In a couple of minutes, Texas A&M will be playing in their second game of the 2012-2013 football season against SMU in Dallas. With this being their second game during their first season as part of the SEC, TAMU's football team needs to strive to make a few adjustments in order to come out on the winning side of this game and season.
First, Texas A&M needs to learn how to balance their veteran's experience with their rookie's talent and promise while on the field. While playing against Florida last weekend, Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M's freshman quarterback, demonstrated how much talent and potential he has in his position on the football team. His speed, fearlessness on the field, and determination ensure that Manziel will be an excellent leader on the team, however he needs to learn how to perform consistently throughout the game. During the Florida game, Manziel had a phenomenal first half leading the Aggie team to a ten-point lead at halftime. However, during the second half, Manziel controlled the game for little time, leading to a Florida win. I think this can change, however, if some of the veterans on the team mentor Manziel by giving him some advice and support. Team comradery can go a long ways into having a winning season, and I believe A&M is one school in which strong comradery exists.
The Aggie football team must remember to always keep their mind in the now. Focus must be put on the next game, learning from mistakes, but moving forward to the next obstacle. The Florida loss is behind them, and while different lessons can be taken from that game, the Ags must now concentrate on beating the SMU Mustangs. I hope that the football players will not let their minds get muddled with regrets from last week and will instead try to prove everyone wrong by beating the next team they come up against.
One lesson that I think can be taken from last week's game is that the Aggies need to change their tactic of play depending upon each team they come up against. The Aggies have shown that they can play an amazing first half, but after half time their performance is a bit lackluster. The Ags need to be able to play a good first half and then go into halftime, assess the tactics of the opposing team, and then make the necessary changes to their game plan to be able to go out during the second half and attack the opposing team with new vigor. This is what Florida was able to do, and look how that turned out for them. A&M needs to not be the team able to play one half well.
I think A&M also needs to work on their rushing game. Last week it seemed, as through almost every play was a passing play. The Aggies need to develop both an amazing passing and rushing game in order to be a legitimate threat to other SEC teams.
The last thing that Texas A&M, as a whole, needs to work on is keeping up the fan base during the season. Texas A&M Aggies, current and former members, need to continue to uphold and demonstrate the Aggie Spirit to other SEC teams and fans. The Aggie values, traditions, and behaviors are what make Texas A&M the university that personifies friendliness and hospitality. This became evident when a fan from Florida posted an article in which he described the positive experience he had while visiting College Station with his son for the game. This is something that needs to be continued so that A&M will continue to be heralded as an amiable college campus.
These are all things I hope that A&M will succeed at accomplishing. So Thanks and Gig Em!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
We Will Never Forget
September 11, 2001. Every American can remember where they were that day and exactly what they were doing when they found out the World Trade Centers had been attacked.
I was in 7th grade and had just walked into choir. All around me eighth graders were talking about some program they had watched during their previous class. Apparently a plane had been flown into a building, the details were not mentioned. I thought it was just something pertaining to a specific eighth grade class. Possibly a movie, or just a sick sadistic joke one of the eighth graders was telling.
Then the choir director walked in. She took a seat in front of the choir and looked down at her hands. A silence rarely heard in the choir room spread and settled over the forty, or so, seventh and eighth graders. Mrs. Allen, the choir director, announced that we would not be singing that day. She then informed those of us that did not already know, that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Centers in New York. I was thrown into a state of disbelief. The unimaginable had occurred.
For the rest of the class Mrs. Allen allowed everyone to talk out their emotions. She also let students with parents on scheduled flights call their families to make sure that everything was okay. During that class hour, the second WTC building was crashed into by another commercial jet. It was at this time that I, even as a twelve year old, knew that life was taking a drastic turn. Things would not be the same on September 12th as they were on September 10th. However, even though I was privy to all this information, no other teachers would talk about the occurrences in New York throughout the rest of the day.
Once I arrived at home after school, I turned on the television to see continuous news reports about the attacks in New York. I also became informed about additional attacks that had occurred as the day continued. The Pentagon was crashed into killing an additional hundred people. The White House was also targeted, but had not been reached because of the brave members of a fourth plane that had been grounded in Pennsylvania. I was sent into a spell of shock mixed with fear and sadness. Living close to a major airport did not help either. I heard the loud rumble of jet engines from the air above my house, which sent chills down my spine. I sat on the couch in my living room not knowing what to do next.
Yet, the impact of the 9/11 events had a small effect upon me. I lost no family members on that day. My life was not threatened by a highjacked plane. Yet, I saw classmates shed tears because they were not able to contact their parents who had boarded a plane that morning, or were in New York on business. I saw the heartache the 9/11 attacks caused, and every year I remember it.
September 11th has cast a scar upon American history, but it has also created another moment for every citizen of the United States to come together and support your fellow neighbor who may be hurting and feeling the pain life can sometimes foster. So today and tomorrow and every other day that you continue to live with the privilege of representing America, think of those who died in the 9/11 attacks and those who gave their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq.
I was in 7th grade and had just walked into choir. All around me eighth graders were talking about some program they had watched during their previous class. Apparently a plane had been flown into a building, the details were not mentioned. I thought it was just something pertaining to a specific eighth grade class. Possibly a movie, or just a sick sadistic joke one of the eighth graders was telling.
Then the choir director walked in. She took a seat in front of the choir and looked down at her hands. A silence rarely heard in the choir room spread and settled over the forty, or so, seventh and eighth graders. Mrs. Allen, the choir director, announced that we would not be singing that day. She then informed those of us that did not already know, that a plane had crashed into one of the World Trade Centers in New York. I was thrown into a state of disbelief. The unimaginable had occurred.
For the rest of the class Mrs. Allen allowed everyone to talk out their emotions. She also let students with parents on scheduled flights call their families to make sure that everything was okay. During that class hour, the second WTC building was crashed into by another commercial jet. It was at this time that I, even as a twelve year old, knew that life was taking a drastic turn. Things would not be the same on September 12th as they were on September 10th. However, even though I was privy to all this information, no other teachers would talk about the occurrences in New York throughout the rest of the day.
Once I arrived at home after school, I turned on the television to see continuous news reports about the attacks in New York. I also became informed about additional attacks that had occurred as the day continued. The Pentagon was crashed into killing an additional hundred people. The White House was also targeted, but had not been reached because of the brave members of a fourth plane that had been grounded in Pennsylvania. I was sent into a spell of shock mixed with fear and sadness. Living close to a major airport did not help either. I heard the loud rumble of jet engines from the air above my house, which sent chills down my spine. I sat on the couch in my living room not knowing what to do next.
Yet, the impact of the 9/11 events had a small effect upon me. I lost no family members on that day. My life was not threatened by a highjacked plane. Yet, I saw classmates shed tears because they were not able to contact their parents who had boarded a plane that morning, or were in New York on business. I saw the heartache the 9/11 attacks caused, and every year I remember it.
September 11th has cast a scar upon American history, but it has also created another moment for every citizen of the United States to come together and support your fellow neighbor who may be hurting and feeling the pain life can sometimes foster. So today and tomorrow and every other day that you continue to live with the privilege of representing America, think of those who died in the 9/11 attacks and those who gave their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Deaflympics: Why the deaf community separated themselves from the Paralympics
The Paralympics is often seen as a sport forum that provides the opportunity for people with different types of disabilities to congregate in order to compete against each other on an international level. However, there is still one type of disability that is not fully represented at the Paralympics. Deaf people are not fully represented at the Paralympics because of the costs necessary in order to provide each with a translator and to ensure that gunfire and buzzers are adequately transmitted for the hear impaired athletes. Because of this inadequate representation of handicapped athletes, a viewer can begin to question how adequately the Paralympics represents athletes with disabilities.
The Paralympics has six different categories into which the athletes are sorted before competing, however, the IPC does not set aside a group for the hearing impaired. In order to compete in the Paralympics, a deaf athlete must also possess another disability that meets a Paralympic classification in order to be added to a category for competition. Originally, deaf people were included in the Paralympics, but disassociated themselves in 1924 in order to cater the games more specifically to their needs. After this the Deaflympics began and is hosted the year after the Olympics and Paralympics. It ensures that visual cues are used on the playing fields, lights are used to begin races, and fans cheer by waving since the competitors cannot hear verbal chants.
Yet, challenges are still faced by deaf athletes and coaches. Communication remains to be a difficult hurdle to overcome. Translators are necessary in order to convert the English language into sign language for those with hearing impairment. Unfortunately, translator fees can amount to large sums for individual athletes and teams as a whole. Another challenge faced by the Deaflympics is the lack of support it receives from the IOC. While the IOC has fully supported the Paralympics since 2001 allowing for needed changes to be made to the Olympic Village in preparation for the Paralympic competitors, no helping hand had been extended to the deaf athletes. They are expected to be able to address the problems they face on their own.
I think that the deaf athletes are entitled to equal representation and opportunity. To leave behind an athlete that has a disability making communication and competition extremely difficult is deplorable. Just because a person cannot hear does not mean that they are any less worth the effort to provide for. Think of a child or teenager out there who cannot hear. Do you think they should be discouraged from try to learn and compete in a sport just because they cannot hear the start whistle? No. They should have the same opportunity to become a successful athlete as an able bodied person. The deaf community should also have the ability to popularize more deaf athletes to become role models for young people nationwide who are growing up without the ability to hear.
I hope that the Deaflympics continues to operate in order to give deaf citizens the ability to compete at an elite world level. I also hope that the IPC can turn its eye back to the deaf community and set aside money for them so that the deaf may be allowed to compete in the future. Living without the capability to hear can be more of a disability than the average person thinks. Let us not allow our ignorance cloud our vision.
The Paralympics has six different categories into which the athletes are sorted before competing, however, the IPC does not set aside a group for the hearing impaired. In order to compete in the Paralympics, a deaf athlete must also possess another disability that meets a Paralympic classification in order to be added to a category for competition. Originally, deaf people were included in the Paralympics, but disassociated themselves in 1924 in order to cater the games more specifically to their needs. After this the Deaflympics began and is hosted the year after the Olympics and Paralympics. It ensures that visual cues are used on the playing fields, lights are used to begin races, and fans cheer by waving since the competitors cannot hear verbal chants.
Yet, challenges are still faced by deaf athletes and coaches. Communication remains to be a difficult hurdle to overcome. Translators are necessary in order to convert the English language into sign language for those with hearing impairment. Unfortunately, translator fees can amount to large sums for individual athletes and teams as a whole. Another challenge faced by the Deaflympics is the lack of support it receives from the IOC. While the IOC has fully supported the Paralympics since 2001 allowing for needed changes to be made to the Olympic Village in preparation for the Paralympic competitors, no helping hand had been extended to the deaf athletes. They are expected to be able to address the problems they face on their own.
I think that the deaf athletes are entitled to equal representation and opportunity. To leave behind an athlete that has a disability making communication and competition extremely difficult is deplorable. Just because a person cannot hear does not mean that they are any less worth the effort to provide for. Think of a child or teenager out there who cannot hear. Do you think they should be discouraged from try to learn and compete in a sport just because they cannot hear the start whistle? No. They should have the same opportunity to become a successful athlete as an able bodied person. The deaf community should also have the ability to popularize more deaf athletes to become role models for young people nationwide who are growing up without the ability to hear.
I hope that the Deaflympics continues to operate in order to give deaf citizens the ability to compete at an elite world level. I also hope that the IPC can turn its eye back to the deaf community and set aside money for them so that the deaf may be allowed to compete in the future. Living without the capability to hear can be more of a disability than the average person thinks. Let us not allow our ignorance cloud our vision.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Inspiring Paralympic story that touches the hearts of all
Not all athletes who compete in the Paralympics are born with their impairments. Some athletes experience traumatic, life altering accidents that they then overcome in order to compete at an elite level in the Paralympics. One example is Martine Wright. This British mother was a victim of a terrorist attack, and, post-recovery, trained in order to become an inspiring addition to UK's female sitting volleyball team.
Life changed for Wright on July 7, 2005. Having woken up late, Wright rushed out the door and boarded the subway train instead of driving in order to get to work on time. This, unfortunately, was the same day four Osama bin Laden inspired terrorists bombed three trains and a bus in the London area. Wright was on one of the trains targeted. After the explosion, she was trapped in the entangled metal wreckage of the train and was the last person to be evacuated from the scene. The debris from the train had sliced through both of Wright's legs forcing doctors to amputate both of her legs above the knee after she arrived at the hospital.
After surviving this life altering injury, Wright began rehabilitation where she learned to play disabled sports. After finding her niche in sitting volleyball, Wright trained long and hard and earned her place on the Paralympic sitting volleyball team for the United Kingdom. Wright demonstrates how individuals can take the steering wheel in their own life and go extraordinary places having come out on the other side of this experience a member of the Paralympic team.
I think people everywhere can take Wright's life and triumphs as an example of how to overcome the trivial challenges met in everyday life. This mother was able to survive a terrorist attack in order to represent her nation in an international arena. Wright said, "If I can inspire people at home, whether they're disabled or able bodied, just to go out and pick up a ball...then my job is done." (Kingston, Gary; Vancouver Sun; August 31, 2012) This serves as an inspiration to go and make something more of your life than just settling for the norm. I know that after I read this story, I want to be able to impact as many people as Wright has through her life.
As the 2012 Paralympics continue, more stories of competing athletes continue to arise teaching people worldwide that individuals are not defined by the events that happen during their lives, but by what decisions they make to better their lives after experiencing dramatic turning points.
Life changed for Wright on July 7, 2005. Having woken up late, Wright rushed out the door and boarded the subway train instead of driving in order to get to work on time. This, unfortunately, was the same day four Osama bin Laden inspired terrorists bombed three trains and a bus in the London area. Wright was on one of the trains targeted. After the explosion, she was trapped in the entangled metal wreckage of the train and was the last person to be evacuated from the scene. The debris from the train had sliced through both of Wright's legs forcing doctors to amputate both of her legs above the knee after she arrived at the hospital.
After surviving this life altering injury, Wright began rehabilitation where she learned to play disabled sports. After finding her niche in sitting volleyball, Wright trained long and hard and earned her place on the Paralympic sitting volleyball team for the United Kingdom. Wright demonstrates how individuals can take the steering wheel in their own life and go extraordinary places having come out on the other side of this experience a member of the Paralympic team.
I think people everywhere can take Wright's life and triumphs as an example of how to overcome the trivial challenges met in everyday life. This mother was able to survive a terrorist attack in order to represent her nation in an international arena. Wright said, "If I can inspire people at home, whether they're disabled or able bodied, just to go out and pick up a ball...then my job is done." (Kingston, Gary; Vancouver Sun; August 31, 2012) This serves as an inspiration to go and make something more of your life than just settling for the norm. I know that after I read this story, I want to be able to impact as many people as Wright has through her life.
As the 2012 Paralympics continue, more stories of competing athletes continue to arise teaching people worldwide that individuals are not defined by the events that happen during their lives, but by what decisions they make to better their lives after experiencing dramatic turning points.
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