Texas A&M Aggies

In this episode we will take the time to explore the origins of some traditions, a nickname, and a mascot of the Texas A&M football team.

In today’s college football, the Texas A&M gridiron team goes by the name of the Aggies. But what exactly is an Aggie? Well, the answer lies in the school’s name. The A&M originally stood for Agricultural and Mechanical. The institution's official name at its 1876 incorporation was Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. People outside of the institution referred to the college's students as Farmers. The term “Aggie” began to be used in the 1920s, and it became such a popular reference that in 1949, the yearbook changed its name from The Longhorn to Aggieland. With this move, Aggie became the official student body nickname. With those two items cleared up, let's dig a bit deeper into the gridiron tradition down in College Station, Texas.

One item that comes up in the traditions of the Aggies is their mascot, a canine named Reveille. This was another head-scratcher, but it makes a lot more sense after hearing the story. Research reveals a few different story variations on how this pooch became a fixture on the sidelines at A&M. The most popular version goes like this.

On a brisk January day back in 1931, a few students were on their way back to the A&M campus from the nearby town of Navasota. The group accidentally hit a small black and white dog with the automobile they were in. Distraught over the incident, the students picked up the pup and brought her back to their dorm to care for her. This was against the rules of the school dorm code, though, as pets weren’t allowed on campus. A plan was conspired to conceal the canine from all authorities. However, the furry critter soon blew her cover by the following day.
Having military connections at the school, one of the traditions was to have “Reveille” blown by a bugler to wake the cadets. This sudden loud noise drove the dog into a frenzy with barking, earning the name she and her predecessors are known by today.

The modern-day official mascot is Reveille X,  who is a full-blooded collie.  Miss Rev is the highest-ranking member of Texas A&M's Corps of Cadets, and can be seen at every home football game and many other events.

A Very Special thanks to information obtained from the following brilliant internet sites: TAMU.edu, Wikipedia.com, and Fansided.com

Banner photo is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons of The 1939 Cotton Bowl Game Program. This is the cover of the 36-page program for the 3rd Annual Cotton Bowl Classic football game between Texas Technological College and St. Mary's College in Dallas, Texas, on January 2, 1939. The price for the program was 25 cents.