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Traditions at Texas A&M
Here at Texas A&M, Saw 'Em Off strives to teach and spread tradition to all members of Texas A&M. Not only do we want to spread tradition around campus, but we want to spread tradition throughout the world. Here, Saw 'Em Off has provided photos, videos, and information to help expand the knowledge our members have on traditions.
Midnight Yell
Silver Taps
Silver Taps is one of the most sacred and significant traditions at Texas A&M. Silver Taps is held on the first Tuesday of every month and is a tribute held for any current student who has passed during the previous month. All of the lights on campus are turned off and the bell tower chimes hymns. At 10:30 the Ross Volunteer Company marches into Academic Plaza and fires a 3-volley salute. After which a special rendition of Taps is play called Silver Taps. It is played 3 times, once to the North, once to the South, and once to the West, but never to the East. This is because it is said that the sun will not rise on that fallen Aggie again. Silver Taps is one of the more solemn but one of the most important traditions that truly sets A&M apart from any other college.
Muster
Muster represents the Aggie spirit of those who have gone before us and those who will come after. Muster falls on April 21st, a day that has always been special for Aggies. In the 1870s and 1880s field days were held on this day to commemorate the battle of San Jacinto and Texas’ independence. During WWI, Aggies gathered on April 21st all over Europe. In the early 1920s Aggies were urged to meet, “If there is an A&M man in one hundred miles of you, you are expected to get together, eat a little, and live over the days you spent at the A&M College of Texas” said Texas Aggie. These meetings spread around the U.S and gathered worldwide recognition when in 1942 some Aggies gathered under fire during Japan’s siege of the Philippines. To this day Muster is still celebrated by Aggies all over the world and is the largest ceremony that takes place on campus in College Station.
12th Man
The 12th Man, Texas A&M’s most visible tradition to outsiders looking in, and the most intimidating tradition to opponents visiting College Station. The tradition began in 1922 when E. King Gill, a multi-sport student athlete at Texas A&M, was helping the press box point out Aggie football players during the Dixie Classic as the Aggies faced unbeaten Centre College. Due to injuries that saw all but 11 Aggie football players go down, E. King Gill was called down from the press box by the Aggie’s Head Football Coach, Dana X Bible. E. King Gill suited up and stood on the sidelines ready to step in for his team at a moments notice, though the call never came, a rich tradition was born. Since then, the Texas A&M student body has kept the tradition alive by standing through the entirety of football games and other sporting events, always ready to go in for their team. Often times The 12th Man is the face of the University, and for good reason. The Texas A&M student body has taken the tradition to heart in all sporting events, making Texas A&M one of the hardest places for opposing teams to find success.
Bonfire
Aggie Bonfire is one of Texas A&M’s most revered traditions that began in 1907 to celebrate a recent win the Aggie football team had. Soon after in 1909, the Aggie Bonfire began being held on campus for various sporting events before being held annually and centered around the football rivalry with Texas. The stack of the the bonfire was put together by students with the help of school funding and materials until 1999. On November 18th, 1999 at 2:42AM, the stack collapsed while being worked on by students resulting in the loss of 12 Aggies. Since 2002, the Aggie Bonfire is held off campus and is still celebrated annually. Texas A&M has since put an Aggie Bonfire Memorial on campus to celebrate the 12 Aggies that passed while working on the stack. Each of the 12 memorials honor the students by facing them towards their hometown.
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