Texas
The Schlossnagle Effect: How Texas A&M Became a College World Series Contender
COLLEGE STATION – – The clock strikes 3:30 a.m. as Jim Schlossnagle’s head pops up from his pillow. An alarm hasn’t gone off and there’s hours earlier than the solar will rise, however he can’t sleep.
It is a cool June morning, however Schlossnagle’s face is dripping in sweat, the soppy sheets leaving a mark on his mattress inside Texas A&M’s Resort and Convention middle.
Schlossnagle has an excessive amount of on his thoughts to relaxation.
Maybe it is the close to 200-mile transfer southeast his household is ready to make within the coming days. Perhaps it is about discovering a solution to construct a workers. Schlossnagle additionally must promote his message to present gamers on the roster and hope they stick round for an additional season. The identical goes for gamers searching for a second likelihood within the switch portal.
Looking back, Schlossnagle is aware of what’s retaining him awake. After 18 years, a number of convention titles and 5 Faculty World Collection appearances with TCU, he was prepared for a brand new problem. A&M athletic director Ross Bjork got here calling and the timing was proper for a change.
Schlossnagle has at all times been impatient. Even at his introductory Aggies press convention, the coach didn’t hesitate to map out near-unfathomable objectives for a program that was coming off a 9-21 convention report.
“I wish to be in Omaha subsequent season,” Schlossnagle mentioned on June 10 at Kyle Subject’s Corridor of Champions. “However there’s a variety of work to be finished. I do know Aggieland and the Aggie Nation, I’m certain they’ll need that this yr and so do I.”
To some, Schlossnagle’s teaching type is likely to be unorthodox and against-the-grain. However with an opportunity to make his 12 months 1 purpose a actuality, he wasn’t keen to take any danger Saturday afternoon within the backside of the ninth inning with one among school baseball’s greatest hitters on deck.
Simply three hundred and sixty six days after Schlossnagle set a brand new commonplace for this system, the purpose was achieved. A&M baseball is again to its glory days. It’s additionally heading again to the Faculty World Collection for the primary time since 2017 after sweeping Louisville in 4-3 vogue Saturday.
In entrance of a mixed 13,000-plus followers in two days, A&M punched it ticket to the large dance of the midwest.
The Aggies did it their manner: Schloss’ manner. The nation watched on because the workforce that misplaced a sequence to Ivy League Penn in February grew to become the primary program to prep for a nationwide title.
“To be the place we had been three or 4 months in the past, to sit down in right here and prepare to hop on a aircraft to go to Omaha, I’m super-proud of them,” Schlossnagle mentioned. “We’re not completed and now we have to go get some relaxation and prepare to play some extra baseball.”
Calling on coaches, speaking to transfers
The very first thing Schlossnagle wanted to do earlier than speaking to gamers on their roles with the membership was to construct a training workers. Reaching into his Rolodex of contacts, he referred to as pitching coach Nate Yeskie from Arizona. He reached out to LSU’s Nolan Cain to assist in recruiting. Schlossnagle additionally reached out to hitting coach Michael Earley from Arizona State.
Subsequent got here constructing the lineup. Standouts like infielders Trevor Werner and Ryan Targac weren’t leaving. Neither was outfielder Jordan Thompson. Nonetheless, A&M was in a gap with the departure of two of its greatest hitters in Will Frizzell and Hunter Coleman.
Schlossnagle hit the switch portal to fill the gaps. He added a shortstop in Kole Kaler (Hawaii) and fortified first base with Jack Moss (Arizona State). He additionally added outfielder Dylan Rock, who was coming off a profession season at UTSA.
On the mound, Micah Dallas (Texas Tech) was set to improve the rotation whereas Jacob Palish (Stanford) would management video games from the bullpen. The Aggies additionally added catcher Troy Claunch from Oregon State. Very like Palish, Claunch has been to the promised land of TD Ameritrade Park, successful a title with the Beavers in 2018.
He was voted on as captain by his teammates and bestowed the No. 12 in honor of The twelfth Man custom.
“He’s been the core of this factor,” Schlossnagle mentioned of his catcher. “He calms the storm on each offense and protection and he’s a super-elite participant. We’re so glad he’s an Aggie.”
Even with the transfers and high-profile teaching workers, observers weren’t shopping for. Within the preliminary preseason rating, the Aggies had been projected to complete useless final within the SEC West and thirteenth within the convention.
Houston highlights a turnaround
Because the bus rolled into the parking zone from downtown Houston in early March, Schlossnagle went to his workplace and slammed the door behind him. He pouted for a bit, questioning when the spark would arrive, when the consistency would come. The Aggies had simply picked up their first sequence win over Santa Clara, solely to folllow up by being shutdown by Houston 8-2.
A pissed off Schlossnagle took a deep breath and mulled over the loss. The preliminary thought: “I can’t let these boys down,” referring to those that left different packages to hitch his. They didn’t join dropping baseball and neither did Schlossnagle.
One thing modified after that. The strategy to video games had been totally different. So was the ambiance within the clubhouse amongst gamers. Ultimately, it transitioned to the scoreboard.
The Aggies picked up a monumental sequence win over LSU on the highway. After dropping back-to-back sequence to Auburn and Alabama, that grew to become a factor of the previous. A&M by no means misplaced its footing, successful the following eight sequence, together with big-time victories over then-No. 10 Georgia, No. 3 Arkansas and defending nationwide champ Mississippi State.
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“We knew we had particular children,” Schlossnagle mentioned. “We knew that by the top of the autumn. I knew that guys who had been returning gamers had been super-talented and so they wished to win. I knew they had been just about keen to surrender themselves for the chance to win.”
A&M would win the SEC West and be one among 16 host cities for the event. The Aggies discovered a solution to defeat Oral Roberts and Louisiana earlier than taking up Schlossnagle’s former employer in TCU. A seven-run ninth inning gave A&M the lead and an eventual 15-9 win.
Werner mentioned the Aggies had a sport plan earlier than the beginning of the event, hoping to go on “one-game win streaks” moderately than trying deep into the longer term.
Stated Targac: “It is about trusting what we do and never trying too far forward. We have performed this sport one pitch at a time.”
Omaha-bound
The completed product of Schlossnagle’s plan was on show for 2 days at Blue Bell Park in opposition to the Cardinals. Very like the season itself, the lows got here early and followers waited for the excessive factors late.
However that is the Aggies baseball that has rocked Olsen Subject all season lengthy. The end result of a season’s work hit its stride Friday night within the seventh inning when Thompson smacked a two-run house run over the left-centerfield wall to tie the sport at 4-4.
Those that had been introduced right here from elsewhere factored into the sweep as properly. Kaler turned a fast double play on Friday night time to maintain the rating tied Within the ninth to offer A&M an opportunity. Palish labored out of bother beginning within the eighth, permitting simply two hits by way of two innings.
Residing as much as the nickname “Clutch Claunch,” the Aggies catcher performed the position of hero with a game-winning single to offer A&M the 5-4 victory. A day later, he’d ship a strike right down to second base, catching Cardinals pinch-runner Chris Seng within the eighth to maintain Louisville out of scoring place.
Rock put sufficient oomph on a fastball within the seventh inning to interrupt a 3-3 tie with a sacrifice fly. Moss, who hit .541 in each the rounds of the event, continued to shine on the plate, going 3 for six. Dallas struggled along with his fastball command, however did sufficient to restrict Louisville’s potent offense in 4 2/3 innings.
Schlossnagle had trusted freshman Brad Rudis to get the saves within the Faculty Station Regional, however strain was on with a runner at first. On a 3-2 depend, he went again Palish to get the punch out and shut issues down. He’d get the strikeout on Ben Metzinger after which retired Cardinals’ prime hitter Dalton Speeding to fly out deep to centerfield.
“The pitch that Jacob is most comfy throwing in nearly any depend is his slider, his breaking ball,” Schlossnagle mentioned. “I simply wished to go proper to that and alter the look and see what occurred.”
Six pitches later, Palish received catcher Jack Payton to strike out and Blue Bell erupted. The third base dugout engulfed the mound as a canine pile shaped. Followers screamed “Omaha! Omaha!” whereas Schlossnagle slapped the A&M emblem on an outsized ticket stub.
“Coming into (the season), we knew the items had been there,” Werner mentioned. “We simply wanted someone to carry all people collectively.”
A completed product
Louisville coach Dan McDonnell has recognized Schlossnagle for many years. The 2 crossed paths whereas Schlossnagle was on workers at Tulane and McDonnell was teaching at The Citadel.
McDonnell knew getting into the week what the Aggies had been able to. Largely, that’s because of the impression Schlossnagle has made at each cease. He did it at UNLV throughout the early 2000s. It was on show at TCU for practically twenty years as properly.
“You guys have one thing particular right here,” McDonnell mentioned of the Aggies. “That is my first time right here in 30 years, and that is particular, that is neat. This fires me up, as a result of that is what we’re attempting to do.”
Schlossnagle nonetheless talks about these sleepless nights from final June. He’s sweating, however it’s possible because of the warmth reaching triple-digits over the previous month moderately than his nerves getting the very best of him.
Attending to Omaha was the purpose for A&M. Now comes the arduous half: successful. The Aggies are 0-6 since 1993 of their three appearances on the Faculty World Collection.
Betting in opposition to Schlossnagle’s Aggies might be a horrible choice as of late. These in Aggieland comprehend it to be true. Because the aircraft boards for Nebraska, Schlossnagle possible is prepping for an additional spherical a stressed sleep and early mornings.
He’ll take it although it if results in a nationwide title. July was meant for snoozing anyway.
Stated Schlossnagle: “(Corridor of Fame soccer) coach John Robinson informed one time, “It’s essential decelerate.” I do know we had a terrific season, however I do not wish to decelerate. I wish to win a nationwide title and do it sooner moderately than later.”
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Texas
State Fair of Texas features 73 rides, 70 games, and more than 200 food locations
DALLAS – Saturday marks the opening weekend for the State Fair of Texas. 2.5 million people are expected to attend over the next few weeks.
From food to rides, the fair has all kinds of new things this year.
It’s a well-oiled machine for Pizza By the Giant Slice owner Tom Grace.
“We’ve been doing this for 35 years at the State Fair of Texas,” Grace said. “We have six locations we operate out here every year.”
Grace’s son and about 65 workers keep the dough flying and customers happy.
“The State Fair of Texas breeds crazy thoughts and crazy ideas of food. People love to come out here and take pictures with the food they’re getting every year,” Grace said.
The new crazy food idea for Grace this year is Oktoberfest pizza.
“We start off with this base sauce of Alfredo, which is spicy mustard infused. It’s a nice little bite and not too much for those folks who may fear that spicy mustard, and then we have some German sausage, sliced thin like a pepperoni. We’ll put some peppers and potatoes on it,” Grace said.
The Oktoberfest pizza is topped with sauerkraut. For $15, you’ll get a huge slice.
“What we have here at our Gulf Coast Grill on Cotton Bowl Plaza is caramel macchiato fritters,” owner Clint Probst said.
The fritters are one staple bringing in the dough for Probst.
“If we have a really, really good fair and have a fried food winner, this is a semi-finalist not a winner, but if we have a fried food winner you could almost make doctor or dentist money out of just working the fair,” Probst said.
Rides are another big attraction at the fair.
“Oh man! We just did a ton of rides! I think a few more rides are coming up, maybe a few games, and a visit to Big Tex,” fair attendee Tyler Deakins said.
This is the third year the Deakins family has gone to the fair, including five-year-old Emma, who knows what her favorite ride is.
“Yes, the crazy mouth one. Whoo!” Emma Deakins said.
The State Fair of Texas includes 73 rides on the Midway, according to Senior Vice President of Operations Rusty Fitzgerald.
“We have kiddie rides for kids, we have the family-type rides, and then we have one of the more extreme rides, so you can pick your poison on that one,” Fitzgerald said.
One of the new, extreme rides is the Hip Hop, which CBS News Texas reporter Dawn White went on with Fitzgerald.
“If you’ve got a little bit of skill, and you really want to have fun and be a little wild, this is the ride to do it,” Fitzgerald said.
You still have time to have fun on the rides or 70 games. The fair continues through Oct. 20. It also features more than 200 vendor locations.
Texas
Quinn Ewers injury update: Texas QB’s status for Mississippi State
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is not expected to play in the Longhorns’ SEC debut game against Mississippi State on Saturday as he recovers from an abdominal injury, ESPN’s Pete Thamel revealed.
Arch Manning will make his second career start for No. 1 Texas against the Bulldogs today.
Ewers was listed as questionable on the Texas football availability report, indicating that he had a 50 percent chance to play in the game, according to the SEC’s terminology.
But the expectation is that Texas will allow Ewers this week and the team’s open weekend coming up before the Oklahoma game on Oct. 12 to fully recover from the ailment.
Ewers sustained the injury in the second quarter of the Longhorns’ victory against UTSA on Sept. 14, retiring to the sideline and then the locker room for evaluation before returning to the sideline wearing street clothes.
Ewers was able to practice with the team on Tuesday, but was limited by coaches on Wednesday and then again on Thursday, as the team placed more emphasis on giving him rest.
Manning played in relief of Ewers in the UTSA game, and made his first career start the following week with Ewers sidelined, leading Texas to a win over UL Monroe.
Ewers has dealt with some nagging injuries during his collegiate career, missing time briefly in the 2022 and 2023 seasons before the abdominal issue this year.
In three games this season, Ewers has completed 73.4 percent of his passes for 691 yards and eight touchdowns.
More … Texas vs. Mississippi State score prediction by expert football model
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Texas
Top Dallas-area performers in Texas high school football, Week 5
Below you’ll find the top performances in rushing, receiving and passing from Dallas-area Texas high school football players in Week 5.
Rushing
Player, School, Yards
Allijah Harrison, Carrollton Newman Smith, 296
Greg Ard, McKinney North, 291
Christian Rhodes, Lake Highlands, 216
Jermirion Robertson, Lincoln, 214
Deondrae Riden Jr, DeSoto, 206
Ryder Grajo, Frisco Independence, 203
JT Harris, Euless Trinity, 201
Damarion Boozer, Carter, 194
Adarion Nettles, Mansfield Summit, 186
Keyzaylan Ware, Samuell, 176
Legend Bey, North Forney, 176
Tenel Hill, Lewisville, 166
Receiving
Player, School, Yards
Brock Boyd, Southlake Carroll, 213
Xavier Johnson, Richland, 208
Carlton Mims, Little Elm, 196
Dilon Tallie, Arlington Bowie, 177
Jordan Mosley, Princeton, 174
Blake Bates, Richardson Pearce, 164
Jett Hamby, Richardson Pearce, 163
Will Krzysiak, Argyle, 155
Ayson Theus, Duncanville, 153
Ja’Quavius Pipkin, Lancaster, 150
Jayden Beasley, Prosper, 143
Julius Spencer, Garland Lakeview Centennial, 141
Passing
Player, School, Yards
Keelon Russell, Duncanville, 474
Presley Harper, Richardson Pearce, 422
Drew Kates, Richland, 398
Marcus Flowers, Princeton, 389
Maguire Gasperson, Argyle, 387
Christian Hampton, North Garland, 364
Chris Jimerson Jr., North Crowley, 342
Grant Bizjack, Trophy Club Byron Nelson, 335
Brent Rickert, Rockwall, 321
Howard Fisher IV, Wylie East, 319
Edward Griffin, Coppell, 305
Jerry Meyer III, Waxahachie, 298
Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
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