Traditions of Texas A&M University

Did You Know?

• Aggie Muster is held annually on April 21 to honor current students and alumni who died during the previous year, with over 300 Musters held worldwide.
• Silver Taps is a monthly tribute to deceased current students.

Aggie Spirit

Current students and alumni of Texas A&M, known as Aggies, cultivate what is called the Aggie Spirit through devotion to the school's traditions, some of which are over a century old. Texas Monthly has noted that every Aggie acts as a self-appointed guardian of this spirit. The school's culture is shaped by its origins as a rural military and agricultural institution, and although military training is no longer required, the history has instilled values of community, tradition, loyalty, optimism, and sentimentality. Many traditions are considered part of "The Other Education," intended to develop well-rounded, moral individuals. Freshmen are introduced to these traditions at Fish Camp, a three-day orientation retreat held in the summer and run by current students. Fish Camp began in 1954 as a small camping trip and by 2008 hosted over 5,600 students. Transfer students have a parallel program called Transfer Camp (T-Camp), established in 1987, and Howdy Camp serves spring-semester entrants.

Texas A&M Corps of Cadets

The Corps of Cadets, known as the "Keepers of the Spirit," is a link to the university's early days when all students were required to receive military training. Membership became voluntary in 1965, but as of the 2016–2017 school year, enrollment was over 2,500, making it the largest uniformed student body outside the U.S. service academies. Corps members have served in every U.S. armed conflict since 1876, and over 225 have become generals or flag officers. The Corps includes the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, Parson's Mounted Cavalry (the only mounted ROTC unit in the U.S.), the Ross Volunteer Company (the official honor guard for the Governor of Texas), and the Fish Drill Team, which has won national championships almost every year since 1946. Freshmen in the Corps are required to "whip out" to upperclassmen, extending a hand and introducing themselves; thereafter they must know that upperclassman's name.

Sports traditions

The student body calls itself the "12th Man," symbolizing a willingness to replace an injured football player. Students stand throughout football games to show readiness, and step off the bleachers when a player is injured or when the band plays the Aggie War Hymn or The Spirit of Aggieland. During the Aggie War Hymn, fans sway, causing the upper deck to move. The tradition began at the 1922 Dixie Classic in Dallas, when Coach D. X. Bible called on E. King Gill, a former player, to stand ready on the sidelines. Gill did not enter the game, but his readiness represented the support of all Aggies. A statue of Gill stands north of Kyle Field. The Aggie War Hymn was named the No. 1 college fight song by USA Today in 1997.

Aggie Bonfire

Aggie Bonfire was a long-standing tradition tied to the rivalry with the University of Texas at Austin, referred to by A&M students as t.u. The annual bonfire symbolized a "burning desire to beat the hell outta t.u." and was traditionally lit around Thanksgiving. The first on-campus bonfire was burned in 1909, and the tradition continued for 90 years. Early bonfires were built from debris and appropriated lumber; the event became school-sanctioned in 1936. By 1967 the flames could be seen 25 miles away, and in 1969 the stack set a world record at 111 feet tall. Construction evolved from a five-to-ten-day process in the 1960s to a schedule beginning in late October with "Cut," followed by "Load," and then "Stack," a three-week period ending with "Push," when students worked around the clock. In 1978 the design shifted to a wedding-cake style with a fortified centerpole. The bonfire was discontinued for safety reasons.