On and off campus Bonfire. I missed the '98 Bonfire - was in Prague on business and didn't make it back until late that night. I haven't been to an off campus one -After working a 26-hour shift at the City's EOC in 99, I was in fact opposed to the idea until about a year or two ago. My question is this, how similar is it to what I remember from Bonfire. And I'm asking this to someone who has experienced both. I know the band, the yell leaders and the team isn't there, but is the excitement? Do they still read The Last Corps Trip? Do you get the same shiver down your back when the torches come? I want to go, but am terrified that I'll be disappointed. That it will just be a bonfire and not Bonfire.

oops. title was supposed to read question FOR someone who has been to both....

You might be better off posting this somewhere else like AO or General or Aggieland. The audience your asking is understandably biased, you're more likely to get an honest assessment from people not involved with the business of building the current bonfire.

Flame away all ye who feel like you're the only ones with any authority to speak about bonfire...

You're really asking a question that you alone can answer since you seem to be referencing some subjective components of the experience.

However, as someone who has been to Bonfires both on and off campus, I can assure you that Student Bonfire does capture a great deal of the experience of the on campus fire, and at least for me this IS Bonfire since the same spirit is there that was present when Bonfire was on campus. Of course, as you cite, the band, yell leaders, team, etc. are prevented from being in attendance in any official capacity, but there is still that hushed silence among the crowd when the lights go out and the torches start the procession towards stack, there is still the recitation of the Last Corps Trip, and there is still the experience of gathering among a field full of Aggies watching Bonfire being lit and burn.

Will you be disappointed and let down by the experience? That is a question only you can answer.

Double post for some odd reason.

[This message has been edited by oldyeller (edited 11/14/2007 2:11p).]

FLAME FLAME FLAME!


In speaking with those who have experienced the whole process of Bonfire (cut, stack, & burn) they mainly focused on the work portion being so much the same if not an improvement and how impressed they were. Albeit, those I spoke with enjoyed the new Burn, but never outwardly made any comparisons... Which is understandably difficult (though they never seemed disappointed). If you are a Burn only type of Bonfire supporter, I don't really have an reference point because I have never personally spoke with someone of that situation (Hopefully this thread will gain for me the awareness of that public opinion.) I assume it is all in what you valued most from the experience.

- If you value the sheer number of people together in one place for the university and an upcoming game, there are only a few thousand out there.
- If you valued drinking out at Stack and the party aspects of Bonfire, it isn't allowed out there.
- If you valued the backdrop of the College Station, the University, or Texas Avenue, it ain't there.
- If you valued the sheer size of the Stack and watching it go up in flames with a t.u. frat house on top, it's there in all 45-55 ft. glory (rather than some older, bigger models)
- If you valued the yell leaders, football team, and band being present, in recent years they have had former yell leaders conduct the whole thing, reading the Last Corps Trip, leading yells, and telling stories, but this year's I can't speak on, cause I just don't know. Plus, you FTABand is on CD/ipod, blaring through speakers.
- If you valued the tradition and solemnity (lights go out, flame walk in, torch laps, the rush from the initial flare-up, singing the Spirit and War Hymn, and reading of the last corps trip, etc.), I will say the lighting ceremony is conducted the same way as any video I have ever seen of past Bonfires. They take great pride in "getting it right" while also being sure to do it safely.
- If you valued getting together with those you love, old friends, and meeting new ones, telling stories, playing 42, and generally having a wonderful time... well that one is all on you, the opportunity is definitely there, make it happen.
- If you want to BTHOt.u., I think you can find a few thousand willing participants out there who tend to agree.


These were just a few things, I thought of, but I do suggest if you come you do go to the collapse time memorial that night after burn.

Gig 'Em.

I was lucky enough to get to work on both. I can tell you the feelings that I've had out there are the same for both. I got my sister, class of '01 former co-chair to come out, and she told me that the feelings were the same for both.

There are a lot of differences between the two, especially at burn. But you will still get that same feeling when you first see the torches.

[This message has been edited by Aggie_John (edited 11/14/2007 4:06p).]

Ditto, John.

I've seen and participated in 7 years of Texags and in-person discussions about on-campus Bonfire vs. off-campus Bonfire, and those who have seen both are so astounded by the similarities that they don't seem to care about the differences.

Aditionally, to everyone that actually works on Bonfire; it's the real thing.

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If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

I'll have to agree with Aggie_John. I worked on Bonfire in 96, 97, 02-07, and while there there are differences as have already been stated, it is still capable of sending chills down my spine each year.

In the end, you will have to decide for yourself, however, I think the worst decision would be to not experience it again. If you don't like it, you still have your memories of pre-99. If you do, then you've got another annual fall event to plan for each year.