Aggie Lingo and Traditions: A Guide to Texas A&M Culture

"Howdy!"

Howdy is the official greeting of Texas A&M University. Students greet one another and visitors proudly to their home with this cheerful greeting.

Gig 'Em

You'll often see an Aggie give a thumbs up and say "Gig 'Em!" What does "Gig 'Em" mean at Texas A&M University?

This phrase dates back to a 1920 Football game against the TCU Horned Frogs, where P.L. "Pinkie" Downs asked the crowd what they were going to do to the horned frogs. He proudly answered his own question with "Gig 'Em, Aggies" and emphasized it with a thumbs up. Today, this phrase and symbol represent the Spirit of Aggieland and the Aggie Family's determination to uphold the University's core values.

Whoop

You may hear Aggie graduates and upperclassmen use "Whoop!" as a way to express excitement or approval. Underclassmen are not supposed to Whoop until they reach Junior or Senior status. This term is also used at the end of several Aggie yells.

BTHO

"Beat the Hell out of," or "BTHO," starts one of Texas A&M's most beloved yells. Aggies usually use this expression in the context of defeating an athletic opponent, for example, "BTHO t.u." to signify cheering the Aggies to defeat their rival, the University of Texas. Aggies also use this expression to signify overcoming challenges, for example, "BTHO final exams."

Saw 'Em Off

This phrase stems from the Aggie War Hymn verse "saw varsity's horns off". It's a symbol of Texas A&M's rivalry with t.u., and is often paired with the act of "sawing 'em off" at football games, where Aggies link arms and sway back and forth. Blackwater Draw Brewing Co., a local brewery in Bryan, TX, even has a "Saw 'Em Off" beer!

Good Bull

"Good Bull" is a phrase that can be used to describe anything that promotes the Aggie Core Values. Similar to "Whoop," this can also be used to show approval.

Former Student

This term dates back to the times when many Aggies attended school long enough to gain the necessary education they were seeking, but did not always graduate. At Texas A&M, we strongly believe that "once an Aggie, always an Aggie," making this term inclusive to all students who have walked our campus.

Fish Camp

Fish Camp serves as an Aggie's first tradition. It is a three day, two night extended orientation program at the Lakeview Methodist Conference Center in Palestine, Texas. Through various skits and demonstrations, Incoming Freshmen will learn about the traditions and resources they have access to as Texas A&M students. Around 2,000 current students help about 6,000 freshmen transition into college, making it one of the largest student organizations on campus.

Aggie Ring

This tradition is one of the most notable and iconic that Texas A&M has to offer. Students become eligible to receive their Aggie Ring after completing 90 credit hours and instantly makes Aggies identifiable as a part of the Aggie Network. The Ring is worn on the right ring finger, and it is said that the clink of two former students shaking hands symbolizes the deep connection and support in the Aggie family.

Memorial Student Center (MSC)

The Memorial Student Center, commonly referred to as the MSC, is a living memorial to Aggies who made the ultimate sacrifice in past and future wars. The MSC houses exhibits like Aggies Lost in Service Memorial, the Flag Room, and the Hall of Honor to remind students of Aggies who came before them. The building also houses resources for current students, such as three art galleries, several eateries, a bookstore, a grand piano, and several rooms available for student organizations to utilize. Because the MSC is a living memorial, everyone who enters is asked to remove their hats and those outside are asked to not walk on the grass out of respect of those who have been lost.

Century Tree

Standing at the Academic Building for over 100 years, the Century Tree represents love and successful futures between Aggies. It is said that if a couple walks under the tree together, they will eventually marry, and if one walks under it alone, they will stay alone.

The Corps of Cadets

Serving as the oldest student organization on Campus, the Corps of Cadets focuses on developing leadership and career readiness for future graduates. About 45% of Cadets will enter the military upon graduation, making this group focused on the necessary skills and expectations needed to serve our country. Besides their roles as students, you can often see members of the Corps training on and around campus.

Reveille

Often referred to as "Rev," Reveille is the First Lady of Aggieland and serves as the University's mascot. She is a beautiful, full-blood Rough Collie and the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets. She became the official Texas A&M mascot when a group of Cadets in 1931 found a small dog on the road and brought her home to their dorm. The dog barked hysterically at the sound of "Reveille" in the morning, giving her her unforgettable name.

Muster

This somber tradition has been held by Aggies since the 1800s, when Aggies held the first remembrance day after the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21st. Today, Aggies in more than 300 countries gather on this day to remember the Aggie lives lost in that year. The largest Muster ceremony is held right on campus at Reed Arena.

Silver Taps

Another deeply meaningful campus gathering, Silver Taps takes place monthly from September to April to honor enrolled students who have passed away. The ceremony brings together the campus community for a quiet tribute marked by hymns from Albritton Bell Tower and a three-volley salute by the Ross Volunteer Company. The ceremony concludes with “Silver Taps” played to the north, south and west in lasting remembrance.

The Big Event

Each spring, Aggie students fan out across the community to complete service projects as a collective show of gratitude. What began in 1982 with a handful of volunteers has grown into one of the largest student-run service efforts in the country. From yard work to window washing and painting, participants tackle hands-on tasks to support local residents.

Elephant Walk

Seniors gather each year for a sentimental walk through campus before their last home football game. What began in 1922 as a spirited march to shake off a losing streak has evolved into a nighttime procession that winds past campus landmarks. Today, thousands of seniors link arms in a line that can stretch a mile across Aggieland.

The 12th Man

The history of the 12th Man tradition adds to its cherished meaning at Texas A&M University. In a 1922 football game, the Aggies were heavily outnumbered and facing injuries across their bench. The head coach at the time, Dana X. Bible, was running out of options and players to put in. Former team member E. King Gill came to his aid, suiting up in an injured players' gear and standing at the sidelines as the 12th man in the case that one of the 11 players on the field needed assistance.

The Aggies pulled off one of the greatest upsets in college football history, making Gill the legend he is today. Gill's willingness to serve his team has been passed down through generations, and today, Aggies will stand for the entirety of sporting games to signify their readiness to step in and help at any moment. In Gill's honor, Texas A&M is now often referred to as the "Home of the 12th Man."

Midnight Yell

The night before every home football game, over 25,000 Aggies gather at Kyle Field at midnight to practice their yells and get excited for the next day's football game. The Yell Leaders lead fans in yelling and retelling stories from Texas A&M's history. The event is ended with the singing of the War Hymn, followed by the lights being turned off so Aggies can kiss their dates to the game. The first Midnight Yell was held in 1931 when members of the Corps of Cadets gathered at the steps of the YMCA building the night before the annual University of Texas game.

Aggie Rally Towels

This tradition, which originated in 1985, is when Aggie fans wave white rally towels during football games to show support and excitement for the football team. The towels are used to welcome the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band at their halftime performance, celebrate the football team during their tunnel run-out, and to distract the opposing team. This tradition creates a powerful display at Kyle Field, unlike any other Southeastern Conference (SEC) school.

Yell Leaders

While many other universities have cheerleaders, Aggies like to yell their cheers, therefore, we have Yell Leaders! This team of five students, typically upperclassmen members of the Corps of Cadets, attend all sporting events to cheer on the Aggies and lead the fans in our signature Aggie Yells. Their job is to entertain and energize the crowds and lead fans through hand movements and scripted yells. Sporting their signature white jumpsuits or patched overalls, you will never miss these Aggies at the next game!

t.u.

Aggies do not refer to the University of Texas as its common name, as Texas A&M was founded in 1876, well before UT. Instead, we refer to it as "Texas University," stripping it of its title as THE University of Texas. The long standing rivalry has made its way into several Aggie traditions, including the War Hymn. With lyrics like "Goodbye to Texas University, so long to the orange and the white," Aggies demonstrate their school pride and their desire to Beat the Hell out of (BTHO) t.u.

The War Hymn

While many other universities have a Fight Song, Texas A&M is special in that it has a War Hymn, a song that unities all Aggies against their athletic opponents. The song that is played multiple times at every Aggie sporting event always ends with Aggies linking arms and swaying, sawing the horns of t.u. off. The tradition started back during World War I, when class of 1920 Aggie J.V. "Pinky" Wilson, wrote the first lyrics of this iconic song in a letter home. Pinky and his fellow Aggies sang the Hymn while sitting in the trenches of battlegrounds in France, giving it a uniting history in the face of adversaries.

Corps of Cadets March-In

The Corps of Cadets conducts a March-In through various parts of campus before every football game. The March-In shows off branches of the Corps like the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, the Parsons Mounted Cavalry, and Reveille X. March-In routes vary by game to ensure that all fans have the opportunity to see the Corps of Cadets. Details about the March-In can be found on the Corps of Cadets' website.

Flyover

A highly anticipated and patriotic tradition, almost every Aggie football game starts with a flyover by various military aircraft following the playing of the National Anthem. These aircrafts are often flown by former students or current students who are serving in the military. The flyover signifies the Aggie Spirit and the support the 12th Man is showing for the team.

Maroon Out

First started in 1998, the Maroon Out tradition originally helped energize the Aggies’ win over Nebraska and famously created a national shortage of maroon shirts. Maroon Out continued to transform Kyle Field into a powerful sea of maroon during a designated home football game each season. Today, the celebration spans the full football season, with fans joining themed tailgates and special events by wearing their Maroon Out gear.