Howdy all! I'm working on a book about Aggie traditions and am curious if we can discern: How long have we been using "BTHO" as an acronym? I know we did in the '90s!
(The phrase itself has been common at A&M since at least the 1940s, and became an official yell in 1969 - here's my story) https://www.aggienetwork.com/news/161385/blind-date-is-part-of-story-behind-btho-yell/

I think it came about in the late 80s or early 90s. I'm class of 79 and we never used that acronym back then.

That story is really cool! Well-written too. Great job!

Can't help with when "BTHO" started to appear but my guess would be mid to late eighties when the A&M football team was doing well and more merchandise was being printed…?

I wasn't really engaged in A&M football until I was in 4th or 5th grade (this would have been…1992ish?) and definitely remember seeing it then.

I don't know what makes a yell an "Official Yell" but as far as Class of '64 it sure as Hell was very official where we were in the Corps! BTHO msu!!!!

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=BTHO


[url=https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=BTHO][/url]"Beat The Hell Outta" - A term overused by the Texas A&M Aggies, describing what they often intend to do (but seldom execute) against opposing football teams.

****: "We just BTHO Army!"

Intelligent bystander: "No, you barely escaped with a victory."
by Hook'em October 12, 2006

I am so grateful to all of y'all!
chick97, thank you -- that is SUPER useful. Whoop!

AggieArchitect04, I am so grateful for your kind words about the story! And I am betting y'all are both right about the 1980s, when the school was growing so much and the football team was doing great.

Triple 7, I'd say Sam Torn '70 defined "official" yell in the story as meaning that it wasn't one the yell leaders led during athletic events or yell practices, but he does say that people were using it a lot -- does this sound like what you remember?
"Specific outfits and specific civilian dorms would gather together and just yell in unison, 'Beat the hell out of' whoever," Torn said. "Not at athletic events; this would be just mainly in the Corps, and mainly just spontaneous. Or an upperclassman would have a freshman yell it and everybody'd whoop, or whatever, afterwards," he said.

Many thanks to everybody, and BTHO lsu!!

It's great to see that Sam Torn married Susan (in the 60s picture in your article) and are still married after 45+ years!

Definitely there in 1989 when I arrived at A&M.

Sue94 said:

---

Howdy all! I'm working on a book about Aggie traditions and am curious if we can discern: How long have we been using "BTHO" as an acronym? I know we did in the '90s!
(The phrase itself has been common at A&M since at least the 1940s, and became an official yell in 1969 - here's my story) https://www.aggienetwork.com/news/161385/blind-date-is-part-of-story-behind-btho-yell/

---

I remember it when I was a kid in the 50's. I wouldn't try to put a date on it. It's just always been around. It's kinda like Gig 'Em, I've heard several versions about the origination, no one knows, it's just always been around.

i believe it was judges 11:13, people shortened it to BTHO pretty quick because the verse is quite prolix

Quote:

---

And lo, the Lord did smite Abimelech, that wicked ruler, for his folly and arrogance did anger the Most High. And the people did rejoice, saying, "Praise be unto the God of Abraham, who hath beat the hell out of Abimelech, and shown him the error of his ways." And there was much merriment in the land, for the justice of the Lord prevailed, and Abimelech was humbled before all.

---

ac04 said:

---

i believe it was judges 11:13, people shortened it to BTHO pretty quick because the verse is quite prolix

Quote:

---

And lo, the Lord did smite Abimelech, that wicked ruler, for his folly and arrogance did anger the Most High. And the people did rejoice, saying, "Praise be unto the God of Abraham, who hath beat the hell out of Abimelech, and shown him the error of his ways." And there was much merriment in the land, for the justice of the Lord prevailed, and Abimelech was humbled before all.

---

---

ac04 for the win!

Sue94 said:

---

Howdy all! I'm working on a book about Aggie traditions and am curious if we can discern: How long have we been using "BTHO" as an acronym? I know we did in the '90s!

---

So you're writing a book and want us to do the research for you. For free.

ac04 said:

---

i believe it was judges 11:13, people shortened it to BTHO pretty quick because the verse is quite prolix

Quote:

---

And lo, the Lord did smite Abimelech, that wicked ruler, for his folly and arrogance did anger the Most High. And the people did rejoice, saying, "Praise be unto the God of Abraham, who hath beat the hell out of Abimelech, and shown him the error of his ways." And there was much merriment in the land, for the justice of the Lord prevailed, and Abimelech was humbled before all.

---

---

NAgSB - New Aggie Standard Bible.

@Martin Q. Blank - I think you can see from the story that I'm doing plenty of original research and interviews. This is just a tiny little point -- I'm actually asking about the acronym itself "BTHO" -- my story already has the origin of the yell and the phrase

It was certainly around in the mid 80s