● friday, october 19, 2012 ● serving texas a&m since 1893 ● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2012 student media
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TailgatingEdition
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BanquetAGGIE GR EEK
F I R S T A N N U A L
AwardsTh e Greek Former Student Network, Th e Association of Former Students and the Greek Life Offi ce at Texas A&M University are proud to honor the success of our Aggie Greeks. Th e inaugural Aggie Greek Awards Banquet was held on Friday, September 28 at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center and we would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners!
President’s Award for Outstanding Greek AmbassadorMatthew Runkel ’12 - Kappa Alpha Order
Fraternity Man of the YearHudson Hoyle ’14 - Pi Kappa Alpha
Sorority Woman of the YearMorgan Greco ’14 - Pi Beta Phi
Fraternity Advisor of the YearMike Belt ’80 - Sigma Chi
Sorority Advisor of the YearKara Comte ’00 - Delta Zeta
Excellence AwardsZeta Tau Alpha & Beta Th eta Pi
Integrity AwardAlana Frailey ’13- Alpha Kappa Alpha
Leadership AwardEjikeme “E.J.” Obukwelu ’13 - Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Respect AwardMark Lutz ’13- Beta Th eta Pi
Loyalty AwardRachel E. Th ornburg ’12- Alpha Delta Pi
Selfl ess Service AwardLucretia Stanfi eld ’13, Alpha Kappa Alpha
pagetwothebattalion 10.19.12
From Damon Robertson, Class of 1996I have never been as outraged as I have become after looking at the secondary tickets being sold on scalper websites the past few weeks, most notably for the LSU game. Students need to understand that they are allowed the signifi cant number of student tickets (over 30,000) for such cheap rates because the former students effectively subsidize them by paying extra for our tickets. No other university sets aside this many student tickets for football games. None. However, students have decided to become opportunistic and use the tickets most of the rest of us are helping to pay for by selling their tickets to opposing fans. This is nauseating, and you should quite frankly be ashamed of it. If that section is littered with purple and gold this Saturday, rest assured I’m not the only one that will be calling for student tickets to be reduced and for student scalpers to be banned from pulling tickets. Your tickets are a privilege to you and to those of us helping to fund them. We want you there as loud as you can be. Please reconsider if you were trying to raise extra beer money. This can and will be taken away from you if this behavior continues. Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal, nor do we tolerate those who do. You won’t be arrested for this type of thievery, and it’s not against the law. But you really should be ashamed of yourself if you are doing this. Very, very bad bull and something I would expect from tsips, not my fellow Ags.
courtesy of NOAA
Todaysunny
High: 83 Low: 57
Saturday mostly sunny high: 87 low: 69Sunday mostly cloudy high: 88 low: 70Monday partly sunny high: 87 low: 67
EDITOR’SNOTETailgate edition:Collect each issue of our four-part series for the ultimate SEC guide and display package. Each issue will contain a theme with extensive coverage of A&M’s SEC transition. The issues will be available before every home SEC football game. The four issues will combine into a grand image — a tribute to the past while looking ahead to the future of Texas A&M athletics.
howtoapplyIf you are interested in writing or contributing content in The Battalion, apply at thebatt.com, or call 845-3313.
The Battalion welcomes any Texas A&M student interested in writing for the arts, campus, metro or sports staffs to try out.
whoweareThe Battalion staff represents every college on the campus, including undergraduates and graduate students. The leadership of The Battalion welcomes students to participate in the First Amendment in action as you utilize your student newspaper. We are students.
MAILCALL thebatt.comBachelor party gone wrongEveryone loves a good bachelor party. But, as the old saying goes, “it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.” “Mexican Sunrise” is a fi lm about a bachelor party gone wrong in the worst way and worst place possible.
Cajun cookingThe Battalion food blogger, Shelia de Guzman, breaks down the art of making Gumbo for inexperienced chefs.
Alternative puddingThe Battalion food blogger, Shelia de Guzman, offers a decadent bread pudding recipe for pleasing the tailgating crowd.
Editor in Chief senior english major Trevor Stevens
Managing editor senior telecommunication media studies major Joe Terrell
City editor senior agricultural communications and journalism major Jake Walker, [email protected]
City desk assistant senior anthropology major, Barrett House, [email protected]
Lifestyle editor senior English major Jennifer DuBose, [email protected]
Lifestyle desk assistant senior English major Alec Goetz, [email protected]
Sports editor senior communication major Chandler Smith, [email protected]
Sports desk assistant junior English major
Mark Doré, [email protected]
Sports desk assistant senior industrial and systems engineering major Michael Rodriguez, [email protected]
Photo chief sophomore business major Roger Zhang, [email protected]
photo desk assistant sophomore anthropology major Tanner Garza, [email protected]
Graphics chief Senior visualization studies major Evan Andrews, [email protected]
Copy editor junior biological and agriculture engineering major Luis Javier Cavazos
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Friday 10.19.2012
gameday preview
Texas A&M opens up in the BCS rankings as No. 18 and will take on the No. 6 LSU Tigers at 11 a.m. at Kyle Field.
After a loss to now-No. 2 Flori-da, the Aggies are riding a five-game win streak, which makes A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin the first Aggie coach since Dana X. Bible to win five games in a row in his first season.
The winning streak is the fourth since 1998 and the first since the 2010 win streak of six games which included beating ranked oppo-nents Oklahoma and Nebraska at Kyle Field.
Sumlin said this will be a promis-ing game for the fans and an impor-tant match up to determine how the SEC West will play out.
“Fans are excited, we haven’t played LSU in a while,” Sumlin said. “That’s great but our team has put ourselves in a position that not only is it exciting for fans, but it’s a meaningful game in the Western division.”
Both teams have one loss, both to conference opponents, as they fight for the third spot in the SEC West behind Alabama and Mississippi
File — THE BATTALION
LSU and A&M last collided at the 2011 Cotton Bowl, a 41-24 A&M loss, following the Aggies’ nine-win regular season campaign.
SEC West clash beckons as bad blood returns to Kyle Field
Rivalry renews
Drew Chambers The Battalion
State, which are both undefeated through the first half of the season.
The rivalry between A&M and LSU has grown intense and LSU head coach Les Miles added fuel to the fire saying the Aggies would not have a pleasant entry into the league.
“I would say ‘Strap it up,’” said Miles at SEC media days in July. “They’re going to really not enjoy their welcoming to this conference.”
Another thing Texas A&M has to be sour about is the last time the two teams butted heads. LSU is the team that broke Texas A&M’s last major win streak in the 2010 Cotton Bowl.
Senior offensive lineman Patrick Lewis said the Aggies are looking to prove they can compete with the best of the SEC.
“We plan to prove people wrong,” Lewis said. “During the offseason we decided we were go-ing to work harder to prove people wrong. We didn’t come to the SEC to just be a doormat. We want to compete and win championships.”
After being on the road for two weeks, the Aggies come back home looking to continue their win streak against SEC rival LSU in front of another sellout crowd at Kyle Field. This will be the last home contest
for some time as the Aggies embark on a three-game road trip that in-
cludes Auburn, Mississippi State and Alabama.
LSU-A&M history
Chandler Smith: Change in opponents but not passion as A&M and LSU resume historic rivalry
New kind of throwback
As rumors of A&M’s move to the SEC surfaced, pundits cried
bloody murder about the Aggies leaving behind their greatest
in-state rivals. Media attacked A&M, blaming the University
for trashing tradition and “abandoning” regional rivals Texas Tech,
Baylor and Texas.
Perhaps those disgruntled pundits should take a trip Saturday to Kyle Field. They’ll receive a taste of why A&M moved to the Southeastern Conference.
Yes, Texas was the team every Aggie loved to hate. The rivalry with the Long-horns was one of the nation’s oldest and longest-standing traditions. It was a family rivalry pitting brother against brother, father against son and husband against wife.
Though as long as Big 12 Conference commissioner — excuse me — Texas ath-letic director Deloss Dodds remains in his burnt-orange pulpit, it seems the beloved Texas rivalry will be in for a sizable hiatus.
In speaking with ol’ Ags, I learned some-thing that piqued my interest. In a discus-sion about heated historic rivalries, I heard a school name I hadn’t necessarily expected. Of course, there’s always Texas. But the second team to appear in conversation wasn’t Baylor or Tech or even Arkansas.
It was LSU. Yes, A&M hasn’t played the Tigers in the
regular season since 1995, but the bad blood still runs deep. With A&M in the SEC West, that hatred and tension should only continue to grow.
The A&M-LSU rivalry dates back to
1899, and Saturday’s game will mark the 51st meeting between the two teams. The rivalry was likely at its apex from 1986 to 1995, a 10-year home-and-home series in which the Aggies edged the Tigers 6-4 and rattled off five consecutive victories from 1991 to 1995.
The rivalry goes beyond the gridiron into the recruiting realm. Great players from both Texas and Louisiana went on to become impactful players for both programs in the opposite state.
Former quarterback and A&M football legend Bucky Richardson was famously re-cruited out of Baton Rouge, La. Richardson went 2-1 against the Tigers including a 45-7 walloping of the Tigers in 1991 at Kyle Field.
Former LSU running back Harvey Wil-liams grew up in Hempstead, Texas, a few miles away from College Station. Once considered a definite A&M commitment in 1986, he abruptly switched to the Tigers on national signing day to the disdain of the Aggies. Williams’ decision added fuel to an already intense rivalry fire. He would run for more than 2,800 yards in his four years at LSU and lead the Tigers to three victories over A&M.
“The young kids today don’t know the
Chandler Smith is a senior communication major and the sports editor for The Battalion.
depth and the tradition and how heated up things used to be,” Williams told the Houston Chronicle. “I’m anxious to see how things develop.”
Given the shared passion of the two schools, the proximity of the states and the glory of each team’s respective football stadiums, it’s not hard to see how this rivalry could soon become one of the conference’s best. It’s “Death Valley” versus Kyle Field, it’s “Gig ‘Em” versus “Geaux Tigers.” It will be one of the grandest spectacles in college
football. Come Saturday morning at Kyle Field, an
age-old rivalry will be renewed before the Aggies’ eyes — perhaps bigger and better than ever.
Sorry Red Raiders, Bears and Longhorns.
◗ LSU leads the all-time series 27-20-3. In the 50 year history of the series, 12 games have been played at Kyle Field.
◗ A&M and LSU fi rst played in 1899. The Aggies won 52-0.
◗ LSU was in College Station as a Top-10 team in 1989, R.C. Slocum’s debut game as head coach. The Aggies won 28-16.
◗ A&M is 7-1-1 against LSU at Kyle Field.
◗ Legendary A&M head coach Dana X. Bible coached the Tigers in the fi nal three games of the 1916 season. Bible would take over for the Aggies in 1917 and beat LSU, 27-0.
File — THE BATTALION
The A&M-LSU rivalry dates back to the 19th century and is traditionally one of A&M’s most emotional games.
File — THE BATTALION
Redshirt freshman Johnny Manziel will be the first A&M quarterback to face LSU at Kyle Field since Corey Pullig in 1995.
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Friday 10.19.2012
gameday preview
Tanner Garza— THE BATTALION
Junior left tackle Luke Joeckel and his teamates will be challenged with the task of protecting redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel against a powerful LSU pass rush.
Starting an SEC caliber of-fensive line requires a qual-ity not many positions in the sport necessitate anymore: experience. The characteristic is a standard among the top lines in the country, one that is shared by Texas A&M.
The focus on recruiting pure talent over the develop-ment of players has led many programs to find success in young freshmen. The Aggies stand as a perfect example as prodigies Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans have continued to exceed expectations over the course of this season.
Anchoring A&M’s vaunt-ed offensive line is junior left tackle Luke Joeckel, an intense competitor with a developed sense of maturity. Joeckel, who slid into the starting position as a freshman two seasons ago, stands as the program’s top NFL prospect as a future first-round draft
James SullivanThe Battalion
Highly touted Joeckel will face mightiest test to date
Hold the line
Michael Rodriguez: LSU game result will show current direction of football team
Program benchmark
At the beginning of the football season, expecta-
tions around the Aggies were low. There were
many questions surrounding this team: how
would the Aggies fare in the SEC?
Will they be able to breed cham-pionship contenders and NFL prospects? How would head coach Kevin Sumlin do in his first year and how would his high-octane of-fense from Houston translate to Ag-gieland? Before there was Johnny Football, it was unknown whether Manziel would be the starting quar-terback.
Oh, how the year has turned. As the midseason point of the season ar-rives, many of those questions have been answered by A&M’s 5-1 over-all record. The offense, led by the growing legend of Johnny Football and his 24 total touchdowns, have the Aggies in a position few figured would arrive to Kyle Field in such a short period. The Aggies did not start this season on the right note, losing to Florida 20-17 and with the Louisiana Tech game being post-poned due to Hurricane Isaac, the Aggies were going in blind.
Now A&M enters this weekend’s highly sought after battle against No. 6 LSU with a chance to not only defeat a former arch rival, but also make a statement to the entire
conference that the “doormat” ex-pectation can be tossed out. A bud-ding powerhouse is waking up in the heart of Texas.
While it is true that one game can-not make a season, the Aggies have a chance to improve their ranking and brand by defeating yearly title con-tender LSU and position themselves to make an outstanding run in the SEC West.
The Aggies got to this point thanks to the emergence of Man-ziel, leading the fifth ranked scoring offense in the country by leaving opposing defenses and their coaches scratching their heads as to how to stop the menacing quarterback.
Against LSU, Manziel can put to rest the question of how he would fare against a vaunted defense like that of LSU. Against Florida, Man-ziel performed admirably but a strong performance this weekend not only positions A&M for an SEC West title shot, but will also make him a strong contender as a Heisman candidate.
While the A&M offense has gar-nered the glory for resurrecting life
Michael Rodriguez is a senior indus-trial engineering major and sports desk assistant for The Battalion.
into the program, the defense has unassumingly been on the same page all year, stopping the opponents in crunch time.
During the Ole Miss game, it was the Aggie defense that stopped the Rebels on a fourth and one to give the ball to the offense. Facing the Tiger offense, the main goal will be to establish a wall to prevent the Tiger running backs from doing any damage.
Stopping the No. 31 ranked rush-ing attack in the country, which boasts smash mouth football, will show the country that the Aggies are not just a run and gun team, but a well-rounded SEC team.
As the countdown continues until kick-off, the Aggies have an oppor-tunity this weekend to show what many have been waiting for anx-iously. It would show that the once mediocre program is heading in the right direction.
With a win this weekend, A&M would show that a once proud foot-ball titan is rising out of the ashes and ready to contend in the big leagues.
Chase Krumholz — THE BATTALION
Redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel and the A&M offense will be tested early and often against LSU’s defense.
selection. “Our line is the most expe-
rienced part of our team, by far, with five guys that have played in big games and been against great competition,” said head coach Kevin Sum-lin. “I think that they con-tinue to improve.”
Lining up against A&M’s five-man front this Saturday
will be what many consider the top defensive line in the nation. With stud pass-rush-ers Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo leading the powerful LSU attack, the Aggies must rely on linemen such as senior center Patrick Lewis, junior tackle Jake Mat-thews and, of course, Joeckel.
During the first few match-
ups on A&M’s schedule, many fans and analysts believed the Aggies’ line had been over-hyped due to their lackluster production in running the ball.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has expressed a different view on their early struggles.
“Johnny [Manziel] is a
tricky guy to block for, just because of the way he moves around,” Kingsbury said. “[The offensive line] doesn’t just stand around while he runs. They move their feet and get the block. I think to go from how they blocked last year to this year and the effort they’ve shown is something that pops.”
Considering the forced transition from a pocket-passer in Ryan Tannehill to the mobility and creativity of Manziel, the offensive line has developed new blocking schemes and protection effi-ciently.
Allowing just 12 sacks on the season along with helping the team average 124 yards per game on the ground, Joeckel and offensive line have seem-ingly found their groove, a fact that should serve to instill confidence entering Satur-day’s matchup.
“I try to take every week the exact same, [but] I’m jacked up for this week,” Jo-
Chase Krumholz — THE BATTALION
eckel said. “We know what kind of players we’re going to be up against. They have a good defensive line.”
During the July SEC me-dia days less than one month following the Aggies offi-cial juncture with their new conference, the junior tackle was questioned on what he thought would allow him to block the league’s stellar de-fensive lines.
Joeckel’s response: “I’ve blocked Von Miller.”
The simplicity and dev-ilish confidence backed by the statement is the same that surrounds the offensive line entering the hyped LSU game. The “Maroon Goons,” a nickname created by the line’s most senior member, Lewis, have been waiting for the opportunity to prove their resiliency as a unit.
With the Bayou Bengals visiting, the offense may have found their ideal moment to dominate.
2013 A&M SEC football schedule releasedThe 2013 A&M football schedule was released Thursday afternoon in conjunction with the SEC’s schedule release. The Aggies will host eight home games and hit the road for four. A&M opens the season with four consecutive home games against Rice, Sam Houston State, Alabama and SMU. Then the Aggies travel to Arkansas and Ole Miss before retuning to Kyle Field for another four-game home stand against Auburn, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and New Mexico. The Aggies will conclude the season by traveling to LSU and Missouri.
Junior right tackle Jake Mathews will join Joeckle on the opposite side of the line in an attempt to stymie the LSU defense.
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When playing Florida, alligator is grilled, fried or blackened. The preferred way to cook Arkansas’s namesake is a “cochon de lait.” It would’ve been a shock if a fan’s gumbo didn’t have duck during the Cow-boy Classic against Oregon for the 2011 season-opener. Gamecocks aren’t so cocky when they’re in a large pot of jambalaya. And don’t be surprised to find huge legs from frogs which fans gigged themselves.
The heart and soul of a tailgate is the food and LSU boasts the best Cajun food menu, which has contributed to its consis-tent ranking as one of the top destinations for an ultimate college football tailgating experience. Cajun food is a test of patience and taste buds. These fans aren’t cooking Zatarains; they stuff suckling pigs two days in advance to roast for hours on gameday, and they make their own roux to combine with the “holy trinity” for a delectable gumbo, finishing off with a bread pudding.
Although LSU fans have a reputation for, let’s say colorful personalities toward visitors, they will happily give visitors bowl after bowl of their prized creations. Lip-smacking barbecue and beer are sold throughout the year, but there is nothing like authentic Cajun food to feed your soul during the fall season. Football season is considered a time to relax, despite the com-plicated cooking processes, and the Tigers know how to have a good time.
“Laissez les bon temps rouler!” they say in the south and that’s not limited to Mardi Gras parade floats. A stream of RVs usually starts rolling into Baton Rouge on Wednes-day night with more to follow. According to the Texas A&M Transportation office, 532 RV parking passes were sold for the LSU game, and weather permitting, 200 more will become available starting Mon-day. The 98 individual game spaces were sold out in 12 minutes.
“This is the fastest sell out time we have seen,” said Lynn Wiggs, manager of special events and visitor parking at Texas A&M.
The motto for traveling LSU fans is “We don’t travel, we take over,” so the transpor-tation office encourages fans on both sides to preplan and be patient when they arrive
on campus. “We look forward to welcoming LSU
fans to Aggieland” said the office’s market-ing manager, June Broughton.
LSU fans look forward to coming back to Aggieland. The last match-up between the two teams in College Station ended with an Aggie win in 1995, but the resentment still lingers. Both sides will give reasons why they detest the other, but the rivalry has a deep history - it’s a love-hate relationship. Even LSU’s most iconic player and Heis-man winner, Billy Cannon, has three kids, all of whom went to Texas A&M. Both schools have a military foundation, produce outstanding engineers, scientists and entre-preneurs, and they are committed to their traditions.
Prior to each game, fans line up on the sides of the road as they watch LSU play-ers, coaches, cheerleaders and The Golden Band from Tigerland march down the hill between Tiger Stadium and the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. This tradition is quick compared to the Corps’ procession. The Aggies have their 12th Man and the Tigers have their Chinese Bandits, LSU’s defense unit from 1958 that helped secure LSU’s first national championship. Just as flyovers are always expected at Kyle Field, there is never a chance of rain in Death Valley. “Beat The Hell Outta ________” is just as bad as “Geaux to Hell Ole Miss” and “Gig’em Aggies” is as unique as “Geaux Tigers.” Lastly, Aggies have yells and Tigers have down-cheers and Tiger Bait-jeers.
Speaking of cheers, how do you know who is a real Tiger fan? They know what coush-coush is and they pronounced “push” as “poush” at the beginning of the article.
People love to hate LSU fans, but there’s still some love nonetheless.
Sheila de Guzman: LSU tailgates, fans let the good times roll
“Hot boudin, cold coush-coush, come on Tigers, Push!
Push! Push!” From the cheers they say to the opponents
they play, food is central to LSU’s tailgating culture.
Courtesy photo by The Daily Reveille
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sportspage 5
Friday 10.19.2012
gameday preview
Tigers return ◗ 532 RV passes were sold to LSU fans for Saturday’s game. 200 more Rv passes could be granted, weather permitting.
◗ 98 individual game spaces were sold out in 12 minutes.
◗ LSU fans requested roughly 20,000 tickets to Kyle Field. Less than half were granted.
◗ The last time the Tigers visited College Station, the year was 1995.
Photos by David Cohen — THE BATTALION
TailgateW
ith every football game, tailgating is just as important as
the game being played. Out here in the heart of Texas,
barbecue reigns supreme. From smoked brisket and sau-
sage, to grilled steaks and chicken, nothing completes a tailgate
like ice cold beverages and the company of family and friends.
What may seem like quick gatherings for food before a game are
in fact lifetime memories that help bring generations of Aggie
fans together. So, before the next football game, fire up the grill,
gather some friends and join the tailgating fun.
Sheila de Guzman is a graduate marketing major, received her bachelor’s degree from LSU and is a writer for The Battalion.
Cajun eats
Tiger fans fill the streets before LSU meets South Carolina in Tiger Stadium.
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gameday preview
COURTESY
Junior Johannes Veerman will play an integral part for the men’s golf team during A&M’s inaugural season in the SEC as the No. 12 ranked team. Veerman’s focus and determination led to the Aggies to bring home A&M’s first conference championship in 25 years.
Junior establishing prominent role in second year with program
Veer to victory
Texas A&M soccer and volleyball teams look to continue quests for SEC success as the Aggies faceoff against league powerhouses. What to watch for
thebattalion
sportspage 6
Friday 10.19.2012
The U.S. Collegiate Champi-onship, year after year, is a hotbed for golf’s finest talents and its most well refined teams. The invitees read like a guest-list at golf’s most exclusive party, and in 2011 A&M junior Johannes Veerman came away with the individual champi-onship against the best players in the country. On Friday Veerman and the No. 12 A&M men’s golf team will be back, and they’ll be looking for more.
The win was the first of Veer-man’s collegiate career, but he won’t approach this tournament differently than any other. A strong hitter and a talented putter, Veer-man acknowledged the course suits him.
“Obviously the course fits my eye, it fits my game style — I hit pretty far, and I’m a pretty good putter,” Veerman said. “It has re-ally quick reads and it’s not a short course so I would have an advan-tage over most people. But other than that I’m just taking it the same ways as every other tournament.”
In 2011, Veerman shot below par on each round. He said his suc-cess came not from brilliant shots but the elimination of bad ones.
“I played solid,” Veerman said. “I didn’t play great, but I didn’t hit any bad shots. A lot of shots I hit were average but I didn’t hit one bad shot last year. I was very consis-tent, and that was the key last year.”
Despite Veerman’s heroics, the Aggies finished ninth out of 15 teams in the team competition in 2011. With a field loaded with such renowned programs as No. 3 Washington, No. 4 UCLA— 2011’s team champion — No. 13 Stanford and No. 14 host Georgia Tech, a team win won’t be easy. Veerman, however, lacks no confi-dence in himself and his team.
“I expect the team to win,” Veerman said. “I always expect us to win. If you don’t expect to win I don’t see why you should play.”
If Veerman is unable to repeat 2011’s success, head coach J.T. Higgins said it wouldn’t be because of his physical ability.
“You could argue for him be-ing the best putter on our team, so
when you put that together where you can hit the ball and putt, you have a chance to be a good golf-er,” Higgins said. “The biggest thing for Johannes has always been the same — if he can stay focused throughout the round and commit to playing the course the way he wants to play it, he’s great. When he gets a little greedy and tries to do too much and make things happen, he gets in trouble. He’s got all the tools to be a great player, and we’re certainly expecting a lot from him this year.”
Regardless of the final standings, Veerman has high aspirations and expects to stick with the game well into the future.
“I plan to go pro,” Veerman said. “It’s a tough road and there’s noth-ing guaranteed so if that doesn’t work out I’ll have an education to fall back on.”
Veerman isn’t the only talent on the A&M roster described by Hig-gins as being deep.
“I see a lot of talent,” Higgins said. “They’re great kids with good work ethic. Overall I really like this team; it’s loaded. I think we’re capable of beating anyone in the country.”
Held by Georgia Tech in Al-pharetta, Ga., the tournament is described by Higgins as his fa-vorite tournament and a first class event.
“It’s one of the top two or three
Mark Doré The Battalion
tournaments in the country,” Hig-gins said. “They always have a great field of teams. It’s a fabulous golf course to play on. The things they do and the way they treat the kids, it’s like a tour event. We’re honored to be invited and be a part of it.”
The tournament will be the
final one of the fall semester for the golf team, and the Aggies won’t compete again until February. Veerman said the time between tournaments is important, and sac-rifice will be key.
“The holidays are going to come up, and it’s going to get cold and windy; and a lot of teams around
the nation aren’t going to want to practice,” Veerman said. “We’re going to want to stay indoors, re-lax a bit, but if we can stay focused for four or five hours per day we’ll come out the best for the spring.”
Veerman stats◗ Hometown: Sugar Land.
◗ Classifi cation: Junior.
◗ Transfer from Tulsa, Okla.
◗ Played in nine tournaments during the 2011 season, fi nishing in the Top 10 four times.
◗ 13 Rounds were par or better.
◗ 20 of the 25 rounds in which Veerman played in counted toward the teams total.
◗ Named to the Big 12 All-Tournament team after helping the Aggies capture the fi rst conference title since 1987.
A&M soccer faces off at 7 p.m. Friday against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ellis Field. The Aggies clinched the SEC Western Division title by defeating Vanderbilt 4-0.
Soccer will be back in action at 1:30 p.m. Sunday against Georgia at Ellis Field.
A&M volleyball takes the court at 6 p.m. Friday at Reed Arena against Tennessee. The Aggies look to maitain first place in the SEC West.
Volleyball returns to action at 1 p.m. Sunday at Reed Arena against the No. 11 ranked Florida Gators. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
FRIDAY EVENTS
Soccer: The soccer class of 2013 will be recognized before the beginning of the game. Free admission will be given to those who make a donation of a canned good for the Aggies CAN Food Drive.
Volleyball: Those who bring a canned food item in support of the Aggies CAN food drive or who wear a 2012 Texas A&M volleyball camp T-shirt will be allowed free admission. Club volleyball members can purchase tickets for $3. There will be an autograph session with the A&M volleyball team in the volleyball practice gym after the match.
SUNDAY EVENTSSoccer: Children get in free with the purchase of one adult ticket (limit four children per adult). Fans with a ticket from Saturday’s football game can purchase tickets for $3.
Volleyball: Those who wear a costume can purchase a ticket for $3. The Junior Aggie Club will be having pre-match activities including trick-or-treating with Aggie athletes, face painting and an appearance by Reveille.
FILE PHOTOS
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Q & A Info Sessions at Blinn College
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thebattalion
news page 7
friday 10.19.2012
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31,000 people pack into the east side of Kyle Field, making it the largest student ticket allotment in the country. But the cost to sit in the student section dubbed the nation’s largest has risen at the ticket window as well as through unofficial, in-dividual sales.
Students can acquire a ticket in more than one way, including borrowing or buying a sports pass from another student. Some students are making a profit from such transactions, especially leading up to Saturday’s game against LSU.
Mark Womack, SGA representative to the athletic council and international affairs graduate student, said sports passes have always been sold but only recently have they been sold at such high costs.
“I remember buying one for my brother before he was a student at A&M for the 2007 t.u. game,” Womack said. “The difference between now and then is putting them online for massive mark ups. That has increased a lot.”
The cost to buy an all-sports pass from 12th Man Foundation is $350, $25 more than last year. Texas A&M has one of the highest priced all-sports passes in the nation. University of Texas students can pay $150 for a guaranteed seat, and University of Arkansas students pay $85 for an all-sports pass.
The price of a sports pass at A&M is affected by the amount of student seats allotted.
Carole Dollins, senior vice president of ticketing at 12th Man Foundation, said student tickets at A&M are half the price of a regular ticket for the Foundation to break even.
“We provide the largest block of stu-dent tickets in the country,” Dollins said. “In terms of making the revenue numbers match, students need to pay half.”
Junior computer science major Ryan Finke sold his sports pass for the LSU game.
“The only sports pass I have ever sold is for the LSU game and I sold it to a fel-
Annabelle Hutchinson The Battalion
Sports passes provide students profit
low student,” he said. “I sold it for $150.”Ryan Finke said he sold the ticket be-
cause he didn’t want to go to the game this weekend, as well as had the opportu-nity to make back money originally spent on the sports pass.
Junior biology major Jill Allen said it is wrong for students to sell their sports passes for outrageous amounts.
“I think that we are all Aggies, and sometimes we forget that, in the spirit of things, that being a part of the 12th Man is not something you can put a price on,” Allen said.
Senior political science major Grant Kingsbery said it is easy to make a profit from selling sports passes.
“Honestly, if you are a student here, you have every right in the world to do what you want with your sports pass,” Kingsbery said.
Alan Cannon, associate athletic direc-tor for media relations, said the reason the cost of sports passes has recently increased is because demand is higher than ever.
“These last two years are the first years that we have had to curtail the allotment
for student season tickets,” Cannon said.According to 12th Man Foundation,
last year marked the highest average at-tendance at Kyle Field with an average of 87,183 for the 2011 season — almost 4,500 more fans than the previous record set in 2001.
Sophomore sports management major Caleb De La Rosa said students did not realize that sports pass holders can buy guest passes without buying another stu-dent’s sports pass.
“I had no idea that you could do that until now,” De La Rosa said. “I don’t think that was communicated very well at all, especially to former students.”
Dollins said sports pass owners could purchase a second ticket for a guest since Monday for $100. Guest tickets are sometimes reserved for sale Fridays.
“What separates Texas A&M from everyone else is the 12th Man,” Can-non said. “When you consider 31,000 standing in support of your football team, that’s why the University and the athletic department want to keep it that way.”
Prices stack up◗ A&M - $350◗ University of Texas- $150◗ LSU- $144◗ Arkansas- $85◗ University of Houston - $0◗ University of Florida - $105◗ Texas Tech - $52◗ Oklahoma - $199◗ Missouri - $240
Kyle Field Attendance Average attendance for Kyle Field as of Sept. 30.
year average attendance2012 86,7772011 87,1832010 82,4772008 82,1932007 82,2072002 80,1982001 82,711
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thebattalion
newspage 8
friday 10.19.2012
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Have your senior portrait takentoday in Suite L400 of the MSC.
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Or call 1-800-883-9449
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Maroon Out in full force for LSU game
For 15 years, the Maroon Out football game has united Kyle Field in it’s own unique way. Though the shirt design has changed over the years, the message re-mains the same: “We are the Aggies. The Aggies are we.”
The Maroon Out tradition began in 1998 in a game against No. 2 Nebraska, which was known for its “sea of red.” Then junior class president, Kyle Val-entine, wanted to match the Nebraska fans and give the 12th Man a boost of confidence.
“We had come off kind of an embar-rassing loss against Nebraska at the Alamo bowl,” said Chelsea Hunt, Maroon Out inventory director and junior petroleum engineering major. “[Valentine] saw how united Nebraska was with their ‘sea of red’ and he really wanted to do that.”
Although A&M didn’t defeat Nebras-ka that year, Hunt said the purpose be-
Joanna Raines & Jake Walker The Battalion
Students line up Thursday afternoon in Rudder Fountain Plaza to buy Maroon Out t-shirts for the upcoming Maroon Out game against LSU. T-shirts will be sold Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. and during the game.
hind Maroon Out was to unite the 12th Man and have a sea of maroon at the football game.
“People weren’t always all wearing maroon,” Hunt said. “[Valentine] really wanted to unite [the 12th Man] and make the 12th Man more intimidating.”
Fourteen years later, Class Councils — who are also responsible for tradi-tions such as Elephant Walk and Ring Dance — are still working to keep the tradition strong.
Hunt said Maroon Out is completely student-run and sells more than 50,000 shirts every year. Although Saturday’s game will be early, she said it is still im-portant for Aggies to participate.
“Having everyone in the stands wear-ing a maroon shirt and waving white, no matter what time of day it is, is one of the most awe-inspiring and intimidating sights you can see,” Hunt said. “As an Ag-gie looking up and seeing that, you’re just inspired. As another team looking up and seeing that, it’s extremely intimidating.”
Just as in the Maroon Out’s debut in 1998, A&M is playing another highly ranked team for the game. LSU is no stranger to raucous crowds and Tiger Sta-dium has been called one of the toughest places to play in the nation.
“The LSU fans are going to bring it,” Hunt said. “And we need to bring it harder.”
Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Integrity of character is one of the many qualities of a Texas Aggie, so much so that it is represented by a point of the star on the Aggie Ring.
The Aggies CAN food drive — or-ganized by the Student Athlete Advi-sory Committee and the enlisted help of other student organizations — gives students at Texas A&M a chance to show their integrity of character by do-nating to those in need in Bryan-Col-lege Station.
“We heard from students at Mis-souri and Arkansas that they have an on-campus food bank,” said Mark Womack, executive vice president of Student Government Association and
international affairs graduate student. “A school that prides itself on integrity and a community of excellence and ca-maraderie like we do should have one as well.”
Beginning with the volleyball game Friday, students will have the opportu-nity to donate canned food to support the Brazos Valley Food Bank.
Janell Sack, president of the SAAC, said this food drive has donated more than $80,000 worth of food and more than 20,000 pounds of cans to the Bra-zos food bank during the last 12 years.
“Our goal this year is $50,000 and 10,000 pounds of cans,” Sack said.
Students are encouraged to bring canned food items to any of the four donation stations throughout the week-
end at Reed Arena, Ellis Soccer Field and Kyle Field during Midnight Yell and Saturday’s game.
Many other groups on campus — including SGA, Class Councils and the Corps of Cadets — are competing to individually raise the most cans, all ben-efiting Aggies CAN and the Brazos Val-ley Food Bank.
Drew Alders, media relations coor-dinator for the Corps and junior ag-ricultural economics major, said the competition was friendly and for a common good.
“Obviously it’s a competition,” Al-ders said. “But it’s a great way to have us also compete to unite behind one goal, which is providing a food bank for the area.”
Kate Harrell & Jake Walker The Battalion
Students give back in CAN food drive
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