Just went out to the back porch (my front porch) and caught the first cut on that mysterious white square at the end of Bottle Cap Alley. Turns out they're putting in a life-sized statue of a guy with an axe over his shoulder. Red Ass.

What??

This is something I am gonna have to wait and see before I pass judgement. (Too late..)

I think it will be pretty damned good. There's no more drinking on the back porch (bad bull), but that means that the statue won't be in the middle of drunks and the breakdancing idiot and the like. It'll be something to see coming in and out of the bars. And it could make a huge difference as far as reminding people what kind of Aggies made Northgate...

Or we could all decide that it's crap, and then the only people that would have prtoected and revered that statue for what it stands for would wind up ignoring it. And then we'll just leave it to hippies and profiteers to piss on.

For some reason I'd rather opt to support it.

I like that logic! Post a pic.

PRESS RELEASE:

May 10, 2005
College Station, TX

Contact Person: Dr. P. David Romei, Executive Director, ACBV, romei@romei.com 696-2787

The Arts Council of Brazos Valley will install and dedicate a life-size bronze sculpture of an Aggie Bonfire Redpot at the north entrance of Bottle Cap Alley on the Northgate Promenade in College Station at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 12, 2005.

Dr. P. David Romei, Executive Director of the Arts Council, said the sculpture will stand upon a 10,000 pound block of polished black granite and will become the focal point of Northgate. The sculpture is named "Aggie Spirit." The sculptor is the well-known artist Edd Hayes of Spring, Texas. Work on the sculpture began last fall and is part of the Arts Council's Public Art Program.

Romei said the Arts Council's board of directors decided last year to commission a sculpture for the Northgate area that would demonstrate and reflect the special bond between Aggies and College Station/Bryan. Funds for the sculpture were made possible by grants from private donors, College Station, Bryan and Brazos County. Mark Dudley of Dudley Construction donated the infrastructure foundation work required to sustain such a massive stone and the sculpture. Rocky Choate of Choate Monuments mastered the installation and engravings.

"Aggie Spirit" is representative art that reflects the strength and hope of youth, the willingness of Aggies to work together to achieve great results, the upward vision of a country blessed by God and the Aggie Ring, that most important symbol which unites Aggies the world over. According to Romei, the most outstanding symbolism of the sculpture is the more than 100 years of Aggies working together with courage and determination to win America's wars on battlefields all over the world and thereby securing freedom and prosperity through strength and faith in their fellow Aggies and Americans.

Netta Simek, President of the Arts Council and wife of Major General John Simek, US Army Retired, Class of 1958, said, "Bonfire represents the determination of young people to envision a goal, work to achieve it and create bonds and friendships that last for their lifetimes. It is a unique expression of the Aggie traditions that we hold so close to our hearts, that we value in our community and that we freely share with all who want tomorrow to be better than today. This sculpture will be a constant reminder of our special culture and of what it means to be an Aggie."

The Arts Council of Brazos Valley is proud that its 25th work of public art is "Aggie Spirit" and we encourage everyone to attend its installation and dedication.

For more information, please call 696-2787.

quote:

---

And it could make a huge difference as far as reminding people what kind of Aggies made Northgate...

---

Yeah, because people that didn't work on Bonfire never went to Northgate.

I want to see the picture during Elephant Walk of Sul Ross standing next to that statue.

"...what kind of Aggies MADE Northgate"

quote:

---

Yeah, because people that didn't work on Bonfire never WENT TO Northgate.

---

See the difference?

The same Aggies who cared about Texas A&M and it's traditions are the ones who MADE Northgate the way it is. From Old Army Lou and Don Gainter who put up establishments there to you and I who patronize those bars and stores. Those who have tradition-based character give Northgate IT'S character by just being there.

The epitome of a tradition-centered individual is a Redpot.

I can't think of anyone who "MADE Northgate the way it is" that didn't care strongly about aTm traditions.

quote:

---

From Old Army Lou and Don Gainter who put up establishments there to you and I who patronize those bars and stores. Those who have tradition-based character give Northgate IT'S character by just being there.

---

So Don Ganter Enterprises has two establishments on NG and Lou has one. One of Don's is 30 years old and the other around 10. Yeah, he definately made NG. NG has been a draw for Aggies since the 50s for restraunts. Don didn't build Northgate, he took advantage of an opportunity to run a lucrative business.

Don certainly wasn't an Aggie.

Claiming that everyone who patronizes NG does so because they care about A&M traditions is pretty silly. What about the hippies at Dudley's? The frat boys at Crooked Path? The Blinn kids just wanting to get drunk?

People go to NG because it is across from campus. Not because of any special draw that it has with them wanting to be good Aggies.

quote:

---

...a guy with an axe over his shoulder...

---

quote:

---

...a life-size bronze sculpture of an Aggie Bonfire Redpot...

---

These phrases are contradictory. Once they became sr. red, they never lifted a finger again, much less an axe! Bwahahahahaha

Scott Coker '92/'95

GOOD BULL!

COKEMAN: I didn't see the press release. I was told "a guy with an axe over his shoulder" yesterday by the overweight foreman who probably got his masters in "Rebar" at Navasota Community College. The article is certainly what to run with.

Wow Bob, you couldn't stay on subject with a horse-dose of ritalin. Nobody ever said EVERYBODY comes to Northgate because of Tradition, but it was Tradition that made Northgate, Tradition shaped it. And if Don and Lou didn't make Northgate what it is today and the restaurants came first, then why don't people today say "You have to go to Northgate if you're in College Station because the fish tacos are out of this world."? On second thought, don't answer that. Leave the serious talk to the big boys. And don't eat your Crayons.

I'm just confused as to what effect the good tradition-heavy REAL Aggies had on the making of NG versus the effect of the 2%er.

And why don't you ask someone who was here before 1999 what really led to Northgate becoming what it is. Northgate was a destination and a place for Aggies to go before they even allowed the sale of liquor there.

As far as staying on topic, I certainly didn't say any paticular restaurant. I just said that NG was established before Don's money maker was even a twinkle in his eye.

It's the climate.

2%ers go to Bourbon Street, the Tap, Studio... etc... above the Chicken. Course you could throw the Library, Mad Hatters, Gatspy's and Logans into the mix too...

Why would you not count the Library, Mad Hatters and Logan's? What about the dykes and hippies at Dudley's? What was their role in the development of Northgate?

I really just think that the argument of it representing "the kind of Aggies that made Northgate" is pretty silly. It's a bunch of bars and restaurants across the street from campus. It's not like it is some hallowed ground that Aggies gave their blood & sweat to turn into the great place that it is today.

When it is all said and done, I believe the Aggies we are talking about are the ones that frequented the Chicken.

i actually just saw this statue on a flatbed coming into town, i was coming on here to post about it and see if anyone knew what it was. it looks really cool, the top of it was wrapped up but it looked sweet.

bob ross, what year are you? not trying to flame, just wondering.

quote:

---

Why would you not count the Library, Mad Hatters and Logan's?

---

Well, I'd rule out those places since they weren't even there until after 2000.

and also because they SUCK ASS

How long does a place have to be around to be a tradition. The off-campus Bonfire has only been around since what, 02? Does it count as a tradition? What about Maroon Out?

The point being that the newer, preppier (for lack of a better term) places were not what built the Northgate bar district.

It was primarily dives and country bars until the last few years.

Speaking from personal experience, from '95-'99, if you wanted to find CTs or dorm (ie Bonfire) types, you typically went to Northgate (unless it was Thursday, in which case they were all at the Hall of Fame). If you wanted to find Greeks or a lot of the less motivated Ags (in terms of adherence to campus traditions), you went to The Tap, The Ptarmigan, Bullwinkle's, etc.

The whole idea of a large Northgate bar district that has something for everybody is a very, very recent phenomenon.


[This message has been edited by Keegan99 (edited 5/11/2005 4:11p).]

More importantly...

Will someone please go take a few pics and post them?!

keegan, i will go tomorrow with the digicam and post them

any pics???

I think its stupid that you are arguing about such a petty issue.

thats pretty awesome

http://jimbouse.com/temp/redpot_statue/

I have 3 pics from different angles.

I like that he seems a bit grody. I hope the statue doesn't get to Grey's heads.

Someone needs to talk to him about the way he's holdin' that axe. Safety first.

How about a closeup of the pot?

http://www.theeagle.com/aandmnews/051305sculpture.php

No markings on the pot according to the article so that it's inclusive.

Can someone tell me why Class of '95 is noted on the Aggie ring?

Because the Class of '95 was THE class.

Pay homage.