Fronteriza, están distribuidos desde a lo largo de la frontera mexicana desde la Presa
la Patrulla Fronteriza. Pero no todos están contentos con la distribución de agentes. Los Minutemen, un grupo de la defensa civil que empezó en Arizona, han llegado poco a poco a Texas con la intención de impedir la inmigración ilegal. Ellos afirman que el gobierno
aíses con mayor inmigración a los Estados Unidos aparte de P México por el sur de Tejas. 1. Brasil- 21,316 2. Honduras- 17,542 3. El Salvador- 14,754
Falcón hasta Brownsville y por la Costa de Golfo desde Brownsville hasta Lake Jackson, para un total de 19 condados. Con tanto territorio para vigilar, la Patrulla Fronteriza necesita distribuir recursos y patrullas según sea necesario. Las organizaciones mantienen registros extensos. “Recibimos informes alarmantes que muestran un aumento de entradas ilegales, por lo tanto incrementamos las patrullas en esas áreas,” dijo Roy Cervantes, un agente de supervisión de
4. Guatemala- 4,776 5. China- 1,273 *Estas cifras son exclusivas al Pan American
federal no ha cumplido con su responsabilidad de imponer la ley, aunque los miembros en general apoyan a la Patrulla Fronteriza y desean ayudarles a encontrar inmigrantes ilegales. Ningún funcionario de la Patrulla Fronteriza comentaría acerca de los Minutemen, y el portavoz de Minutemen no respondió a las peticiones de conceder una entrevista. Pero su sitio Web critica las prioridades del gobierno. “Ya han pasado tres años desde el 11 de septiembre de 2001, y todavía
Walking Blues By RACHEL CLAY The Pan American I could walk a mile under the blazingly hot sun after class to my car yet the hardest part of my journey is only the last twelve feet. Twelve feet of hot, black asphalt boiling under my shoes and filling me with dread. “University Drive”. “107”. These are the names given to the last leg of my journey. I fear nothing about it. Ur… actually, on second thought, I do. Speeding cars, small lanes, dust and debris flying into my eyes – these are my fears. One step closer and the pointed game of “Frogger” begins. Only this time, I am the poor, helpless “froggy” and if I lose this game … No, I can’t think this way. Precariously I lean my head and upper body into my gauntlet and look to my left. Okay, the car in the second lane is coming faster than the car in the first lane…by…err…a good four seconds. I think. And so, I step into the first lane and
Illustration by Austin Hardwicke & Joel de la Rosa
watch as both cars come barreling toward me – one faster than the other, I hope. “I’m a pedestrian!” my mind screams. My stomach tightens in a knot. One step forward. Did my legs move? One car whizzes by. Hurry! Hurry into the next lane. Don’t inhale the toxic muffler odors. Now I feel pinned, teetering on the edge of two bright yellow parallel lines. Yellow, the safety zone. Not really. This is the most dangerous spot of all. Teeter forward and I fall into traffic. Teeter backward, the same. Yet I can’t move. Traffic is rushing toward me from both directions. I feel like an idiot standing there. Think thin! Think really thin! I feel squeezed on both sides. Don’t breathe! Holy crap! Did my backpack just get clipped by that car behind me?! Wait, an opening, a clearing in front of me. Wait for it! Wait for it! Now! I’m running now. Closer… closer… almost there. I can taste it now. Yes! I’ve made it! Feelings of relief wash over me as I wipe the sweat from my forehead. An ugly horn blares in my ears and pierces through my relief. A beaten-up rusty truck passes me by with a number of dirty old men smiling their toothless, flirty grins at me. Ugh! But they are just a reminder of where I’ve been and what I’ve passed through. I have made it. I have … crossed the street!
nuestro gobierno está mas preocupado en asegurar las fronteras de tierras extranjeras que en asegurar las fronteras de los Estados Unidos,” dice un articulo del 2004. Los Minutemen no son los únicos en desacuerdo con la política fronteriza del gobierno. El Congresista Solomón Ortiz (D-Corpus Christi) ha declarado en contra de la práctica del gobierno federal de liberar a inmigrantes no-mexicanos aguardando una audiencia de deportación después de ser capturados entrando al país ilegalmente. Cervantes, sin embargo, indicó que antes de ser liberados, los inmigrantes ilegales pasan por un proceso de investigación. “Cuando un agente hace un arresto, ellos hacen la entrevista inicial para determinar si ellos son o no son ciudadanos mexicanos,” Cervantes dijo. “Después los transportan a la oficina de la Patrulla Fronteriza para empezar la segunda fase—huellas dactilares e información biográfica.” Según Cervantes, las huellas dactilares son ingresadas en [un sistema automatizado] que busca antecedentes penales/deportaciones, y determina si ellos vienen de un “país de interés
especial.” “Si uno de estos individuos tiene antecedentes penales, es detenido automáticamente y llevado a la estación de la deportación,” explicó Cervantes. Por lo contrario, si el inmigrante ilegal no tiene antecedentes penales y no hay sitio para ellos en el centro de detención, es liberado sin fianza en espera de una audiencia. Esa práctica probablemente continuará a pesar de las objeciones, ya que la congestión no disminuirá, porque el número de arrestos continúa aumentando. En el año fiscal 2004, había 96.641 arrestos totales por la Patrulla Fronteriza. Ese número aumentó por casi 10.000 en el año fiscal 2005 con 106.129 detenciones totales. De ésos, 62.075 eran no-mexicanos de 65 países diferentes. Mientras estas cifras pueden significar una variedad de cosas, Cervantes los ve como una buena señal. “En términos de aplicación, muestra que nuestras operaciones están funcionando,” Cervantes dijo. “Trabajamos en números y éstos muestran que los agentes están haciendo su trabajo.”
Old School: Reminding the students of their resources By KRISTINA LEATHERMAN The Pan American Technology, all around us, grows at such speed that it is mind-boggling. The mass of information thrust at us is extreme and anything we ever wanted to know is at the touch of a fingertip, literally. The Internet is leading more students to turn to search engines, such as Google and Yahoo, and other Web sites to gather their information. As a result, many are forgetting and some have never learned, how to use the resources a library has to offer. The library staff at The University of Texas-Pan American has been trying to do something about that. Since its remodeling was completed in 1998, the library has been offering classes to students to assist them in research. That process used to be known as bibliographic instruction; now it is more about information literacy. With the support of many professors on campus, the library faculty has been able to target the English 1302 classes. The idea is to show students how to use library data bases and how to evaluate them, to help determine if the information is something that can be used for their research or not. The staff also hopes to help students realize the importance of good research outside of the Internet. “The problem is you don’t find credible sources at Google and Yahoo,” said Tamara Remhof, an instruction/reference librarian. “It can give you some really accurate infor-
mation, but it might give you some inaccurate information too, because anybody can publish anything on the Web, whereas, with the resources that we have here at the library, these are data bases, they’re subscription based resources. That means that most, in fact all of these, do have a print source… [the information] has been verified.” The classes are run through the faculty and taught by the librarians. Professors are able to sign up and request a class where they can bring in their students. The library also encourages individual students to sign up for an orientation. By no means is the class limited to English 1302 courses. On the contrary, many instructors are bringing in their graduate students and upper-level undergrads to give them a review and show them where to find all of the resources they need. “I really found it useful. I think that we all need a library refresher course once in a while.” said Christina Flores, a junior English major. “Most of us have become dependent on the Internet to help us for class assignments.” “I thought it was very informative and very helpful.” said another student, Maria Covacevich, a junior communication major. The library staff does suggest a full week for English 1302 courses so as they are able to go in depth into the research process. The upper-level classes and graduate classes usually spend between an hour and 90 minutes in one session with the instructors.
NEWS
July 28, 2005
HEROES
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OFFICES
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ular basis. I believe that an office here will be convenient and easily accessible to constituents who need help,” Hinojosa said. Plus, events on the ground conspired to necessitate a move. After a redistricting plan was passed by the Texas Legislature in the fall of 2004, redrawing the physical boundaries of the state’s 32 congressional districts, an adjustment was called for. “We lost a good portion of McAllen in the redistricting plan. Our local offices were simply outside of that line,” said Hinojosa’s press secretary Ciaran Clayton, in Washington. Hinojosa’s new office also puts him in a position to be able to reach out to students at The University of Texas-Pan American. “Students needing assistance with any kind of federal services can go, like any other constituent of the area, and get help from any of the local representatives at the Edinburg office,” said Clayton. Clayton added that as a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, Hinojosa holds UTPA in the highest regard, and that his doors are always open. Together with the growth of the University and the work of city officials, Hinojosa said, “Edinburg has become a magnet for business and economic development.” Meanwhile, in an odd switch, District 25 Congressman Lloyd Doggett moved his offices to Hinojosa’s previous offices, located on North 15th Street, in McAllen. Although Doggett has been serving the Rio Grande Valley since the beginning of the year, his office had yet to find a permanent home. Jess Fassler, press secretary to Doggett, explained that Congressman Hinojosa’s previous office was perfectly situated. “The space is ideal for a Congressional office, local residents are already familiar with its location, and the City of McAllen is a good landlord,” Fassler said. At the official opening July 6, Doggett said, “The opening of this office represents another step in keeping my promise to fight everyday on the Valley families’ behalf.” Doggett is a senior member on the House Ways and Means Committee, and encouraged all local constituents to attend. “I want to make your priorities my priorities. And one of the best ways I can make that happen comes from meeting my neighbors in the community,” he said.
Christopher Michael Simoes, a senior accounting major, who served for four years in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls. “I think it’s great. I wish that all of the Veterans attending Pan Am could receive the scholarship,” said Simoes, who hopes to one day become a certified public accountant and own a business. Although Simoes joined the Air Force in peacetime, he believes it is something he would have done during war-time as well. “I would have still signed up. However, the willingness to fight is only a part of the reason people sign up for the military,” said Simoes. Just like any other war, the one in Iraq has resulted in casualties. Over a dozen soldiers from South Texas have given their lives to help benefit the lives of others. Danielle Sekula is the sister of fallen U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal (LCpl) Dustin Sekula who died April 1, 2004. Sekula is a senior majoring in business management and gives credit to her brother for her scholarship. “My brother gave his life,” said Sekula. “He was one of the men who gave his life and why the scholarship was made. So with me it was a personal conviction.” To Sekula, being able to use the rights her brother fought for is just another way to pay tribute to his memory. “When I heard about [the scholarship] it was a bittersweet thing,” she admitted. “I wish I had my brother here, but also it is a sweet thing because it’s something the school is really doing a good job honoring the fellow military men who died.” Sekula hopes to one day own a hobby-oriented business and she looks forward to seeing more memorials about the Valley heroes and the contribution they made to society. In addition to Simoes and Sekula, Christy R. Zapata, Jose Adrian Morales, Marcus Burgess, Tomas Navarro, Linda M. Morales, Juan H. Leal, Jose Quintanilla, and Christopher Gonzalez also received the scholarship. People join the armed forces for many different reasons. Some do it because they feel it is their calling or their patriotic duty, others join to travel and see the world. Still others join to get financial assistance for school and learn a trade or skill. Applications for next year’s scholarship will be accepted beginning in April 2006. If you would like more information on the scholarship and the fallen heroes of the Valley, go to www.utpa.edu/valleyheroes.
WATER
WINNERS - Ten students at The University of Texas-Pan American were recently awarded a $1,000 Valley Heroes Memorial Scholarship to help with the cost of their education. Pictured from left to right are Danielle L. Sekula, Christy R. Zapata, UTPA President Dr. Blandina Cárdenas, Jose Adrian Morales, and Christopher Simoes.
heat and dry conditions," Rubenstein said. "The fact it will make the demand go down is a welcome relief." Still, this year has been back to normal for the Valley, and much of the rest of the state. “Texas' overall average rainfall for April to June 2005 was the third driest in 110 years,” said John Nielson-Gammon, a Texas state climatologist. The word “drought” can be easily misconstrued, since there are no explicit guidelines for labeling it. The area suffered through an extended dry period in the 1950s and then again in the 1990s. Many variables must be taken into account, and observers generally rely on an index which only applies to one specific geographic area. Only one such index comes close to working for every region in America for comparison purposes. According to the Drought Monitor (a collaboration by federal and academic scientists which represents a consensus of these indices), Hurricane Emily's rainfall was enough to help begin to assuage the problem before the storm actually even hit. Drought Monitor maps are updated every Tuesday at 8 a.m. Eastern Daily Time and are released Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. In order to see a detailed repre-
sentation of the direct impact Hurricane Emily had on the Valley's drought, you may visit http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/ monitor.html. Farmers and agriculturalists are obviously the individuals who feel the immediate consequences of being in serious drought. However, they are not the only ones affected by it. Everyone living in a drought-stricken area is at risk of coming in contact with cross-connection contamination, diminished sewage flow, and/or an increase in pollutant concentrations. One should also be wary of grassfires and the reduction of fire fighting capability. Not to mention there's a risk for an increase in the price of water and locally-grown produce. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), before the hurricane hit, we needed something between 9.01 to 12.00 inches of precipitation (rainfall) in order to end a level 2 PHDI drought in three months in south Texas. Prior to the hurricane, the Rio Grande Valley area had only received 3 inches of rainfall in 2005. Wednesday's episode resulted in total Valley rainfall ranging from 3-9 inches within a few hours
in a 2004 posting. The Minutemen are not the only ones speaking out against government border policies. U.S. Congressman Solomon Ortiz (D-Corpus Christi) has spoken out against the federal government practice of releasing non-Mexican immigrants awaiting deportation hearings after being caught illegally entering the country. Cervantes, however, pointed out that before being released, illegal immigrants go through a screening process. “When an agent makes an arrest, they conduct the initial interview to determine if they are OTM (Other Than Mexican) or a Mexican citizen,” Cervantes said. “They then transport them to the Border Patrol office to start the second phase—fingerprints and bio info.” According to Cervantes, the fingerprints are then entered into the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) database that checks for prior criminal records and deportations, and to determine if they come from a “special
interest country.” “The minute someone comes up positive (for either), they are automatically detained and taken to the deportation station,” he explained. However, if the illegal immigrants come up negative on all counts and there is no room for them in the detention center, they are released on their own recognizance to await a hearing. That practice will likely continue despite objections, since crowding is not expected to subside due to increasing arrest numbers. In fiscal year 2004, there were 96,641 total apprehensions by the Border Patrol. That number increased by nearly 10,000 in fiscal year 2005 with 106,129 total apprehensions. Of those, 62,075 were OTMs from 65 different countries. While these numbers can mean a variety of things, Cervantes sees them as a good sign. “In enforcement terms, it shows our operations are working,” Cervantes said. “We work on numbers and these show that agents are doing their job.”
BORDER
Joel de la Rosa/The Pan American
CLOSE TO HOME - U.S. Congressman Rubén Hinojosa moved into a new local office in hopes of better serving the residents of the Rio Grande Valley. The new Edinburg office is located at 2864 West Trenton Road.
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extensive records. “We receive apprehension reports that show any increase of illegal entries and we increase manpower in those areas,” said Roy Cervantes, a supervisory Border Patrol agent. But not everyone is happy with their distribution of agents. The Minutemen, a civil defense group that started in Arizona, has slowly found its way into Texas with the intention of reporting illegal immigration. They claim that the federal government has not done its job in enforcing the law, though by and large members support the Border Patrol and wish to give it help in sighting illegal immigrants. No Border Patrol official would comment about the Minutemen and representatives for Minutemen did not respond to e-mail requests for an interview. But the latter’s Web site takes a swing at government priorities. “We are three years post-September 11, 2001, and still our government is more concerned with securing the borders of foreign lands than securing the borders of the United States,” it said
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While the film is still in the final stages of post-production, Stanley hopes that the dedication and skill that went into it shine just as much as when the film first debuted as a rough cut earlier this month. Stanley was inspired to make “The Only Key to Baldpate” during an unfunded research project he was doing on renowned American playwrights including Neil Simon, George M. Cohan, Avery Hopwood and Clyde Fitch. According to Stanley, three of these four are playwrights who have had a quartet of plays running on Broadway at the same time. His plans for their works aren’t limited to his film. “As a part of my research I want to preserve and update some of the best plays by these writers,” Stanley said. “I am working with The University of Michigan to make a large body of Avery Hopwood’s work available online and I have rewritten one of his plays [for production at] Jeffers’ Theatre this spring.” Cohan based his play “The Only Key to Baldpate,” on the play “Seven Keys to Baldpate,” itself based on the novel of the same name by Earl Derr Biggers. Stanley had good reason for his selection of the source material. “‘Seven Keys to Baldpate’ was one of the biggest successes for George M. Cohan,” he said. “The story has been made into a movie four times. None of them have been very good.” Stanley’s adaptation was first a modernized version of Cohan’s play, and made its debut as part of the Pan American Summer Stock (PASS), a theatre workshop in the summer of 2003. According to Stanley, the script didn’t age well, and was in need of an update. “I said I’d give it a shot,” Stanley said. “The result was ‘The Key to Baldpate,’ my script which we did produce...That production was such a success that when it came time to make a movie for PAST ‘05 [Pan American
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many of whom were learning something new about filmmaking. “The best part of the whole process was simply getting up and going to work with such a group of talented, eager and professional creative people,” Stanley said. He was not the only one with such an opinion. “I had quite high expectations about the project from the building of the set, the crew, and the editing and I can gladly say that the final product not only met, but exceeded my expectations,” said Andrade. “I really liked it,” Martinez said. “It really tells the story and you have fun watching it. I always love when you see the movie coming from the script [to the screen]. It’s very different than when you read it. I have only seen the rough cut but I know that the post-production team will do a very good job.” When production wrapped, despite all that was accomplished, it was bittersweet for all involved. Of course that’s not surprising considering all the time and energy that went into the making of the film. “The biggest low point was seeing the theatre studio empty after the set was taken down,” Andrade admitted. “The worst part was having to tear down the set after it was all over,” Stanley said.
Dr. Jack Stanley
rofessor Jack Stanley of The University of Texas-Pan American wrote and directed “The Only Key to Baldpate” this summer as his annual summer film production, along with the help of a variety of UTPA students serving as cast and crew.
“I have never had a crew and cast with a better attitude than we had on this production.”
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Summer Television], I decided to rewrite my play into a screenplay. The result was ‘The Only Key to Baldpate.’” The production has many other unique qualities. It is the first thing Stanley has made completely on a soundstage, and was completed using only two sets. It was also shot in near-HDTV quality. UTPA facilities are not capable of such feats, so students helping the production furnished much of the equipment. “I have never had a crew and cast with a better attitude than we had on this production,” Stanley said. “These people worked from one each afternoon to sometimes as late as 11 p.m. to get the shots we needed for the day.” Marialicia Andrade, a senior theatre/TV/film major, served as producer and Stanley attributes her with much of the professionalism, good humor and high spirits that were rampant on the set. “This was [my] second opportunity that I had to work with Dr. Stanley on a film and I can say nothing but good things,” Andrade said. “I enjoy working with him because his dedication for the project showed since he was involved in every detail of the production; from painting the set to teaching and orchestrating a group of over thirty people to do a movie.” Another important person during the production was Stanley’s first assistant director, graduate student Jesus Martinez. According to Stanley, he was essential in keeping the cast and crew working together throughout production and was on the set the whole time, getting everyone ready for filming. “Basically I was trying to organize [everyone] and make sure the whole team was on the same page,” Martinez said. “We had different teams in production…I was trying to make sure that everyone was on the same page and that everyone was ready for the shot we were doing. “It was my duty to, when the director asked if everyone was ready, to say yes or no…[And to] make sure everyone is working.” Martinez attained his position by performing well during Stanley’s production last summer. Though he was not in such an important position then, he was recognized for his performance and personally asked by Stanley to be first assistant director. “I really wanted to know if I wanted to go into film or TV production,” Martinez said. “This showed me I really liked doing films, and I made a goal to go into the film industry.” Stanley’s leadership during the entire process was reciprocated with dedication from the cast and crew,
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A&E
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LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION - Jack Stanley overlooks the set of his film “The Only Key to Baldpate.”
July 28, 2005
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Mariachi group blends style, substance By CLAUDETTE GONZALEZ The Pan American The University of Texas-Pan American Mariachi Femenil has been placed in the spotlight following its spectacular award-winning performance at the 15th Annual Mariachi Spectacular in Albuquerque, N.M. “I feel like we played like we’ve never played before. Not to sound arrogant, but we sounded awesome,” said sophomore music major Karina Alanis, a violinist for the group. Sophomore pharmacy major Valerie Patterson agreed, saying the success of the Mariachi Femenil was in large part because they were able to convey their sense of enjoyment and fun to the audience. “We really work hard and we just enjoyed ourselves. We were like, you know what, let’s just have fun and we did,” said Patterson. “We just really connected with the audience. There was a lot of enthusiasm from the audience.” In addition to winning first place in the university division and second place overall, the UTPA contingent was invited by world-renowned mariachi groups Mariachi Sol de Mexico and Mariachi Internacional Guadalajara to perform with them at musical festivals throughout the year. The Mariachi Femenil is a group of 16 of UTPA’s finest mariachi musicians who all just happen to be female. Many have known each other since high school. Patterson explained that while she went to the same high school with only one of the girls, many others were familiar faces at various competitions. As Alanis put it, “If you’re in mariachi,
Photo courtesy of Mariachi Femenil
From left to right, four members of the award-winning UTPA Mariachi Femenil: Arlen Garcia, Valerie Patterson, Mayra Martinez and Karina Alanis. The Mariachi Femenil proved superior at the 15th Annual Mariachi Spectacular in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
you know all the other mariachis.” Now the familiar faces are forming an award-winning ensemble for the University. “It’s really cool to be able to play in the same group with these girls after we competed with each other in high school,” said Patterson. According to Francisco Loera, codirector of Mariachi Femenil, when the group originally formed it had no connection with the university. “It was an outside group that started up. There was another group in San Antonio that sort of inspired the students to start their own all-female group, which was later brought into the University,” said Loera. According to Dr. Dahlia Guerra, director of the Mariachi Femenil, the group performs frequently, representing the university at official functions
in addition to giving formal concerts. “What we do the most is represent the school, so if there’s going to be a conference on campus, or a special dignitary or a legislator comes around; the governor came once and the girls played for him,” said Guerra. “Basically, if the school calls us, we perform.” In order to properly represent the school, the members of the Mariachi Femenil spend hours perfecting their technique and rehearsing the music. “If we’re getting ready for a competition or a concert we’ll practice every day for a couple of weeks. Otherwise, twice a week for an hour and a half,” said Guerra. While the group rehearsals are valuable, Patterson stresses the importance of working on music individually as well.
“It really does help when you’re able to practice on your own because it’s up to the individual to learn their part in order for the group to sound complete and uniform,” she said. Balancing rehearsals and performances with the necessity of doing well in school is no easy task. “You learn discipline with the study of music. When you’re in a group like a mariachi and you have to keep up with your classes, you have to study, you have to practice your music. You either sink or swim,” said Guerra. “You have to rise to the occasion and be an exceptional student and learn discipline.” The Mariachi Femenil performs traditional Mexican folk music, much of which has been passed down through an oral tradition since the 1900s. “Some of the [songs] we don’t
even know who the author is because they’re folk songs that have been passed down from generation, to generation, to generation,” said Guerra. Although the group also plays some more modern pieces, at competitions the traditional music reigns. “When you go to a competition, you try to show your knowledge of the tradition, the traditional mariachi music,” said Guerra. “With Mariachi Femenil, we try to give it a feminine twist with songs that might be humorous or interesting for a woman to sing but we still try to stick to the traditional music.” According to Guerra, most of her students continue their involvement with mariachi music even after graduation. “What we do the most of here is train teachers. A lot of the girls that come through the program have their own groups eventually, and the majority of the graduates continue to play in professional groups once they get out,” said Guerra. While mariachi musicians are in demand across the United States, even in places as far off as Washington State, most of Guerra’s students tend to settle down nearby. “Most of our kids stick pretty close to home but maybe some day one of them will be adventurous,” said Guerra. For herself, and for all of her students, Guerra knows that mariachi music will always hold a special place in their hearts and their lives. “A music of your own culture, like mariachi music, that’s something that will be with you forever, as a part of your life,” said Guerra.
IMAS recovering with new leadership personnel By ANNA FLORES The Pan American After a series of setbacks both financial and otherwise, it looks like the International Museum of Art and Science in McAllen may be back on track. The resurgence is being headed by a dedicated museum workforce lead by Serena Rosenkrantz, the new executive director. Rosenkrantz is a Baltimore native with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Maryland Institute College of Art. Appointed six months ago, Rosenkrantz keeps her focus relatively basic for now. “I have to be frank, we are just going to try and keep our doors open,” Rosenkrantz said. IMAS has decreased debt from $120,000 to $28,000 in eight months by cutting back on personnel positions and by securing sponsors, said Rosenkrantz.
“We need to guarantee sustainability and expansion of programs.” The group has been working endlessly get past budget woes and scandal over the previous director’s personal life. Membership is growing thanks to a little extra effort from support staff and increasing interest from the community, including university students and faculty. The new leader has increased mail order advertising and improved the quality of that product, and never misses a chance at promotion. “[Rosenkrantz] solicits members everywhere. She takes brochures and information to all her meetings and events,” said Victor Arteaga, who is in charge of visitor services and membership. IMAS depends on UTPA to help the operation, by sending volunteers and interns. Currently, the school’s GEAR Up Program has a strong collaboration with IMAS to promote sec-
IMAS Photo
NEW BOSS - International Museum of Art and Science executive director Serena Rosenkrantz has worked to set the museum on the right track since being appointed to the position six months ago.
ondary education. “We have been in a partnership with IMAS for three years, and whenever we need something, Serena Rosenkrantz is always there to offer
support to our students, teachers and parents,” said Cynthia Valdez, cointerim director. “Even through her transition from education director to executive director, her goals and poli-
cies remain the same.” As for the university’s Art Department, Rosenkrantz would love to involve them more in upcoming exhibits and events. “If I had my day as queen, I would like to see the department utilize the museum and its collections,” she said. The community has taken interest as IMAS welcomes the public with free admission every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. “Our community night has increased in popularity from 50 people to up to 500 since we have had the new leadership,” said Arteaga. The museum is working to keep the community educated and excited about the creative process, said Rosenkrantz. “Can you imagine a day without art? Try it, and you may notice that everything we see, created by humans, is in fact some form of art,” she explained.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
July 28, 2005
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Zombie’s new flick definitely no snoozer By JASON CHAPA The Pan American Rob Zombie’s film, “The Devil’s Rejects,” the sequel to his previous one, “The House of a Thousand Corpses,” mainly differs from the original in that it isn’t as bad as the first one was, which many people hated. Zombie failed in his attempt to make an homage to the ‘70s horror flicks, instead making the same old slash film we’ve all seen a million times. While the film garnered a cult following, and garnered enough revenue to warrant a sequel, there was doubt cast upon Zombie’s filmmaking abilities. The film starts where the previous one left off; the police raid the decaying home of the Firefly clan, but fail to capture any of the title characters save Mother Firefly (Leslie Eastbrook, replacing Karen Black from the first film). The survivors, Otis, Baby and Captain Spaulding (Bill Moseley, Sherri Moon and Sid Haig), hit the road and prepare
for the eventual showdown with forces that cry out for justice. While it’s advertised that they go on a killing spree across the country, the only victims shown are an unfortunate traveling country western band that suffers too much in the few scenes they’re in. This may please some (the victims aren’t around long enough for
you to care too much about them) and disappoint others (expecting a higher body count from the Firefly clan). Throughout the film William Forsythe, a sheriff who lost a brother to their grisly antics, doggedly pursues them. His transformation into a monster similar to one of the Firefly clan in his pursuit is one of the better aspects of the film. It shows the toll such a hunt takes on a man; because of this damage done, he becomes just as rotten as any Firefly. All the leads show skill in their roles, but Forsythe and Moseley in particular capture the audience with a dark charisma to match their dark hearts. Moon, Zombie’s wife in real life, isn’t bad in her role, especially considering this is only her third movie, but her part isn’t very deep. Haig doesn’t have enough time on screen to relish as Spaulding, but the few scenes he’s in are well done. All their performances are just one reason why the film is better than the last. Zombie obviously learned from the mistakes he made the first time. Gone are the bizarre montages of “1000 Corpses” and pointless, absurd violence. Instead we get a more realistic portrayal of the Firefly clan’s rampage. Every carnal act perpetrated goes to further illustrate their insanity. The film takes itself seriously, and Zombie succeeds in paying homage to the work that inspired him by making something altogether his. The movie is by no means perfect, but it is much better than his first. Personally I couldn’t wait for the violent ending, which was missing in the first and that made it that more terrible. Despite the improvement, there is a good chance that it might not attract audiences jaded by the gamut of horrible horror films that have flooded American cinema. Those who were turned off by the cliché of “1000 Corpses” run the risk of being further unimpressed by Zombie’s continued experimentation with film. However, I personally hated “House of 1000 Corpses.” But “The Devil’s Rejects” convinced me to give any future movies by Zombie a chance.
Arts & Entertainment Editor Sports and A&E Photographers Graphic Designer Sports Writers
Cliff Ranson Photography
DANCE - The Dorados Dance Team contains several UTPA students this year.
Football dancers have Valley talent on board By MEREDITH LAGRONE The Pan American For the past two years, the Dorados dance team has been firing up the crowd at the Rio Grande Valley arena football games. Since the team’s inception, many of the talented dancers that grace the sidelines have been students from The University of Texas-Pan American. Janet Bernal, dance team coordinator and senior dance major at UTPA, says that about half of the team this year is made up of UTPA students. “Many of the girls who come from Pan Am are more knowledgeable and career oriented,” said Bernal. She said that many of the girls have taken dance classes at UTPA and/or have danced with the Blazers. One of the dancers, Erika Silva, received her bachelor’s degree in dance in May. She says she heard about the team from classmate Bernal, and that her experience at the school is coming home to roost today. “The classes at Pan Am helped my technique. They helped me to prepare for auditions and ultimately make it as a dancer,” said Silva, who intends to use her degree to pursue a career in the field of dance. She currently works at Kelley’s Dance Studio and just got a job with La Joya ISD as a dance teacher. While Silva continued dancing for the Dorados after graduation, most of the girls on the team are still attending school. Christina Leal, junior elementary generalist major, is in her first year on the team. Adding to her busy schedule of dancing and school, Leal also works as a receptionist at the law office of Gary Henrichson. “I had several friends on it last year, and they told me to come try out, so I went this year to try out,” said Leal. “Once I graduate, I want
to start auditioning for NBA teams.” While many of the dancers want to continue with their craft after graduation, some want to get jobs in their degree fields. Melanie Ruiz intends to graduate in May of 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from UTPA, and wishes to pursue a career in marketing. She has been involved in dance for many years; she danced with the Blazers – UTPA’s former squad - for four years, and helped create the Wildfire dance team, which has since been renamed the Broncs dance team. “This is my last season dancing. I’ve done it for 12 years,” Ruiz said. “I am getting older, and I want to focus on a career, so this is my last season dancing for any kind of organization.” While some of the girls continue to focus on dancing and some move on to other rewarding careers, one of the Dorados Dancers has just made it big in the dance industry. Vanessa Lopez, who graduated from UTPA in May with a degree in dance, just found out that she has made it onto the Houston Rockets Power Dancers. She is extremely excited and hopeful that other dancers in the area will take note of her success and hard work. “A lot of girls in the Valley think they can’t make it,” said Lopez. “They lack the self-confidence to audition for big things. The truth is that they can. They are good enough in the dance area.” Lopez believes that there is plenty of talent in the Rio Grande Valley, and she encourages those dancing here to try and make it in the big league. “Upstate they have a lot more training to it,” Lopez said. “We do have dancers at that level here in the Valley that can make an impact.”
SPORTS
July 28, 2005
Page 7
Tredway takes the rudder
UTPA volleyball camp guides Valley teens in skills, attitude
By DARYL GONZALES The Pan American
By OMAR RODRIGUEZ The Pan American
The sudden departure of head men’s golf coach Drew Scott left many wondering who was going to lead the young team at The University of TexasPan American. The vacant head coaching job was filled last Friday as UTPA Andrew Tredway Athletic Director Scott Street announced that Andrew Tredway would be taking over. “There were many factors that came into play, the most important thing was the student athlete welfare and a commitment to academics,” Street said. “As a student-athlete he went to the NCAA tournament, as a participant he has been on the professional level. He has also coached at the college level where he managed the athlete’s academics.” Tredway has a very familiar background when it comes to golf. In the last two years he has been a teaching assistant for Hank Haney Golf, Inc., out of McKinney, in the Dallas area. During his stay there, he worked with over 1,500 students of all levels of play. Tredway also worked personally with PGA Tour professional Ben Crane, who in 2004-ranked 51st on the tour money list. Before that he was the assistant women’s golf coach at the University of Alabama for the 2002-03 season. His main responsibilities there were to oversee women’s academic progression, and the team had five AllSEC academic awards. This responsibility to keep an eye on his squad was a big influence in his selection, said Street, who added that academics is important to the department. “We have to give our student athletes a commitment that we want them to do well and get their UTPA degree,” Street stressed. Tredway competed at a higher level after finishing his collegiate career at the University of Oregon, playing on the Australian PGA Tour from 2000-02. He won several titles and was named as the Rookie of the Year on the North Atlantic Tour. Before graduating from Oregon in 2000, Tredway was an All Pac-10 performer in his senior season and was a two-time NCAA Division I National Qualifier. The new skipper will have to set things up quickly with his new squad as it starts competing again Sept. 13-14 in Nebraska. The men’s team is young, as more than half the members are underclassmen. The team finished fifth overall at the 2005 National Minority College Golf Championships, and had two top ten performances, at the Fairway Club Invitational and Stephen F. Austin Crown Classic, during the fall season. Tredway said that he thinks that his experiences with professional players such as Tiger Woods and Justin Leonard will help him teach his new squad on the green. “I want to improve on last season, they kind of struggled and I would like them to do much better, but they did great in the classroom,” Tredway said. “They ranked second in overall GPA among all studentathlete squads. My goal for the team is to move up to number one in the classroom.”
Bounce, slap-thud. Bounce, slap-thud. The sound of a volleyball player preparing to serve. The moment when an individual player focuses on their responsibility to the team. The moment where the game becomes a sport. The UTPA volleyball team has held a summer camp for the past seven years for volleyball players in grades four through 12. Camp director Fabiana de Abreu, associate head coach for the Broncs, has played volleyball ever since she was a child in Brazil and earned numerous honors as a player. She has seen the sport evolve because of a number of different rules that have been implemented, and watched as the sport become intensified and highly competitive. She strongly believes, though, that one thing still remains the same. “To be a good player you need to love the game,” she stressed. As a coach she hopes to transfer her passion, as well as her knowledge of the game, to all the players she coaches. Beginning with the international and professional level the new guidelines for play have trickled down to the collegiate level and then finally to the high school game. The camp has been effective in teaching young players those different guidelines. For example, the sport now uses a libero, a defensive specialist that can only play in the back row. The rules for this position can be confusing: just ask any player or coach who is competitive in the sport. The camp itself, is set up to teach the fundamentals in the morning as the girls work on their passing, setting and hitting skills. Every facet of the game is covered from the approach used for delivering a strong spike, acquiring the ability to dig a spike, to having a fierce, effective serve. UTPA volleyball alumni Cathi “Cat” Nethermeyer is a coach for the camp. She stresses the importance of having a good serve to her players. “You can be the best passer in the world but if you can’t serve you’ll be taken out for that one rotation,” she said. In volleyball, the pressure begins with the serve simply because if you miss, the other team receives a point. This is possible because of what is known as rally-point scoring, as opposed to the previous side-out process where points come only from service. After the lunch break the girls are formed into teams where offensive and defensive strategies are introduced. The positioning of each player is stressed as well as their individual responsibilities. There is a team unity that then needs to be established. Each team, in establishing this unity, develops a skit to present themselves to the rest of the camp and the one-minute routine is performed on the last day. The “6 Aces,” coached by current Bronc first-team setter Karen Lyons of McAllen, used the classic ‘70s song “Car Wash,” to show off their flair and funky style. The skit ended with the girls shouting the catch phrase “Can you dig it?!” The double meaning, referring to a common volleyball technique known as a dig, was appreciated by all in attendance.
Dl;kOJoel de la Roasa / The Pan American
TAKING COMMAND - McAllen Bulldog freshman Stacey Bunger sets the ball over the net, while teammates form in a cover position. The volleyball camp was held July 20-23 at the UTPA Field House.
Cassie Trevino, a sophomore at Edinburg High, has attended camp for several years. When asked what she liked most about the event she said, “the coaches are a lot of fun and you get the chance to meet different people.”
Although Hurricane Emily cut the camp shorter than usual and discouraged a number of campers from attending, the camp was a success. Volleyball, after all, is a simple game; until you start talking about the rules.
SPORTS
Volleyball camp . . . . . . . . . . 7 Golf coach . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Briefs: Summer scoop on ‘Runners, UTPA
By JOEY GOMEZ The Pan American For the Edinburg Roadrunners a third trip to the CBL championship is possible, but it won’t happen without key wins in the right games. Unfortunately the homestand, that concluded Wednesday, put the team at a virtual standstill in the rankings. As the season wears on, the team hopes to get it going and extend into the postseason. Tuesday’s split-decision doubleheader stunted any hopes of the Runners moving up in the standings. They remain three games behind second place Pensacola. The Roadrunners (14-10 second half, 37-34 overall), concluded a unique six-game homestand hampered twice by rain, and consisting of two doubleheaders, and seemed to be headed in the right direction. As they chase Pensacola (10-13, 39-31), the Runners have the ability to utilize potential weapons offensively and defensively. As of Tuesday, designated hitter Matt Spencer ranked third in the CBL with a .342 average on 91 hits after 266 appearances at the plate. Runners’ hurler Kevin Hull (6-5) ranks second in the CBL with a 3.02 ERA after pitching more than 92 innings. Additionally, Edinburg pitcher Pedro Flores is tied for the league lead with nine wins, and closer Steve Wilkerson leads the CBL in saves (19). Edinburg heads to Mississippi today to play the Jackson Senators (5-18, 27-44) for a three-game standoff. They return on Aug. 5 for a three-game contest against Coastal Bend. Vegas trip up for grabs in hoops fundraiser The Bronc Basketball Alumni Association has announced a Las Vegas Fundraising Extravaganza that will benefit men's basketball program scholarships in the name of UTPA legendary head coach Sam Williams. The price of each ticket is $500, and the winner receives an exclusive trip to Las Vegas with seven of his/her closest
friends. The winner will fly to Las Vegas in a charter jet, receive four penthouse suites at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, limo service to and from the hotel, a fine dining experience at a Bellagio restaurant, eight tickets to Cirque du Soleil's spectacular show "O" and one spa treatment per guest at the Spa Bellagio. The trip is scheduled for Dec. 1-4, 2005, and tickets are limited to 300 so each person has a 300:1 chance of winning a fabulous trip to Las Vegas. If the same ticket number is drawn twice, the person will also win a BMW. The drawing will be held at a Wine & Cheese Part on Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Bert Ogden – McAllen store. For further information concerning the Bronc Basketball Alumni Association, please contact Jim Board at (956) 454-6996. All participants must be 21 years or older and do not need to be present in order to win. UTPA charity kick in full stride The University of Texas-Pan American Department of Intercollegiate Athletics will participate in a pair of fundraising efforts: the Birdies for Charity as well as Chip In for Schools Program. In the Birdies for Charity Program, potential donors agree to pledge one cent or more per birdie made during the 2005 Valero Texas Open at La Cantera in San Antonio, TX, or they can make a straight donation of $20 or more. During the 2004 tournament, over 2,763 birdies were made by PGA professional golfers,
which calculated to $27.63 per penny pledge. The program is a non-profit organization and all proceeds go directly to the donor organization. The deadline for the "Guess the Birdies" contest will be Sept. 20, 2005 at 4 p.m. All pledges are tax deductible and 100 percent of all proceeds will go directly to the organization. Cash donations paid in advance must be turned in with the pledge form so the individual is not billed, and checks are to be made out to: The San Antonio Children's Foundation. In the Chip In for Schools Program, tickets for the 2005 Valero Texas Open at La Cantera will be sold for $10 apiece through athletic department. Otherwise, tickets are sold for $15 at participating Valero stations and $20 at the gate. Similar to the Birdies for Charity Program, 100 percent of all proceeds will go directly to the organization, and all donors will have an opportunity to get additional money from the Bonus Bucks Program. The more tickets that are sold, the better chance the donor has at receiving additions funds. Checks for the Chip in for Schools Program are to be made out to: Golf San Antonio. For further information concerning the Birdies for Charity and Chip In for Schools Program, please contact UTPA’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at (956) 381-2221. UTPA SPORTS INFORMATION
BRINGING THE HEAT - Steve Wilkerson closes game two of the doubleheader against Shreveport, securing the 5-0 win for starting pitcher Julio Ruiz. Joel de la Rosa / The Pan American
Dorados clinch franchise’s first-ever berth By JOEY HINOJOSA The Pan American The Rio Grande Valley Dorados of the AF2 will soon appear in their first playoff game in the franchise’s brief history. That game will come in a little over a week, but before they head into the postseason RGV must first battle the Bakersfield Blitz to close out the regular season. The Dorados (9-6) are currently seeded fifth in the National Conference. However, the results from this Saturday’s games could move RGV up as far as the third seed or at worst the sixth and final seed. A win on Saturday by the Dorados and a loss by either Oklahoma City or Quad City would give RGV a home playoff game for the first round. Dorados Head Coach Kevin Guy is optimistic about the possibility of a home playoff game. “We need to win in order to give ourselves a home field advantage in the first round, and obviously we are going to need some help from some of the other teams to do that,” said Guy. “We kind of shot ourselves in the foot the last two weeks, but
we just have to get our confidence level up and get ready to play.” The California-based Blitz (6-9) are not having the year they’d like, but the Dorados and their coaches are not underestimating them. RGV beat Bakersfield while on the road earlier this year, 40-32, but Guy says this Blitz team is different. “Bakersfield is a lot better football team than the last time we played them, and they’re playing really good defense,” said Guy. “Offensively, they’ve picked it up here lately, and they have some athletes. They are going to come in and try to win a football game.” RGV wide receiver/defensive back Xavier Patterson and his teammates also have chosen not to take their division rival lightly. “No, we are not underestimating them. They are a great team,” said Patterson. “They are a well coached team, and we feel if we do what we need to do, then we can beat them.” Dorados quarterback Josh Kellett is also aware of how tough this contest could be. “They played us tight last time we went out there,” said Kellett. “Granted we are a
different team, but they are a different team, and they have a really good defense, so it is going to be a challenge.” Kellett played under Guy last year with the Tennessee Valley Vipers and helped lead the team to the AF2 semifinals where they lost to the eventual champions, the Florida Firecats. Kellett is pleased to get the Dorados their first playoff berth. “Those were our goals at the beginning of the season, to get in the playoffs and win the division, and we achieved one of those goals, and hopefully we can do well in the playoffs,” said Kellett. RGV kicker Eric Houle, who will be completing his second season with the Dorados, is also excited to see this team headed to the playoffs, but he says the squad doesn’t want to stop here. “Well this is big, just to get in the playoffs, but we’re not happy with that. We have to get further,” said Houle. “This is big for the team, the community, for the fans that come out and support us, so hopefully we will get a win right here, and get a home playoff game for them.” Houle is currently ranked fifth among
AF2 kickers in tackles (8). The Flint, Michigan native is hoping to work his way up that list before the season ends. “(Making a tackle) doesn’t bother me at all. I really don’t mind getting in there,” said Houle. “At the start I was number one, so somebody got in front of me. Looks like I’m going to have to get a few more tackles this game.”
Joey Hinojosa / The Pan American
SET HUT - RGV QB Josh Kellett practices at Verizon Sports Park earlier in the season.