List of Texas Aggie terms
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This list of Texas Aggie terms includes words and phrases which are unique to, or hold a special meaning connected with, Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The University, often called A&M or TAMU, is a coeducational public research university and is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. It opened in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, the first public institution of higher education in that state.[1] In 1963, the Texas Legislature renamed the school to Texas A&M University to reflect the institution's expanded roles and academic offerings. The letters "A&M" no longer have any explicit meaning but are retained as a link to the university's past.[2]
As a senior military college, Texas A&M is one of three public universities with a full-time, volunteer Corps of Cadets. It provides more commissioned officers to the United States Armed Forces than any other school outside of the service academies. This is disputed, however, as Virginia Military Institute (VMI) makes the same claim.[3]
The majority of these terms come from the university's history as a military institution. Other sources of this terminology are the traditions of Texas A&M University, especially the Aggie Bonfire and the athletics program. Some terms on this list describe locations around the campus. While most unique terms about Texas A&M are used by Aggies, a few listed terms are used by the university's rivals.
| Contents | Top · 0–9 · A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
[edit] 0-9
- 2 Percenters
- Aggies who choose not to participate in Texas A&M traditions.[6][7][8]
[edit] A
- A&M
- Used colloquially to refer to the Texas A&M University institution. Term no longer has any explicit meaning but is retained as a link to the university's past as the "Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas."[2]
- Aggie (or Ag)
- A student, alumnus, or supporter of Texas A&M University.[4][7] The term is similarly used at other land grant schools such as New Mexico State and University of California, Davis.[9]
- "Aggies never lose, though we may run out of time"
- This quote or a variation is sometimes said after losing efforts. It gives voice to the idea that the team would have eventually won if the game would have gone on longer.[6][10]
- Aggieland
- The term describing Texas A&M and the surrounding cities: Bryan and College Station Texas.[6][7][11] The phrase, "Welcome to Aggieland", is at the center of the university's current marketing campaign.[12]
[edit] B
- Bad Bull
- Anything not in keeping with Aggie traditions or the Aggie spirit.[11]
- Batt
- Short for the school newspaper, The Battalion[11]
- Aggie Bonfire
- A large bonfire made prior to playing the annual college football game against the University of Texas at Austin. Bonfire symbolizes a "burning desire to beat the hell outta t.u.".[6][13] Aggie Bonfire at one time held the world record for the height of a bonfire at 109 ft, 10 in (33 m) tall.[14] Due to the 18 November 1999 collapse of bonfire that killed 12 and injured 27,[15] recent non-university sanctioned Bonfires, called Student Bonfire, have been performed off-campus.[16][17]
- BQ
- Member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, colloquially Band Queer, etymologically Band Qualified.[18]
[edit] C
- The Chicken
- Short for a popular bar, Dixie Chicken, in the entertainment district, Northgate.[11]
- Aggie Code of Honor
- Texas A&M's honor code, "Aggies do not lie, cheat, or steal, nor do they tolerate those who do.[6][7]
- Corps
- Short for the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, Texas A&M's military college program.[6][7][19] Though ROTC is mandatory for the first two years, military service is not.
- CT
- Member of the Corps that not in the band. Colloquially "Corps Turd, etymologically "Cadet in Training".[18]
[edit] D
- Dead Elephant
- Term referring to senior undergraduates during their last semester.[21] See Elephant Walk
[edit] E
- Elephant Walk
- A tradition in which the senior class walks around campus to remember the good times they had at Texas A&M.[7][22]
[edit] F
- "Farmers fight"
- Used in several Aggie Yells. The farmer was the university's original mascot.[4]
- Fightin' Texas Aggie
- Common prefix used for things related to A&M. For example, the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band.
- Fish Camp
- An optional four–day retreat held before the freshman year to introduce new students to the traditions of Texas A&M University.[6][7]
- Fish Pond
- A fountain on the Texas A&M campus that is the part of several traditions.[6]
- Former Student
- Aggie graduates refer to themselves as "former students" rather than alumni because not all Aggies graduated due to military needs during the World Wars.[6][23] Another reason why Aggie use the term former students to describe graduates because it is also felt that the term "alumni" would imply that Texas A&M graduates are "ex-Aggies". Aggies believe in the concept, "once an Aggie, always an Aggie" and thus the term "alumni" would not be appropriate.[7] The Association of Former Students is the university's equivalent of an alumni association.[24]
- See also: List of Texas A&M University people
- "From the outside looking in you can't understand it, and from the inside looking out you can't explain it"
- Phrase used to describe the difficulty outsiders have understanding Texas A&M culture, and Aggies have articulating their love for Texas A&M.[4][25]
[edit] G
- Gig 'em
- Both a saying and the universal hand gesture of all Texas A&M University current and former students as sign of affiliation.[4][7][26] Gig 'em also is the name of an Aggie yell.[27]
- Good Bull
- Anything that conforms to the traditions of Texas A&M.[11]
- Grodes
- The jeans and t-shirts worn by students who worked on Aggie Bonfire. Grodes were typically not washed until Bonfire burned, if ever.[28]
[edit] H
- "Highway 6 runs both ways"
- Used in response to complaints made about Texas A&M. It means that those who do not like the university are free to leave.[29]
- Howdy
- Official greeting of Texas A&M University. Students are encouraged to greet everyone they pass on campus with a smile and a howdy.[30] 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.[6]
- Hullabaloo, Caneck! Caneck!
- Beginning phrase of the Aggie War Hymn.[4][7][21]
- Hump it (or Humping it)
- During a yell, the crowd leans forward and places their hands on their knees to maximize the noise.[4][6][7][11][31]
[edit] J
- Aggie jokes
- Jokes used against Texas A&M and Aggies, similar to jokes used against ethnic minorities usually with a connotation of a lack of intelligence.[4][21][32][33]
- Jollie Rollie
- Nickname of G. Rollie White Coliseum.[1]
[edit] K
- Kyle Field
- The Texas A&M football stadium.[6]
[edit] L
- Load
- The second phase of Aggie Bonfire construction, where the newly cut logs are brought back to campus.[20]
[edit] M
- Maroon
- The official color of Texas A&M along with white. The University's specific trademark color is Pantone 202.[34]. Maroon Out is an official university tradition. Each year, one football game each season is dubbed an official Maroon Out event and discounted maroon t-shirts are offered for sale to fans in order to fill the stadium with the Texas A&M color.[35] The word "maroon" is used in other contexts, such as the name of one of the school's student newspapers, the Maroon Weekly.[36]
- Mug down
- Kissing one's date during athletic events.[37]
- Muster
- Tradition on April 21, San Jacinto Day in with Aggies from all over the world meet with each other.[8][6][38][39]
[edit] N
- Northside
- Location of residence halls on campus near Northgate.[40]
[edit] O
- "Off the wood"
- During sporting events, Texas A&M students get off the bleachers when players on any team are injured. The term "wood" is used only for tradition, because Texas A&M stadiums no longer have wood bleachers.[41]
- Ol' Army
- Term referring to Texas A&M's past.[7]
- Other education
- A term describing what Aggie students learn outside the classroom though extracurricular activities and through living life.[29][42]
[edit] P
- Pass back
- A hand signal, initiated by the Yell Leaders, which informs students which yell to do next.[43]
- Poor Aggies
- Used to taunt Aggies after an athletic loss from opponents.[44]
- Pots
- Hard hats worn by Aggie Bonfire builders. The color of a student's pot identified their role in bonfire construction.[45]
- Pull out
- Using a privileged word that is not available to your class; for example, sophomores saying "Whoop."[6]
- Push
- a) A form of punishment consisting of pushups, especially after pulling out. In the Corps when students do a "class set" of pushups, one for each year of their class. The Class of 1945 did only 45 pushups, but the Class of 2009 now does 109.[6]
- b) The last phase of Aggie Bonfire construction, in which students worked around the clock in rotating shifts to finish stacking the logs.[20]
[edit] Q
- The Quad
- Location of the dorms of the Corps of Cadets.[6][11]
[edit] R
- RAggies
- Aggie baseball fans.[46]
- Red-Ass
- Students who follow the traditions and rules of Texas A&M very closely.[47]
- Reed Arena
- The university's arena; used primarily for basketball games.[48]
- Reed Rowdies
- Official fan club of Texas A&M basketball teams.[1]
- Reveille
- The Texas A&M mascot, now a purebred American collie. Reveille is the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets, and freshmen in the Corps must greet her with "Howdy, Miss Reveille, ma'am."[4][6][49][50]
- Ring dunk
- A non school sanctioned tradition performed after a student receives an Aggie Ring; usually involves binge drinking, but might also occur with non-alcoholic substances also.[51]
[edit] S
- "Saw Varsity's Horns Off"
- A verse from the Aggie War Hymn,[4][13] it refers to defeating the Texas Longhorns who use a Longhorn steer as their mascot.[52]
- Senior Boots
- Distinctive brown leather boots warn by Corps seniors, or Zips.[19][53]
- Serge Butt
- A nickname for a junior.[11] Refers to the "serge" material used in making pants for juniors pre-1960.
- Singing Cadets
- An all male choral group at A&M, called the "Voice of Aggieland".[54]
- Silver Taps
- A ceremony, held monthly, to honor any currently-enrolled students who died in the previous month.[55]
- "Sit down bus driver"
- An Aggie Yell used in athletic events to taunt opposing team's coaches when they are angry. The term "bus driver" refers to the fact that coaches used to drive the buses for road games.[4]
- Southside
- Residence halls on the far southeast portion of campus.[56]
- Aggie Spirit or Spirit of Aggieland
- Terms that describe the unity and devotion Aggies have for their school and to each other.[6][57] The term, "the spirit" can also refer the school song, Spirit of Aggieland.
- Stack
- The third phase of Aggie Bonfire construction, in which students would wire the logs together in their final shape.[20]
- Sully
- Short for former Texas A&M President, Lawrence Sullivan Ross. Modern usage of the term generally refers to the prominent statue of him.[6]
[edit] T
- TAMC or Texas AMC
- Refers to the university's former name the "Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas". While the institution has been renamed Texas A&M University with the initials TAMU, the initials AMC are still used in several Aggie traditions including Aggie yells and the Spirit of Aggieland."[2]
- Tea-sip
- A student of Texas A&M's archrival, the University of Texas at Austin.[7]
- t.u.
- Derogatory name for the University of Texas at Austin, normally abbreviated UT, the main rival school to Texas A&M University.[13] Aggies maintain that UT is "a" university in Texas not "the" university in Texas, notwithstanding the fact that the University of Texas was a "university" for 80 years before Texas A&M College received the designation in 1963. The t.u. therefore stands for texas university, with the lowercase letters being an added insult. Texas Longhorn fans respond by saying t.u. stands for "The University".[7][29]
[edit] W
.
- Whip Out
- The tradition of freshmen in the Corps of Cadets introducing themselves to upperclassman in the Corps.[29][58]
- White
- Another official Texas A&M color.[34] White out is a basketball tradition. Unlike football games, where Aggie fans wear Maroon, the basketball crowds wear white.
- "Whoop"
- An exclamation of approval and excitement, used at the end of a yell. Only juniors and seniors are allowed to say "Whoop".[59]
- Wild cat
- A noise and a hand motion made after an Aggie yell. Each class uses a different wildcat based on seniority.[6]
- Wrecking Crew
- The defense of the football team.[60]
[edit] Y
- Aggie Yells
- Synchronized cheers done at Aggie sporting events.[6]
- Yell Leaders
- Texas A&M's equivalent of cheerleaders.[4][31][61]
- Yell practice
- A Texas A&M pep rally like event. The most notable yell practices, Midnight Yell, occurs the night before home football games.[7][31]
[edit] Z
- Zip
- A nickname for a senior, named so for the black and gold braid on the garrison caps of seniors in the Corps of Cadets, which resembles a zipper.[11][19]
[edit] References
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- ^ a b c Dethloff, Henry C. (2005-12-15), Texas A&M University, Handbook of Texas Online, <http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/TT/kct8.html>. Retrieved on 28 February 2008
- ^ Virginia Military Institute
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- ^ a b c Harris, Patrick. "War Hymn". Retrieved on 2007-09-18.
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