The Battalion
day • February 27, 1998
■
In the world of paintball, it’s splat or be splatted
By Leah Templeton
Staff writer
N plat! Whoosh! Blam! No, these are not the
ksounds of Batman beating up the villain-
/ous Joker, they are the whizzing sounds of
aintball war.
Paintball began in 1981 and has slowly grown
one of the most popular and challenging out-
r activities around today. This multi-million
lar sport has players till over the world compet-
in amateur and professional tournaments,
tball has also taken over the Internet. There are
numerous catalog companies and Web pages that
reveal playing tactics and where to get the best gear.
Bryan-College Station has even been stung
by this growing trend. Many stores in the area
are selling paintball supplies, and Rowdy’s, a
large paintball facility in Bryan, has become
the place to play. Texas A&M students have
even formed a paintball club.
Bill Crawford, owner of Rowdy’s, said his fa
cility makes sure to keep paintball wars excit
ing and challenging.
“We have five different fields available, each
with their own personality,” Crawford said.
The fields lie in a creek bottom with many
valleys and wooded areas.
“The Outback is a heavily wooded field approx
imately 600 feet by 300 feet, while the Speedball
field is narrower with 48 or so barricades.”
Since each field has a different set up
and degree of difficulty, there are al
ways surprises.
“You may be successful in one field, but
not another. They can be mentally challeng
ing,” Crawford said.
However, there is one field even Crawford said he
does not like to venture
into. The Valley is in a
heavily wooded area and
is surrounded by hills. Because of
this landscape, only experienced
players are allowed in there. Crawford
said it can get pretty creepy in all of those trees.
"It gives the feeling that Jason is right behind
you,” he said.
As far as group playing, Crawford said “the
bigger the better.” Regulation-style play is a
five-man or ten-man team, but a five-man
team is ideal to set up tactical situations. Three-
on-three or four-on-four is also permitted.
There are also different types of games to
play with paintball wars. Besides basic tag,
Crawford said the most popular is “capture the
flag,” where one person stays to guard the flag
and the rest of the team goes out onto the field.
Rowdy’s also takes safety into consideration
and provides protective gear for all participants.
Normal paintballs can travel up to 285 ft/sec,
but the guns are set at a slightly slower speed for
kids and nighttime play. Also, children have to
be over 10 years old to participate. Crawford
said the paintballs can sting, and Rowdy’s mot
to is “Come out and have a welt of a good time.”
Crawford also said to come dressed in ten
nis shoes and prepare to get dirty.
“It’s rough, muddy, rugged and fun — your
adrenaline goes through the roof.”
Rowdy’s also provides two refs per field who
are there to “keep it safe.” Crawford said the ref
erees are just a precaution.
“Players can do pretty much whatever they
want, the referees are just there to set the limits.”
Rowdy’s uses only high-quality field paint
that is never more than a month old.
Crawford added that this is the ideal time of
the year to play.
“Winter is a good time because you can pad
up and you won’t be too hot.”
Rowdy’s offers a group discount of $10 per
person, but only if a customer uses the equip
ment there. Reservations are also needed, and
large groups such as sororities, fraternities and
churches are welcome.
Many people have also taken to buying their
own paintball gun and supplies.
Andy Harris, an employee at Academy, said
he has seen a lot more interest in the sport.
“There has been an increase in the popularity of
paintball, mostly witli the youth and guys,” he said.
Harris also said there are guns for beginners
and more advanced players.
“We’ve got five or six different models that
run anywhere from $49-$ 199,” he said, “the $49
gun being the entry-level guns most kids buy,
and $199 is the tournament-grade-style gun.”
Paintball has become such a wide-spread game
thatinfallof'96, a paintball club originated at A&M.
Mark Breedlove, president of the paintball club
and a junior finance major, said he thinks the key to
paintball’s success is that any athletic level can play.
“It’s become so popular because it is some
thing anyone can do,” Breedlove said.
The club, which is sponsored through Bra
zos Valley War Games, has 50 dues-paying
members. Besides playing in tournaments,
they enjoy just playing for fun.
“Every three weeks we go out and play as a
club,” Breedlove said. “Most people in the club
play at a recreational level.”
Breedlove also added that students do not have
to own their own equipment to be a member.
So, whether playing in the backyard or at a
tournament level, paintball is the sport anyone
can play. Just be ready for a challenge and will
ing to get a little dirty.
ffiouston Jff estock Show and {{odeo
offers students business contacts,
chances to further journalism skills
By Brandi Ballard
Staff writer
A ggies are known far and wide
as being bull-raising farmers,
and while that myth does not
always stand true, some students
are bringing some truth back into
the name of Texas Agricultural and
Mechanical University.
The Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo has invited Texas
A&M students to participate in
assisting with some of the be
hind-the-scenes work that goes
on at the
rodeo.
Students
are given
the oppor
tunity to
either
work in the techni
cal field or in the
journalism field.
Karie Fehler, a ju
nior agricultural
journalism major, went
last year as a technical
staff assistant.
“There are two guys in
charge of the cameras. We
just assist them in setting up
the cameras all over the Astro
Arena and Astro Hall,” she said.
Although the students do not ac
tually get to work in the Astrodome,
Fehler said it was a lot of fun.
There are closed circuit televi
sions set up around the arena
showing live footage of different
events going taking place.
Students man these cameras
and later the footage is used for
promotions.
Chelsea Gamble, a senior jour
nalism major, went for training
on Sunday.
“I got really excited this week
end,” she said. “It is going to be re
ally interesting. It is going to be a
really good way to make contacts.”
Bryan Walles, a senior journal
ism major, is also excited about his
first time at the rodeo. He learned
about the work program through
his television productions class.
“I am looking into going into
some kind of television produc
tion after graduation, and this
will be really good experience,”
Walles said.
Students can also participate
in the journalism aspects of the
Livestock Show and Rodeo. Stu
dents must have taken a re
quired media writing class.
Those chosen to go as jour
nalists
talk to
the win-
judges
and
write short briefs. These
are put on the Associated
Press Wire and then sent to the
winner’s hometown newspaper.
Last year was the first year for
the Web site and it had over 1.5
million hits. This year, the site had
1.5 million hits within the first two
weeks in January.
“This is a great opportunity
with world-wide exposure,”
Fehler said.
Fehler said that everything she
writes this year goes into her port
folio with Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo letterheads.
Please see Rodeo on Page 4.
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