Every student at Tarleton State University has probably heard of Oscar P, John Tarleton's famous pet duck. His name is chanted at campus events, celebrated during T-Week and even represented in the John Tarleton statue on campus.

But despite his place in university tradition, questions remain about the famous duck and whether he ever actually existed.

According to university lore, Oscar P traveled from Tennessee to Texas alongside John Tarleton in the 1870s. The two supposedly endured a difficult journey, crossing unfamiliar terrain and facing unpredictable weather before arriving in Texas.

The story is even recounted on Tarleton State's official website.

However, there's one problem: There is no verifiable record that John Tarleton ever owned a pet duck.

What began as a legend eventually became an accepted part of Tarleton State's history and traditions.

The spirit of Oscar P has become deeply entrenched in campus life.

Incoming freshmen participate in Duck Camp, named in Oscar P's honor, while students also take part in the Launching of the Ducks tradition. During the event, students write their goals and dreams on the bottoms of rubber ducks before tossing them into the reflecting pool near the Nursing Building.

The tradition symbolizes students' hopes for their futures at Tarleton.

Oscar P's influence stretches back decades.

A 1952 issue of The J-TAC student newspaper described Oscar P as more than just a duck. According to the article, Oscar P represented the school spirit that lived within Tarleton students.

More than 70 years later, that spirit remains an important part of campus life.

Perhaps the best example is the Purple Poo, Tarleton's secret spirit organization, which leads students in "raising the spirit" of Oscar P at various campus events.

Oscar P has also become a permanent fixture on campus.

In 2015, a bronze statue honoring John Tarleton and his legendary duck companion was unveiled. The statue was created by Kenneth Wyatt, a 1946 Tarleton graduate.

Weighing more than 1,000 pounds, the statue features Oscar P as one of three structural supports that help keep the sculpture stable.

It's a fitting representation of the duck's symbolic role in supporting Tarleton's traditions and school spirit.

Whether Oscar P actually existed and accompanied John Tarleton on his journey from Tennessee to Texas remains a mystery.

But one thing is certain: Regardless of where the story originated or whether it is historically accurate, generations of students have embraced Oscar P as an important part of the university's identity.

Today, the spirit of Oscar P lives on through Tarleton's traditions, campus celebrations and the familiar image of the big yellow duck.

Students may never know the full truth behind the legend, but Oscar P's impact on the university is undeniable.

Real or imagined, the little duck has become a lasting symbol of Tarleton pride, bringing students together and reminding them of the traditions that connect generations of Texans.

At some point in every student's education, someone says the same boring thing: “You need to study.”

It might come from a high school teacher when talking about test prep. It might come from a college professor reminding the class that the upcoming exam covers everything from the semester. It might even come from a parent who sees a student sitting at the kitchen table with a textbook open and asks, “Have you studied yet?”

The expectation that students should study is well understood, but the instructions on what studying should actually look like are not.

For many students, studying means re-reading notes, highlighting textbook pages, making flashcards or staring at a study guide until their eyes water. Others wait until the night before an exam and cram to learn an entire unit in a few hours. Some spend hours at their desks and still walk into an exam wondering why they can’t remember what they studied.

The problem may not be that students aren't trying hard enough. It may be that no one ever taught them what effective studying actually looks like.

Research on learning has identified several strategies that can help students retain information and perform better academically. Practice testing, for example, is one of the more effective study techniques, while spreading studying across multiple sessions can improve long-term retention.

However, students simply knowing that they should use a specific method is not enough. They need to know what those strategies look like when they sit down at their desk.

Studying is not one-size-fits-all

No single study method is going to work the same for every class. A student studying anatomy may need to see and label a diagram. Someone studying chemistry may need to repeatedly work practice problems. A student preparing for a history exam may need to organize dates and events into a timeline.

Even within the same class, different techniques help students understand different types of information.

Also, no one has to understand their learning style (visual or hands-on) to determine how to study best. What has been more beneficial for a lot of students is building a study toolbox and choosing the method that best fits the material they are trying to learn.

Flashcards: Learning in stages

For classes with a lot of vocabulary, formulas or specific facts, flashcards can be one of the easiest places to start. The important part is how they are used.

Flashcards should not simply become a way to re-read information. Students should look at the question or term on the front, try to recall the answer before flipping the card and then check whether they were correct.

Flashcards are especially useful when a class requires students to know a large number of specific details. They can also make it easier to repeatedly retrieve information over several days rather than attempting to memorize everything in one sitting.

However, flashcards aren't necessarily the best tool for every subject. Memorizing a definition is different from understanding how an entire process works. For bigger concepts, another method may work better.

Concept maps: Seeing the whole picture

When information feels like a collection of disconnected facts, concept maps can help students see how everything fits together. Instead of writing information in a traditional list, students can start with a central idea and branch outward.

For example, someone studying animal reproduction might put “Reproductive Cycle” in the center of the paper. From there, they could branch into the extra sections and details connecting related concepts along the way. The process encourages thought about relationships instead of simply copying information.

Concept maps can be particularly useful when a test asks students to explain a process or understand how multiple concepts interact. Concept maps also give students something that a stack of notes does not: a visual representation of the big picture instead of all the details at one time.

Grab sheets and fact sheets: Create your own study guide

One of the most useful tools for a student taking a cumulative class may be something as simple as a grab sheet, sometimes called a fact sheet. The idea is to create one condensed document containing the most important information from a unit, chapter or course.

A student might include major ideas, important dates or processes and things that are typically forgotten. The goal is to condense information, rather than copy an entire set of notes.

A fact sheet can also become more valuable as the semester continues. Instead of starting from scratch when a cumulative final approaches, students can have a collection of condensed sheets from each unit that can be reviewed together.

For a student taking a course that builds on itself, those sheets can even become a useful resource later in their academic career.

Teach someone else (The “Can I actually explain this?” test)

One of the easiest ways to find out whether you actually understand something is to try to teach it to someone else.

Students can explain a concept to a roommate, parent, friend or even an imaginary audience. The important part is to explain the idea without just reading from the notes.

Teaching turns studying into a test of understanding.

Brain dump: Put the notes away

A brain dump is another simple form of retrieval practice. Instead of looking at notes and trying to determine whether the information looks familiar, students put everything away and write down everything they can remember about a topic.

No textbook. No notes. No study guide. Just a blank sheet of paper.

For example, after studying the skeletal system, a student can write every bone, structure and fact they can remember. Once they are finished, they can compare their brain dump with their notes and see what they forgot. The missing information becomes the focus of the next study session.

Retrieval practice requires students to pull information out of memory, which is one reason it can be more useful than simply reading over notes. It’s a great way for students to get immediate feedback about what they actually know.

Make your own test

If the professor is going to make a test, students ought to make their own test first. 

Creating your own test forces students to think about the material from the perspective of the person writing the questions.

Students can create a combination of:

• Multiple-choice questions
• Open-ended questions
• Definition questions
• Process questions
• “Explain why” questions
• Application questions
• Detailed questions about small pieces of information

Students sometimes study only the major concepts because they assume the details won't matter. Creating their own test encourages them to consider both the big picture and the finer details.

Once they write the test, students should take it without looking at their notes. And when they miss a question, they have identified exactly what needs more study time. 

This combines two useful study strategies: creating questions, which requires students to work with the information, and answering those questions, which requires them to retrieve it.

The best study method may be a combination

Each study method is effective by itself, but ultimately, the best study process comes from using a combination of these methods.

For example, a student preparing for an anatomy exam might:

1. Create a fact sheet for each unit.
2. Draw and label important structures.
3. Use flashcards for vocabulary.
4. Complete a brain dump without notes.
5. Teach a difficult process to a friend.
6. Finish by taking a self-created practice test.

Again, that’s so much better than reading a textbook for hours. It illustrates the number one takeaway of effective studying: Students should spend time actively working with information rather than simply looking at it.

Oftentimes, the best studying comes from outside the textbook. Draw a diagram, teach a friend, make flashcards, build a concept map, create a test of your own or study for 30 minutes at a time throughout the week instead of staring at notes for five hours the night before an exam.

Most importantly, don’t think about studying “harder.” Study smarter.

Feature Editor

The Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council presented its “Art of the Cowgirl” exhibit from Sept. 8 through the 26, featuring western art right from the hands of local artists Judy Parton and Sara Minze during Stephenville’s rodeo week.

Parton was an art teacher from Hico, Texas, who is now a full-time artist enjoying as much time with her grandchildren as she can. Her bright and loud personality shines through in her acrylic paintings. She doesn’t just paint memories; she sees them in a way that makes you smile at the canvas long after the last stroke of her brush.

“Judy is one of those people, you can kind of see it in her art; she’s very colorful,” Jon Newton, co-director of the Cross Timbers Fine Arts Council, said. “She lights the room up whenever she walks into the room. She’s always smiling, she’s always laughing and her art reflects that.”

Parton’s former art student, Sara Minze, would later discover her love for leatherwork, using her artistic dedication to make intricate pieces that are just as practical for everyday life as they are beautiful.

“I like things that have a function and a purpose,” Minze said. “I’m one of those weird people that uses both sides of their brain. A lot of people are right-brained or left-brained.”

In fact, she made Parton some brown leather chaps with sunflowers and a bright pink apron she calls a “chap-ron.” Minze put “Judy” on one side and a donkey on the other, because Parton loves donkeys.

Minze’s business, Stacked M Custom Leather, accepts inquiries on just about anything she can make out of a leather hide. She indeed takes great pride in her work. A custom purse ordered for a girl named Paige was even featured in the “Art of the Cowgirl” exhibit.

“She made this timeline of how, when you start to make a piece of leather, there’s all of these steps to get to the finished product,” Newton said. “And when you see chaps or a purse or something like that, she may have 30, 40 hours worth of work into that, to get that sewn. So, it’s intense.”

While Parton mostly sells pre-created paintings, she immediately got to work as soon as she heard about a little boy who shared her love for donkeys and wanted a navy blue tie she painted that had already been sold in the exhibit.

“There was no sold sticker on it,” Newton said. “So I come down here, check this lady out and I get to the page… that tie is already sold. But we didn’t get a sticker on it. I told the lady, I said, ‘I’m so sorry, that tie just sold. I didn’t get a sold sticker on it, but give me one second.’

“The lady wanted to buy it for a family that she’s close to. They just lost a little boy. ... He just loved jackrabbits, so she wanted to buy that tie to give to the dad. So I called Judy and I said, ‘Hey, here’s the deal. I know artists don’t like to paint the same thing twice,’ so I told her the story, and she’s like, ‘I’m painting right now. I’m painting another jackrabbit for that lady.’”

According to Parton’s artistic statement, her goal is to “make people excited” when they view her art by playing with “bold colors, designs and techniques that stir the emotions.” 

Not only has she succeeded in that, but she has also raised up a generation of young artists like Minze who are just as passionate.

“The Art of a Cowgirl” was more than just generic decorations people hang up on a wall and stare at when they’re feeling contemplative.

It was a purse pocket repurposed out of a Justin boot.

It was “The Legend” J.B. Mauney painted in a yellow halo that emanated from the butt of his cigarette, glowing around his bright blue eyes.

It was a “Cosmic Cowboy” riding over red rocks and marble planets, with the sun and the moon painted inside of his shoe.

It was a rider and a leather horse carved into the eye inside a swirling silhouette of a man in a wide-brimmed hat.

It was the hide and heritage of Texas.

The tendency to evaluate, judge and critique is human nature. We like to call this being a critic. And in the film industry, that title has carried significant weight for decades. But in recent years, the definition of a film critic has begun to change.

A relatively new website and mobile app called Letterboxd has made the title of "film critic" more accessible than ever.

In October 2011, web developers Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow recognized that while there were plenty of platforms for music and photography enthusiasts, something was missing for the so-called "cinephile."

"The hardest part has been building something that's never existed before — there's no playbook for what Letterboxd is," Buchanan said.

The platform has become an exciting addition to the media world, offering film lovers a place to share their opinions and connect with others who share their passion.

Letterboxd is an online platform much like Instagram or Last.fm, where film lovers can publicly review and critique movies. Users can connect with friends and read their reviews, as well as those of millions of other users.

And that brings us back to that word: "critic."

With Letterboxd, ordinary people have the ability to say what they want about a film and express their true thoughts.

The platform is far less formal than traditional professional film criticism, and that difference becomes clear when comparing the two.

"Left the theater so bummed out that I had to cry along to a Cranberries CD on the drive home. So suffice it to say: the emo Batman I've always dreamed of," user "Lucy" wrote in a review of Matt Reeves' 2022 film "The Batman."

Laid-back is the word I would use here. No fancy definitions, no complicated language. Just a simple review, as if you were having a conversation with a friend.

In my opinion, that is what makes Letterboxd a revolutionary platform in the film industry.

"The Batman has a somber tone different from previous versions that, due to its enunciation, brings it closer to the style of the film-noir genre, returning to the original style of the comic strip and its proximity to pulp literature," film critic Denise Pieniazek wrote in a review featured on Rotten Tomatoes.

From two very different perspectives, we see two very different reviews.

One offers a carefully considered, professional analysis. The other is casual and personal, with no concern for formal presentation. Just someone's honest thoughts.

Not only can users freely voice their opinions on Letterboxd without the pressures of traditional film criticism, but the platform also offers several ways to customize profiles and reviews.

The free account comes with plenty of features, but additional customization options are available through two paid subscription tiers: Pro and Patron.

I'll start with the free account to get the lay of the land.

With a free Letterboxd account, users have access to unlimited film reviews. They can post reviews anytime, anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection.

Users can also customize their profile pictures and biographies and display their four favorite films for others to see.

Now, let's dive into the Pro subscription.

Pro costs $19 per year, which, in all reality, isn't too bad — especially for a self-proclaimed cinephile who enjoys sharing opinions and having fun with the platform.

The subscription includes everything available with a free account, along with personalized annual and all-time statistics based on diary entries and watched films. Users can also view statistics for their lists.

Pro subscribers can select their favorite streaming services from those listed on JustWatch and receive notifications when films on their watchlists become available on those services.

Additional features include viewing friends' average ratings, tracking owned films, filtering activity feeds, pinning content to profiles, duplicating lists, managing tags through the website and selecting custom app icons on iOS devices.

Although I don't have a paid Letterboxd account, I can't lie: I've found myself contemplating a Pro subscription from time to time.

As for the $41-per-year Patron subscription, I've never seriously considered buying it.

Patron includes everything offered through Pro, along with several additional perks.

The biggest is the ability to select preferred posters and backdrops for films and customize the images displayed on profiles, reviews and lists.

This is undoubtedly one of the best features Letterboxd offers.

As someone with a background in art and a love for visual interpretation, being able to choose a movie poster is an amazing feature. It's also something you don't typically get with traditional film criticism.

However, that option is locked behind a paywall, so it won't be in my hands anytime soon.

Other Patron benefits include selecting preferred images for cast and crew members, having your name displayed on the Patrons page and receiving early access to certain beta features.

All in all, Letterboxd has carved out a unique place in the film industry.

It has its flaws, but it provides opportunities for more people to participate in conversations about movies, bringing different perspectives, cultures and opinions into the discussion.

As an avid Letterboxd user for two years, I can confidently say the free account offers more than enough for the average film enthusiast.

Although I would enjoy having Pro or Patron, I just can't seem to justify paying for either.

And perhaps that's the beauty of Letterboxd. You don't need a professional title, a subscription or a background in film studies to be a critic.

All you need is a love of movies and something to say about them.

Associate Producer | Multimedia Journalist

A burger is part of everyday food cuisine and culture both here in America and all around the world. Cooking a burger is easy. Cooking it well, on the other hand, is quite difficult, especially to make it memorable. 

That is why I was absolutely blown away by the burger that fell into my hands on September 5, 2026. It was a casual weekend, a weekend where the City of Stephenville was throwing the “Western Swing Festival.”

On this particular day, I really wanted a cheeseburger. I went up to a food truck, like any other person, and ordered a cheeseburger. The next few moments were heaven. The burger was tender and juicy and it felt like home in a burger. 

Little did I know, behind this burger, behind the food truck, was just a man passionate about his cooking. 

Chance Martin and his wife Savannah Martin founded their “Seasoned & Blessed” food trailer after years of Chance cooking and giving food out for free, simply because he “just likes to cook.”

The Martin’s had known for a while that they had wanted to eventually get a food trailer; they were just waiting for the right circumstances. 

These circumstances presented themself shortly after Savannah and Chance opened her boutique, Heritage 1823. With the exposure to more community events and other food trucks, Chance felt that he could do better for a more affordable price. 

And suddenly Chance had a new job that would allow him the time to commit to the food truck. 

Slowly, he and his wife began creating their full menu together. Chance described how a lot of the food is motivated by Cajun flavors; however, he stated that it is not specifically written on the food truck because he “. . .didn’t want to be titled as just one thing.”

Chance loves to cook all cuisines, and that flexibility can be seen at different events, whether it is a cultural event, such as the Hispanic Heritage Festival, or a normal event with food trucks. This gives variety and sets the food truck apart from others. 

While Seasoned & Blessed has a variety of options on its menu, the best seller— was not created by Chance but by Savannah’s recipe: Crawfish Étouffée.

“Anytime she's there, I let her handle the Étouffée, and most of our regulars know that's my wife's recipe,” Chance said. 

Now that they had the menu, they needed to set up and sell. The Martins started at Walmart, with virtually almost no customers. However, slowly, one or two customers would come get food, rave, and tell others about it. The Martins found that the next time they set up at Walmart, there was a line, and suddenly, customers and regulars were asking where they would be set up next and loyal customers would travel for their food. 

Chance recalls a moment when they were first starting out at Walmart, and he served a Tarleton football player. 

“I gave him a lot of free samples, because I was more or less trying to get my name out . . .it wasn’t even probably 15 minutes later, and some of his buddies came up on the phone with him like, ‘okay what am I supposed to order?’”

While Chance and Savannah love to run the food truck and to serve the community, they both still have full-time jobs alongside running the boutique and the food truck. 

But cooking is what Chance lives for, whether that be giving free handouts to family members or free samples to customers. 

“For me, I really enjoy seeing people try my food and enjoy it. I’ve always said since I started this thing, as long as it tastes for itself, that's all I am after,” Chance said. 

“Being able to share my food with other people, that's my happy place.”

If you are a Stephenville community member or not, I highly recommend you try Chance and Savannah’s food truck that has that extra taste of love in it. You can find information on events and locations they will be at on their Facebook page “Seasoned & Blessed.” 

It is that time of year again, the season when cowboys and cowgirls come from all over to perform at the Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo. This year the rodeo fell on September 17-26.  

The Cowboy Capital Pro Rodeo Association was formed in the winter of 2013 from the foundation of the Erath County Livestock Association. 

Since the founding year, the week of the rodeo has been deemed “Rodeo Heritage Days” and serves as a way to celebrate and appreciate the history of rodeo.

 Along with many fun events, “Rodeo Heritage Days” also includes a string of concerts, all of which happen after the days of rodeo events. 

The 2026 Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA rodeo is no exception and has featured a fantastic lineup of both up-and-coming and established names in the country music scene. 

Shows from Gage Gardiner and Jake Hooker started rodeo week off on the right foot, with performances from Kevin Fowler, Carson Jeffery and Wade Forester happening later in the week.

Gage Gardiner is a rising country music artist from a small town in Kansas and is experiencing much growth as he has performed on stage at Globe Life Field at the American Post Show. His motto is “Faith, Grit & a Six-String,” and that stands true to the way that he goes about his music career. 

Jake Hooker, from Jake Hooker and the Outsiders, is a rising country star with a lifelong connection to the Texas rodeo culture. He moved to Fort Worth in 1998, where he settled down as a Ferrier with his wife Sheila. 

He has won many awards throughout his career, including the 2019 Cowtown Society of Western Music Heroes Award, 2020 and 2024 Texas Country Music Association Western Swing Artist of the Year and 2022 Official Country Music Association of Texas Traditional Country Artist of the Year, among many others. Jake was also inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame as the 2024 Star of Texas. 

Kevin Fowler is a big Texas country music hit, known for honky-tonk, rowdy shows and was formerly a rock guitarist. He has released five albums and has had four singles chart on Billboard Hot Country Songs, and his single, "Here's To Me and You," peaked at No. 1 on the Texas Country Music Chart.

Carson Jeffrey is a Texas-born and raised country singer-songwriter from Cat Spring. He works full-time as a rancher and cowboy when he’s not on the road for his music. His single “Ranch Girl Dream” in 2019 was his breakout hit, with songs like “Mrs. Lonely” and “Need Your Love” gaining popularity in the following years. 

Lastly, Wade Forester, originally from Australia, began rising in popularity in 2022 when his first album came out. His single “Anytime, Anywhere, Antoinette” debuted at No. 17 on the Australian Artist ARIA Charts. 

His Aftermath Tour is currently in full swing, where he has taken his talents to North America for the first time. 

In July 2026, he also announced his first collaboration with Treaty Oak Revival, titled “Can of Worms,” which ended up becoming widely popular. Forster has amassed over a million monthly listeners on Spotify and Apple Music, and his music career is just starting. 

The PRCA Cowboy Capital Rodeo was a hit in many ways this year, but the music lineup certainly did not disappoint. 

Multimedia Journalist

Baskin-Robbins celebrated the grand opening of its Stephenville shop Saturday, Sept. 26, with discounted ice cream, music and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The shop sits next to Buffalo Wild Wings and offered a 31-cent scoop to the first 50 guests in line, starting at 11 a.m. Scoops were also available for $1.31 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a limit of four per guest. 

DJ and prize-wheel giveaways were also a part of the celebration. At noon, the franchise owner, David Brumfield, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Afterward, he and the Baskin-Robbins Joy in Childhood Foundation presented $1,000 to Erath County United Way.

The Stephenville shop is Brumfield’s third Baskin-Robbins location. He said his family’s connection to Tarleton State University and appreciation for Stephenville drew them to the area.

“We love Tarleton State and the genuine sense of community that makes Stephenville special,” Brumfield said in a statement. “We want this shop to be a welcoming place where families can spend time together, students can celebrate their wins or recharge during finals week, and neighbors can connect.”

The 1,100-square-foot shop employs 18 people and has seating for 22 indoors and 30 outdoors. Its regular hours are 9 a.m. to midnight daily.

Multimedia Journalist

The Erath County Commissioners Court, which oversees the county where Tarleton State University is located, voted unanimously on Sept. 14, 2026, to continue funding Flock cameras for another year. 

Several citizens expressed their frustration and stormed out of the courtroom during the meeting.

Locals make their cases opposing Flock cameras

The vote to keep funding the cameras followed about 30 minutes of public comments. Opponents questioned why the county collects information about drivers who are not suspected of a crime. They also raised concerns about access to the data and how the contract was approved.

Heather Anderson, an Erath County resident who organized an online petition to remove the cameras, said it had drawn nearly 1,200 signatures. She also referred to the online polls published by Erath County News, which show widespread opposition to public funding.

Additionally, Anderson told commissioners that the county’s equipment-lease budget initially listed $6,000 for the Flock cameras, although the cameras wound up costing $30,000. 

Hood County Commissioner Dave Eagle also addressed the court. Eagle claimed Hood County, the neighboring county, canceled its Flock agreement after a contract dispute and was seeking the return of money it had paid. He asked Erath County officials to reconsider their agreement.

Prosecutor points to criminal cases

District Attorney Alan Nash supported keeping the cameras, but did not dismiss the privacy questions. Nash said the concerns about mass surveillance are legitimate, and he expects state lawmakers to adopt more safeguards as the technology develops.

Nash said local officers search Flock records when they are investigating a specific crime. They use the results to identify possible suspects or rule people out, rather than tracking where someone generally goes or who they meet.

He referenced a recent arson case involving 55-year-old Dana Buckelew, where vehicle sightings assisted investigators in challenging a suspect’s account of her whereabouts. Evidence that contradicts a suspect’s story can advance an interview in ways that a direct accusation may not.

Nash acknowledged the potential for misuse of license plate readers and suggested that additional regulations and oversight would be beneficial. He urged commissioners to retain this investigative tool while these safeguards are being developed.

Sheriff asks court to review contract timeline

Some of the locals who oppose the Flock cameras raised concerns about the timeline that led to the contract being signed in 2024. They accused Erath County Sheriff Matt Coates of signing the contract on Oct. 25, 2024, before the commissioners approved it exactly one month later. 

Near the end of Monday’s meeting, Coates asked the court to examine claims that he signed the Flock paperwork before commissioners considered the resolution. Coates said he did not remember the sequence. He also said he believed his signature alone would not bind the county before the court gave its approval.

“If I have done anything wrong, I ask you to hold me accountable,” Coates said. 

He suggested an outside agency could investigate if necessary. Erath County Judge Brandon Huckabee said the county would provide more information about the process.

The meeting ended without an order to deactivate or remove Flock cameras from the area.

Multimedia Journalist

On Aug. 27, 2026, former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced her resignation from the highly sought-after role of the White House Press Secretary. 

Serving as the 36th White House press secretary, Leavitt made history as the youngest person to ever occupy the role at the age of 27. But aside from her impressive accumulation of the role at such a young age, Leavitt brought a sense of aggressiveness and urgency to the role. 

One that hasn’t been seen since Kayleigh McEnany, the White House Press Secretary during the first term of President Trump. Making her absence hit even harder. 

“She's become a star. It's that face, it's that brain, it's those lips — the way they move, they move like she's a machine gun," Trump said during an interview with Rob Finnerty on his opinion of Leavitt.

Leavitt’s explosive communication style and urgency to stay on top of the briefing are exactly what led her to the position. 

Growing up in a hard-working Catholic family in Atkinson, New Hampshire, Leavitt had an early understanding of what it takes to become successful. Her parents were small business owners, instilling work ethic in Leavitt herself.

 “I think it was watching him [Her father] and his understanding of the world and also watching how the government can really impact your life as a small business owner,” Leavitt said during a 2024 Derry News interview about her journey to the West Wing. “I didn’t realize it at the time, but I believe that had a big influence on my curiosity and inquisitiveness about the world around me, our government and everyday people.”

Leavitt attended Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2019.

But before her graduation, she gained an internship position with the White House in the Office of Presidential Correspondence. After graduation, she was promoted to a full-time presidential writer and then promoted to associate director.

From there, she worked under former White House Press Secretary McEnany. 

"When I see Karoline's tenure at the White House, I see someone who's bringing the same accountability that I brought – evidence-based accountability – but I know she loves the American people, and you can see that she has a sunny, optimistic disposition, even when it's tough to go out there and answer questions,” McEnany said during a 2025 interview with USA Today.

Leavitt’s “optimistic disposition” is exactly what gained her national publicity during her role. She was known for answering the right questions and not giving propaganda any form of national spotlight. 

Leavitt is not the one to let the Trump administration go undefined. In fact, one of her most remembered moments was during the January 2026 White House press briefing. 

During the briefing, Niall Stanage, a columnist for The Hill, questioned the administration on whether immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were properly executing their job. 

She then hit back heavily and quickly by accusing the reporter of being a left-wing hack. 

“You’re not a reporter; you’re posing in this room as a journalist. And it’s so clear by the premise of your question. And you and the people in the media who have such biases but are fake, like you’re a journalist, you shouldn’t even be sitting in that seat,” Leavitt said during the January 2026 briefing. 

This exact explosiveness and defensive mechanism behind the podium are exactly what the Trump administration is losing. 

A White House Press Secretary's role is to defend the administration, advocate for the President of the United States and keep the focus on the wins of the administration and not nonsense questions. 

Leavitt has done an exceptional job at completing these exact things. Not only was she quick, but she was smart. 

Her upbringing helped her understand political landscapes from a young age, how to handle the media and how to compose herself in front of the nation. 

The comparison of how well she did her job is evident by not only by looking at the formerly appointed and newly ousted Leavitt successor, White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia. But also Karine Jean-Pierre, the Biden administration's press secretary.

“Zacharia was all stilted delivery, nervous tics and lack of eye contact. With an eerie lack of emotion, she served up pro-Trump talking points, took only three questions and vanished after 14 minutes. It was like the West Wing had turned into an uncanny valley,” David Smith wrote in an article for The Guardian. 

Zacharia was let go of just 5 days after her announcement of acquiring the position. She was publicly scrutinized over awkward pauses and referring to her husband incorrectly.

"The idea of not spending evenings with my kids is completely unacceptable," she continued. "So my president — excuse me, my husband,” Zacharia said on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during her first official briefing.

Leavitt was nearly always on top of her work, which brings a sense of professionalism, pride and love for this country and the Trump administration that the country might never see from anyone else at the podium. 

Trump even took to social media regarding her exit as the White House Press Secretary, stating clear words of respect for Leavitt. 

"A decision I totally understand and respect. Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party,” Trump said.

With the position of the White House Press Secretary officially open, it is unclear at this time who will fill the spot after Zacharia. But it can be assumed that whoever takes to the podium has big shoes to fill in Leavitt’s place. 

Editor-in-Chief

As the stands fill and the cowboys stretch, everyone in the arena can hear the movement and rustle of the stock, the stock that is ready to do their job and do it well, the stock that is ready…ready to buck. 

It takes a special kind of athlete to ride stock full of such explosion; that athlete is none other than the bareback riders.

Tarleton State University is part of the Lone Star Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) and has shown up and shown out at every college rodeo so far this season. In college rodeo, schools compete in nine events, bareback riding being one of the nine. 

Before the short round performance of a college rodeo, every athlete must compete in the long round, which runs Thursday through Saturday morning. Athletes and horses are scored on a 100-point scale, split evenly between both. The top-scoring athletes from the long round get the chance to compete in the short round Saturday night for the champion title. Tarleton has taken all three champion titles in bareback riding thus far in the season.

Back in early September, the Cisco College Rodeo was the first college rodeo of the season held in Abilene, Texas, at the Taylor Telecom Arena. Tarleton athlete Kash Loyd won the long round with a score of 81.5 and the short round with an 85. His scores made him the average winner as well, with a 166.5.

What was unique about Loyd’s ride in the short round in Abilene was the horse he drew to ride. 

“The short round horse, R7, [is] really good, usually a bronc, but they put her in the bares (bareback), and I was lucky enough to draw her,” Loyd said. 

The next rodeo of the season was held in Alpine, Texas, hosted by Sul Ross University, at S.A.L.E Arena, which began Thursday, Sept. 24. Loyd took the champion title after the short round Saturday night with a score of 84.5, as well as winning the average with a 166 score.

“At the end of the day, I just focus on one goal and one goal only,” Loyd said. “Go out there and win and do my job. Focus on the ride at hand, and everything else will fall where it needs to.”

The third rodeo of the season was hosted by Weatherford College in Weatherford, Texas, at Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Arena, beginning Thursday, Oct. 8. 

Loyd drew to ride in the long round in the Thursday night slack, but unfortunately he ran into some tough luck. Loyd took five re-rides, which is a rare situation. However, he ended up taking an 86, winning the long round, but had to miss to compete in the PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association) Permit Finals. 

Many college rodeo athletes, such as Loyd, already have their PRCA permit or card and have to figure out how to balance pro and college rodeo when the seasons overlap. 

Tarleton athlete Westen Chandler was named the bareback champion of the Weatherford College Rodeo after the short round, with a score of 86.

“I saw I drew Bandito Lady,” Chandler said. “And I saw another bareback rider get on her, and it was just really good, so I was pretty excited for it.”

Jace Lomheim, a Tarleton student, is the student director for bareback in the region and spoke about the intense competition being seen this season.

“I think most of the guys are equal caliber,” Lomheim said. “We could all win any rodeo. It makes it pretty cool to watch when we are battling it out.”

A unique aspect of college rodeo is that many athletes are competing against their own teammates. Chandler and Loyd both agreed, however, that this keeps them at the top of their game. 

“It’s pretty tough,” Chandler said. “We’re in the practice pen every Wednesday before the college rodeos, and we compete against the same guys that we’re going against. It’s pretty cool. It just makes us all better, I think.”

There are only two college rodeos left in the fall season: the Angelo State University Rodeo—in San Angelo, Texas, Thursday, Oct. 22 through Saturday, Oct. 24—and the Vernon College Rodeo—in Vernon, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 5 through Saturday, Nov. 7.

The spring semester will begin in January with the Ft. Worth Rodeo kicking things off. All athletes are working hard to stay at the top of their game for a chance to compete in the CNFR (College National Finals Rodeo) in Casper, Wyoming, in June. Only the top three-ranking competitors in each college rodeo region will have the opportunity to compete.  

With a decent-sized gap in between seasons, some might lose momentum in between, but these athletes know how to stay sharp.

“I am going to keep going to the weight room, keep working out and doing the little things,” Loyd said. “The little things matter, and come January, we will be ready for Fort Worth.”

For all official updates, daysheets and scores check the NIRA website.

Podcast Host

As students walk across the stage, waiting patiently to shake President Hurley's hand and receive the class ring they have been waiting months for, they are all thinking about one thing: the party that takes place after they get their ring.

The ring ceremony takes place during Family Weekend, which is Sept. 18 - 19, and is a beloved tradition at Tarleton State University. It congratulates upper-level students for their hard work and dedication to the university through their studies.

Ring Dunk is a beloved college tradition where students chug a pitcher of beer and at the bottom sits their ring. As much as this tradition is done around the world, it holds a special place for Tarleton, as the tradition was founded at Texas A&M University, at a local bar called “The Dixie Chicken.”

Kaylee Bezio, a senior marketing major, was excited to take part in the ring dunk experience, especially knowing how big this tradition is in the Texas A&M system.

“When it comes to affiliating oneself with the Texas A&M University System, there will always be certain similarities that one can share with other schools in the system,” Bezio said. 

“However, at the same time, Tarleton has its own unique history and culture, which enabled students to adapt the tradition like Ring Dunk into something that is special about Tarleton.”

As students prepare for Ring Dunk, there is one thing they must decide first: who will be by their side as they chug an enormous pitcher of beer. 

“The fact of getting the ring is important since it reflects the efforts that you have made in order to receive a degree. Also, this activity provided me an opportunity to celebrate this moment with my friends and family in a way which will remain one of the most memorable experiences of my time at Tarleton,” Bezio said. 

Senior Sam Kazda, a senior agriculture development major, said he celebrated with his best friends and roommates. 

“Ring Dunk to me is a chance to celebrate the ring tradition itself. Graduation is an individual experience, and you are limited to how many you can bring. But Ring Dunk is an opportunity for friends and family to come and celebrate each other and Tarleton,” Kazda said.

Although this is a milestone for so many current students, the tradition sticks with them even after graduation.

Alayna Liles, a summer 2026 graduate, recalls her Ring Dunk, why it mattered so much to her as an alumna and how taking part in that tradition was more than just about the dunk.

“Looking back, Ring Dunk was important to me because it represented how far I had come,” Liles said. “Tarleton tradition made the moment feel real. It was one of those moments where I could stop and realize, ‘I actually did it.’ Now that I have graduated, I look back at Ring Dunk as one of the moments that made my time at Tarleton feel even more special.”

Liles isn't only an alumna of Tarleton State; she is also a first-generation graduate, which made her Ring Dunk not only special for her but for her family.

“Being a first-generation college student, earning my degree was something that meant a lot to me and my family,” Liles said. “There were a lot of unknowns along the way because I was figuring out college and what came next for myself. Getting my ring and participating in Ring Dunk felt like I was celebrating more than just my own accomplishment.”

Ring Dunk is a way for students to turn this academic milestone into a fun and lighthearted celebration. Tarleton students will continue to follow in this tradition that many students take part in every semester.

All participants in this article are 21+ years of age.

Multimedia Journalist 

Having a good study spot is crucial for students to get their work done. So, after doing some digging and contemplating, some of the most ideal study spots have been determined. 

Everyone has different opinions when it comes to the best places to get work done. Some students like to sit outside and have fresh air, while others may like to be indoors in a quiet room. Whatever you prefer, Tarleton has a place for you.

When asked what makes a good study spot for students, everyone agrees on one thing: They want a quiet place to study and do homework. Loud noises, like people talking with friends or watching videos, can be a distraction and make it hard to retain information. 

Several students have found that the Dick Smith Library is one of the best places to study. They have tables and benches outside, access to desktop laptops, study rooms and even a few printers. 

Senior Josselyn Tristan specifically likes the study rooms because they have TVs, which are great for her major.

“The study rooms in the library have TVs, which are good for me to put my slides on for my major,” Tristan said.

The study rooms provide a quiet place for Tristan to get her work done, and they have resources that help her study. 

Senior Pamela Zubieta added that the study rooms are nice because you are also able to work with the people you need to work with without interruptions. 

“The library study rooms are my favorite place to study because they are quiet and you are able to collaborate with the people you need to,” Zubieta said. 

The library also has quiet zones for when you don’t want to be in a study room but still want to work in a quiet environment.

“I like the library’s quiet zones and the study rooms are nice, too,” senior Maggie Nunez said. 

If you would like to reserve a study room in the library, you can do it online through the Tarleton LibCal System, or you can call the Circulation Desk at (254) 968-9450. 

Making reservations is important in order to get a spot because they do fill up fast. 

Overall, students have found that the library is one of the best places to study because it caters to everyone’s needs. It has places to sit outside and inside, areas for students to work with their friends, quiet zones and study rooms, which are great for studying for important exams.

So, grab a couple of friends or venture out solo and check out the Dick Smith Library. It’s many students' favorite study spot, and it could become your favorite, too.

Editor-in-Chief

Editor's note: Special thanks goes to Tarleton language instructor Janet Bell for her translation work during the course of writing this story.

Life…it is truly a beautiful thing given from a gracious God. From the moment an infant is born to the last sunrise one will see, every person, regardless of race, background or gender, is given the same opportunity, and that opportunity is the ability to make an impact that will far outlast their days spent here on this Earth. Not every person recognizes this, but Alejandra Franco undoubtedly did.

Alejandra, or known by many as Ale, was a sophomore and a member of the rodeo team at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. She tragically died Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, leaving all those who loved her so deeply mourning for their daughter, sister, teammate and friend. 

The number of people this unimaginable tragedy has affected is far too great to count and the grief that has been expressed is overwhelming, yet serves as a powerful testament to the life Ale led and the legacy she left. 

Ale was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, but spent much of her childhood in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, with her two older brothers, Rodrigo and Mariano Franco. Ale’s father, Alejandro Franco, expressed the love and pride he had for her from such a young age. 

“She was the youngest and the spoiled one of the family,” Alejandro said. “Her brothers didn’t get jealous. She was my life.”

Ale grew up to accomplish things that some only dream of, but she once was just a little girl spending time making crafts and watching her favorite movie, “Barbie and the Three Musketeers,” enjoying the simplicity and bliss of the childhood her family provided for her. 

“She loved to have her friends over and have PJ parties almost every weekend,” Alejandro said. “We had the house full of friends. We thank God their parents trusted us, and we would take care of all of them. They would patiently wait for the weekend, and if it wasn’t our house, then it was at a friend’s house. In fact, some of them joined us at the funeral service in Stephenville.”

It was no secret that Ale’s strong love for horses, the rodeo industry as well as escaramuza charra, a traditional all-female equestrian discipline, began at an early age. 

“We have always been involved in rodeo and charrería, even before she was born,” Alejandro said. “So she was used to it, literally, she was born among horses. She learned to ride a horse before she rode a bike.  That was her passion, the rodeo and charrería.”

It was known that Ale loved the industry her and her family were a part of, and it was also known that Ale would not hesitate to take the reins herself when she saw fit. 

“In 2016, at the National Children’s Charro Competition, she wanted to ride a horse in a parade,” Alejandro said. “But it was a specific type of horse. A friend of mine had a dancing horse, caballos bailadores, and that was the one she wanted. Those horses are expensive, so I did not want to ask my friend, but she asked him herself and, of course, he said yes.”

Ale fell in love with Tarleton, but she did not immediately begin her college journey after high school as many students do; rather, she chose to take an adventure somewhere else first. 

“After finishing high school, she took a break and went to Switzerland,” Alejandro said. “There she worked as an au pair, a young person from another country who lives with a host family to provide childcare as part of a cultural exchange program.”

“In her free time on weekends, she went to different parts of Europe to hike. Hiking was another passion of hers. She made new friends and they traveled all together, also had the opportunity to ride horses there.”

Ale’s cousin, Pepe Briseño, knew Tarleton’s head rodeo coach, Mark Eakin, and suggested that Ale speak with him about her collegiate goals, and she did just that. Ale flew from Switzerland to Texas to meet with Eakin. He offered her a scholarship and encouraged her to apply to the university.

“Even though on her first attempt she didn’t make it, she re-applied and she was accepted,” Alejandro said. “The day she received her acceptance letter was one of the most exciting days in her life. She was in Switzerland, and she was ready to return home to go to Texas.”

Ale was preparing to start her journey at Tarleton, and kicked it off as so many freshmen do by attending Duck Camp, where she had an incredible experience with her “Momma Duck,” or TTM (Tarleton Transition Mentor).

“She met Mackenzie, that was her Duck Mom,” Alejandro said. “I have to say that she was a blessing that God put in our way. McKenzie made such a good impression on her that she decided to become a TTM.”

When training to be a TTM, she was partnered with Ava Berger after they were paired together through the camp office based on matching personalities. Berger was quick to realize the lasting impression Ale made on the campers they led. 

“They loved her,” Berger said. “They loved how outgoing she was. She could make a joke at any situation you were in, and she was just easy to talk to as well. I think that’s what they really liked about her.”

Berger told their campers to come see them on campus on the first day of school, and that Ale and her would have donuts for them. However, Berger brought way more donuts than campers that showed, but Ale saw it as an opportunity to meet more faces. 

“We proceeded to walk around campus and hand out donuts the whole first day,” Berger said. “She would be like, ‘Hey, you want a donut?’ I was like, ‘You are beating me with the outgoingness.’ She would stop them if they were looking down on their phone and they looked lonely.”

Ale’s heart for others was a part of her that people noticed from such a young age though.

“She would give money to poor people who were asking for it at a traffic light,” Alejandro said. “She could not bear to see a child or woman asking for money, she would give it to them. Her greatest quality was her love for others.”

Berger and Ale’s baby ducks were not the only ones that recognized the joy and love that Ale had to offer. 

Brittany Stewart is the associate rodeo coach at Tarleton and quickly picked up on the light her athlete was. 

“Ale always had a smile on her face,” Stewart said. “No matter if someone was having a bad day, if Ale was around, she had the unique talent to turn it around and make it a better day, whether she meant to or not; that was just the kind of energy that she had.”

Lindsey Estes is a member of Tarleton’s rodeo team and remains in awe of Ale and her qualities that made her unique. 

“Her smile radiated all over the place, and she made a big impact on the team,” Estes said. “She showed everybody how to compete and how to have fun, but do it in a way that’s glorifying to the Lord.”

While so many have been affected by such a sudden and tragic loss, the impact and joy Ale shared are something to be celebrated and most certainly never forgotten by those at Tarleton, within the rodeo community and by everyone Ale left with a sprinkle of her kindness.  

Alejandro would like to express his gratitude to all those who loved Ale and have shown their support to him and his family.

“She loved her university,” Alejandro said. “She was the happiest and proudest student to belong to Tarleton and the rodeo team. Now I understand why; they have shown our entire family a level of respect, love, solidarity and human warmth like I never imagined. It is impressive, and I will live eternally grateful for it.”

Nota del editor: Un agradecimiento especial a Janet Bell, docente de idiomas en Tarleton, por su labor de traducción durante la redacción de este artículo

La vida… es verdaderamente un hermoso regalo que nos concede un Dios bondadoso. Desde el momento en que nace un bebé hasta el último amanecer que una persona verá, todos, sin importar su raza, origen o género, reciben la misma oportunidad: dejar una huella que perdure mucho más allá de los días que pasen en esta Tierra. No todas las personas reconocen esto, pero Alejandra Franco, sin duda alguna, sí lo hizo. 

Alejandra, conocida por muchos como Ale, cursaba su segundo año universitario y formaba parte del equipo de rodeo de la Universidad Estatal de Tarleton, en Stephenville, Texas. Trágicamente, falleció el jueves 24 de septiembre de 2026, dejando a todos aquellos que la amaban profundamente de luto por la pérdida de su hija, hermana, compañera de equipo y amiga. 

Es imposible contar la cantidad de personas afectadas por esta tragedia inimaginable, y el dolor que se ha expresado es abrumador. Sin embargo, ese dolor también constituye un poderoso testimonio de la vida que Ale vivió y del legado que dejó. 

Ale nació en Guadalajara, Jalisco, pero pasó gran parte de su infancia en Tepatitlán, Jalisco, junto a sus dos hermanos mayores, Rodrigo y Mariano Franco. Su padre, Alejandro Franco, expresó el amor y el orgullo que sentía por ella desde que era muy pequeña. 

«Era la más pequeña y la consentida de la familia», dijo Alejandro. «Sus hermanos no sentían celos. Ella era mi vida». 

Ale creció hasta lograr cosas con las que algunas personas solo sueñan, pero alguna vez fue simplemente una niña que pasaba el tiempo haciendo manualidades y viendo su película favorita, Barbie y las tres mosqueteras. Disfrutaba de la sencillez y la felicidad de la infancia que su familia le brindó. 

«Le encantaba invitar a sus amigas a casa y organizar pijamadas casi todos los fines de semana», dijo Alejandro. «Teníamos la casa llena de amigas. Le damos gracias a Dios porque sus padres confiaban en nosotros y nos permitían cuidar de todas ellas. Esperaban pacientemente a que llegara el fin de semana y, si no era en nuestra casa, entonces era en la de alguna amiga. De hecho, algunos de ellas nos acompañaron al servicio funerario en Stephenville». 

No era ningún secreto que el profundo amor de Ale por los caballos, el mundo del rodeo y la escaramuza charra —una disciplina ecuestre tradicional practicada exclusivamente por mujeres— había comenzado desde muy temprana edad. 

«Siempre hemos estado involucrados en el rodeo y la charrería, incluso antes de que ella naciera», dijo Alejandro. «Así que estaba acostumbrada a ese ambiente; literalmente, nació entre caballos. Aprendió a montar a caballo antes de aprender a andar en bicicleta. Esa era su pasión: el rodeo y la charrería». 

Era bien sabido que Ale amaba el mundo al que ella y su familia pertenecían, y también que no dudaba en tomar las riendas por sí misma cuando lo consideraba necesario. 

«En 2016, durante el Concurso Nacional Infantil de Charrería, quiso montar un caballo en un desfile», dijo Alejandro. «Pero tenía que ser un tipo de caballo específico. Un amigo mío tenía un caballo bailador, y ese era el que ella quería. Esos caballos son caros, así que yo no quería pedírselo a mi amigo, pero ella misma se lo pidió y, por supuesto, él aceptó». 

Ale se enamoró de Tarleton, pero no comenzó su trayectoria universitaria inmediatamente después de terminar la preparatoria, como hacen muchos estudiantes. En cambio, decidió vivir primero una aventura en otro lugar. 

«Después de terminar la preparatoria, se tomó un descanso y se fue a Suiza», dijo Alejandro. «Allí trabajó como au pair, es decir, como una joven de otro país que vive con una familia anfitriona para cuidar de los niños como parte de un programa de intercambio cultural». 

«Durante sus ratos libres los fines de semana, viajaba a diferentes lugares de Europa para hacer senderismo. El senderismo era otra de sus pasiones. Hizo nuevas amigas y viajaban todos juntos. También tuvo la oportunidad de montar a caballo allí». 

El primo de Ale, Pepe Briseño, conocía a Mark Eakin, entrenador principal del equipo de rodeo de Tarleton, y le sugirió a Ale que hablara con él sobre sus metas universitarias. Ella siguió su consejo y viajó en avión desde Suiza hasta Texas para reunirse con Eakin. Él le ofreció una beca y la animó a solicitar su admisión a la universidad. 

«Aunque no lo logró en su primer intento, volvió a presentar su solicitud y fue aceptada», dijo Alejandro. «El día que recibió su carta de aceptación fue uno de los más emocionantes de su vida. Estaba en Suiza y ya estaba lista para regresar a casa y marcharse a Texas». 

Ale se preparaba para comenzar su nueva etapa en Tarleton y la inició como lo hacen muchos estudiantes de primer año: asistiendo al Duck Camp, donde vivió una experiencia extraordinaria junto a su “Mamita Pato”, o TTM (Tarleton Transition Mentor, mentora de transición de Tarleton). 

«Conoció a Mackenzie, quien fue su mamá pato», dijo Alejandro. «Tengo que decir que fue una bendición que Dios puso en nuestro camino. Mackenzie le causó una impresión tan positiva que Ale decidió convertirse también en TTM». 

Durante su preparación para ser mentora de transición, Ale fue asignada a Ava Berger. La oficina del campamento las había emparejado porque sus personalidades eran compatibles. Berger no tardó en darse cuenta de la huella duradera que Ale dejaba en los estudiantes que ambas acompañaban. 

«La adoraban», dijo Berger. «Les encantaba lo extrovertida que era. Podía hacer una broma en cualquier situación y, además, era muy fácil hablar con ella. Creo que eso era lo que realmente les gustaba de Ale». 

Berger les había dicho a los estudiantes que podían visitarlas en el campus el primer día de clases y que Ale y ella tendrían donas para ellos. Sin embargo, Berger llevó muchas más donas de las que llegaron a recoger los estudiantes. Pero Ale vio aquello como una oportunidad para conocer a más personas. 

«Decidimos recorrer el campus y repartir donas durante todo el primer día», dijo Berger. «Ella se acercaba y decía: “Oye, ¿quieres una dona?”. Yo pensaba: “Me estás ganando por mucho en extroversión”. Si veía a alguien mirando hacia abajo, concentrado en su teléfono y con aspecto de estar solo, se acercaba a esa persona». 

Sin embargo, el amor de Ale por los demás era una parte de su personalidad que la gente había notado desde que era muy pequeña. 

«Les daba dinero a las personas necesitadas que lo pedían en los semáforos», dijo Alejandro. «No soportaba ver a un niño o a una mujer pidiendo dinero; siempre les daba algo. Su mayor virtud era el amor que sentía por los demás». 

Los estudiantes que Berger y Ale acompañaban durante el Duck Camp no eran los únicos que reconocían la alegría y el amor que Ale tenía para ofrecer. 

Brittany Stewart es entrenadora asistente del equipo de rodeo de Tarleton y enseguida percibió la luz que irradiaba su atleta. 

«Ale siempre tenía una sonrisa en el rostro», dijo Stewart. «No importaba si alguien estaba teniendo un mal día; si Ale estaba cerca, tenía ese talento único para cambiar las cosas y hacer que el día fuera mejor, lo hiciera intencionalmente o no. Simplemente, esa era la energía que transmitía». 

Lindsey Estes, integrante del equipo de rodeo de Tarleton, sigue admirando a Ale y las cualidades que la hacían única. 

«Su sonrisa iluminaba todos los lugares a los que iba, y dejó una huella enorme en el equipo», dijo Estes. «Les enseñó a todos cómo competir y cómo divertirse, pero haciéndolo de una manera que glorificara al Señor». 

Aunque esta pérdida tan repentina y trágica ha afectado profundamente a tantas personas, el impacto y la alegría que Ale compartió son motivos para celebrar su vida. Quienes forman parte de Tarleton, de la comunidad del rodeo y todas las personas que recibieron aunque fuera una pequeña muestra de su bondad jamás la olvidarán. 

Alejandro desea expresar su agradecimiento a todas las personas que amaron a Ale y que le han brindado su apoyo a él y a su familia.

«Ella amaba su universidad», dijo Alejandro. «Era la estudiante más feliz y orgullosa de pertenecer a Tarleton y al equipo de rodeo. Ahora entiendo por qué: nos han demostrado a toda nuestra familia un nivel de respeto, amor, solidaridad y calidez humana que jamás imaginé. Es impresionante, y les estaré eternamente agradecido por ello».

Multimedia Journalist 

Walking through the front door and smelling something in the oven is something I do often at my grandmother's house. I am very grateful to start “Roots” a collection of family traditions, from her kitchen and from my family's recipe book.  

My grandmother decided coconut cream pie was the dish she would make when I presented her with this idea. She was ecstatic, and I was too. As she was preparing the ingredients, I could smell the sugar and the coconut in the kitchen where history is cooked. 

I had only had this pie once before at my family's Thanksgiving gathering in 2025. I had always been a picky eater, but that year I decided to branch out and try the dishes that built my family. 

“You start with the crust, and the crust recipe is one my grandmother used,” long-time Hood County resident Judy Back said.  

While I was watching her make the crust, she added flour, shortening and butter. I could immediately tell that the crust was going to be a hit the moment it took shape in the mixer.  

“All those good things that make the crust,” Back said.  

After the crust was put into the oven, she made the custard, which included milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla and butter. After that came the meringue that was made with egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar and finished with a nice cooling in the refrigerator.  

Once the meringue was finished, my grandmother had me taste it. I quickly said that it tasted like Peeps.  

I was really intrigued by how old her cookbook was and how far it's been passed down within our family. I had asked her what it meant to get the cookbook, which dated back to the Great Depression, from her mother.

“It meant so, so much, because I knew she had her hands on those recipes very often,” Back said. “Whenever I'm gone, I’ll pass that down to one of my daughters-in-law or my granddaughters. It's a treasure.” 

Hearing my grandmother say those words meant a lot to me. I also asked her what family recipes meant to her.  

“As far as recipes, they all came from my parents or my grandmother,” Back said. “They taught me how to cook, so this recipe comes from a Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.” 

“They are a part of our history. They are a part of our culture. So you learn how to cook, you pass those recipes down,” Back said. “I have boxes of recipes that my mother gave me that came from my grandmother, and my great-grandmother.” 

After that time passed, the famous coconut cream pie was finished and ready to eat. My grandmother cut me a slice, and saying I ate it fast was an understatement.  

The rich flavors and the sweetness of the coconut hit my taste buds. I was immediately transported back, back to a time when I didn't exist.  

I could taste the history… the history my family created with what they had and the golden recipes they passed down. 

Thankful does not do my feelings towards this justice; proud fits it better. Proud of my family, proud of my grandmother and proud of all my family who will come after me. I cannot wait for this recipe to be passed down to them. 

This pie is not just dessert; it is a rich cultural recipe of Hood County. 

Coconut Cream Pie  

Ingredients  

● ¾ cup sugar 

● ⅓ cup all-purpose cornstarch teaspoon salt 

● 2 cups milk 

● 3 slightly beaten egg yolks  

● 2 tablespoons butter  

● 1 teaspoon vanilla  

● 1 9-inch baked pastry shell, meringue

In a saucepan, combine sugar, flour and salt; gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat till bubbly. Cook and stir for two minutes. Remove from heat.  

Stir a small amount of hot mixture into yolks; immediately return to hot mixture; cook for two minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add butter and vanilla. Pour into a cooled baked pastry shell. Spread meringue atop pie and bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool. 

Or, omit meringue and serve with whipped cream. To prevent skin from forming on the surface of the filling, put waxed paper directly on top of the hot filling. 

Add 1 cup flaked coconut to Vanilla Cream Pie filling. Top with Meringue; sprinkle with 1/3 cup coconut and bake. 

With brooms, shovels and even sponges in hand, Tarleton State University geology students spent hours clearing dirt and sediment from limestone at Dinosaur Valley State Park. 

What began as a volunteer opportunity quickly turned into a chance to uncover dinosaur tracks that had never been seen before. 

The opportunity arose after a paleontology professor at Tarleton shared the idea with students on campus. The 1,500-acre park needed volunteers to help uncover never-before-seen footprints from various prehistoric animals. 

Club President Addie Edwards and risk management officer Kari Davis explained that this opportunity put Tarleton back on the map for a project that would add a lot to the club.

“Tarleton had been involved in the past, and it kind of just dwindled out. We wanted to get back involved with them,” Davis said.  

What was expected to be a small group of volunteers quickly became a greater effort. Students consistently brought groups of 10 or more people to the site, despite the work being completely unpaid.

“It was just cool to see how many people were ready to help when it was like, ‘Hey, you're not getting hours for this. This is purely volunteer work, no pay,’” Edwards said. “And it was like, ‘I don't care. This is cool.’”

The work may sound like a scene from Jurassic Park, but students said much of the process involved patience and careful attention.

Students used plastic shovels, brooms and brushes to remove sediment covering the limestone. Metal tools were not allowed because they could scratch the limestone where the footprints were preserved.

The students' work helped prepare the tracks for further research, including overhead imaging and casts or molds that could be used to measure and study the discoveries.

For geology students, however, the experience offered more than an afternoon of digging.

“This is a really good opportunity for them to get boots-on-the-ground experience,” Edwards said. “You can study and know all the terms and stuff, but it's so much different than hands-on experience outside of a lab.”

The students also gained experience working alongside professionals and with other volunteers in a field setting.

For the students, the most rewarding part was not necessarily the physical work. It was what could appear beneath the dirt.

“What you're going to get is the satisfaction of discovering something,” Davis said. “It's so thrilling to go out there and wipe some dirt away, and all of a sudden, it's like a snapshot, like thousands, millions of years in the past and you discovered it.”

That feeling became especially significant when students realized that some of the tracks they uncovered had never been seen before.

“It's just great to be able to see that and be the only people to have ever seen that before,” Davis said.

The experience also created plenty of smaller moments of excitement.

At one point, a student uncovered a small gastropod shell fossil and jokingly announced that he had found a dinosaur toe.

The group knew immediately that the fossil was not a dinosaur toe, but the moment became one of the memorable parts of the experience.

Students also found satisfaction in less conventional discoveries. When water levels in the creek bed dropped, algae left behind the shape of dinosaur footprints, allowing students to reveal some of the tracks simply by moving water away.

The project was also a race against the ever-changing Texas weather.

Recent drought conditions followed by expected rain created a limited window for students to work at the site. With water covering the tracks, students could only work effectively while the area remained dry.

“It was kind of a race against the clock almost,” Edwards said.

The students were encouraged to bring whoever they could whenever they could, including during evening work sessions.

That urgency became clear when rain forced the group to cancel a planned workday because of thunderstorms. When students returned to the site, they found water filling the dinosaur tracks they had uncovered.

The tracks were lower than the surrounding limestone, creating small, footprint-shaped puddles.

“It was so cool to see that,” Davis said.

The students eventually grabbed sponges and began soaking water out of the tracks so they could continue working.

Beyond the discoveries themselves, students said the project provided an opportunity to represent Tarleton's geology program and connect with others in the field.

Members of a paleontological society noticed the work the Tarleton students had been doing and expressed interest in connecting with them and potentially having students join their organization.

Even though the Tarleton students were not working directly alongside the group, their progress was visible.

“They saw our work and our progress while we were working the same thing they did,” Davis said.

For the Geology Club, the project also represented an opportunity to show the passion of students entering the field.

“We have that passion to get out there,” Edwards said. “To have that kind of reignited passion of students and people still being interested and keeping that field alive, I think, is really important.”

For the students who spent hours digging through dirt and sediment, the experience offered something that cannot be replicated entirely in a classroom: the chance to uncover something for the first time.

“It was just such a ‘This is our chance’ kind of moment,” Edwards said. “Not like, ‘it'd be cool if you did this.’ Like, ‘We gotta do this now or never’ type thing.”

The site leader at Dinosaur Valley Park, Paul Baker, was able to express what the experience meant to him. 

“As a proud Tarleton alumnus, it meant a lot to watch these Tarleton students come together, putting in long, hard hours and working until dark to uncover dinosaur tracks that no one had ever seen before. Getting to work alongside fellow Texans from Tarleton on a project so deeply important to me, and to the entire paleontology community, made this an experience I’ll always be proud of,” Baker said.

Associate Producer | Multimedia Journalist

Tarleton State University’s women’s soccer program hasn’t been around for too long, as they’ve only been competing since 2022. And starting in 2026, the team is going through a huge transition: an entire new coaching staff.

This year, Tarleton brought in Erik Solberg to be their new head coach, who coached at Gardner Webb the last two seasons. Solberg said when he was hired that he was “ready in my career to go to a place where I feel like we can contend and compete for a championship.”

While getting the Texans to the conference championship, and eventually competing for a national championship, is the main goal, making the team feel connected and supported is the first order of business.

“It feels like a family honestly. It doesn’t feel like I’m here for just soccer,” junior Grace Berry said.

This is one of the reasons Solberg brought in assistant coach Chris Lawson—to help build that culture.

“We want a staff that you can trust that are relational and that care about the players as people, not just athletes, and he checks that box,” Solberg said.

In the same way, Solberg said his other assistant coach, Sadé Boswell, is a good coach and recruiter, but she is also relationship driven.

This makes for a determined and caring coaching staff that has made all the players feel more comfortable and supported.

Zahara Friess, a sophomore at Tarleton and in her first season with the Texans, said Solberg feels like a caring dad.

“He’s like a dad; you can just talk to him and he's so friendly,” Friess said. “And if players have problems with playing time or attitude issues, whatever it may be, they’re comfortable going to him and talking with him . . . and he’ll be honest with them.”

Friess said Solberg’s character is good for players who come from different programs because it shows that he is present.

“He’s great; he just makes everyone want to be better,” Friess said.

For senior Sydney White, she believes she works better with the new coaching staff than the old one, and they work better with her.

“He (Solberg) brings a different type of energy and confidence to the table,” White said. “I think he truly believes in every single girl, and he wants all of us to have a role; whether that's cheering or playing 90 minutes, every girl has a role and I think he does a good job at uplifting us.”

While having a whole new coaching staff can be challenging, and sometimes frustrating, the girls are transitioning rather easily, especially the veterans on the team.

“I think they’ve bought in,” Solberg said. “We’ve got a good group of kids that are back with us. Nobody asked for a coaching change and a staff change, but I think for me, they have really bought in and they are a really important part of what we’re doing and building here.”

Tarleton State is growing, and with it are its athletic programs, the women's soccer team being one. However, no matter the change that has come, Tarleton State athletics are not losing its feeling of community, and Solberg’s staff is another example of that.

Multimedia Journalist

Every Saturday morning in Stephenville, a group of runners laces up their shoes for more than just a quick workout. Some are training for marathons, others are working toward their very first mile, and many show up simply for the community waiting at the starting line. What began as a small Facebook group in 2021 has transformed into a tight-knit family.

Founder Julie Brinkley launched the Stephenville Run Club in April 2021 alongside three friends. Her goal was simple: recreate the welcoming environment she experienced while running with a club at the 2019 NYC Half Marathon. When Brinkley first took up running in 2012, her husband was already a lifelong runner, which often left her feeling intimidated and out of place. That early struggle built her desire to build a supportive space where beginners would feel instantly welcomed rather than overwhelmed.

The club operates under the motto “all faces, paces and races,” reflecting its commitment to runners of every skill level. The group welcomes everyone from walk-runners and beginners to competitive ultra-marathoners.

“We are a unique bunch,” Brinkley said. “Absolute strangers that now share so much life, miles, travels, victories and struggles.”

That welcoming atmosphere draws members from across Central Texas, with runners regularly traveling from Granbury, Comanche, and Wichita Falls to join the weekend meetups. Over the years, Brinkley has guided members through Couch to 5K programs and celebrated first-time mile finishes, while the club’s active online group gives members a place to share training updates, ask for advice, and celebrate progress between runs.

The club has also created several annual traditions that extend beyond regular weekend miles. A Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot that began with 35 participants has grown majorly. To keep training engaging throughout the year, original member Neely Carter designs monthly bingo boards featuring creative challenges, such as capturing a photo at sunset, spotting local statues or setting a personal distance goal.

While the club emphasizes fun and accessibility, members also tackle serious endurance events. Member Jason Huffman introduced the group to North Carolina’s Blackbeard’s 100-mile race, which has since become an annual challenge for the club's ultra-runners and support crews. Members also frequently plan “runcations” together, traveling to major races in New York, Berlin, Chicago and Nashville.

For Brinkley, the standout moments are rooted in how members show up for one another. When she completed the Boston Virtual Marathon, around 40 club members took turns running eight- to ten-mile shifts alongside her so she would never have to push through the distance alone. Later, the club rallied at the Cowtown Marathon to cheer Carter across the finish line as he earned his Boston Marathon qualifying time.

Brinkley, who once worried she would never finish her first 5K, is currently preparing for her seventh marathon in Chicago. Yet her ultimate purpose remains the same as when the club first started: giving local runners a reason to get out the door and a supportive team waiting for them when they do.

For anyone hesitant to join or slow to call themselves a runner, Brinkley's advice is clear: “Just start.”

Tarleton State University’s men's golf team enters the fall as reigning WAC champions with a slightly retooled roster from the one that won the title and a head coach who wasn't there when it happened.

Brian Dolehide was named the program's new head coach on June 12, 2026, becoming the second head coach in the program's modern era. He arrived after four seasons at East Texas A&M, where he led the men's golf program and later oversaw the women's team as well, with earlier coaching stops at Baylor, Goucher College and his alma mater, Florida Atlantic.

Dolehide is stepping into a program at Tarleton State that is coming off its best season in recent memory, that saw a conference championship and 10th place finish at an NCAA Regional, without having coached a single shot of it.

When asked whether inheriting a championship team makes the job easier or harder, Dolehide pointed to the transfer portal as a complicating factor. He was able to retain four players from last year’s roster, while four others transferred in.

“Difficult to answer, easier, hard,” Dolehide said. “It just makes it more interesting, being able to bring in players that I've been able to recruit.”

What remains is a program in transition more than a program that’s defending its title. Dolehide has been making changes that go further than just the roster. He's reshaping the schedule to spend more time in Texas rather than the Northwest and West Coast, where the team frequently played tournaments in years past. This change, he says, is about recruiting and building a local following.

“I'm looking to bring more tournaments and more recruits from Texas,” Dolehide said, “so it's very familiar with the team and helps us compete more locally so we can bring out fans and donors to events.”

He's also adjusting how the team trains between tournaments. At East Texas A&M, splitting time between two programs meant practice was largely left to the players. At Tarleton, he said, “we've been able to have more dedicated practice based off of previous performance.”

The team got its first taste of action under Dolehide at the fall opener in Colorado Sept. 10-11, but the results weren’t up to par. Playing at 5,000 feet on unfamiliar grass exposed adjustments the team didn’t have to make in more local events.

"We just weren't able to adapt as quickly," Dolehide said, "so just a couple things in our practice round need to be changed."

Off the course, Dolehide is building relationships with his athletes as seriously as he coaches them for the green. Dolehide said he's crossed paths with several current players at tournaments in years past, which gave him a head start on the trust a new coach usually has to earn from scratch.

"It's extremely important to build that relationship early on," he said, "just so you have trust between player and coach."

Dolehide is direct with his expectations, which is that winning starts with the players themselves.

“We need to have guys that are ready to compete and ready to get to work and strive to be the best that they possibly can be and work each and every day to get to that goal,” he said

Although the season didn't open the way the Texans hoped, Dolehide isn't reading too much into one tournament.

"We're really excited for the season,” he said. “We didn't have the greatest start that we were hoping for, but we are looking to get back out there these next upcoming tournaments and show how great our game really is."

Multimedia Journalist

On Thursday, Sept. 10, Stephenville ISD students from Hook and Chamberlain Elementary filled Wisdom Gym for Tarleton State Volleyball’s annual “Field Trip Match,” where the Texans played Sam Houston University.

The trip gave the students a chance to experience what a college game day is like, and for some, the opportunity to see Tarleton State for the first time.

The Texans put on a show for the children, sweeping the Bearcats in three straight sets. Coach Jazmyne Johnson called it a great win and praised her players’ teamwork.

“We really started to play together and come together,” Johnson said.

LeNeah Lara, a fifth-year outside hitter, also mentioned how the team came together.

“We executed sisterhood. I feel like we really lost that the last few games and today everyone did their job and did it well, and that was big,” Lara said.

But the stars of the match may come from the stands. Every time the announcer said “point Texans,” the elementary school students practically lost their heads. They brought an uncommon energy to the game, cheering, dancing and laughing every time something exciting happened.

“Hopefully this is the start of a winning streak,” Johnson said.

A big win like this was just what the Texans needed. And not only did the students get to see the Texans play as a team, they got to see them having fun on the court. The children shared in that fun, and took it to another level.

For the Texans, the game ended with a sweep over Sam Houston. For the local elementary kids, they reveled in a special opportunity to watch some of Tarleton State’s best athletes compete on their home floor.

Digital Media Director

Tarleton State University baseball has set a new standard for the program after the 2026 spring season brought home a WAC championship and a berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament.

The Texans ended the season with a 38-21 record, their highest win total in a season since 1992. The team also became the first Division I team in nine years to win their tournament debut.

After finishing 12-6 in WAC play, Tarleton went 3-0 in the WAC Tournament to claim their second conference title. The Texans outscored their opponents 35-14 across the three games and earned the conference’s automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Tarleton then traveled to Austin for the NCAA Regional, where the Texans opened against UC Santa Barbara. They came away with an 11-5 win, giving Tarleton its first postseason victory since 2014. The win also marked the program’s first victory in an NCAA Regional opener, coming in their first appearance.

The Texans’ postseason run ended two games later in a rematch with UC Santa Barbara, where they lost 9-5 in an elimination game. But even though the season ended there, the team already made its mark with quite possibly the most successful season in program history.

A big part of that success came from Tarleton’s offense. Rayner Heinrich led the team with 63 RBIs, 22 doubles and 12 home runs, finishing with 149 total bases. Slade McCloud also had a strong season, recording 57 RBIs and leading the team with seven triples and 22 stolen bases. Sergio Guerra added nine home runs and 47 RBIs.

On the pitching side, Ethan Wendel led the Texans with six wins and 70.2 innings pitched. He made 14 starts and finished the season with 45 strikeouts.

With several seniors out the door, the Texans will have some spots to fill heading into the season. However, several younger players already showed promise during last season’s run.

Heinrich was a sophomore in 2026 and finished the year as one of Tarleton’s top offensive players. Cage McCloud also had a productive sophomore season, hitting 10 home runs and driving in 40 runs. Karsen Davis, another sophomore, also saw time on the mound during the postseason.

As the program prepares for another season, it will do so with the same coach who helped lead it to those accomplishments. The program announced July 28 that head coach Fuller Smith had signed a four-year contract extension that will keep him in Stephenville through the 2031 season.

The extension comes after Smith's first three seasons with Tarleton produced two conference tournament championships, a regular season conference title and an NCAA Regional appearance. His work during the 2026 campaign earned him WAC Coach of the Year honors.

“Texan Baseball has posted historic seasons now twice in his first three years at the helm, and more are on the way,” Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Uryasz said in Tarleton's announcement of Smith's extension.

With Smith now under contract through 2031, Tarleton has committed to keeping the coach who has helped elevate the program during its recent rise.

In the announcement of the extension, Smith pointed to the program's larger goals beyond its record on the field.

“We are excited to call this place home for several more years to come as we continue to win championships on the field and build champions off of it,” Smith said.

For a program that just recorded its most wins in more than 30 years and made its mark in the NCAA Tournament, the upcoming season brings a different kind of challenge. Tarleton will have to replace pieces of its historic team while trying to maintain the level of success it established in 2026.

With Smith staying in Stephenville through 2031, the Texans will have an opportunity to make last season more than a high point. They can use it as the starting point for what comes next.

Multimedia Journalist 

It’s been 25 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. But it's also been 25 years since a nation covered in grief became united over a few weeks of baseball.

Just ten days after the attacks, fans filled Shea Stadium in New York City for a game between the Mets and Atlanta Braves. Tributes, signs and emotions poured in from both fanbases, banning together for the common support for their nation.

“Every American was shocked by the disastrous events of Sept. 11. But for New Yorkers, this attack was even more personal. Many of us had families or other loved ones who were touched by the tragedy,” members of the 2001 New York Mets said in a video played on the big screen before the national anthem.

“And all of us know someone among the thousands of brave, committed volunteers and rescue personnel who have come together in lower Manhattan. And at this time, we ask that you please rise, remove your caps and join us in a moment of silent reflection and prayer. In memory of the victims, in support of their families and on behalf of everyone who has been hurt by these attacks.” 

Following this came the national anthem, the first pitch and the first inning. But it wasn’t until the bottom of the eighth inning that Shea Stadium roared in applause of the Mets’ Mike Piazza hitting a home run.

The home run led the Mets over the Braves, 3-2, eventually becoming the decisive blow and sending a full stadium of hurting Americans into one of the more unique moments in sports history.

Moments before Piazza took the plate and swung the tide of the game, John Smoltz, the Atlanta Braves pitcher, reflected on the moment in an interview on The MLB Network’s “High Heat.”

“I was in the bullpen, getting ready, stretching. I think I might have even been throwing and Piazza was up,” Smoltz said.

Piazza, who was interviewed alongside Smoltz, sat down to rewatch the clip of what would become an indelible moment of healing for New York City. 

What most people don't know about this play is that the current pitcher threw over to first, trying to catch a pickoff, moments before, which shook Piazza up and altered the course of the game. 

“I think when he threw over, he took me out of my zone a little bit and put me to sleep,” Piazza said. “And then I just locked up and then I just froze.”

Following this historic hit, fans on the mezzanine level said they could feel the massive concrete structure move side to side from the thunderous roars and jumping. 

“That was the most captivating moment in my lifetime,” Bobby Valentine, the Mets manager at the time, said.

Following the Mets’ historic win for New York City, 39 days later, New York’s other professional baseball team, the Yankees, also turned in an unforgettable moment in their first game post 9/11.

Before game three of the 2001 World Series, President George W. Bush threw out a first pitch that embodied the strength of the American people.

Bush, wearing a bulletproof vest and an FDNY pullover and with the whole stadium chanting “U-S-A,” reminded the crowd—and the nation—of one thing.

"No matter what the threat may be to us, the United States of America will stand strong and will never be intimidated,” Bush said.

Both games hold significant value in the healing of America after the 9/11 attacks. Baseball has always been a strong competition, pitting Americans against one another for a hopeful victory for their teams. But for a moment in time, America was rooting for one collective team: itself.

The Mets and Yankees games of that time showed the strength, resilience, courage and unity of the American people, and it still shows how connected we can be when we put our heads together and how simply hitting a ball over a fence can unite a nation in grief.

Co-Managing Editor/Sports Editor

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver and Tarleton State University alumnus Darius Cooper is making his mark on the big stage.

After spending much of his rookie season on special teams and now finding his way to more playing time on offense, the last three weeks have been Cooper’s best in the NFL.

In Week 2, when the Eagles played the Tennessee Titans, announcers screamed his name in a game for the first time since college, as Cooper caught the game-winning touchdown from quarterback Jalen Hurts on a toe tap in the back of the end zone. It was Cooper’s first career touchdown in the NFL and first go-ahead score since Sept. 28, 2024, when he led Tarleton over Southeastern Louisiana University 36-33 on Family Weekend.

Then, in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, Cooper set the internet ablaze with a freakish 18-yard touchdown grab where he practically jumped over Rams defensive back Quentin Lake, as the ball skipped off Lake’s fingertips and into Cooper’s grasp. He scored again on a 10-yard catch to put the Eagles up 20-10 going into halftime.

So far through four weeks, Cooper has three touchdowns on five receptions (for 59 yards). Can’t get more efficient than that.

Cooper described his game-winner against the Titans to NBC Sports Philadelphia after the game.

“I was out there, really, to set a pick for Smitty (wide receiver Devonta Smith, who slipped and fell), but how the defense played it, we always gotta have a follow-up on how they play, a counter. So, the second progression was open (himself), J made a great read, a great throw. By the time I looked up, the ball was in the air, grabbed it, made sure I dragged [my feet], and we got the win,” Cooper said.

FOX play-by-play announcer Adam Amin called the touchdown “the biggest catch of his life.” The shock in his voice appeared as if he was genuinely surprised that Cooper pulled it off. Amin must not have been familiar with his game.

The obscurity is beginning to be lifted.

Fans voted Cooper the Eagles Toyota Player of the Week for his performance against the Rams, which is actually more impressive the more it’s studied.

With Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert both ruled out with injuries, Cooper was in line to collect more snaps than usual that day. However, Eagles PR made no mention of Cooper’s opportunity in the weekly injury report, concluding only that “Dontayvion Wicks and Makai Lemon will have an increased role.” So, Cooper went into the game like he usually did: nameless.

As it turned out, Cooper out-snapped Lemon in the game, the Eagles’ first-round draft choice in 2026, and was on the field for 90% of the Eagles’ offensive snaps. Turns out, it was Cooper who was WR2 and earned the first start of his career over Lemon. In an article for SB Nation, Eagles reporter Brandon Lee Gowton said what many fans of Cooper, both from Tarleton and inside Philadelphia, have been thinking: “Good! We've been calling for Cooper to get more playing time.”

Not only did Cooper step into his biggest role yet on the Eagles’ offense when few saw it coming, Hurts looked his way repeatedly in crucial moments.

Cooper’s first touchdown came on a desperation heave from Hurts, with no one else on the field remotely open. That signaled trust in his young receiver. On a fourth-and-goal attempt later in the game, Hurts targeted Cooper again, but the throw was wide and out of his reach. On the Eagles’ final drive, trailing 24-20, Cooper was targeted twice, including on a last-gasp prayer with seven seconds left, when Hurts only had one option: chuck the ball 50 yards downfield to your most physical receiver, which inevitably came up fruitless. But it was the thought that counted.

In all, Cooper led the Eagles in targets for the first time in his young career with seven, amounting to three catches for 33 yards and two touchdowns. Four of those targets came on third or fourth down, and two of the other three each came with limited time remaining at a critical moment in the game. Not bad for a guy who “lacks elite physical traits.”

Life happens fast in the NFL. A month ago, Cooper was beginning the season as Philadelphia’s WR4, finding himself again buried behind a retooled receiver group. Now, as the Eagles continue to struggle offensively and injuries (and a retirement) thin out the depth chart, Cooper may just be the best thing they have going right now.

It helps to have the confidence of your quarterback, and Cooper certainly has that from Hurts. Hurts has been singing Cooper’s praises even dating back to last year, when few others outside of Stephenville knew his name. The time has come for Cooper, and this probably won’t be the last time we mention his name.

Co-Managing Editor/Sports Editor

Kaden Anderson sat behind the table for postgame just after midnight on Aug. 29, fresh off leading Tarleton State to a 49-30 Week 0 win over Prairie View A&M.

He had an easy look on his face: confident, but pleasant, his smile reassuring the moment he earned to be able to sit in that chair. “At peace” may be the best way to describe it.

His pristine passing and four touchdowns from earlier that night could have been the reason for this demeanor. Anderson was the star of the game, by all means, proving right away why he is the right guy to succeed Victor Gabalis, the stache and all. But the reason was simpler: He was having fun again playing the game he loved.

“I think it just comes with confidence,” Anderson said.

Someone doesn’t just enter the transfer portal for no reason. And judging by his final decision, he wasn’t chasing money.

Anderson spent three years at the University of Wyoming as a middling starter. He could never build on his success from high school, which amounted to a 27-2 record at powerhouse Southlake Carroll and being recruited as a three-star prospect.

Anderson could have chosen to stick it out at Wyoming, with two years of eligibility left. Besides, finally succeeding at an FBS program could have given him a better chance to make it at the next level. But he opted for a reset, like so many others do today.

“All of these guys believe in me, and I believe in them,” Anderson said of his teammates at Tarleton State. “When we're playing loose and having fun, it's such a different game. And when you got dudes around you that support you, it's really a special place, and I'm so glad that I found Tarleton.”

Anderson never threw his old Wyoming coaches or teammates under the bus or blamed them for his failures. He’s not that type. Even when he’s not having fun, he keeps a level head. At Tarleton State, he fits the mold.

“There's the goods and the bads of the portal, but the good can be you get to hit a restart button and you get a fresh start with a new group of coaches and a new team and a new culture,” Chris Ross, Tarleton’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, said.

“This is a program that's very similar to where he played high school, where you're gonna come in and expectations are high and you get to compete for a championship, and he hadn't really had that opportunity [in college].”

One of the reasons Anderson felt convicted about Tarleton State was the quick rapport he found with Ross, who is also in his first year at Tarleton.

“I just hit it off with Coach Ross. Coach Ross is a huge reason why I came here, and then I just fell in love with this school,” Anderson said. “This place is a little hidden gem, as I call it.

“One of my o-linemen from high school goes here (Jake Hall), so he reached out to me and asked if I was interested, and I said, ‘Heck yeah, man.’ I came on a visit and just instantly I fell in love and I knew this was the place where I wanted to be.”

Anderson was almost glowing in the post-practice sun as he said this. “We had a perfect day today,” he said. He went on about the day before: “perfect” as well.

Pads were off, the defense was letting the offense work in team drills, but the ball never hit the ground, outside of one dropped pass. Those kinds of days are routine at Tarleton State. Makes sense when they rarely lose football games.

For Anderson to level out at a struggling FBS program to then have an opportunity to start at quarterback for the number one offense in the FCS, it seemed like a no-brainer.

The structure of Tarleton’s offense appeals to him, too. Wyoming’s offense was more run-heavy, he said, whereas at Tarleton there’s more downfield shots and run-pass options, which he loves. He also loves the spread style and not having to go under center.

“It kind of feels like my high school offense a little bit,” Anderson said. “It's something I'm comfortable with. The offense is really easy when you got dudes around you that can go make plays for you. It makes my job a lot easier.”

But despite the comfort right away, Anderson was locked into a quarterback battle all summer with Braedyn Locke. Locke has all the necessary tools to be the starter and garnered more hype than Anderson following the announcement of Tarleton’s spring transfers in February.  

The team didn’t officially name a starter until the week of the first game. In fact, in a room where four of the five quarterbacks started and won games elsewhere in 2025, the Texans’ third-stringer, Jackson Gilkey, beat Tarleton’s Sept. 12 opponent, McNeese, starting at Weber State last season and ran for 114 yards.

Ross indicated that there isn’t a serious drop-off from one quarterback to the next and said he’d feel confident winning a game with “basically any” quarterback in the room.

“I mean, these guys are excellent,” Ross said. “There's a reason they're at Tarleton. All five of them have unique strengths and bring different things to the team. ... It really comes down to who fits this group and gives this team the best opportunity at this moment to go win, and right now that's Kaden.”

In all fairness, reality implies that the decision came down to a little more than what Ross’s classic coach speak suggests. One quality of Anderson that Ross raved about is his “knack for creating explosive plays.”

“He has a unique understanding of where everybody is on the field, and he's mobile enough to buy time, but he's intelligent enough to understand where everybody is, and then he has great arm strength and accuracy as everybody has seen,” Ross said.

Another quarterback on the roster with great accuracy? Locke. “Braedyn Locke has six passes, he's 5-of-6,” Ross said. Two quarterbacks with combative skill sets can create a rift, but in this quarterback room, it’s quite the opposite.

Ross said the thing he respects the most about his QBs is how they “absolutely love and root on each other.”

“I think Braedyn’s a hell of a player,” Anderson said. “We both can do some really special things. ... It's really special to be at a place where all the quarterbacks get along. I know if Braedyn goes out there, I support him, and I know when I'm out there he supports me as well.”

Ross has been incredibly supportive of Anderson as well. Anderson said that Ross gives him control of the offense, such as allowing him to check in and out of plays at the line of scrimmage rather than Ross dictating the script from the sideline.

He said that kind of autonomy helps him play loose and that “all credit goes to Coach Ross.”

“It's a one-two punch with me and Coach Ross out there,” Anderson said, “‘cause we kind of bounce off each other's feedback.

“Obviously, I have another year here; I don't want to leave, so me and Coach Ross are really gonna do something special here.”

Safe to say Anderson has found a home in Stephenville. He’s never been what media people would call “a household name,” but even in a crowded quarterback room, the former FBS-castoff has proved that this is his job for the foreseeable future.

“Yeah,” Ross said, “he's our starter. He's doing a phenomenal job.”

Executive Producer

The Tarleton State Shotgun Club is a student-run organization that participates in college regionals and national shootouts in San Antonio, Texas, during the spring semester at the national shooting complex. Students who are interested in the club don’t have to have previous experience shooting competitively.

The team currently has about 45 members, and the officer team includes the president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. It also includes two range safety officers and a social media officer.

The shotgun team is holding their annual Texan shoot-out fundraiser on Nov. 15, 2026, at the Defender Outdoors Clay Sports Ranch in Joshua, TX, at 8137 FM 1902. Proceeds from the Texan shoot-out go toward funding the team's travel and entry fees for regional and national competitions, including the trip to San Antonio each spring.

The event is open to shooters of all skill levels, and teams can register in advance or sign up the day of the event. More information about the Texan shoot-out and the team's bi-weekly meeting can be found on their Instagram, @tarletonshotgunsports.

Members of the team shoot for charity events throughout the community, FFA events and 4H shootouts. Other shootouts they participate in are for the following associations around Texas: Trap Association, Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) and National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA).

Rylie Reeder is a sophomore at Tarleton and has been a member of the Tarleton Shotgun Club since fall 2025. Reeder found out about the team when she was a senior in high school while at a shoot with her high school shotgun team. Coming into college at Tarleton, Reeder knew she wanted to join the team.

 “I feel like it's helped me be more of a social person. I’ve met so many new people through it. I met my roommates who I love and wouldn’t have met if I didn’t branch out and join the team,” Reeder said.

Olivia Winegeart is a junior at Tarleton majoring in Zoo Animal Care and Management. Winegeart has been president of the Tarleton shotgun team since April 2026.

“Being on the shotgun team is a way to make connections,” Winegeart said. “When we’re out there shooting, you connect with the people around you, finding bonds about shooting, scores and high school shooting teams.”

Winegeart was the captain of her shooting team in West Columbia, Texas. By the time she graduated high school in 2025, she was a three-time state champion in trap shooting. Winegeart hopes to carry that same competitive drive into her final years at Tarleton leading the team, with an eye toward a strong showing at nationals in the spring. For now, though, she's focused on getting new members like Reeder out to the range and out of their comfort zones.

Co-Managing Editor/Sports Editor 

The Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans are squaring off on Sunday for the first time since 2024, a battle of interstate rivals who both have had disappointing starts to the 2026 season. 

Dallas leads the all-time series 4-3, and three of the last four matchups have been decided by four points or less.   

The Texans are looking to avoid a catastrophic 0-4 start, a mark they haven’t fallen to since Bill O’Brien’s downfall in 2020; only one team has ever made the playoffs after dropping their first four. And the Cowboys are looking to get back to .500 after losing by the skin of their teeth last week in Brazil to the Baltimore Ravens. 

What will decide the matchup?  

• Dak Prescott vs. Houston pass rush 

Despite being the longest tenured starter in the league, Sunday will be the first time Dak Prescott has played Houston since 2022, which means it’ll be the first time he’ll face their vaulted pass rush. 

Historically, Prescott has attempted to mitigate good rushes with quick passes, and largely, it’s been a winning formula. However, the way teams have burned the Texans this season has been over the top. 

Houston has given up an uncharacteristic number of explosive plays (rushes over 10 yards, passes over 20 yards) through three weeks. It doesn’t help that they’ve gone against two of the best quarterbacks in football, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, but Prescott is about to be added to that list. 

The Cowboys offense has been more methodical than explosive so far this season, but they’re plenty capable of the latter. If Dallas can buy time with chips and heavy protection schemes against edges Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, look for that trend to continue. 

• Nico Collins vs. Dallas secondary 

Houston’s top receiver Nico Collins is back after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury. Collins can likely have success anywhere on the field against this Cowboys defense, but look for the Texans to put him in the slot so he can work the middle of the field against the Cowboys’ paper-thin safeties. 

It’ll be interesting to see if Dallas matches Collins with Caleb Downs, who’s been quiet so far this season after being hyped as potential rookie of the year material.  

While starting safety Jalen Thompson landed on injured reserve this week, the Cowboys did add some help to the secondary by trading two future picks for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who had been holding out on the Pittsburgh Steelers over a contract dispute.  

Porter will play on Sunday and will be a welcome addition opposite Daron Bland. If new defensive coordinator Christian Parker can get anything turned around on the Boys’ 30th ranked unit, stopping Collins will be the first order of business on an otherwise struggling Houston offense. 

• Game management  

Both teams lost in heartbreaking fashion last week, and late-game coaching blunders on both sides were a big reason why. 

For Dallas, their offense had the ball on the Ravens’ two-yard line, trailing 31-28, with 23 seconds left and three shots at the end zone. They lost in regulation. 

On 3rd & goal, with the team out of timeouts and 14 seconds remaining, head coach Brian Schottenheimer wanted to leave time for a tying field goal. Prescott took a two-step drop, looked at receiver George Pickens and promptly threw the ball into the stands. He was too quick to see Pickens breaking wide open as soon as he decided to settle for three. Schottenheimer admitted after the game that he “over-coached” Prescott on the throw. 

That left the Ravens with seven seconds on the other end, and quarterback Lamar Jackson burned the Dallas defense with a deep throw down the middle to Zay Flowers, as a defender decided to run with the shallow route, leaving Flowers wide open deep. The Ravens wound up victorious   because the Cowboys were out of position—and in the wrong headspace. 

The Texans crumbled against the Indianapolis Colts in a simpler way. With Houston clinging to a 17-16 lead with 1:11 remaining, the Colts were quickly approaching field goal range with all three timeouts. They ran the ball for five yards, obviously trying to bleed clock. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans decided not to take a timeout, and the clock ran all the way down to 29 seconds before he finally did to reposition his defense.  

Indy gained four more yards and made the field goal, leaving just 11 seconds for Houston’s stagnant offense to respond. Ryans also admitted after the game that he made a critical mistake.  

Cowboys-Texans is expected to be a close one again. (Houston is favored by three.) These games are won on the margins, and whichever coach recovers better from their game management woes could very well be the victor. 

Digital Media Director

Fall is here, and if you are ready to leave the classroom for some fun off campus, Stephenville has plenty of fall events to provide the perfect break from school. From rodeos and live music to food competitions and festivals, there is something for everyone in town this fall. 

From Sept. 17-19, the 2nd Annual Cowboy Capital of the World Ranch Rodeo takes place at the Cowboy Capital Fairgrounds, where over 40 teams will compete for a ranch rodeo title. The rodeo starts at 6:30 p.m. each evening. Tickets are $20 and only sold at the gate.

On Friday the 18th, after the rodeo, country singer Gage Gardiner will perform before western swing band Jake Hooker and The Outsiders take the stage on Saturday night. If you love rodeo, this is a great opportunity to see some good cowboys and cowgirls in action. 

If the Ranch Rodeo isn’t enough, the 57th Annual PRCA Pro Rodeo is coming to the Cowboy Capital Fairgrounds Sept. 24-26. Performances start at 7 p.m. each evening, with events happening all day leading up to the main show.

Rodeo and concert tickets are $30 each. Live music will be performed by a range of artists, including regular Twisted J artists Kevin Fowler, Carson Jeffery and Wade Forester. 

And if rodeo isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other fun events to get you off campus.

Parker McCollum is performing on Sept. 24 at the EECU Center as part of his 2026 tour. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m., and he will be joined by special guests Vincent Mason and Jackson Wendell. If you like country music, it is a great opportunity to take a break from school, grab some tickets and enjoy a night of fun. 

Bosque River Taphouse is hosting Burgers and Brews, a food and beer competition on Sept. 26 starting at 11 a.m. Incredible chefs and brewmasters from the area will compete for the number one spot while guests get to sample all their competing burgers and drinks.

Tickets include samples from every chef and shopping at over 12 vendors. Guests also get to vote on the best burger and beer and watch the winners be crowned at 4 p.m. that afternoon. 

Another opportunity for some amazing music is the Larry Joe Taylor Rhymes and Vines Festival at Melody Mountain Ranch, happening Oct. 7-10. Performances start mid-afternoon and run late into the night each day, with plenty of food and drink options at the venue. 

Every day different artists will be performing, presenting a good opportunity for local stars. Some of the artists include Race Ricketts, Jenna Paulette and Larry Joe Taylor himself.

Lastly, Treaty Oak Revival is coming to Stephenville on Oct. 30 at Melody Mountain Ranch. The concert starts at 7 p.m., with special guests William Clark Greene and Austin Meade.

For students trying to make the best of this fall, whether it is their first one in Stephenville or their last, the best place to start is by marking some dates on a calendar, grabbing some friends and exploring what Stephenville has to offer.

Taking a break from classes and just enjoying life is absolutely the way to go, and this town has plenty to keep everyone busy.

Multimedia Journalist 

A student’s first year of college comes with many changes. The first few weeks at Tarleton State University, or any university, are busy. Campus is filled with new faces, new routines and many freshmen are trying to navigate their new life. 

College is an exciting time when you get to meet new people and start to figure out how to be more independent. It isn’t always easy though. From making new friends to getting into a new routine, freshmen are thrown into a world of all kinds of new.

For freshman Julissa Gonzalez, one of the best parts of college has been finding people that she has connected with. “I found my people,” she said. 

College gives students the opportunity to meet many different people, which helps build friendships outside of the ones from home. For many freshmen, these friendships help them adjust to college life and become a second family to them. 

Freshman Rekkylah Bostick said spending time with friends has been a good part of her college experience.

 “I had a lot of fun at the Casey Donahew concert with my friends and boyfriend,” Bostick said. 

For students who are away from home for the first time, having campus activities like this one to go to with friends can help make a big college feel a little smaller. But sometimes it is hard being away from family. “Not being able to see my family every day has been hard,” freshman Elly Gamble said. 

Moving away from home to start a new chapter is one of the hardest parts of going to college. Students have to learn how to balance their school schedules and their personal lives without having their families to help them as they did before.

At the same time, college has given Gamble an opportunity to find her community and an environment that feels like home. 

“I found a church I really like,” Gamble said. 

For students, finding places like this that help them adjust to a new environment is important. Whether that is a church group, an organization or just a group of friends, having these connections makes campus feel more like home. 

One of the most common struggles for students on campus is trying to find parking. For freshmen still trying to learn their way around campus, finding a good place to park can add more stress to an already busy day. If students want to leave campus, there is a good chance the spot they vacate will be taken when they get back. 

Another struggle students have is trying to learn how to work with new professors. “My statistics professor moves on too fast,” Gonzalez said. 

College classes often move a lot faster than what freshmen are used to. Students are responsible for speaking up when they do not understand something, and if they don’t speak up, they have to find a way to keep up themselves. 

Even though students all have different experiences, they all learned that there are highs and lows in college. For these Tarleton freshmen, it’s not just about figuring everything out but also about making the best of the time they have here.

Editor-in-Chief

The pride of the purple vest, the “nine-strong” mentality, and a team holding 37 national championship titles is a force one couldn’t keep quiet if they wanted. Tarleton State University's rodeo team kicked off the collegiate season in Abilene, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 10, at the Cisco College Rodeo.

Tarleton is one of seven schools making up the Lone Star Region within the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) and set the standard at the first college rodeo by claiming the men’s and women’s champion titles, six out of nine event champion titles as well as Faith Lundberg being named the all-around cowgirl.

“We didn’t just show up here to hang out in Stephenville,” sophomore bareback and saddle bronc rider Clay Greenslade said. “We’re here to win.”

There are 10 collegiate rodeos throughout the school year. The top three competitors from every region, in each event, qualify to compete at the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyoming, as well as the top two men’s and women’s teams and top two all-around competitors.

Andrew Morian is a sophomore transfer from Clarendon College competing in steer wrestling. Last season, he accomplished a goal every collegiate rodeo athlete strives for: winning at the CNFR. 

“The goal isn’t to make the college finals,” Morian said. “The goal is to win the college finals.”

Being a “nine-strong” team is a mentality Tarleton’s rodeo athletes take seriously and consistently hold each other accountable to. 

“Nine-strong really represents the team well, because we actually are nine-strong,” Greenslade said. “Every event gets taken care of pretty good.”

Kash Loyd is a freshman at Tarleton competing in bareback riding and was the bareback champion at the Cisco Rodeo with a long round score of 81.5 and short round score of 85.

“The first horse I got on, I had been on that horse before in Decatur, Texas at their pro rodeo,” Loyd said. “So I knew what she was going to do, and I had a good feel for her, and then it all worked out in the long go. Then in the short round, I talked to the stock contractor before about it, and I knew if I rode her well, I was going to win, and I did.”

Loyd explained what wearing the purple vest means to all the athletes on the team.

“You see everybody in a purple vest, and it makes you stand a little taller and smile a little bigger,” Loyd said.

Loyd credits his success to his family and God. 

“My biggest supporter is my family,” Loyd said. “They’ve been with me from step one, and they will be with me till the end. God is great, and He is the reason that I am here.”

The Cisco Rodeo was a great start to the season, but the Lone Star Region is highly competitive, not giving Tarleton’s athletes any room to let up. One of those challenges is having to fight for a shot to compete in the short round in breakaway roping. 

“It’s a knife fight out there,” freshman breakaway roper Kylee Branquinho said. “The breakaway roping is definitely getting tighter, which is good. It’s making everyone rope better.”

Athletes are gearing up to head to the next rodeo of the season in Alpine, Texas, at the Sul Ross State University Rodeo starting Thursday, Sept. 24. The pressure is only building from now until the CNFR.

“If you’re going to try at all, why not give it everything?” Greenslade said. “Pour your all into it. I feel like that is what they preach to us a lot at the school. You’re here to win. You’re here to compete.”

With a united team and a winning mentality, it seems as if nothing will be able to put out the fire lit under these cowboys and cowgirls. 

“We can’t be beat this year,” Morian said. “We are the strongest men's and women’s team in the Lone Star Region and in the nation. We won the first, and we’ll win the next nine plus the college finals.”

Feature Editor

Christopher Nolan adapted “The Odyssey” for the 2026 big screen, an ancient Greek poem written by Homer following his other epic, “The Iliad.”

I went into the theater to see this knowing absolutely nothing. Not who was directing it, or any of the actors, or even what the Odyssey was, but I saw an ad with Greek soldiers and thought it looked pretty cool.

If you didn’t know already, “The Odyssey” is a lengthy (24 books to be exact) epic following the homecoming of Odysseus, a war general and king of Ithaca, after he is lost at sea. 

The Odyssey was published after the first poem written by Greek poet Homer, the Iliad, which is inspired by the Battle of Troy when Greek soldiers infiltrated the city after a 10-year siege by crawling out of a wooden Trojan horse.

Nolan’s adaptation was released July 26 and instantly became a blockbuster hit, earning over $1.5 billion worldwide against a reported $250 million production budget. This comes as no surprise, as Nolan has previously directed box office hits like “Interstellar” and “The Dark Knight.”

As someone who has the attention span of a squirrel and went to the late-night showing running on about three hours of sleep, I can assure you I was invested for the entire three hours.

It piqued my interest enough to purchase a copy of the Odyssey and read it the next day. While I have noticed some discrepancies between the original English translations, I haven’t decided if I dislike all of them or not.

One of Nolan’s creative liberties that served the pace of the film well was incorporating flashbacks of the Trojan War along with the 10-year post-war journey home of Odysseus and his men.

Rather than beginning with a chronological sequence of events, viewers are immersed into the film with men inside Odysseus’ abandoned castle chanting a beautiful translation of a verse inspired by both “The Iliad” and the Odyssey that was written by Emily Wilson in 2017.

Although Wilson had openly criticized the film in a rather scathing review cited by The Guardian, publicly claiming that his adaptation “lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth,” I would have to disagree.

What Nolan did was take an epic poem interwoven with Greek mythology and condense it into something that isn’t simply modern, but rather an idealized version of a character in a fantasy setting.

While the original Odysseus was a ruthless war general, pillaging and conquering towns and cheating on his wife, Nolan’s Odysseus is presented as a noble soldier and a devoted husband.

Additionally, rather than the goddess Athena being a tangible form, she comes to Odysseus with wisdom as a godlike figure that only he seems to be able to see and hear. Many spiritual themes seem to remain present throughout the film.

After a hard decision that cost Odysseus’ army the lives of seven men, some soldiers come against him, only for Odysseus to claim that he “had every right” to pay the price if it would spare the rest of their lives.

One of the main themes running throughout “The Odyssey” is suffering in relation to higher powers, or the Greek gods. In arrogance and pride, Odysseus initially makes many bad calls that anger the gods and prolong his journey home in both the original poetry and Nolan’s adaptation.

Nolan doesn’t exactly hide Odysseus’ flaws but rather redeems him as a hero upon his homecoming. 

For example, a witch that the lost soldiers come into contact with is also reimagined as a traumatized woman rather than a villain, who is eventually convinced by Odysseus to lift the curse she had placed on his men.

This character development throughout the film made the scene of Odysseus accepting his wife’s challenge and brutally fighting the suitors who had invaded his castle along with his son, Telemachus, that much more rewarding.

Additionally, the cinematography was not only beautiful but terrifying enough during scenes of battle for my horror movie fanatic friend to slightly jump in her seat.

The only complaints I have are more directed at Hollywood casting in general. There were many household names in this movie, like Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, and, of course, Matt Damon as Odysseus.

Their performances were expectedly great. However, I think Tom Holland seemed to be about the only person in the movie who hadn’t had some kind of work done. While it is a fantasy, it’s rather disorienting to see a bunch of Botox in what is supposed to be ancient Greece.

I mean, Botox is basically like having a disability for actors because it makes their faces way less expressive. I know social media has made people afraid of aging, but those lines exist for a reason.

I also miss when historical fiction cast women with softer and delicate features that aligned more closely with the beauty ideals of previous time periods, but now everyone seems to look like they came straight off of the Instagram profile of an influencer.

Overall, all three hours of this movie were an entertaining experience that had me thinking about the bigger picture behind the spiritual realm and suffering on Earth long after the credits rolled. 

My only complaints seem rather shallow in comparison, and I’m sure this reimagining of “The Odyssey” will inspire many others to pick up the original poem.