From the Desk of Ross Bjork

Howdy and Happy New Year!

This past year was unlike any other year we have been through. We faced many challenges, all of which tested ourselves more than we thought was possible. However, instead of being paralyzed by our circumstances, we adapted, grew and set the course to become a better Athletics Department. COVID-19 strongly impacted our operations and our focus and attention was immediately brought back to why we are all here, to serve our student-athletes and provide them the opportunity to develop both on and off the field. This is and must continue to be at the forefront of everything Texas A&M Athletics does. As I reflect on 2020 and look forward to 2021, I cannot express how proud I am of our student-athletes. Even in the midst of calamity, they continue to perform at the highest levels in our community, the classroom, and in competition.

Last month, 47 student-athletes graduated from Texas A&M University. Last week, our football team completed an incredible season with a win over North Carolina in the 87th Capital One Orange Bowl, when many people thought we couldn't even play football. We currently have seven teams ranked in the Top 10 of their respective sport and this does not count any spring sports who are gearing up for the season. The list goes on and on and further highlights how Texas A&M Athletics is soaring to new heights. We must continue the momentum; the success is here to stay.

This progression would not be possible without the dedication and support of our sponsors, donors and season ticket holders. This year has served as a reminder to just how important season ticket holders are to Texas A&M Athletics. Your support not only makes Kyle Field the marquee venue in all of college football but the funds provided through your season ticket investment are crucial in supporting Texas A&M Athletics and over 600 Aggie student-athletes across all sports.

I want to say a heartfelt thank you to all our season ticket holders for their continued support through this uniquely challenging season.

There is a lot of excitement around our football program right now and we all believe that Coach Fisher is building something special here in Aggieland. Our season ticket holders and the 12th Man are a vital part of that. As we look toward the future, we are planning for a full seven-game home schedule this fall and are optimistic for the return of all gameday activities that make attending an Aggie Football game a special occasion.

Season tickets for the 2021 Aggie Football season are on sale now and the 12th Man Foundation will be sending out information in the coming weeks regarding season ticket renewals. We hope you will make plans to join us this fall!

You have heard me say this before, but even though we have come this far, we understand the virus is spreading more than ever before and we will continue to put the health and safety of our student-athletes at the forefront. If you are able to come out and support our men's and women's basketball teams, and all other spring sports as they gear up their seasons, we ask that you do your part and continue to wear your face covering at all home athletic events and stay socially distant.

It is an exciting time here in Aggieland and the best is yet to come!

Gig 'Em!
Ross

Sport Updates

Coming off their thrilling Orange Bowl victory, football finished the season ranked No. 4 in The Associated Press Top 25 Poll, which is the highest finish for the Aggies since 1939 national championship season and second top-5 finish since joining the SEC in 2012. The ranking also marks the third time in his career that head coach Jimbo Fisher has finished inside the top five.

Coach Gary Blair and the women's basketball team are off to their best start in program history, matching the 12-0 mark to open the 2008-09 season and are currently ranked No. 7. With victories over No. 10 Kentucky and No. 13 Arkansaslast week, Texas A&M has four wins over ranked opponents. The team is led by N'dea Jones, who averages 13.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, and just broke the program record for double-doubles during the game at Arkansas. Aaliyah Wilson leads the Aggies in scoring with 15 points per game. She poured in a team-high 27 points against the Razorbacks, while Jordan Nixon hit the game-winning shot with 0.4 seconds left. Coach Blair's squad is on the road at LSU on Thursday before returning to Reed Arena on Sunday against No. 14 Mississippi State at Noon.

The men's basketball team is currently 6-4 and are led by sophomore Emanuel Miller, who has had a great start to the season, averaging 17.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Senior Quenton Jackson is second in scoring at 12.0 points per contest. Coach Buzz Williams and the Aggies are on the road Wednesday against Mississippi State before hosting No. 17 Missouri on Saturday at noon.

For all men's and women's basketball home games, tickets start as low as $5. You can purchase tickets at 12thMan.com/tickets.

Men's swimming and diving boasts a No. 4 ranking in the 2020 dual meet season. Junior Shaine Casas has already earned automatic qualifying times for NCAA Championships in five individual events and has lowered four of his own individual school records early in the year. Casas has recorded the fastest time in the country this season in four different events and a top-three time in three more events. Senior Tanner Olson has made himself known in the early going, setting the school record in the 100 breaststroke with the fastest time in the county this season, while classmate Mark Theall has lowered his own 500 freestyle school record at the Art Adamson Invitational.

Women's swimming and diving has also had a strong start to the 2020 season, earning impressive times at the annual Art Adamson Invitational. The No. 12 team in the dual meet rankings has been led by seniors Jing Wen Quah and Camryn Toney. Quah has tallied nine individual top finishes mainly in the butterfly and IM events, while Toney has also logged a pair of top-20 times nationally in the 1650 freestyle and 400 IM. Freshman Chloe Stepanek has burst onto the scene boasting the second-fastest time in the country in the 100 free and the fifth fastest in the 200 free.

This weekend, the men's team travels to Dallas to take on SMU on Friday, while the women host Houston at 4 p.m. at the Rec Center Natatorium. On Saturday, men's and women's diving teams host Texas at 2 p.m. Both home events are closed to the public.

The Aggie women's tennis team opened up the spring with a great showing over the weekend at the TCU Winter Invitational. Through Monday's matches, the Maroon & White are undefeated in doubles action and have 15 singles victories. Coach Weaver's team opens the dual match season with a doubleheader at the Mitchell Tennis Center next Monday (Jan. 18) against Houston and Prairie View A&M, at noon and 4 p.m., respectively.

The A&M men's tennis team kicks off the spring season with the TCU Preseason Tournament this Wednesday and Thursday. They'll then travel to Ole Miss on Jan. 19 to get an indoor dual-match in before taking on a the talented field at the ITA Kick Off Weekend on Jan. 23-24. The Aggies travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan to take on Pepperdine, Baylor and host Michigan for a berth in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships next month.

Track and field begins the 2021 indoor season on Jan. 16 with the Ted Nelson Invitational at the Gilliam Indoor Stadium. Coach Pat Henry's teams return six of the 11 All-Americans from the indoor season a year ago. Five All-SEC members from 2020 return, including three conference champions in Tyra Gittens (Pentathlon), Deborah Acquah (Long jump) and Bryce Deadmon (400m, 4x400m). Jon Bishop (3000m) and Charokee Young (800m) each earned All-SEC honors in their respective events. Acquah also earned conference honors in triple jump, and Gittens finished with conference honors in the high jump and long jump. The Ted Nelson Invitational begins at 3 p.m. and tickets for the meet can be purchased here.

Volleyball is set to return to action after finishing the fall portion of its schedule with a 4-4 record with wins over LSU and Ole Miss. After a standout performance in two wins over LSU, junior middle blocker Mallory Talbert was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. As a team, the Maroon & White tallied 10 double-doubles, led by senior setter Camille Conner who registered four. The Aggies open the spring 2021 campaign Jan 30-31 at Auburn with their home opener scheduled for Feb. 5-6 against Tennessee.

The Aggie Commitment

In alignment with the Core Values at Texas A&M University, "The Aggie Commitment", which launched in August 2020, serves as an integral component of the overall Diversity and Inclusion plan within Aggie Athletics. The Aggie Commitment addresses racial inequity and social injustice, and is focused on unity, education and engagement through four primary objectives: (1) Hiring, Retention and Representation, (2) Celebrating Black History and Excellence, (3) The Student-Athlete Experience and (4) Continuing Education.

With Martin Luther King Day approaching, we wanted to remind you that MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. As we mentioned in the Aggie Commitment announcement this past summer, we've encouraged the Texas A&M Athletics family through the change.org petition to:

1. Educate yourself on the history of our country, injustices and current events.
2. Engage in healthy dialogue in your community to learn about and empathize with others.
3. Help Aggie Athletics provide opportunities of growth and learning for our student-athletes, coaches and staff

We encourage you to spend Monday doing at least one of the three commitments above. In addition, the 14th-annual MLK Breakfast presented by MSC WBAC is virtual this year and free for everyone to view. We encourage you to tune in on January 21st from 9-11 a.m. You can watch from MSC WBAC's Facebook and Instagram.

BTHO Breast Cancer

Our men's and women's basketball teams, in partnership with St. Joseph Health, will once again host a Beat The Hell Outta Breast Cancer Game on Jan. 26 and Feb. 18 at Reed Arena, respectively. The men will host LSU on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 8 p.m., while the women will host Missouri on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.

If you are able, we are asking for the support now more than ever to bring awareness to a disease that affects many and raise funds to benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the Pink Alliance, a local non-profit in the Brazos Valley that serves as an advocate for breast cancer support.

Fans have the opportunity to donate with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Pink Alliance and the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The official 2021 BTHO Breast Cancer t-shirt can only be purchased online this season for $10 here with mail delivery and gameday pick-up options.

In addition, women's basketball assistant coach Bob Starkey will donate $1.00 for each shirt sold between the Kay Yow Cancer Fund ($0.50) and the Pink Alliance ($0.50).

If you are unable to attend, fans have the opportunity to support virtually by submitting photos to be played on the videoboard during both games. For more information on how to submit your photo, visit 12thMan.com/BTHObc.

NCAA Silver Anniversary Award

Former Texas A&M javelin thrower and current ESPN announcer Fernando Palomo '95 was named one of seven recipients for the 2021 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award.

The award annually recognizes distinguished individuals on the 25th anniversary of the conclusion of their college athletics careers. The honorees are selected by the NCAA Honors Committee, composed of representatives of NCAA member schools, conferences and distinguished citizens, including past awardees.

During his time in Aggieland, Palomo placed 12th at the 1996 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. His collegiate best throw of 237 feet, 1 inch earlier that year was the third-best mark in Texas A&M history at the time. He also earned All-Southwest Conference honors. Palomo competed internationally for El Salvador, winning eight national titles, and his national javelin record of 72.70 meters set in 1998 still stands.

As an ESPN announcer, Palomo served as host for the first ESPN "SportsCenter" broadcast for the Latin American market and later hosted the first ESPN "SportsCenter" show in Spanish for a U.S. audience. Palomo has anchored ESPN Deportes and ESPN International's renowned "Fuera de Juego" soccer program since 2006. He also is ESPN's English-language commentator for the Mexican national soccer team. In addition, Palomo has worked on ESPN's broadcast team for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. In 2013, Palomo started working as the Spanish-language commentator for the EA Sports FIFA video game franchise.

Congrats Fernando on this amazing accomplishment!

12th Man Green Team

On behalf of the 12th Man Green Team, which strives to implement, maintain and grow efforts to support and inspire sustainable actions, here are sustainable ways to start the new year:

• Start bringing reusable bags to the grocery store.
  • Pro Tip: keep the bags inside your car or by your front door so you won't forget them.
• Don't shop fast fashion.
  • Try and always check out local shops and stores for all your needs.
• We're sure you've heard this one before but: Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
  • Reducing your plastic waste, reusing to-go containers, and recycling #1 and #2 plastics is a great and easy way to be green.
• Plant a garden or grow your own herbs.
  • This is one of the best ways to stay sustainable, and can save you time and money.

For more information on our sustainability efforts, please visit 12thMan.com/GreenTeam.