TexasA&MUniversity,oftenreferredtoasA&MorTAMU,isacoeducationalpublicresearchuniversitylocatedinCollegeStation,Texas.ItistheflagshipinstitutionoftheTexasA&MUniversitySystem.Theseventh-largestuniversityintheUnitedStates,A&Menrollsover48,000studentsintenacademiccolleges.TexasA&M'sdesignationasaland,sea,andspacegrantinstitutionreflectsabroadrangeofresearchwithongoingprojectsfundedbyagenciessuchastheNationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration(NASA),theNationalInstitutesofHealth,theNationalScienceFoundation,andtheOfficeofNavalResearch.Theschoolranksinthetop20Americanresearchinstitutesintermsoffundingandhasmadenotablecontributionstosuchfieldsasanimalcloning.
ThefirstpublicinstitutionofhighereducationinTexas,theschoolopenedonOctober4,1876,astheAgriculturalandMechanicalCollegeofTexas.Itsoriginalmissionwastoeducatewhitemalesinfarmingandmilitarytechniques.UndertheleadershipofPresidentJamesEarlRudder,inthe1960sA&Mdesegregated,becamecoeducational,anddroppedtherequirementforparticipationintheCorpsofCadets.Toreflecttheinstitution'sexpandedrolesandacademicofferings,theTexasLegislaturerenamedtheschooltoTexasA&MUniversityin1963.Theletters"A&M",originallyshortfor"AgriculturalandMechanical",areretainedonlyasalinktotheuniversity'spast.Theschool'sstudents,alumni,andsportsteamsareknownas"Aggies".
AsaSeniorMilitaryCollege,TexasA&Misoneofthreepublicuniversitieswithafull-time,volunteerCorpsofCadets.ItprovidesmorecommissionedofficerstotheUnitedStatesArmedForcesthananyotherschooloutsideoftheserviceacademies.
ClassesbeganonOctober4,1876,with40studentsand6facultymembers.Admissionwaslimitedtowhitemales,andallstudentswererequiredtoparticipateintheCorpsofCadetsandreceivemilitarytraining.Enrollmentclimbedto258studentsbeforedecliningto108studentsin1883,theyeartheUniversityofTexasopenedinAustin,Texas.ThoughoriginallyenvisionedandannotatedinTexaslawasapartoftheUniversityofTexasSystem,TexasA.M.C.hadaseparateBoardofDirectorsfromtheUniversityofTexasfromthefirstdayofclassesandwasneverenvelopedintotheUniversityofTexassystem.
Inthelate1880s,manyTexasresidentssawnoneedfortwocollegesinTexasandclamoredforanendofTexasA.M.C.In1891,TexasA&MwassavedfrompotentialclosurebyitsnewpresidentLawrenceSullivanRoss,formergovernorofTexasandwell-respectedConfederateBrigadierGeneral.Rossmademanyimprovementstotheschoolandenrollmentdoubledto467cadetsasparentssenttheirsonstoTexasA&M"tolearntobelikeRoss".Duringhistenure,manyenduringAggietraditionswereborn,includingthecreationofthefirstAggieRing.Afterhisdeathin1898,astatuewaserectedinfrontofwhatisnowAcademicPlazatohonorRossandhisachievementsinthehistoryoftheschool.
Underpressurefromthelegislature,in1911theschoolbeganallowingwomentoattendclassesduringthesummersemester.Atthesametime,A&MbeganexpandingitsacademicpursuitswiththeestablishmentoftheSchoolofVeterinaryMedicinein1915.
ManyAggiesagainservedinthemilitaryduringWorldWarII,withthecollegeproducing20,229combattroops.Ofthose,14,123Aggiesservedasofficers,morethananyotherschoolandmorethanthecombinedtotaloftheUnitedStatesNavalAcademyandtheUnitedStatesMilitaryAcademy.Duringthewar,29A&Mgraduatesreachedtherankofgeneral.
EnrollmentsoaredafterthewarasmanyformersoldiersusedtheG.I.Billtofurthertheireducation.In1948,thestateLegislatureformallyrecognizedTexasA&MasaseparateuniversitysystemfromtheUniversityofTexasSystem,codifyingthedefactoarrangementbetweentheschools.
OnMarch26,1960,MajorGeneralJamesEarlRudder,classof1932,becamethe16thpresidentofthecollege.Rudder'stenure(1959-1970)markedacriticalturningpointintheschool'shistory.Underhisleadership,TexasA&Munderwentadramaticexpansionintermsofitsphysicalplantconstruction,butmoreimportantly,itdiversifiedandexpandeditsstudentbodybyadmittingwomenandminorities.TheCorpsofCadetsbecamevoluntary.Inthefaceofgrowingstudentactivismduringthe1960s,RudderworkeddiligentlytoensurethatschoolcontinuetofulfillitsmissionofprovidingaqualityeducationforallAggies.Byhisdeathin1970,Rudderhadoverseenthegrowthoftheschoolfrom7,500to14,000studentsfromall50statesand75nations.
TexasA&Mbecameoneofthefirstfouruniversitiesgiventhedesignationsea-grantforitsachievementsinoceanographyandmarineresourcesdevelopmentin1971.In1989,theuniversityearnedthetitlespace-grantbyNASA,torecognizeitscommitmenttospaceresearchandparticipationintheTexasSpaceGrantConsortium.
In1997,theschoolbecamethehomeoftheGeorgeBushPresidentialLibrary.OperatedbytheNationalArchivesandRecordsAdministration,itisoneofthirteenAmericanpresidentiallibraries.FormerPresidentGeorgeBushremainsactivelyinvolvedwiththeuniversity,frequentlyvisitingthecampusandparticipatinginspecialevents.
TexasA&MreceivednationalmediaattentiononNovember18,1999,whenAggieBonfire,aninety-year-oldstudenttradition,collapsedduringconstruction.Twelvecurrentandformerstudentsdiedandtwenty-sevenotherswereinjured.Theaccidentwaslaterattributedtoimproperdesignandpoorconstructionpractices.Thevictims'familymembersfiledsixlawsuitsagainstTexasA&Mofficials,thestudentBonfireleaders,andtheuniversity.Halfofthedefendantssettledtheirportionofthecasein2005,andafederalappealscourtdismissedtheremaininglawsuitsagainsttheuniversityin2007.
WithstrongsupportfromRiceUniversityandtheUniversityofTexasatAustin,theAssociationofAmericanUniversitiesinductedTexasA&MinMay2001,onthebasisofthedepthoftheuniversity'sresearchandacademicprograms.InDecember2006,universityPresidentRobertGatesresignedfromhispositiontobecometheU.S.SecretaryofDefense.ElsaMuranobecamehisreplacementinJanuary2008,butlaterresignedinJune2009.
Asofthefall2008semester,TexasA&MwastheseventhlargestAmericanuniversitywithanenrollmentof48,039studentspursuingdegreesin10academiccolleges.Thestudentbodyrepresentsall50U.S.statesand130foreigncountries.Texasresidentsaccountfor86%ofthestudentpopulation,and28.9%areeitherofinternationaloriginormembersofethnicminoritygroups.Thestudentbodyconsistsof46.8%womenand53.2%men.
AlthoughTexasA&Misasecularinstitution,itsstudentbodyhasareputationforbeingreligiousandconservative.Accordingtoa2005studentsurveypublishedinthePrincetonReview,TexasA&Mranked13thhighestinthecategory"studentsprayonaregularbasis."Fouryearslater,thePrincetonReviewrankedTexasA&Mtheeighthmostsociallyconservativecampusinthenation.ThisconservativetrendisespeciallynotableintheCorpsofCadets.
TheuniversityconsistentlyranksamongthetoptenpublicuniversitieseachyearinenrollmentofNationalMeritscholars.AccordingtotheCollegeBoard,thefall2008enteringfreshmanclassconsistedof54%studentsinthetop10%oftheirhighschoolgraduatingclass,86%inthetopquarter,and99%inthetophalf.Seventy-fourpercentofthesestudentstooktheSAT.Themiddle50%ofthefreshmenhadaveragescoresasfollows:incriticalreading,520–630,math,560–670,andinwriting500–610.Twenty-sixpercentoftheincomingfreshmentooktheACT,withthemiddle50%scoringbetweena23and29.
Duringthefall2008semester,theDwightLookCollegeofEngineeringhadthelargestenrollmentof20.5%.TheCollegeofLiberalArtsandtheCollegeofAgricultureandLifeSciencesfollowed,enrolling15%and14%ofthestudentbody,respectively.TheCollegeofEducationandHumanDevelopmentenrolls12%,andMaysBusinessSchoolenrolledabout11%.Collegeswithlessthan10%enrollmentincludedtheCollegeofArchitecture,theCollegeofScience,theGeorgeBushSchoolofGovernmentandPublicService,theCollegeofGeosciences,andtheCollegeofVeterinaryMedicine&BiomedicalSciences.Approximately8%ofthestudentbodyhadnotdeclaredamajor.
Universityrankings(overall)
TexasA&MconsistentlyscoresamongthetopuniversitiesintheUnitedStatesasdeterminedbyvariousnationalandinternationalpublications.Inthe2010U.S.NewsandWorldReportrankingofpublicuniversities,TexasA&Mislisted22nd;among"nationaluniversities"theschooltiedfor61stplace.AccordingtoTheWashingtonMonthlycriteria,whichconsidersresearch,communityservice,andsocialmobility,TexasA&Mranksfifthnationally.TheJohnTempletonFoundationlistedTexasA&Masoneofthethirty-fiveAmericancollegeprogramsthat"communicate[s]thevaluesofhonesty,trust,respect,responsibility,integrity,andfairnessintheclassroom".The2008Kiplinger'sPersonalFinancerankedtheschoolasthe25thbest-valuepublicuniversityonthebasisofin-statetuition,andthe9thbest-valuepublicuniversityonthebasisofout-of-statetuition.RecentlytheNationalScienceFoundationhasrecognizedTexasA&Masoneofthetop20researchinstitutions.
Internationally,theuniversityisalsowell-regarded.NewsweekInternationalrankedTexasA&Masthe77thuniversitygloballyonthebasisof"opennessanddiversity"aswellas"distinctioninresearch".Inacomparisonofeducationalquality,facultyquality,andresearchoutput,ShanghaiJiaoTongUniversityrankedTexasA&M53rdintheAmericasand88thinternationally.TheTimesHigherEducationSupplementlistedTexasA&M60thamongtheworld'stop100technologyuniversities,24thamongAmerica'stopbiomedicineuniversities,and50thamongNorthAmerica'stop50universities.
In2004,TexasA&Mreceivednearly$570millioninresearchfunding,rankingtheschoolamongthetop20Americanresearchinstitutes.Almost$400millionofthegrantswerenewawards.Throughout2004,TexasA&MSystemfacultyandresearchsubmitted121newinventionsandestablished78newroyalty-bearinglicensingagreements;theinnovationsresultedinincomeof$8million.TheTexasA&MTechnologyLicensingOfficefiledfor88patentsforprotectionofintellectualpropertyin2004.
SpearheadedbytheCollegeofVeterinaryMedicine,TexasA&Mscientistscreatedthefirstcloneddomesticanimal,acatnamed'cc',onDecember22,2001.TexasA&Mwasalsothefirstacademicinstitutiontocloneeachofsixdifferentspecies:cattle,aBoergoat,pigs,acat,adeerandahorse.
AspartofacollaborationwiththeU.S.DepartmentofEnergy'sNationalNuclearSecurityAdministration,TexasA&Mcompletedthefirstconversionofanuclearresearchreactorfromusinghighly-enricheduraniumfuel(70%)toutilizinglow-enricheduranium(20%).Theeighteen-monthprojectendedonOctober13,2006,afterthefirsteverrefuelingthereactor,thusfulfillingaportionofU.S.校长GeorgeW.Bush’sGlobalNuclearThreatReductionInitiative.
TexasA&Mhasparticipatedinover500researchprojectsinover80countriesandleadstheSouthwesternUnitedStatesinannualresearchexpenditures.Theuniversityconductsresearchoneverycontinentandhasformalresearchandexchangeagreementswith100institutionsin40countries.TexasA&Mranks13thamongU.S.researchuniversitiesinexchangeagreementswithinstitutionsabroadandstudentparticipationinstudyabroadprograms,andhasstrongresearchcollaborationswiththeNationalNaturalScienceFoundationofChinaandmanyleadinguniversitiesinChina.
TexasA&Mownsthreeinternationalfacilities,amultipurposecenterinMexicoCity,Mexico,theSoltisResearchandEducationCenternearthetownofSanIsidro,CostaRica,andtheSantaChiaraStudyAbroadCenterinCastiglionFiorentino,Italy.In2003,over1,200Aggiestudents,primarilyundergraduates,studiedabroad.Additionally,theuniversityincludestwobranchcampuses:TexasA&MatQatarlocatedinEducationCityinDoha,QatardevotedtoengineeringdisciplinesandTexasA&MUniversityatGalvestoninGalveston,Texas,devotedtomarineresearchandhosttotheTexasMaritimeAcademy.
TexasA&M'sCenterforInternationalBusinessStudiesisoneof28supportedbytheU.S.DepartmentofEducation.TheuniversityisalsooneofonlytwoAmericanuniversitiesinpartnershipwithCONACyT,Mexico'sequivalentoftheNationalScienceFoundation,tosupportresearchinareasincludingbiotechnology,telecommunications,energy,andurbandevelopment.Inaddition,theuniversityisthehomeof"LasAmericasDigitalResearchNetwork",anonlinearchitecturenetworkfor26universitiesin12nations,primarilyinCentralandSouthAmerica.
ThecampusisbisectedbyarailroadtrackoperatedbyUnionPacific.Theareaeastofthetracks,knownasMainCampus,includesbuildingsforthecollegesofengineering,architecture,geosciences,science,educationandliberalarts.Dormitories,aswellasthemaindiningcentersandmanycampussupportfacilities,arealsoonMainCampus.NotablebuildingsonMainCampusincludeKyleField,theAcademicBuilding,theMemorialStudentCenter,theAdministrationBuilding,RudderTower,AlbrittonBellTower,andtheBonfireMemorial.TothewestoftherailroadtracksliesWestCampus,whichincludesmostofthesportsfacilities,thebusinessschool,agriculturalprograms,theveterinarycollege,thepoliticalscienceandeconomicsschool,theGeorgeBushSchoolofGovernmentandPublicService,theGeorgeBushPresidentialLibraryandtwoschoolswithintheTexasA&MHealthScienceCenter.ResearchPark,theareaofWestCampusalongKimbroughBoulevard,includesmanyresearchfacilities.
Duringthe2006fallsemester,20.5percentofthestudentbodylivedoncampusinoneoftwodistincthousingsectionslocatedonoppositeendsofcampus.BoththeNorthsideandSouthsideareascontainstudentdormitories,alsoknownasresidencehalls.Whilesomehallsaresingle-sex,othersareco-educational.Usuallystudentsofdifferentgendersliveonalternatefloors,althoughsomehallsaresegregatedbyroomorsuite.Residencehallstylesvary.Manyhallsofferonlyindooraccesstoindividualrooms,butotherhallslocateroomentrancesonanoutdoorbalcony.Roomsizesvarybybuilding.Hallswithlargerroomsincludeen-suiteorprivatebathrooms,whilehallswithsmallerroomshaveacommonbathroomoneachfloor.Severalhallsincludea"substance-free"floor,whereresidentspledgetoavoidbringingalcohol,drugs,orcigarettesintothehall.
Northsideconsistsof17studentresidencehalls,includingthe3universityhonorsdorms.ThehallsarelocatednearlocalentertainmentdistrictNorthgate,andofferconvenientaccesstocampusdiningestablishmentsSbisaDiningHallandTheUnderground.SomehallshaveunofficiallyclaimedtableswithintheSbisaDiningHallandmanyhallscongregatefordinnerataspecifictimeeachweekday.
SeveraloftheresidencehallslocatedonSouthsidearereservedformembersoftheCorpsofCadets.Non-corpshallsinthisareacenteraroundtheCommons,ahubforactivitiesanddining.SouthsidehastwoLearningLivingCommunities,whichallowfreshmentoliveinaclusterwithotherstudentswhosharecommoninterests.
FacilitiesfortheCorpsofCadetsarelocatedintheQuadrangle,or"TheQuad",anareaconsistingofdormitories,DuncanDiningHall,andtheCorpstrainingfields.TheCorpsArches,aseriesof12archesthat"[symbolize]thespiritofthe12thManofTexasA&M",marktheentrancetotheQuadrangle.Allcadets,exceptthosewhoaremarriedorwhohavehadpreviousmilitaryservice,mustliveintheQuadwithassignedroommatesfromthesameunitandgraduatingclass.Reveille,theAggiemascot,liveswithherhandlersintheQuadrangle.
TexasA&MisoneofsixUnitedStatesSeniorMilitaryColleges.Theschools'CorpsofCadets(ortheCorps)istheUnitedStates'largestuniformedstudentbodyoutsidetheserviceacademies.ManymembersparticipateinROTCprogramsandearncommissionsintheUnitedStatesArmedForcesupongraduation.MembersoftheCorpshaveservedineveryarmedconflictfoughtbytheUnitedStatessince1876,andover225haveservedasgeneralsorFlagOfficers.
TheCorpsiscomposedoftwoAirForceWings,threeArmyBrigades,twoNavyandMarineRegiments,andajointmilitaryunitcalledTheTaskForce,aswellastheFightin'TexasAggieBand,whosemembersmaybeaffiliatedwithanymilitarybranch.Parson'sMountedCavalryistheonlymountedROTCunitintheUnitedStates.TheRossVolunteerCompany,theoldeststudent-runorganizationinthestate,istheofficialhonorguardfortheGovernorofTexas.TheFishDrillTeam,aprecision,close-orderrifledrillteamcomposedentirelyofCorpsfreshmen,representstheschoolinlocalandnationalcompetitions.Theyhavewonthenationalchampionshipalmosteveryyearsincetheircreationin1946,andhaveappearedinseveralHollywoodproductions,withprominentrolesinthemoviesAFewGoodMenandCourageUnderFire.
TheFightin'TexasAggieBand,theworld'slargestprecisionmilitarymarchingband,providesmusicforUniversityfunctionsandpresentsintricatehalftimeperformancesatfootballgames.Somebanddrillsaresocomplicatedthattheyrequirebandmemberstostepbetweeneachother'sfeettocompletethemaneuvers.Thesedrillsmustbedrawnbyhandascomputermarchingprogramshavereturnederrors;theircalculationsrequiretwopeopletobeinthesamespotatthesametime.
TexasA&Mhasover800studentorganizations,includingacademic,service,religious,Greek,andcommoninterestorganizations.Orientationprogramsencouragestudentstobecomeinvolvedincampusactivitiesandorganizationsfromthebeginning.AnApril2005campussurveyfoundthat74%ofthestudentswerecurrentlyinvolvedwithatleastoneorganizationandthat88%participatedinacampusorganizationinthepast.
OneoftheoldeststudentorganizationsistheSingingCadets,foundedin1893.Knownasthe"VoiceofAggieland",theSingingCadetsareanall-malechoralgroupwith70members.Thegrouptravelsnationallyandhascompletedseveralinternationaltours;mostrecently,SouthAmericain2007.
TexasA&MHillel,theoldestHillelorganizationintheUnitedStates,wasfoundedin1920attheoriginalcollege.TheorganizationoccurredthreeyearsbeforethenationalHillelFoundationwasorganizedatUniversityofIllinois.
TheStudentGovernmentAssociation(SGA),oneofA&M'slargestorganizations,consistsofover1,300studentmembersin3branches,15committees,and4commissions.SGAhaschangedlittlesince1972,exceptitsrelativepositionwithintheofficialframeworkoftheuniversity.
ThePrincetonReviewrankedTheBattalion,foundedin1893,asthe20thbestcollegenewspaperinAmericain2008.Studentsalsopublishasecondaryschoolnewspaper,theMaroonWeekly.TheAggieland,formerlyknownasTheOlioandTheLonghorn,isoneofAmerica'slargestcollegeyearbooksinnumberofpagesandcopiessold.Theuniversityhousesthepublicbroadcastingstations:KAMU-TV,aPBSmemberstationsince1970,KAMU-FManNPRaffiliatesince1977,andthestudent-runKANM,"thecollegestationofCollegeStation".W5ACbroadcastthefirstlive,play-by-playbroadcastofacollegefootballgame,atKyleField,inNovember1921.Thegame,playedinDallasbetweenAggiesandUniversityofTexas,endedinascorelesstie.
TheTexasA&Mcultureisaproductoftheuniversity'sfoundingasaruralmilitaryandagriculturalschool.Althoughtheschoolandsurroundingcommunityhavegrown,andmilitarytrainingisnolongerrequired,theschool'shistoryhasinstilledinstudents"theidealizedelementsofasmall-townlife:community,tradition,loyalty,optimism,andunabashedsentimentality."TexasMonthlypositsthatTexasA&Mstudents'respectforschooltraditionsandvaluesistheuniversity'sgreateststrength.Someoftheschooltraditionsdatetothe1890s,whileothershavebeenintroducedmorerecently.ThesetraditionshelpcurrentandformerstudentstocultivatetheAggieSpirit,asenseofloyaltyandrespectfortheschool.Theydictatemanyaspectsofstudentlife,includinghowtogreetothers(usingtheofficialschoolgreeting"Howdy!"),howtoactatanA&Msportingevent,and,inmanycases,whatwordsastudentmayuseinconversation.
ThemostvisibletraditionamongseniorsandformerstudentsisthewearingoftheAggieRing,whosedesignhasbeenrelativelyunchangedsinceitsintroductionin1894.Studentsmayorderaringaftercompleting90credithoursofcoursework,includingatleast45hoursatA&M,oraftergraduation.Graduatestudentsmayreceivearingafter75%oftheirgraduatecourseworkiscompletedoraftertheacceptanceoftheirdissertationorthesis.ThoughunsanctionedbytheUniversity,manystudents"dunk"theirnewlyacquiredAggieRingsintoapitcherofbeerandquicklychugtheentirepitcherto"earn"thering.Somestudentsdunktheirringsinalternativesubstances,includingicecreamornonalcoholicbeverages.
Inkeepingwiththeideathatallcurrentandformerstudentscompriseafamily,AggieshavecreatedtwotraditionstohonormembersoftheAggiefamilywhohavedied.AggieMusterisheldannuallyontheanniversaryoftheBattleofSanJacinto,April21,tohonoranycurrentandformerstudentwhodiedduringthepreviousyear.Over300Mustersareheldaroundtheworld,withthelargesttakingplaceatReedArenaontheTexasA&MUniversitycampus.AllMusterceremoniesfeaturetheRollCallfortheAbsent.AsthenamesofthedeceasedAggiesarecalled,afamilymemberorfriendanswers"Here"andlightsacandle,tosymbolizethatalthoughtheirlovedoneisnotpresentinbody,hisorherspiritwillshineforever.TheeventreceivedworldwideattentionduringWorldWarII,when25Aggies"mustered"duringthebattlefortheislandofCorregidor.
StudentswhodiewhileenrolledatTexasA&MarealsohonoredatSilverTaps,aceremonyheld,whennecessary,onthefirstTuesdayofthemonth.ThistraditionbeganasamemorialforformerTexasA&MpresidentLawrenceSullivanRoss.Onthedayoftheceremony,flagsflyhalf-staffandnoticesarepostedthroughoutcampus.At10:15p.m.thelightsaroundcampusareextinguishedandhymnschimefromAlbrittonTowerwhilestudentsandfacultycollectintheAcademicPlaza.Followinga21-gunsalutebytheRossVolunteerFiringSquad,sixbuglersplayanA&MversionofthesongTaps,SilverTaps,threetimesfromthedomeoftheschool'sAcademicBuilding:oncetothenorth,thesouthandtothewest.ThesongisnotplayedtotheeastsymbolizingthatthesunwillneverriseonthatAggieagain.
Aggiefootballfansarecalledthe12thMan,meaningtheyaretheretosupportthe11playersonthefield,willingtoenterthegame,ifnecessary.Tofurthersymbolizetheir"readiness,desire,andenthusiasm,"theentirestudentbodystandsthroughoutthegame.ThetraditionbeganonJanuary2,1922,attheDixieClassicwhereA&MplayedCentreCollege.A&MhadsomanyinjuriesinthefirsthalfofthegamethatCoachD.X.Biblefearedhewouldn’thaveenoughmentofinishthegame.HecalledintothestandsforE.KingGill,areservewhohadleftfootballaftertheregularseasontoplaybasketball.Althoughhedidnotactuallyplay,hisreadinesssymbolizedthewillingnessofallAggiestosupporttheirteamtothepointofactuallyenteringthegame.A&Mwon22–14,butE.KingGillwastheonlymanleftstandingonthesidelinesfortheAggies.Inrecentdecades,the12thManisrepresentedonthefieldbyawalk-onplayerwhowearstheNo.12jerseyandparticipatesinkick-offs.
The12thManusesavarietyofschoolyells,ratherthancheers,tosupportAggieteams.EachyearthestudentbodyelectsfivestudentstoserveastheYellLeaders.AtmidnightbeforeeachhomefootballgameatKyleFieldoratapredesignatedlocationatawaygames,thefansgathertogethertopracticetheyellsforthenextday'sgame.LedbytheYellLeaders,andtheFightin'TexasAggieBand,theTwelfthManfilesintothestadiumtoparticipateinMidnightYellPracticetopracticeyells,singtheWarHymn,andjokeabouttheiropponents.Attheconclusionoftheyellpractice,thestadiumlightsareextinguishedandfanskisstheirdates.Thisisalsodoneaspractice,becauseAggiesareexpectedto"mugdown",orkisstheirdates,everytimethefootballteamscoresonthefield.SportsIllustratednamedMidnightYellasoneofthe"100ThingsYouGottaDoBeforeYouGraduate."
A&M'sarchrivalistheUniversityofTexas.In2004,sportingeventsbetweentheAggiesandLonghornsbecameknownastheLoneStarShowdown.Themost-watchedeventintherivalryistheannualfootballgameheldthedayofThanksgiving.OtherrivalriesincludeTexasTech,BaylorUniversity,andtherecentlyrenewedrivalrywiththeUniversityofArkansas.
Foundedin1894,thefootballteamhaswon18SouthwestConferencechampionships,2Big12SouthDivisionchampionships,1Big12championship,and1nationalchampionship.Theteamhasappearedin30bowlgames,winning13,andhasproduced41firstTeamAll-Americans,5AcademicAll-Americans,and1HeismanTrophywinner,JohnDavidCrowin1957.Twenty-oneAggiescurrentlyplayintheNFL.
Since1904,homefootballgameshavebeenplayedatKyleField,astadiumwithacurrentcapacityof83,002.In2004,CBSSportsLine.comrankedKyleFieldthetopfootballstadiumwhileSportingNewsrankeditfourth.ThesameyearSportsIllustratedonCampusrankedanA&Mfootballweekendthethirdbestcollegefootballexperience.
Foundedin1912,themen'sbasketballteamwon11SouthwestConferencechampionshipsand2SouthwestConferenceTournamentchampionships.TheteamhasappearedintheNationalInvitationTournament6timesandintheNCAATournament11times,ofwhich3resultedinSweetSixteenappearances,thehighestroundtowhichtheAggieshaveadvanced.Thewomen'sbasketballteamhashad6NCAATournamentappearances,reachingashighastheEliteEight.TheyhavealsocompetedintheWNITtwice,winningthattournamentin1995.
Themen'sbasketballteamiscoachedbyfourth-yearheadcoachMarkTurgeon.Thewomen'steamhasbeencoachedbyGaryBlairsince2003.Homegamesareplayedatthe12,989-seatReedArena.G.RollieWhiteColiseum,formerlythehomeofthevolleyballandbasketballteams,hostedbasketballgamesbeforeReedArenaopenedin1998.
Withover280,000formerstudents,A&MhasoneofthelargestandmostactivealumnigroupsinAmerica.ManyAggieshaveattainedlocal,national,andinternationalprominence.JorgeQuirogaandMartinTorrijoshaveservedasheadsofstateforBoliviaandPanama,respectively,andRickPerryisthecurrentGovernorofTexas.CongressmenJoeBarton,ChetEdwards,JebHensarling,andLouieGohmert,andAustin,Texas,mayorWillWynnareallgraduates.
AggiesmadetheirmarkonthegridironwithHoustonTexansheadcoachGaryKubiak,title-winningcoachGeneStallings,HoustonOilersdefensivetackleRayChildress,HeismanTrophywinnerJohnDavidCrow,Heismanrunner-up,legislator,andactorJohnKimbrough,puntreturnerDanteHall,offensivetackleRichmondWebb,DetroitLionsdefensiveendandpunterYaleLary,formerDallasCowboysassistantcoachandformerplayerDatNguyen,punterShaneLechler,anddefensiveendTyWarren.Paul"Bear"BryantcoachedatA&Mwhere"survivors"ofhisgruelingfootballpracticecampatJunction,TexaswerenicknamednamedTheJunctionBoys.OtherfamousAggieathletesincludeRandyBarnes,indoor/outdoorshotputworldrecordholder,baseballstandoutsChuckKnoblauchandWallyMoon;alongwithStacySykora,LiberofortheUSAnationalvolleyballteam.
Aggieshavealsomadeamarkonpopculture.RobertEarlKeenandLyleLovett,whooftenstrummedtheirguitarsontheporchoftheirNorthgatehome,havebecomepopularcountrysingers.WilliamA.PailesandMichaelE.FossumbecameNASAastronauts.RipTornisaveteranofthesilverscreenandNealBoortzisanationallysyndicatedtalkshowhostwiththesixthlargestlisteningaudienceintheUnitedStates.WenHoLee,adoctoralgraduateofA&M,becamethesubjectofa1999espionageinvestigation;thougharrested,chargesweredroppedin2000.
ManyAggieshavebecomebusinessleaders,particularlyinthefieldsofenergy,construction,communications,andchemistry.CurrentleadersincludeJackWhiteside,PresidentofBarnes&Click,Inc.,LowryMays,chairmanandCEOofClearChannelCommunications,GeorgeP.Mitchell,chairmanandCEO,MitchellEnergyandDevelopmentCorp.,H.B.Zachry,PresidentoftheH.B.ZachryCompany,JohnZachry,CEOofZachryCorp.,DavidZachry,PresidentofZachryCorp.,Mr.KhalidA.Al-Falih,PresidentandCEOofSaudiAramco,andEduardoCastro-Wright,CEOofWal-MartStoresUSA.
BecauseofA&M'smilitaryroots,manyAggieshavebecomeleadersinthearmedforces,andwerefeaturedinthe1943propagandafilmWe'veNeverBeenLicked.GeorgeH.Gay,Jr.,wasthesolesurvivorofTorpedoSquadron8intheBattleofMidway.LieutenantGeneralJayT.RobbinsbecameafighteraceinWorldWarIIwith22aerialvictories.MajorGeneralRobertB.WilliamsledtheWWIIraidontheSchweinfurtballbearingfactories.GeneralBernardAdolphSchriever,knownas"thearchitectoftheAirForce’sballisticmissileandmilitaryspaceprogram",becamethenamesakeofSchrieverAirForceBase,Colorado.GeneralMichaelMoseleyisaformerChiefofStaffoftheUnitedStatesAirForce.
Inaddition,sevenAggiesreceivedtheMedalofHonorinWorldWarII.Therecipientsare:
Coordinates:30°36′37″N96°20′39″W/30.610369°N96.344056°W/30.610369;-96.344056