Cotton Bowl

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Easily 15:1::Aggies:Land Thieves in the lots. I can't even take a single picture on my iPhone which truly captures how epic this is. Hundreds of RVs in the lots, tents circling the stadium perimeter, live concert playing pop music covers.

Walking around to take a few things in before heading inside for the pregame. Wish I could get a good wide angle pic for showing what's up.
 

Being an Aggie it is very hard to overstate the type of spirit that exists among Aggies.
 

The line to get inside:
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I'm for the Aggies - like the coach, like their offense, Manziel is awesome (why didn't he go to Minnesota?) and have no great love for Oklahoma.
 














Here's one of my favorite photos of the night. This guy is class of '55, I think, and he would stand up and yell and wave his towel during the game when much younger folks were sitting down. (Of course, TexasAggie11 was standing and yelling for the entire duration of the game like any good student would do.)
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And, if you're going to tailgate, it's best to tailgate in a fire truck:
mAgNv.jpg
 

TexasAggie11 said:
Here's one of my favorite photos of the night. This guy is class of '55, I think, and he would stand up and yell and wave his towel during the game when much younger folks were sitting down. (Of course, TexasAggie11 was standing and yelling for the entire duration of the game like any good student would do.)

And, if you're going to tailgate, it's best to tailgate in a fire truck:
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We seem to have somewhat of a problem here at Minnesota getting some/most of the say 50+ involved/rowdy fans involved in the game? How do the Aggies do it? I personally think if it is too loud, as long as it isn't offensive you can't complain.
 

Coolew01 said:
We seem to have somewhat of a problem here at Minnesota getting some/most of the say 50+ involved/rowdy fans involved in the game? How do the Aggies do it? I personally think if it is too loud, as long as it isn't offensive you can't complain.
Click to expand...

I think it's twofold. First, we have an expectation that you arrive early and stay until the last second has ticked off the clock. Obviously, there are a small number of those who want to leave early if we are way ahead to beat the traffic, but by and large, people stay and participate. It's self-policing that starts at the student level and carries on throughout life. If someone leaves the game early in my section, I might say, "Hey doctor, best of luck to you with the medical emergency you must be leaving to take care of." Nothing mean to the person, but just reminding them of our social norms. You might also get called a two-percenter, a term used to describe the small nnumber of our student body who does not embody the Aggie Spirit. To us, sitting down or leaving early (unless medically necessary) at a game is akin to farting loudly in public. Sure, you can do it, but those around you are going to view you as strange. You just have to take the choice of not being a true fan completely off of the table by establishing norms.

Second, our fan base, especially the older guys, has seen the power of the 12th Man in action. Normally, it is our 30,000+ students creating the noise on every defensive play, but the former students know the importance of being loud on crucial plays. When you've literally seen an opponent false start, forget the snap count, be unable to communicate, or have to call a time out due to the crowd noise, you realize you can be an active participant in the outcome of the game and are not yelling simply for your own gratification. Everyone also realizes that it is a group effort and they are needed to participate.

 

Aggie, I was a skeptic on the move to the SEC but I have to say it could only have worked out better if you'd won the conference What a year! And now you will start winning recruiting battles against UT because kids would rather play in the SEC. Great team, great QB, great coach, great move to SEC. Congrats and thanks for supporting our Gophers.
 


To me this was the most impressive display of "Qbing" that I have ever seen in a bowl game. What a pleasure to watch and thank you for making friends with us all here so we were able to see what it was like to be an Aggie fan this year. At the bar last night, there was an Ok St. fan and a Texas Tech fan. Even they were cheering for the Aggies by the third quarter. At halftime I was thinking Landry Jones might be the first or second QB drafted this year, but I think he and Geno Smith really hurt their draft stock in their bowl games.
I wonder if Manziel and the Aggies can top this season?
 

Congrats TexasAggie11! But sorry, my friend, that will be the last I cheer for A&M now that you're in the SEC. Just can't do it.
 

TexasAggie11 said:
I think it's twofold. First, we have an expectation that you arrive early and stay until the last second has ticked off the clock. Obviously, there are a small number of those who want to leave early if we are way ahead to beat the traffic, but by and large, people stay and participate. It's self-policing that starts at the student level and carries on throughout life. If someone leaves the game early in my section, I might say, "Hey doctor, best of luck to you with the medical emergency you must be leaving to take care of." Nothing mean to the person, but just reminding them of our social norms. You might also get called a two-percenter, a term used to describe the small nnumber of our student body who does not embody the Aggie Spirit. To us, sitting down or leaving early (unless medically necessary) at a game is akin to farting loudly in public. Sure, you can do it, but those around you are going to view you as strange. You just have to take the choice of not being a true fan completely off of the table by establishing norms.

Second, our fan base, especially the older guys, has seen the power of the 12th Man in action. Normally, it is our 30,000+ students creating the noise on every defensive play, but the former students know the importance of being loud on crucial plays. When you've literally seen an opponent false start, forget the snap count, be unable to communicate, or have to call a time out due to the crowd noise, you realize you can be an active participant in the outcome of the game and are not yelling simply for your own gratification. Everyone also realizes that it is a group effort and they are needed to participate.

Click to expand...

I have had the great pleasure in having developed some great working relationships with a few Aggies over many years. Everything TexasAggie11 says is consistent with my personal experience with my good College Station friends. I don’t pretend to completely appreciate the A&M culture but I think I have a pretty good understanding of it. Most outsiders namely see their great traditions, and I mean great traditions, displayed at sporting events. But I believe more importantly it is what many don’t see which makes them such a remarkable bunch. It starts with the proud but modest nature of most Aggies. They’re very proud lot but don’t flaunt it. They go to great lengths to be first to help others when the need arises, they do whatever they can do, and then quietly go away when all is said and done. For example, I work mostly with PHD types and they’ll stay around after meetings and help put away chairs and pick up trash even when custodians are present and whose job it is to clean up. They’re the first to give up their chairs at meetings (or seats on the bus) if there are more butts than seats. These are just some little things but they do it all the time which in turn adds up to big things. Aggies refuse to be outworked and will do everything they can to win the graciousness battle. It’s just the way they are.

As far as TexasAggies11 comment about coming early and staying until the end at football games, this is also true of other sporting events even when it is not their team playing. At least once a year and for more than 10-years now, I have attended a major league baseball game with my Aggie friends along with colleagues from different parts of the country. Regardless of who is playing, regardless what the score even if it’s a big time blowout and others have left the game much earlier, the Aggies always stay until the last pitch. I believe this has a lot to do with their A&M culture.

Regarding GophersInIowa’s comment about them being in the SEC, I kinda get where you’re coming from. I too don’t care much for the SEC. However, I never held that against Vandy and I now feel the same way about A&M (I haven’t decided on Mizzou yet). I believe A&M had a very compelling reason to leave the Big 12 (i.e., UT) and the SEC was a logical place to go. The way I see it, Vandy and A&M start off with one hand tied behind their back when going against other SEC teams due to academic differences. So while I detest much of the SEC, I make an exception for Vandy and A&M. But that’s just me.

Go Gophers!
 

TexasAggie11 said:
I think it's twofold. First, we have an expectation that you arrive early and stay until the last second has ticked off the clock. Obviously, there are a small number of those who want to leave early if we are way ahead to beat the traffic, but by and large, people stay and participate. It's self-policing that starts at the student level and carries on throughout life. If someone leaves the game early in my section, I might say, "Hey doctor, best of luck to you with the medical emergency you must be leaving to take care of." Nothing mean to the person, but just reminding them of our social norms. You might also get called a two-percenter, a term used to describe the small nnumber of our student body who does not embody the Aggie Spirit. To us, sitting down or leaving early (unless medically necessary) at a game is akin to farting loudly in public. Sure, you can do it, but those around you are going to view you as strange. You just have to take the choice of not being a true fan completely off of the table by establishing norms.

Second, our fan base, especially the older guys, has seen the power of the 12th Man in action. Normally, it is our 30,000+ students creating the noise on every defensive play, but the former students know the importance of being loud on crucial plays. When you've literally seen an opponent false start, forget the snap count, be unable to communicate, or have to call a time out due to the crowd noise, you realize you can be an active participant in the outcome of the game and are not yelling simply for your own gratification. Everyone also realizes that it is a group effort and they are needed to participate.

Video Link: http://youtu.be/4NUxFE2oJ-M
Click to expand...

Can you come teach some of this to our older fan base?!

Awesome read TexasAggie11!
 

MNGoldenGophers1 said:
Regarding GophersInIowa’s comment about them being in the SEC, I kinda get where you’re coming from. I too don’t care much for the SEC. However, I never held that against Vandy and I now feel the same way about A&M (I haven’t decided on Mizzou yet). I believe A&M had a very compelling reason to leave the Big 12 (i.e., UT) and the SEC was a logical place to go. The way I see it, Vandy and A&M start off with one hand tied behind their back when going against other SEC teams due to academic differences. So while I detest much of the SEC, I make an exception for Vandy and A&M. But that’s just me.

Go Gophers!
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I hear ya. I've always been a fan of Texas A&M. I know a few alumni and they're very passionate and knowledgeable, yet respectful. I hope they do well within the SEC and the program and fans don't get caught up in the cockiness and smugness of most in the SEC.
 

As an Aggie, I can say that we always appreciate sincere compliments directed towards us. Many, many thanks and Gig em!
 




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