Texas A and M University - Aggieland Yearbook (College Station, TX)

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signals to hump-it. A M students remain on their feet until halftime. Like most sporting events, fans either shout verbal charms or sorcery. Aggies whoop or hiss their “Riffity, riffity, rif, raf’s.” Scoring points on the field means additional scores for the standing 12th Man. The Parson’s Mounted Calvery cannon fires and Aggies receive their date’s kiss for each score. Whoop! The entire student side of the stadium — and most of the opposite side of the stadium — sways during the Aggie War Hymn at the end of the first quarter. The band then begins preparations for half¬ time. Upon command, “The Pulse of Ag- gieland” runs to the field’s edge before performing like no other military march¬ ing band. Their performances consist of folding and interweaving columns and rows with precision and sharpness, bring¬ ing cheers from both sides of the stadium. Before the football players return to the turf, senior students and boot-wearing ca¬ dets form boot line, a privilege specifically for seniors or “Zips” to spur the team onto victory. After an Aggie win, yell leaders are chased down and carried off by freshmen to the fish pond for a refreshing dunk fol¬ lowed by a yell practice on the steps of the YMCA Building. If Aggies are “out- scored,” a yell practice with the football players and coaching staff is held in Kyle Field immediately following the game. Celebrations and comaraderie flow through the campus and town as the Ag¬ gies strengthen the tradition of a spirit that ■x can n’er be told — the spirit of Aggieland. % By Yollie Lopez Students hump-it during the game against the Uni¬ versity of Houston at Kyle Field. Life 27

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CAUGHT IN THE SPIRIT Football season brings a spirit that can n’er be told — the spirit of Aggieland. ( he beginning of every colle- m giate year signifies the kick- off of football season across the nation. Students, alumni and backers, young and old, gather to wear their alma mater’s colors, voice their support or dis¬ favor, crowd local restaurants or picnic from the tailgates of cars and to share in the spirit of the weekend. During home game weekends, prepara¬ tions for victory begin Friday night with pre-yell, pre-game action. For some fans, Northgate plays host. The Dixie Chicken, third major alcohol distributor of the coun¬ ty, accommodates 323 people, with many more overflowing onto University Drive. Dudley’s Draw and Sunset Grill also con¬ tribute their share of celebrators. As 12 a.m. draws near, Kyle Field begins to fill with thousands of Aggies and enthusiasts eager for Midnight Yell Practice. Tension and enthusiasm grow as the torches of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band break through the crowd. The Aggie War Hymn vibrates, initiating whoops from the crowd. Juniors in the Corps of Cadets and their dates run alongside band members as they enter Kyle Field. “There’s never a chance for air, and if you lose grip of your date’s beltloop you’re gonna drown in the waves; you’re holding on for dear life!” sophomore Grace Gon- zoles said. The five Yell leaders, clad in overalls, energetically lead the familiar yells, unique to the A M student body. “Farm¬ ers Fight” or a “Rah . . . rah . . . rah . . . rah ... T... A ... M ... C” is punched out before the aggi e crowd. Upon com¬ mand, the crowd assumes the bent-bodied position, known as the Aggie hump-it. Freshmen wildcats and junior whoops echo throughout the stadium. Rock and Rachel, the hero and heroine of stories told by the yell leaders, bring the cry, “Get Grody” and whoops from the crowd. The signal to cut the lights brings instant dark¬ ness, except for the matches or lighters of underclassmen and dateless students watching their upperclassmen and other Aggies practice scoring by kissing their dates. Game day activities begin early as visit¬ ing parents and friends roam dorm halls. Throughout the parking lots surrounding the stadium, families enjoy Tailgate par¬ ties and picnics. Some former students sport their maroon suits and boots around campus. Traffic is tight, ticket scalpers look for bids and a few youngsters sit at street intersections selling Aggie mums and memorabelia. “Rain or shine, we’re going to sell,” affirmed Tommy Parks, a mum salesman from College Station. About two hours before every home game kick-off, the Corps of Cadets marches into Kyle Field for inspection and review. Chanting their jodies, they parade from the Corps Quadrangle to pass by the reviewing stand in the stadium. Joe Routt Boulevard crowds with spectators as par¬ ents and friends strain for a glimpse of their special cadet. The game begins with Aggie fans stand¬ ing in front of their seats in the spirit of the 12th Man, waiting for the yell leaders’ 26 Life

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OLD ELEPHANTS DIE AT A M Seniors wade through mud and water as they approach their final days of glory at top. Tuesday November y 26, 1985 at 12:30 in the afternoon. The atmosphere of a riot seemed to take hold of the A M campus as senior students filled the plaza area in front of the Academic Building. The leaders of the group wore red work¬ men. Three other leaders wore blue jean overalls and led the massive group of se¬ niors through various yells to pep them up for the march about to take place. Meanwhile, various groups of juniors had set up ambushes throughout campus. Their toy guns were loaded, in hand and ready to fire when the seniors marched by. A visitor of the campus would think this crowd was worse than the Kent State epi¬ sode several years ago. However, the Ag¬ gies knew it was just the annual tradition of Elephant Walk. The march, Tuesday before the A M vs. TU. football game, symbolized the seniors as dead elephants who would no longer be of use to the Twelfth man student body. Juniors ready to take over their new lead rolls on cam¬ pus, killed the dying elephants with water guns, water balloons and shaving cream. “It was fun to have the juniors you knew try to get you with their water guns and balloons,” said senior Susan Legg. The line of the arm-in-arm seniors marched through several sentimental spots on campus as juniors continued the assault. The seniors were led through the fish pond and through campus. Then blocking traffic on University Drive, they meandered by the Dixie Chicken and down bottle cap alley. After surviving several ambushes at the north campus dorms, the seniors caught a glimpse of a real elephant by the Albritton Bell Tower. The seniors marched into Kyle Field where a surprise steer was waiting for them with 37-10 (the score from last year’s A M vs. TU. game) branded on its side. After a short yell practice, the se¬ niors headed to the Quadrangle. “It looked like a bunch of mud wrestling tournaments were taking place,” com¬ mented senior Laura Goldwater in refer¬ ence to the activities in the Corps area. The mud-covered, dying elephants end¬ ed their trek at the site of Bonfire where a final yell practice was held with the yell leaders atop the stack. This muddy field and collection of wood was to become an¬ other annual Aggie bonfire to be held the next evening. By Lisa Kastensmidt