The only way race comes into is that... The people that I know that are NOT white that have attended A&M have had situations where they have fealt uncomfortable. I have not really heard anyone that goes to UT ever mention any feelings like that.
Sax player checking in here. I nearly went to A&M on an ROTC scholarship, but I chose a much smaller school simply because I wanted to be in a good band. I didn't major in music, and I don't play professionally. That said, I'm a fully capable saxophone player, as I was in middle school, high school, and all the way through college. All I wanted was to be in (at least) a good band, which they do NOT have at Texas A&M. Actually, ima2K, as I'm sure you are fully aware, that sentiment is true to anyone who knows anything about music. Most musicians know where the good-to-best music schools are, and most musicians also know that for all the hoopla surrounding the Aggie Band, they sure do suck it up. If any former Aggie Band member were to come up to a group of musicians and announce that he was a member of the Aggie Band, all he'd receive in response is a full chorus of . You're absolutely right. I'm have no qualms with A&M (or UT, for that matter). I like the school, and I love the tradition there. I just hate their band.
To further this, its supposed to mean that UT isn't THE UNIVERSITY OF Texas, because it wasn't first. I guess that makes a difference when you reverse it.
Both UT and A&M are good schools and actually, their student bodies are becoming more similar every year. Both are filled mostly with white, middle-upper class students, and both are conservative. A&M is more conservative, but to most people around the country, UT is a conservative school. A&M is the older of the two, and UT has the better location, Austin. As far as whoever asked what corps members did in the military: Actually, the most decorated general in any branch is an Aggie, Lt. Gen. James Hollingsworth... "General Hollingsworth's military decorations include three Distinguished Service Crosses, four Distinguished Service medals, four Silver Stars, three Legions of Merit, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, the Soldier’s Medal, four Bronze Stars for valor, 38 Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal and six Purple Hearts for wounds suffered in combat. Among his 20 foreign military decorations are the Belgian Croix De Guerre, Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit, three National Orders of Vietnam and five Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry." http://www.mma-tx.org/mmaleader/2002/june/leaderjune2002.htm#article1
When I was in college, we hosted a Jazz Festival every year where many jazz ensembles both high school and college would come and perform for an all day event. One year, we were shocked to see the "Texas A & M Jazz Ensemble" listed on the itinerary. We went and heard them play and they were loud but not that good. At the same time they really weren't as bad as you might think. We talked to them afterwards and it turns out that they put it together all on their own with NO support from the school whatsoever. They didn't even have a faculty leader. They weren't exactly the North Texas 1 o'clock Lab Band, but they more than held their own considering the whole thing was student run. You gotta at least respect that. I felt kind of bad for them knowing that they had NO support from the school they were so proudly representing. Seems like kind of a waste of a lot of potential.
for the record, although I'm a longhorn, I have no use for the folks who can't let it go - the college experience, the guys who still want to dress up like a drugstore cowboy and shovel BEVO's babies, for example. I find Corps turds and Cowboys equally annoying. I'll talk the talk on UT and A&M, but in reality, I think they're both good schools, but UT is more my style and why I went there. I'm more of an Austin kind of guy. what with an acceptance of homersexuals and arything like that and druggies, and no good smelly hippies et al
Oh... okay I must be a racist... and eveyone at Texas A&M too.... And for you guys saying the band sucks...that is hilarious..... I just don't know what to say..... Here is something to keep in mind when you knock TAMU though for all you negative haters out there who just like to try to kick dust in the eyes of the fallen: http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/6436849 Top 10 stadiums: No. 1, Texas A&M's Kyle Field By Dennis Dodd SportsLine.com Senior Writer Tell Dennis your opinion! Why it is on this list: Kyle Field is not a stadium, it is an experience. PHOTOS: « PREV | NEXT » The Aggies' Kyle Field (Getty Images) Face it, there isn't much to do in College Station so the entire town rotates its activities around game day. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It starts with yell practice on Friday night. Picture this: 15,000 fans turning up at midnight to scream their brains out in preparation for ... The spring game! The total goes up to 40,000 for regular-season games. Scoring Atmosphere 10 History 9 Tradition 10 Fans 10 Architecture 9 TOTAL 48 Fast Facts Year built: 1927 Capacity: 80,650 Did you know? On game days, the students stand the entire game, except of course when the opposing band performs at halftime. There are simply no other fans who get into their team more than Aggies. While that will cause a nationwide revolt at other schools, consider these points: No other school has Reveille, the border collie mascot. The five previous Reveilles were buried facing Kyle Field so they could see the field. At one time a cadet was assigned to the burial site each home game armed with a radio so the Reveilles could "hear" what was going on. When renovation to the stadium blocked the former mascots' "view," a small scoreboard was built outside Kyle Field facing the cemetery so they could "see" the score. No other crowd stands from kickoff to final gun (except when the opposing team's band plays at halftime). Cadets play tonsil hockey with their dates every time the Aggies score. If it's a good year for the A&M offense, it's likely the birth rate goes up ninth months later in College Station. The 12th Man. Students try out to earn a spot on the kickoff coverage team. The lucky winner gets to wear No. 12, a salute to the fans. Throw in the state-of-the-art facilities, the addition of Dennis Franchione and the best conference in the country and College Station is current Mecca for college football. Personal experience: How loyal are the Aggies? I once watched a game at Oklahoma where the Sooners were up by 30 points in the fourth quarter and the Yell Leaders on a hot, muggy day were still leading loud cheers out in the Aggie cheering section. Quoting: "I've coached at the University of Washington when the head coach was named coach of the year and we won the Rose Bowl. I have coached at the University of Southern California where tradition probably reeks with the white horse. I've had the opportunity to coach in an environment with tradition where you could cut it with a knife at the University of Kentucky. It wasn't in football but in basketball, but it boils over. But I've never been around a university that exhibits the amount of tradition or pride or love for an institution than here." -- the late Ray Dorr, former quarterbacks coach of the Aggies. This is why we get great recruiting classes even though we live in a podunk piece of crap town, which no one will argue with, but you have to admit it is quite a feat to build the most intimidating stadium in the country in the middle of nowhere.
UT is only 65% white; I think ATM is 85% plus white. Big difference. Also, Austin is only 52% white, so I could see why minorities may be more comfortable there.
That's just it...You don't know what to say. C'mon...what does that article prove? So the yell leaders still cheer even though the team is down? Imagine that...it's not like its their job or anything. The dog? The 12th man? Who cares? Don't be so defensive...It was just one guy's opinion. Hook 'em Horns.
Um, I don't think you are helping your cause here...in fact i'm more frightened than ever of A&M. I think they should have stuffed all the "Reveilles" and rolled them out at half-time, then the band could play "Who let the dogs out" it would really get the crowd jumping... edit: From what i'm hearing about the band "Who let the dawgs out" may be too complex a musical piece...
some of the older guys will remember this about 25 years ago, Rice played A&M in the dome in football, and the MOB put on a half time show that ridiculed the recent death of the mascot, Reville. they played OH WHERE, OH WHERE HAS MY LITTLE DOG GONE? while someone ran around with a leash on a firm wire, no dog in it. the Aggies went berzerk and the Mob had to have a police escort out.
friendly, that still doesn't beat the cadet who pulled a sword on the smu cheerleader after they pulled that schoolboy trick on him. I'd probably put that behind the NU game debacle as well.
In 1977, one of those guys pulled a sword on UT students who were carrying a huge State of Texas flag out onto the field.
The combination of the inherent lameness of the traditions (Public displays of affection? treating dead dogs like VIP's?) and the sword-pulling reverence and vigilance with which aggies practice them is what bums people out. Jesus, these aggies go on and on about their history, blah blah; well, the college I went to has been around for few hundred years, it had its traditions, and we kept them alive, but we recognized them for what they were.
Just looked up the numbers. A&M 82% White 3% Black 9% Hispanic 3% Asian Texas 62% White 4% Black 14% Hispanic 17% Asian I thought it interesting that the main difference in demographics between A&M and Texas was the number of Asian students.
