quote:

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There was a time when the Cadet Corps ... would carry the opposing team off the field on their shoulders.

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Gene Stallings said this during an interview. Any old Ags want to confirm this?

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/08/gene_stallings_alabama_fans_in.html

Went to several games in the 1960s. Don't recall it.

He may be talking about during his time at A&M in the fifties. It certainly did not happen 1967-1971.

I have seen pictures where the cadets (fish) carried off our players from Kyle Field. Bryant era in the 50's. Can't imagine that an opposing team would allow/endure that procedure under any circumstances, nor would our guys want to. Stallings must have mis-spoken on that anecdote.



[This message has been edited by WBBQ74 (edited 8/18/2013 4:49p).]

my dad's the class of '58 and he thinks Gene is mistaken, because that didn't happen in the 50's

not during my time 65-69 and I doubt it will ever happen. He is confused

I am sure Coach Stallings himself was carried off the field by the Corps a number of times, but this is the one I participated in:

In the fall of 1970, when I was a zip, A&M was 2-8 heading into the Thanksgiving game, played that year in Austin. We had lost 8 in a row, and several were agonizingly close. It was gut-wrenching stuff.

tu was in the middle of a 30-game win streak in 1970 and they were pounding us at halftime. When the Corps seniors went down to form the bootline to welcome the team back onto the field, something just collectively snapped in all of us, simultaneously. A large group of 20 or so rushed at Coach Stallings as he followed the team onto the field, picked him up, and carried him to the sidelines.

It was a great moment. I will never forget the look on his face: something like, Oh, shyt, they can't take it anymore! They've all lost it! They're coming for me!

I was there in the stands, OA71. Wish it would have helped ole Bebes and the team but seems like the final score was like 52-14 and it wasn't that close. Sad end to a season that started with a good win at home and a great last second win at LSU. Funny what you remember.

In the forties we did it.

Some of the opposing team didn't take it too well even though it was meant to show our sportsmanship. If they had understood what was happening, they would have appreciated our effort. Some did !

I helped carry players from the field in 1956.

I cannot recall if it was being done in 1959.


Out

"Never forget who we are or where we come from, never forget the Aggie Code of Honor and never forget Duty, Honor, Country." President Gates

In 1946 and at least until 1949 the Corps fish carried the players off the field. I have a picture of this.

My dad, '55, says they did it.

I recall that we were "supposed" to carry the players off the field AND take the yell leaders to the fish pond. I also recall a story about a player being dropped and Stallings didnt want us to carry them off.

Yeah, well back in the day college football was just a game. Now it's morphed.