The Pride of Aggieland: Spirit and Football at a Place Like No Other

Few schools, if any, have undergone the transformation of Texas A&M University. Founded in 1876 as a land-grant college for men interested in agricultural and mechanical studies, Texas A&M today is a powerhouse of 44,000 men and women, studying on the largest college campus in the country. The Pride of Aggieland shows on every page that Texas A&M is about much more than statistics and buildings. It is all about spirit, camaraderie, and lasting friendships. It is about patriotism— true, deep patriotism, a love of country that is palpable not only in the school’s famed Corps of Cadets but throughout the student body. It is about a far-reaching respect for tradition, fellow students, and family values. Aggie spirit is all about backing your teams whether they win or lose. It’s about incredible sportsmanship, which to Aggies means no booing. Not when the home team fumbles the ball, not to rattle the visiting team, either. Texas A&M is all about traditions like Aggie Muster, Silver Taps, Midnight Yell Practice, the mascot Reveille, the 12th Man. It’s about a place where 85 percent of the students buy a school ring. It’s about Yell Leaders and the spectacular Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band. It’s about a student body deeply hurt by the Bonfire tragedy, yet able to pull together in comfort and friendship. It’s about the Red, White, and Blue Out, when a small group of determined students filled a stadium with “Standing for America” T-shirts just 11 days after the tragedy of September 11. Read more