Texas A&M University

] All cadets, except those who are married or who have had previous military service, must live in the Quad with assigned roommates from the same unit and graduating class. Reveille, the Aggie mascot, lives with her handlers in the Quadrangle.cite web|title=Cadet Resident Handbook|publisher=Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets|url=http://corpshousing.tamu.edu/|accessdate=2007-04-30]

Corps of Cadets

The Corps of Cadets (or "the Corps") is the United States' largest uniformed student body outside the service academies. Members of the Corps have served in every armed conflict fought by the United States since 1876, and over 225 have served as Generals or Flag Officers. Many members participate in ROTC programs and earn commissions in the United States Armed Forces upon graduation. [cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/05/13/texas/index.html|title=A&M cadets staunchly conservative|publisher="CNN"|accessdate=2008-02-18|date=2004-05-13|author=Moghe, Sonia]

Until 1965, Corps membership was mandatory at this Senior Military College. The Corps welcomed female members in the fall of 1974citation|last=Nauman|first=Brett|title=Women Joined Corps 30 Years Ago|newspaper=The Bryan-College Station Eagle|date=September 10, 2004|url=http://www.theeagle.com/aandmnews/091004womencadets.php|accessdate=2007-03-22] and as of fall 2007, the co-ed Corps boasts an enrollment of 1,887 cadets, representing all military branches.

Composed of two Air Force Wings, three Army Brigades, and two Navy and Marine Regiments, as well as the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, whose members may be affiliated with any military branch, [cite web|url=http://cadets.tamu.edu/documents/standard/Standard.pdf|title=The Standard|publisher=Texas A&M Corps of Cadets|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-03-15] cadets are called "Keepers of the Spirit". [cite web|title=Keepers of the Spirit|publisher=Texas A&M Former Students Association|url=http://class.aggienetwork.com/heavens_11-72/traditions/index.html|pages=cover|accessdate=2007-03-23] Parson's Mounted Cavalry is the only mounted ROTC unit in the United States. [cite web|url=http://www.tamu.edu/admissions/catalogs/06-07_UG_Catalog/gen_info/campus_life/corps/corps_activities.htm|title=Campus Life: The Corps Experience|publisher=Texas A&M University|accessdate=2007-05-18] The Ross Volunteer Company, the oldest student-run organization in the state, is the official honor guard for the Governor of Texas.cite web|url=http://www.aggiecorps.org/About/default.htm|title=About the Corps|publisher=Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets|accessdate=2007-05-18] The Fish Drill Team, a precision, close-order rifle drill team composed entirely of Corps freshmen, represents the Corps and A&M in local and national competitions. They have won the national championship almost every year since their creation in 1946, and have appeared in several Hollywood productions with prominent roles in the movies "A Few Good Men" and "Courage Under Fire".citation|last=Nading|first=Tanya|title=Corps Fish Drill Team Reinstated|newspaper=The Battalion|date=2001-11-02|url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2001/11/02/FrontPage/Corps.Fish.Drill.Team.Reinstated-516243.shtml|accessdate=2007-04-13]

The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, the world's largest precision military marching band, provides music for University and Corps functions and presents intricate halftime performances at football games. Some band drills are so complicated that they require band members to step between each other's feet to complete the maneuvers. [cite web|url=http://www.aggieband.org/visitors-about.php|title=The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band|publisher=Aggie Band Association|accessdate=2007-05-18] These drills must be drawn by hand since their computer program returns an error because it requires two people to be in the same spot at the same time. [cite web|url=http://b-batt.tamu.edu/dwnld/040918-jumbo-clem.wmv|title=The Aggie Band: Doing the Impossible|publisher=Former Student's Association|format=WMV|accessdate=2007-05-18]

Activities

Texas A&M has over 800 student organizations, including academic, service, religious, Greek, and common interest organizations. Orientation programs encourage students to become involved in campus activities and organizations from the beginning. [cite news|url=http://www.aggienetwork.com/HTMLEmails/DecSpENewsletter/newsletter.html|title=Texas A&M Association of Former Students E-Newsletter; Special Edition, December 4, 2003|accessdate=2007-01-02|date=2003-12-04|publisher=Texas A&M Association of Former Students ] An April 2005 campus survey found that 74% of the students were currently involved with at least one organization and that 88% participated in a campus organization in the past.cite web|title=Student Organization Involvement Survey|publisher=Texas A&M University Student Life Studies|date=April 2005|url=http://studentlifestudies.tamu.edu/results/Aggie_Rrring/StudentOrganizationInvolvementReport--highlightversion--4-29-2005.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-03-10 ]

One of the oldest student organizations is the Singing Cadets, founded in 1893. Known as the "Voice of Aggieland", the Singing Cadets are an all-male choral group with 70 members. Despite their name, Corps membership is not required to join the Singing Cadets. The group travels nationally and has completed several international tours; most recently, South America in 2007.cite web|title=Dicatur Musice|publisher=Texas A&M University Singing Cadets|date=2006|url=http://www.tamu.edu/singing_cadets/|accessdate=2007-04-30] cite web|title=Auditions|publisher=Texas A&M University Singing Cadets|date=2006|url=http://www.tamu.edu/singing_cadets/auditions.htm|accessdate=2007-04-30]

Texas A&M Hillel, the oldest Hillel organization in the United States, was founded in 1920 at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M). The organization occurred three years before the national Hillel Foundation was organized at University of Illinois. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=abwSjUgVQwIC&pg=PA160&dq=texas+a%26m+hillel&sig=ACfU3U30Xh9TCM_YhhQJ2GihECDKVRsaGA From Christian Science to Jewish Science: Spiritual Healing and American Jews] Oxford University Press page 160] [cite news | url=http://www.jewishweek.org/news/newscontent.php3?artid=10860 | publisher=The Jewish Week | title=A Cushy Fit In Bush Country | author=Gabrielle Birkner | date=2005-05-06 | accessdate=2007-12-30]

Students exercise at the Student Rec Center, a three-story facility encompassing convert|373000|sqft|m2|-1|sp=us, which includes exercise equipment, athletic courts, an indoor running track, a rock-climbing tower, and one of the top competitive pools and diving wells in America. The Rec Center also organizes intramural sports throughout the year.cite web|title=2007 Texas A&M Aggie Swim Camp|publisher=Texas A&M University Athletics|date=2007
url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/camps.php?catID=CAMP&pageID=290&campID=SWM|accessdate=2007-04-30] cite web|title=The Texas A&M Student Recreation Center|publisher=Texas A&M University|url=http://recsports.tamu.edu/AboutUs/Pubs/FacilityBrochure06.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-04-30]

Some national service organizations originated at A&M. Aggie students founded the largest one-day student-run service project in America known as The Big Event. The annual service project allows students to give back to their community by assisting local residents. [cite web|url=http://bigevent.tamu.edu/|title=The Big Event|accessdate=2007-05-15|publisher=The Big Event] The organization CARPOOL, a student run, safe ride program has provided over 100,000 free rides, as of January 2007, to Aggies unable to transport themselves home. Its organizers also assist other universities in establishing similar programs. [cite web|url=http://carpool.tamu.edu/|title=CARPOOL|accessdate=2007-01-02|publisher=CARPOOL ] In addition, the Corporation for National and Community Service listed A&M among the 500 academic institutions in the 2005-06 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. [cite web|url=http://www.learnandserve.gov/pdf/honorroll_full.pdf|format=PDF|title=The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, 2005-06|accessdate=2007-04-12|publisher=Corporation for National and Community Service]

The Student Government Association (SGA), one of A&M's largest organizations, consists of 1,200 student members in 3 branches, 14 committees, and 4 commissions. SGA has changed little since 1972, except its relative position within the official framework of the university.cite web|title=Student Government Association|publisher=Texas A&M University|date=2007|url=http://sga.tamu.edu/|accessdate=2007-04-30]

Media

"The Princeton Review" ranked "The Battalion", founded in 1893, as the 20th best college newspaper in America in 2008. [cite web|title=The Princeton Review: 2008 Best Colleges Rankings|publisher=Princeton Review|date=2007-08-31|url=http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/rankings/rankingDetails.asp?categoryID=7&topicID=57|accessdate=2008-01-30] Students also publish a secondary school newspaper, the "Maroon Weekly". [cite web|title=The Maroon Weekly: About Us|publisher=The Maroon Weekly|url=http://www.maroonweekly.com/about.aspx|date=2007-06-30|accessdate=2007-06-30] "Aggieland", formerly known as "The Olio" and "The Longhorn", is one of America's largest college yearbooks in number of pages and copies sold.cite web|url=http://aggieland.tamu.edu/AboutUs/general.html|title=About Aggieland - The Yearbook|publisher=Texas A&M University|accessdate=2007-04-05] The university houses the public broadcasting stations: "KAMU-TV", a PBS member station since 1970, "KAMU-FM" an NPR affiliate since 1977,cite news|url=http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/6798412.html|title=KAMU-FM Celebrates Anniversary with HD Preview|publisher=KBTX|date=2007-03-30|accessdate=2007-04-05|author=Feltman, Brittney and Murphy, Chace] and the student-run "KANM", "the college station of College Station".cite web|url=http://kanm.tamu.edu/home.php?filetoinclude=history.php|title=About KANM|publisher=Texas A&M University|accessdate=2007-04-05] W5AC broadcast the first live, play-by-play broadcast of a college football game, at Kyle Field, in November 1921. The game, played in Dallas between Aggies and University of Texas, ended in a scoreless tie.cite web|last=Schultz|first=Charles R.|title=First Play-by-Play Radio Broadcast of a College Football Game|publisher=WTAW|url=http://www.wtaw.com/history.php|accessdate=2007-05-08]

Traditions

Aggies have developed many traditions, some as old as the school. Changes such as admission of females, non-compulsory participation in the Corps, and growth in the university's population have led to the evolution of many traditions. Though most public events are university-sponsored and sanctioned, others are strictly student-run, non-sanctioned events.cite web|title=Aggie Traditions|publisher=Texas A&M University Traditions Council|url=http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/|accessdate=2007-04-30]

tudent traditions

Aggie Ring

The Aggie Ring promotes school spirit and camaraderie. Class rings have the same design except that of the class year. [cite web|url=http://www.aggienetwork.com/ring/crown.aspx|title=The base or “Crown” of the Ring|accessdate=2007-05-18|publisher=The Association of Former Students] Students cannot order a ring until completing 95 credit hours of coursework, including at least 45 hours at A&M, or until graduation. Graduate students may receive a ring after 75% of their graduate coursework is completed or after the acceptance of their dissertation or thesis. [cite web|url=http://www.aggienetwork.com/ring/csreqs.aspx|title=Aggie Ring Requirements|accessdate=2007-05-24|publisher=The Association of Former Students] Though unsanctioned by the University, many students "dunk" their newly-acquired Aggie Rings into a pitcher of beer and quickly chug the entire pitcher to "earn" the ring. Some students dunk their rings in alternative substances, including ice cream or nonalcoholic beverages. [cite web|last=Wirt|first=Ashley|url=http://www.thebatt.com/news/2006/09/14/News/Aggies.Find.New.Ways.Of.ring.Dunking-2271747.shtml|title=Aggies find new ways of 'ring dunking'|date=September 9, 2006|accessdate=2007-05-18|publisher=The Battalion]

Howdy

Texas A&M's official greeting is the word "howdy". Aggies consider it polite to greet as many people as comfortably possible with a smile and a "howdy". "Howdy" is the preferred method for a speaker to get a large group's attention, as the members of the group are expected to return the "howdy" back to the speaker.cite web|url=http://traditions.tamu.edu/howdy.html|title=Howdy|accessdate=2006-12-31|publisher=Aggie Traditions]

Texas Aggie Bonfire

Beginning in 1909, Aggie students built a bonfire each year on the grounds of the school. Though it began as a trash pile, Aggie Bonfire evolved into a massive six-tiered structure, the world record being held at convert|109|ft|m|-1. It burned before the annual football game versus the University of Texas. After the collapse of 1999, the university suspended Bonfire indefinitely, but the tradition continues off-campus.cite web|url=http://traditions.tamu.edu/bonfire.html|title=Bonfire|accessdate=2007-05-18|publisher=Aggie Traditions] cite web|url=http://studentbonfire.com|title=Aggie Student Bonfire|accessdate=2007-05-18|publisher=Aggie Student Bonfire]

Muster

Muster officially began on April 21, 1922, as a day for remembrance of fellow Aggies. The March 1923 Texas Aggie urged, "If there is an A&M man in one-hundred miles of you, you are expected to get together, eat a little, and live over the days you spent at the A&M College of Texas."cite web|url=http://clubs.aggienetwork.com/emeraldcoastamc/muster.htm|title=Aggie Muster|accessdate=2006-12-17|publisher=Emerald Coast A&M Club] Modern muster ceremonies occur at around 320 locations globally including Kabul, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq. The largest ceremony occurs on the A&M campus in Reed Arena. The "Roll Call for the Absent" commemorates Aggies who died since the last roll call. As names are called, a family member or friend answers, "Here", and a candle is lit.cite web |url =http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/muster.shtml |title =Aggie Muster |accessdate =2006-12-17 |date =|format =HTML |publisher =Aggie Traditions |language =English ] Campus muster also serves as a 50th year class reunion. Some muster gatherings do not have the campus ceremony pageantry, and may simply be a barbecue.cite web|url=http://www.aggienetwork.com/muster/search.aspx|title=Find Your Muster|accessdate=2007-05-30|date =|format =HTML |publisher=Texas A&M University |language English]

ilver Taps

Silver Taps began in 1898 to honor Lawrence Sullivan Ross, then the president of the school. It evolved into a monthly tradition to honor current Aggie students who pass away that month. Flags fly half-staff the day of Silver Taps and notices are posted throughout campus. At 10:15 P.M. the lights around campus are extinguished and hymns chime from Albritton Tower while students and faculty collect in the Academic Plaza. Following a 21-gun salute by the Ross Volunteer Firing Squad, six buglers play an A&M version of the song "Taps", Silver Taps, three times from the dome of the school's Academic Building: once to the north, the south and to the west. The song is not played to the east symboling that the sun will never rise on that Aggie again.cite web|url=http://stulife.tamu.edu/co/silvertaps.htm|title=Silver Taps|accessdate=2007-01-01|date=2007|publisher=Department of Student Life]

Traditions in athletics

The 12th Man

In Dallas on January 2, 1922, at the Dixie Classic (the forerunner of the Cotton Bowl) A&M played Centre College in the first post-season game in the southwest. A&M had so many injuries in the first half of the game that Coach D. X. Bible feared he wouldn’t have enough men to finish the game. He called into the Aggie section of the stands for E. King Gill, a reserve who had left football after the regular season to play basketball. Gill volunteered and donned the uniform of injured player Heine Weir. Although he did not actually play, his readiness symbolized the willingness of all Aggies to support their team to the point of actually entering the game. A&M won 22-14, but E. King Gill was the only man left standing on the sidelines for the Aggies. The 12th Man has evolved into an Aggie tradition. The student body, known as the "12th Man", stands throughout the entire game, "ready to help the team".cite web|url=http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/12thman.shtml|title=Twelfth Man|accessdate=2006-12-31|publisher=Aggie Traditions]

Another part of the 12th man tradition is when the head coach before each game chooses a walk-on player to represent the student body. This player wears the No. 12 jersey, participates in kick-off returns, and is called "The 12th Man".citation|last=Heater|first=Jay|title=LaMantia A&M's Main 12th Man|newspaper=Oakland Tribune|date=December 27, 2006|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20061227/ai_n17077154|accessdate=2007-04-30]

Yells

The 12th Man uses a variety of school yells, rather than cheers, to support Aggie teams. Each year the student body elects five students to serve as the Yell Leaders. [cite web|url=http://yell.tamu.edu/|title=Texas Aggie Yell Leaders|date=2005|accessdate=2007-05-18|publisher=Texas A&M University] At midnight before each home football game at Kyle Field or at a predesignated location at away games, the fans gather together to practice the yells for the next day's game. Led by the Yell Leaders, and the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, the Twelfth Man files into the stadium to practice yells, sing the , and joke about their opponents. One tradition at the games is when the Aggies score, Aggies kiss their dates. Close to the end of midnight yell, the lights turn off and Aggies practice this tradition. [cite web|url=http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/midnight.shtml|title=Midnight Yell Practice|accessdate=2007-05-18|publisher=Aggie Traditions Council]

Athletics

A charter member of the Southwest Conference until its dissolution in 1996, A&M now competes in the Big 12 Conference (South Division). [citation|title=TEXAS HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS:A Look Back at the Southwest Conference|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|date=2007|url=http://www.texasalmanac.com/history/highlights/swc/|accessdate=2007-05-07] The school's 20 sports teams are known as the Aggies, and the school's colors are maroon and white.cite web|title=Texas A&M Aggies|publisher=Big 12 Conference|url=http://www.big12sports.com/schools/tam/big12-tam-body.html|accessdate=2007-04-30] As of May 2008, Aggies have earned 128 Southwest and Big 12 conference regular-season and tournament titles and 5 team national championships.cite web|title=Texas A&M University Facts: Athletics|publisher=Texas A&M University|url=http://www.tamu.edu/home/aboutam/amfacts/athleticsfacts.html|accessdate=2007-04-30] The women's soccer team, formed in 1993, earned 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1995-2006, advancing at least as far as the round of 16 in seven of the last eight appearances.cite web|title=Official 2006 NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer Records Book|publisher=NCAA|date=2006|url=http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/soccer/soccer_records_book/2006/2006_soccer_records.pdf
accessdate=2007-04-30] The women's volleyball team earned 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1993-2004, advancing past the first round each time.cite web|title=Official 2006 NCAA Women's Volleyball Records Book|pages=152|publisher=NCAA|date=2006|url=http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/volleyball/volleyball_records_book/2006/2006_w_volleyball_records.pdf|accessdate=2007-04-30] For the 2006-2007 school year, seven Aggie sports teams won Big 12 Championships: women's soccer (regular season), women's basketball (regular season), women's indoor track and field, women's outdoor track and field, women's golf, and women's swimming and diving.cite web|title=2006-2007 Big 12 Postseason Championships Schedule|publisher=Big 12 Conference|date=2007|url=http://www.big12sports.com/championships/big12-championships.html|accessdate=2007-05-17 ] In 2004 "Sports Illustrated on Campus" ranked Olsen Field "the best college baseball venue".cite web|title=Road Trip: College Station, Texas|publisher=Sports Illustrated|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/sioncampus/04/07/road_trip0408/|accessdate=2007-06-09] Due to the quality of A&M's sports programs ,"Sports Illustrated" ranked the university 46th, in a 2002 analysis of "America's Best Sports College [s] " [cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/news/2002/10/01/1_10/|title=America's Best Sports Colleges|accessdate=2007-01-08|date=2002-10-07|publisher=Sports Illustrated] and College Station the 9th best college sports town.cite web|title=Best College Sports Towns|publisher=Sports Illustrated|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/sioncampus/09/10/top_ten0916/index.html|accessdate=2007-06-09]

A&M's archrival is the University of Texas. In 2004, sporting events between the Aggies and Longhorns became known as the Lone Star Showdown. The most-watched event in the rivalry is the annual football game held the day after Thanksgiving.cite web|title=Lone Star Showdown: 112th UT vs A&M game Friday|publisher=News 8 Austin|date=November 23, 2005|url=http://www.news8austin.com/content/your_news/default.asp?ArID=150435|accessdate=2007-04-30] cite web|title=Aggies Top No. 5 Longhorns Before Record Crowd, 20-16|publisher=Texas A&M University Athletic Department|date=November 26, 1999|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/pressRelease.php?PRID=4385|accessdate=2007-05-07 ] Other rivalries include Texas Tech, Baylor University, and the recently renewed rivalry with the University of Arkansas.citation|last=Dirocco|first=Michael|title=A Nameless Game|newspaper=Jacksonville Times-Union|date=November 23, 2006|url=http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/112406/col_6430074.shtml|accessdate=2007-05-17 ] cite web|last=Griffin|first=Tim|title=Texas' instate rivalry grabs weekend spotlight|publisher="ESPN"|date=September 27, 2006|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2604893|accessdate=2007-05-17 ] [citation|last=Zimmer|first=Kelln|title=T-sippers or tortilla-throwers|newspaper=The Battalion|date=November 15, 2001|url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2001/11/15/Opinion/TSippers.Or.TortillaThrowers-516399.shtml|accessdate=2008-03-25 ] [cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/topstories/stories/031108dnspoamarkansas.3eaf64a8.html
last=Hairopoulos|first=Kate|title=Texas A&M, Arkansas to renew football rivalry at new Cowboys stadium|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|date=March 10, 2008|accessdate=2008-03-27]

Football

Founded in 1894, the football team has won 18 Southwest Conference championships, a Big 12 championship, two Big 12 South Division championships, and one national championship.cite web|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/index2.php?SID=MFB&pageID=187|title=Aggie Football's Championships|publisher=Texas A&M Athletics|accessdate=2007-04-04] The team has appeared in a total of 30 bowl games, winning 13, [cite web|title=Texas A&M's Bowl History|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/index2.php?SID=MFB&pageID=973|accessdate=2007-04-04|publisher=Texas A&M Athletics] and has produced 41 first Team All-Americans, five Academic All-Americans, and one Heisman Trophy winner, John David Crow in 1957.cite web|title=2005 Texas A&M Football History and Records|pages=60,70,72|publisher=Texas A&M University Athletic Department|date=2006|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/sports/football/docs/2005supplement.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-04-30] Twenty-one Aggies currently play in the NFL, [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/college?letter=t|title=NFL Players By College - T|publisher=ESPN|accessdate=2008-01-29] and nine others serve as NFL coaches.cite web|title=Aggies In The NFL|publisher=Texas A&M University Athletic Department|date=2007|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/press/PDF/MFB_2007_12_25_1229-TAMUnotes07_PSU-Alamo.pdf|accessdate=2007-12-26|pages=5]

Since 1904, home football games have been played at Kyle Field, a stadium with a current capacity of 83,002.cite web|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/facilities.php?FID=7|title=Kyle Field|work=Official Website of Texas A&M Athletics|accessdate=2006-09-27] In 2004, "CBS SportsLine.com" ranked Kyle Field the top football stadium while "Sporting News" ranked it fourth.cite web|title=Top 10 stadiums: No. 1, Texas A&M's Kyle Field|publisher=CBS SportsLine.com|url=http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/6436849|accessdate=2007-06-09] cite web|title=Sporting News College Football Stadiums Top 10|publisher=MSNBC|date=2007|url=http://www.msnbc.com/modules/sports/collegefootballstadiums|accessdate=2007-04-30] The same year "Sports Illustrated on Campus" ranked an A&M football weekend the third best college football experience.cite web|title=Best College Football Weekends|publisher=Sports Illustrated|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/sioncampus/09/15/best_weekends0916/|accessdate=2007-06-09]

Basketball

Founded in 1912, the men's basketball team won 11 Southwest Conference championships and two Southwest Conference Tournament championships. The team has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament six times and in the NCAA Tournament eight times. Three of those eight NCAA tournament appearances include Sweet Sixteen appearances, the highest the Aggies have advanced.cite web|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/index2.php?SID=MBB&pageID=200|title=Texas A&M Basketball's Championship History|publisher=Texas A&M Athletics|accessdate=2007-04-04] The women's basketball team has had 4 NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching as high as the Elite Eight. They have also competed in the NWIT/WNIT twice, winning that tournament in 1994-1995.cite web|title=Women's Basketball Through the Years|publisher=Texas A&M University Athletic Department|date=2007|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/index2.php?SID=WBB&pageID=1338|accessdate=2007-04-30]

The men's basketball team is coached by first-year head coach Mark Turgeon.cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/6662394|title=Turgeon leaves Wichita State for Texas A&M|publisher=FOXSports.com|accessdate=2007-04-09] The women's team has been coached by Gary Blair since 2003.cite web|last=Patrick|first=Dick|title=On women's basketball: Texas A&M completes turnaround|publisher=USAToday|date=March 6, 2007|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/womensbasketball/2007-03-06-women-basketball-notes_N.htm|accessdate=2007-04-30] Both the men's and women's team reached NCAA postseason appearances in 2006, a first for A&M since Big 12 play began in 1996.cite web|title=Texas A&M Men's Basketball Postseason History|publisher=Texas A&M Athletic Department|date=2007|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/index2.php?SID=MBB&pageID=1328|accessdate=2007-04-30] cite web|title=Texas A&M Women's Basketball Postseason History|publisher=Texas A&M Athletic Department|date=2007|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/index2.php?SID=WBB&pageID=1338|accessdate=2007-04-30] The men's team achieved their highest final rankings in school history in 2006-2007, ranking No. 9 in the AP and ESPN/Coaches' Poll, and the women ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll at the end of the 2007-2008 season.cite web|title=Men's College Basketball Polls|publisher=NCAA|date=2007|url=http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/mens/polls|accessdate=2007-04-30] cite web|title=Women's Basketball Rankings|publisher=NCAA|date=2007|url=http://www.ncaasports.com/basketball/womens/polls/rankings|accessdate=2007-04-30] cite web|last=Hutchison|first=Kay Bailey|title=March Madness Comes to Texas|work=Capitol Comment|publisher=Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison|date=March 2, 2007|url=http://hutchison.senate.gov/cc030207marchmadness.html|accessdate=2007-04-30]

Home games are played at the 12,500-seat Reed Arena.cite web|title=Reed Arena|publisher=Texas A&M Athletic Department|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/facilities.php?FID=11|accessdate=2007-04-30] G. Rollie White Coliseum, currently the home of the volleyball team, hosted basketball games before Reed Arena opened in 1998.cite web|title=G. Rollie White Coliseum|publisher=Texas A&M Athletic Department|url=http://www.aggieathletics.com/facilities.php?FID=6|accessdate=2007-04-30]

Notable people

With over 280,000 former students, [cite web|url=http://www.tamu.edu/home/aboutam/amfacts/index.html|title=Texas A&M University - Academic Facts|publisher=Texas A&M University|accessdate=2007-03-12] A&M has one of the largest and most active alumni groups in America. Many Aggies have attained local, national, and international prominence.cite web|title=World Impact|publisher=Texas A&M University|url=http://www.tamu.edu/home/aboutam/amfacts/worldimpactfacts.html|accessdate=2007-04-30] Jorge Quiroga and Martin Torrijos have served as heads of state for Bolivia and Panama, respectively, and Rick Perry is the current Governor of Texas. Congressmen Joe Barton, Chet Edwards, Jeb Hensarling, and Louie Gohmert, and Austin, Texas, mayor Will Wynn are all graduates.cite web|title=Former Student Achievements|publisher=Texas A&M University|date=2003|url=http://vpr.tamu.edu/prospectus/formerstudent.html|accessdate=2007-04-30]

Aggies made their mark on the gridiron with Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, title-winning coach Gene Stallings, Houston Oilers defensive tackle Ray Childress, Heisman Trophy winner John David Crow, Heisman runner-up, legislator, and actor John Kimbrough, punt returner Dante Hall, wide receiver Bethel Johnson, Detroit Lions defensive end and punter Yale Lary, Dallas Cowboys assistant coach and former player Dat Nguyen, punter Shane Lechler, and defensive end Ty Warren. [cite web|title=Gene Stallings|publisher=Texas A&M University System|date=2007|url=http://regents.tamu.edu/bios/gene-stallings.html|accessdate=2007-05-16] cite web|title=Return to Glory The Cotton Bowl: Texas A&M vs. Tennessee; Cotton Bowl Insider|publisher=Aggiesports.com|date=January 1, 2005|url=http://www.aggiesports.com/football/cottonbowl05/insider.htm|accessdate=2007-05-16] Paul "Bear" Bryant coached at A&M where "survivors" of his grueling football practice camp at Junction, Texas were nicknamed named The Junction Boys.cite press release|title=The Junction Boys to Premiere Dec. 14|publisher=ESPN|date=2002|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tvlistings/story?id=1410158|accessdate=2007-05-03] cite web |title =Coach Bryant Timeline |work =Paul W. Bryant Museum |publisher =The University of Alabama|url =http://bryantmuseum.ua.edu/direction.cfm?dir=bio|format =html|accessdate =2007-06-30] Other famous Aggie athletes include Randy Barnes, indoor/outdoor shotput world record holder, baseball standouts Chuck Knoblauch and Wally Moon; along with Stacy Sykora, Libero for the USA national volleyball team.

Aggies have also made a mark on pop culture. Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett, who often strummed their guitars on the porch of their Northgate home, have become popular country singers. [cite web|title=Biography for Robert Earl Keen|publisher=IMDB|date=2007|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0444613/bio|accessdate=2007-05-16] William A. Pailes and Michael E. Fossum became NASA astronauts.cite web|last=Geller|first=Marc B.|title=Fossum "chillaxin" in space -- Gov. Rick Perry makes a call to Aggie in orbit|publisher="The Monitor"|date=July 14, 2006|url=http://cf.themonitor.com/SiteProcessor.cfm?Template=/GlobalTemplates/Details.cfm&StoryID=14224&Section=Local|accessdate=2007-04-30] Rip Torn is a veteran of the silver screen and Neal Boortz is a nationally syndicated talk show host with the sixth largest listening audience in the United States. [cite web|title=Boortz Bio|publisher=Cox Radio Interactive & Cox Radio, Inc.|date=2007|url=http://boortz.com/more/bio.html|accessdate=2007-05-18] [cite web|title=The Top Talk Radio Audiences|publisher=Focus Communications, Inc.|date=2007|url=http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=34|accessdate=2007-05-18] Wen Ho Lee, a doctoral graduate of A&M, became the subject of a 1999 espionage investigation; though arrested, charges were dropped in 2000. [cite web|title=Biography (1939-)|publisher=A&E Television Networks|date=2007|url=http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9542366|accessdate=2007-05-18]

Many Aggies have become business leaders, particularly in the fields of energy, construction, communications, and chemistry. Current leaders include Jack Whiteside, President of Barnes & Click, Inc., [cite web|title=Jack M. Whiteside, P.E.|publisher=Barnes and Click Inc.|date=2007|url=http://www.engineers1.com/resume_jack.html|accessdate=2007-05-18] Lowry Mays, chairman and CEO of Clear Channel Communications, George P. Mitchell, chairman and CEO, Mitchell Energy and Development Corp., H.B. Zachry, President of the H.B. Zachry Company, John Zachry, CEO of Zachry Corp., David Zachry, President of Zachry Corp., [cite web|last=Kriewald|first=Lesley|title=Zachry Name Bestowed on Texas A&M's Civil Engineering Department|publisher=Texas A&M Foundation|date=September 30, 2005|url=http://giving.tamu.edu/content/newsandevents/headlinenews/news.php?get=241&area=1|accessdate=2007-05-18] and Eduardo Castro-Wright, CEO of Wal-Mart Stores USA. [cite web|coauthors=Jenny Mero and Matthew Boyle|title=Rising Star: Eduardo Castro-Wright, Wal-Mart: Meet Corporate America's next generation of leaders|publisher=FORTUNE|date=January 24, 2006|url=http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/23/magazines/fortune/stars_castrowright_fortune_060206/index.htm|accessdate=2007-05-18]

Due to A&M's military roots, Aggies have become leaders in the armed forces, and were featured in the 1943 propaganda film "We've Never Been Licked".cite web|title="We've Never Been Licked" To Be Shown Tonight|publisher=Texas A&M University|date=April 13, 2004|url=http://newsarchives.tamu.edu/stories/04/041304-7.html|accessdate=2007-04-30] George H. Gay, Jr., was the sole survivor of Torpedo Squadron 8 in the Battle of Midway. [cite web|title=Lieutenant George H. Gay, Jr., USNR, (1917-1994)|publisher=DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER|date=May 18, 1999|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-g/g-gay.htm|accessdate=2007-05-16] Lieutenant General Jay T. Robbins became a fighter ace in World War II with 22 aerial victories. [cite web|title=LIEUTENANT GENERAL JAY T. ROBBINS|publisher=USAF|date=2007|url=http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6927|accessdate=2007-05-16] General Bernard Adolph Schriever, known as "the architect of the Air Force’s ballistic missile and military space program", became the namesake of Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. [cite journal|last=Boyne|first=Walter J.|title=The Man Who Built the Missiles|journal=AIR FORCE Magazine|pages=80|date=October 2000|publisher=Air Force Association|url=http://www.afa.org/magazine/oct2000/1000bennie.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2007-05-16] [cite web|title=Schriever Air Force Base|publisher=USAF|date=2007|url=http://www.schriever.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3908|accessdate=2007-05-16] General Michael Moseley is a former Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. [cite web|title=General T. Michael Moseley|publisher=USAF|date=2007|url=http://www.af.mil/bios/bio.asp?bioID=6545|accessdate=2007-05-16]

In addition, seven Aggies earned the Medal of Honor in World War II. [cite web|title=Campusologies and Required Knowledge|publisher=Company P10|date=2007|url=http://www.jcap-tamu.org/CamposRequiredKnowledgePg3.html|accessdate=2007-05-16] This total matches Virginia Tech for the most total honorees of any school outside the service academies at West Point and Annapolis. [cite web|url=http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/msc.shtml|title=Aggie Traditions|publisher=Texas A&M University|accessdate=2006-11-20] The recipients are:
*Horace S. Carswell, Jr., class of 1938
*Thomas W. Fowler, class of 1943
*William G. Harrell, class of 1943
*Lloyd H. Hughes, class of 1943
*George D. Keathley, class of 1937
*Turney W. Leonard, class of 1942
*Eli L. Whiteley, class of 1941clear

References

External links

* [http://www.tamu.edu/ Texas A&M University]
* [http://www.aggieathletics.com/ Aggie Athletics]

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