Seems to have been replaced with flag girls.
So is bootline dead for good now?
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Last: 11 yr ago by wtr1975
Yep. I wrote Cook asking why they replaced a couple hundred cheering, rapid students with statuesque flag girls. He said basically the crowd/line was getting in the way of the team running out onto the field. Pretty stupid in my opinion and was just a way to get ADT on the field.
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Yep. I wrote Cook asking why they replaced a couple hundred cheering, rapid students with statuesque flag girls. He said basically the crowd/line was getting in the way of the team running out onto the field. Pretty stupid in my opinion and was just a way to get ADT on the field.
Yep! The nose of the camel is definitely under the tent wall. We are well on our way to being just another cookie cutter school when it comes to game day activities. They tried to do away with the Spirit of '02 and will probably try to do it again next year. I will not be surprised when Mr. Cook decides he no longer wants the Corps marching on his precious grass football field and thinks we need cheerleaders in skimpy outfits parading around on the sidelines, more piped in music and less FTAB. He might also think it would be better if we no longer had OD's standing on the sidelines.
The sad part is there is a sizable portion of new army that would like to see all of those happen and many would like to for the Corps not to be in uniform at the game so the TV cameras wouldn't always lock in on them.
Cheerleaders in skimpy outfits? Gosh that sounds terrible...
And Cook isn't even an Aggie.
He feels that there is a national perception that A&M is an all-male military school and he wants to change that. I've never been able to get my hands on the market research that brought him to that conclusion. Wonder if an FOIA request would make that available?
He feels that there is a national perception that A&M is an all-male military school and he wants to change that. I've never been able to get my hands on the market research that brought him to that conclusion. Wonder if an FOIA request would make that available?
quote:Some people actually like tradition verses creepy old men staring at women
Cheerleaders in skimpy outfits? Gosh that sounds terrible...
Can always have Senior Wags out there holding the flags........ just saying.
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He feels that there is a national perception that A&M is an all-male military school and he wants to change that
It's true. I talk to people across the country who believe that A&M is a military school.
Some think that A&M = Agricultural and Military.
When every football game has video of the corps march in or the Aggie Band or the Yell Leaders, what do they see?
I've lived all over the country and have NEVER had one person mention A&M being an all-male military school when I say where I went to school. It's not a wide-spread perception by any means. Again, I'd love to see his proof if it exists.
Cook wants us to look and act like everyone else and he's getting his way. The problem is that some of us are starting not to recognize the place when we go back for games. And we're donors. And we will feel less and less motivated to continue with that when we don't feel connected to the school at football games anymore. I heard the Aggie Band MORE at the Auburn game than I do at Kyle Field. Sad.
Cook wants us to look and act like everyone else and he's getting his way. The problem is that some of us are starting not to recognize the place when we go back for games. And we're donors. And we will feel less and less motivated to continue with that when we don't feel connected to the school at football games anymore. I heard the Aggie Band MORE at the Auburn game than I do at Kyle Field. Sad.
I was pleasingly surprised to hear the band playing throughout the Auburn game.
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The problem is that some of us are starting not to recognize the place when we go back for games. And we're donors. And we will feel less and less motivated to continue with that when we don't feel connected to the school at football games anymore. I heard the Aggie Band MORE at the Auburn game than I do at Kyle Field.
Also having lived all over the country never heard A&M referred as a military school but a school with military traditions. Big difference! I think visitors from other schools look forward to seeing the military traditions here because it is so unique and not like all the other cookie cutter schools! I personally hope we don't lose those traditions!
quote:Then don't look at them
Some people actually like tradition verses creepy old men staring at women
quote:Someone doesn't get it.quote:Then don't look at them
Some people actually like tradition verses creepy old men staring at women
So what is the Commandant's reply to this newest but never ending erosion in what used to be a Texas A&M football game? This Cook guy is starting to p_ss me off. 
quote:On what do you base that? Has he said it?
He feels that there is a national perception that A&M is an all-male military school and he wants to change that. I
I don't know Cook, but I know his father-in-law who is an Ag, as is Cook's wife.
Yes, he said that on TexAgs.
He posts, or an interview?
Both as I recall. It's been a while.
quote:What is ADT?
a way to get ADT on the field
Also, for whatever it's worth, there is an NFL team that does not have cheerleaders because the owners didn't want a distraction from the team and the game. My point here being that even at the Professional level, not every team has all of the same traditions. So, it's OK for a school like A&M to be different.
I have been Commandant for 4 years now. The pre-game events at Kyle Field, including boot line, have changed EVERY YEAR since I've been here. I would be willing to bet that given the completion of renovations at Kyle Field after this season, that pre-game activities will change yet again.
Do NOT get upset at the recent changes - nothing is finalized as of yet, especially due to the stadium renovations, and we will do all we can to ensure that we still have a boot line next season. Expect that it won't be like it was "back in the day," as the stadium has changed, but we will do all we can to ensure we still have a boot line for pre-game (remember the cannon issue????).
I hope this helps. I know there are many who feel that "tradition" has "eroded" at A&M, but after being gone for 31 years serving in the Army before returning to A&M as the Commandant, I can assure you that the traditions that A&M is known for and that we all cherish dearly are all alive and well: Aggie Muster, Silver Taps, The Twelfth Man, Midnight Yell Practice, Reveille, The Corps, The Aggie Band, Yell Leaders, Elephant Walk, Fish Camp, Corps March-ins, The Aggie Ring, no hats in the MSC, etc are ALL alive and well. I wouldn't say that they have "eroded" at all.
Things HAVE changed, sure, but so have we, so has our way of life, so has our state, and so has our nation. I could write volumes about what has changed since I was last wearing a uniform as a BQ back in the late 70s: no more quadding, no more bonfire, no more yell practice at The Grove, no more "groad flicks" at North Gate, no more marching in to Kyle Field through the north end zone tunnel in the center of the "horseshoe", no more standing on Kyle Field playing music while the Corps marched around the track, no more single phone hanging on the "monster" in our rooms, no more ice cream from "the creamery," no more pig farm, no more building lounges at the end of the dorms, no more "fish lady" at the basement of the MSC, no more playing basketball at Deware Field House or The Read Building, no more "Jolly Rollie," no more roaming the steam tunnels late at night, no more family style dining at Duncan, etc. Things HAVE changed, but change is ever constant, and we have to expect that some of that change will affect our Corps and our University.
For what its worth, I have seen the changes at our university and in the Corps, and for the most part, am fine with them. I am also confident that the majority of the traditions at A&M that really matter are still intact, and I'm willing to bet will never change. I can guarantee one thing, no matter what folks claim has "eroded" or changed over the years: the Corps of Cadets STILL produces a great product, and I am proud of the young men and women who leave the Corps after 4 years and go on to represent our Corps, our University, and all of us who once wore the uniform of the Corps very proudly in the military, in corporate America, in government service, or in the private sector. They're damn fine people, and we can all take pride in them and all that they will do for us in the future.
Thanks for your support of our Corps! Gig 'em and Beat the Hell Outta LSU!
Do NOT get upset at the recent changes - nothing is finalized as of yet, especially due to the stadium renovations, and we will do all we can to ensure that we still have a boot line next season. Expect that it won't be like it was "back in the day," as the stadium has changed, but we will do all we can to ensure we still have a boot line for pre-game (remember the cannon issue????).
I hope this helps. I know there are many who feel that "tradition" has "eroded" at A&M, but after being gone for 31 years serving in the Army before returning to A&M as the Commandant, I can assure you that the traditions that A&M is known for and that we all cherish dearly are all alive and well: Aggie Muster, Silver Taps, The Twelfth Man, Midnight Yell Practice, Reveille, The Corps, The Aggie Band, Yell Leaders, Elephant Walk, Fish Camp, Corps March-ins, The Aggie Ring, no hats in the MSC, etc are ALL alive and well. I wouldn't say that they have "eroded" at all.
Things HAVE changed, sure, but so have we, so has our way of life, so has our state, and so has our nation. I could write volumes about what has changed since I was last wearing a uniform as a BQ back in the late 70s: no more quadding, no more bonfire, no more yell practice at The Grove, no more "groad flicks" at North Gate, no more marching in to Kyle Field through the north end zone tunnel in the center of the "horseshoe", no more standing on Kyle Field playing music while the Corps marched around the track, no more single phone hanging on the "monster" in our rooms, no more ice cream from "the creamery," no more pig farm, no more building lounges at the end of the dorms, no more "fish lady" at the basement of the MSC, no more playing basketball at Deware Field House or The Read Building, no more "Jolly Rollie," no more roaming the steam tunnels late at night, no more family style dining at Duncan, etc. Things HAVE changed, but change is ever constant, and we have to expect that some of that change will affect our Corps and our University.
For what its worth, I have seen the changes at our university and in the Corps, and for the most part, am fine with them. I am also confident that the majority of the traditions at A&M that really matter are still intact, and I'm willing to bet will never change. I can guarantee one thing, no matter what folks claim has "eroded" or changed over the years: the Corps of Cadets STILL produces a great product, and I am proud of the young men and women who leave the Corps after 4 years and go on to represent our Corps, our University, and all of us who once wore the uniform of the Corps very proudly in the military, in corporate America, in government service, or in the private sector. They're damn fine people, and we can all take pride in them and all that they will do for us in the future.
Thanks for your support of our Corps! Gig 'em and Beat the Hell Outta LSU!
quote:The issue is who decides which traditions "really matter."
For what its worth, I have seen the changes at our university and in the Corps, and for the most part, am fine with them. I am also confident that the majority of the traditions at A&M that really matter are still intact, and I'm willing to bet will never change.
Not an issue at all, as far as I'm concerned. We ALL have our own perspectives on what is "tradition" and what isn't at Texas A&M. You have to decide for yourself what you believe is a cherished tradition and what isn't.
I pointed out the ones that many people - non-Aggies included - know about Texas A&M. I served all over the world, and most people I met who weren't Aggies knew about Muster, The Corps, the Twelfth Man, Reveille, etc. In my opinion - and my opinion only - those are defining traditions of our university.
As I stated before, things change, and will ALWAYS change, and yes, some of us will take offense to the changing or elimination of what we consider "tradition" as part of that change. Its up to YOU to decide what you consider "tradition" from your days at A&M, and subsequently how you address the changes made to those traditions you feel are "sacred."
Just my perspective on this issue. Thanks for your support of our Corps!
I pointed out the ones that many people - non-Aggies included - know about Texas A&M. I served all over the world, and most people I met who weren't Aggies knew about Muster, The Corps, the Twelfth Man, Reveille, etc. In my opinion - and my opinion only - those are defining traditions of our university.
As I stated before, things change, and will ALWAYS change, and yes, some of us will take offense to the changing or elimination of what we consider "tradition" as part of that change. Its up to YOU to decide what you consider "tradition" from your days at A&M, and subsequently how you address the changes made to those traditions you feel are "sacred."
Just my perspective on this issue. Thanks for your support of our Corps!
I loved bootline as a Senior. It was a really cool experience, especially when we played tu for the last time. That said, I never thought of it as a "tradition" and I don't know too many others who did. We saw it as a senior privilege more than anything. If people are worried about the Corps not getting visibility, just watch a game on tv. There is plenty of tv time to show the Corps whether its in the stands, video from march in, etc.
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no more quadding, no more bonfire, no more yell practice at The Grove, no more "groad flicks" at North Gate, no more marching in to Kyle Field through the north end zone tunnel in the center of the "horseshoe", no more standing on Kyle Field playing music while the Corps marched around the track, no more single phone hanging on the "monster" in our rooms, no more ice cream from "the creamery," no more pig farm, no more building lounges at the end of the dorms, no more "fish lady" at the basement of the MSC, no more playing basketball at Deware Field House or The Read Building, no more "Jolly Rollie," no more roaming the steam tunnels late at night, no more family style dining at Duncan
My concern is that they will start with the "little things" and work up to the big ones. They got the eye candy (ADT) on the field last year and there was no pushback. They thought the canon would be a little thing but an uproar from the fan base let them know they had made a bad decision so they back tracked but I bet they try to eliminate it again next year. They have already scaled back the FTAB to a few songs a game. Now on to boot line. If no response then maybe no more OD's. And of course why do we have to let the fish chase down the Yell Leaders after a victory? They may not be attacking our more established and recognizable traditions, but they sure seem to be going after the ones that make us stand apart from most other game day atmospheres.
When do we start hearing that damn bell ringing on third downs?
When do we start hearing that damn bell ringing on third downs?
ODs on the field, Reveille on the field, Yell Leader "capture" after victories - ALL were protected by the university when we moved to the SEC and rules for what could and couldn't be done on game day changed. We even have ODs, Yell Leaders, and Reveille on the field at AWAY games. NONE of those are going away, despite your gloomy forecast.
And for the record, there was no deliberate attempt by ANYONE that I know of to eliminate the cannon from game day at Kyle Field. A LOT of people worked very hard to make that work, and eventually we were able to do so. NOBODY that I know of tried to eliminate the cannon from the game day experience. From the very beginning we said that during this transition year we would have to make adjustments, but that we would do all we could to bring the cannon back to Kyle Field for the game day experience. Thankfully, with a lot of effort by a lot of people, we were able to do so for the last 2 home games this year. And it WILL be on Kyle Field again next year.
I understand that some disagree with the changes made to game day. But game days have changed just about every year, and especially after stadium renovations. I have no idea what the game day experience will look like next year after renovations to Kyle Field are complete, but I CAN assure you that the Corps will march-in to Kyle Field, there will be a boot line, there will be ODs on the field, Reveille and her handlers will be on the field, there will be a Yell Leader capture after victories, and the Aggie Band will still wow the crowds with awesome halftime performances. Will it look like it did when you were at A&M - NO. But the Corps will STILL be an integral part of the game day experience, and NOBODY that I know of is trying to change that - despite what the conspiracy theorists are saying.
Thanks again for your passion and support for our Corps!
And for the record, there was no deliberate attempt by ANYONE that I know of to eliminate the cannon from game day at Kyle Field. A LOT of people worked very hard to make that work, and eventually we were able to do so. NOBODY that I know of tried to eliminate the cannon from the game day experience. From the very beginning we said that during this transition year we would have to make adjustments, but that we would do all we could to bring the cannon back to Kyle Field for the game day experience. Thankfully, with a lot of effort by a lot of people, we were able to do so for the last 2 home games this year. And it WILL be on Kyle Field again next year.
I understand that some disagree with the changes made to game day. But game days have changed just about every year, and especially after stadium renovations. I have no idea what the game day experience will look like next year after renovations to Kyle Field are complete, but I CAN assure you that the Corps will march-in to Kyle Field, there will be a boot line, there will be ODs on the field, Reveille and her handlers will be on the field, there will be a Yell Leader capture after victories, and the Aggie Band will still wow the crowds with awesome halftime performances. Will it look like it did when you were at A&M - NO. But the Corps will STILL be an integral part of the game day experience, and NOBODY that I know of is trying to change that - despite what the conspiracy theorists are saying.
Thanks again for your passion and support for our Corps!
quote:
But the Corps will STILL be an integral part of the game day experience, and NOBODY that I know of is trying to change that - despite what the conspiracy theorists are saying.
With all due respect, Jason Cook has said on here that he wants to change the supposed perception that A&M is military school. It's a bit insulting for you to call people conspiracy theorists when we've seen the comments and changes with our own eyes.
quote:Have yet to find that. You keep saying it, I wish you'd link it.
With all due respect, Jason Cook has said on here that he wants to change the supposed perception that A&M is
military school. It's a bit insulting for you to call people conspiracy
theorists when we've seen the comments and changes with our own eyes.
Sorry but I won't Google for you. 
This was a well-known discussion when Cook wanted the ADT at Kyle. And it was also discussed on the TexAgs radio show. I'm not in the habit of making stuff up. I think he wanted to change the media focus (Corps) during games. Scantily clad women bring in more money. I guess.
I've beat this dead horse enough. My opinion doesn't matter as I'm not one of those willing to trade my first-born for a MNC. We'll enjoy Aggie Football while we can and move on when we don't. More important things in life. We don't live close enough to go to home games at the moment anyway.
This was a well-known discussion when Cook wanted the ADT at Kyle. And it was also discussed on the TexAgs radio show. I'm not in the habit of making stuff up. I think he wanted to change the media focus (Corps) during games. Scantily clad women bring in more money. I guess.
I've beat this dead horse enough. My opinion doesn't matter as I'm not one of those willing to trade my first-born for a MNC. We'll enjoy Aggie Football while we can and move on when we don't. More important things in life. We don't live close enough to go to home games at the moment anyway.
Not going to debate you about this, red crayon.
But with all due respect, I live here and work here 24/7, and I know Jason Cook very well. Just because he makes a comment like that does NOT mean that all of our traditions are going to die. Anybody who believes that IS a conspiracy theorist.
I DO agree with you that this horse is dead enough at this point. I hope you CAN make it back to a game in the near future so you can see for yourself that just because one person makes a statement at A&M does NOT mean our traditions (and again, we can all define exactly what a "Tradition" truly is at A&M) are going to be sacrificed as a result. Simply and honestly NOT the case.
If you DO make it back for a game in the near future, I invite you to stop by and say hello. I'll buy you a beer at the Chicken! Some things NEVER change!
Thanks for your support of our Corps!
But with all due respect, I live here and work here 24/7, and I know Jason Cook very well. Just because he makes a comment like that does NOT mean that all of our traditions are going to die. Anybody who believes that IS a conspiracy theorist.
I DO agree with you that this horse is dead enough at this point. I hope you CAN make it back to a game in the near future so you can see for yourself that just because one person makes a statement at A&M does NOT mean our traditions (and again, we can all define exactly what a "Tradition" truly is at A&M) are going to be sacrificed as a result. Simply and honestly NOT the case.
If you DO make it back for a game in the near future, I invite you to stop by and say hello. I'll buy you a beer at the Chicken! Some things NEVER change!
Thanks for your support of our Corps!
No one here said that all of our traditions are going to die. But when game day becomes unrecognizable to us, then a very important tradition TO US will have died.
I'm glad you're happy with the changes.
I'm glad you're happy with the changes.
Red crayon probably still wants yell practice on the steps of the YMCA building.
To YOU maybe, red crayon. You can't speak for everyone else.
And seriously - "game day unrecognizable??" When was the last time you attended a game? I would offer that game days have been changing since our first football game almost a century ago. And they will continue to do so - especially as our stadium continues to change.
But the Corps still holds its place in the game day experience just as they always have - march-ins, boot line, ODs, Yell Leaders, Aggie Band halftime, capturing Yell Leaders after victories, - we even brought back the Corps Block T that USED to be a part of A&M game days in the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, ended in 56, and now we have have done it the last 4 years.
You can choose to lament the "demise" of "tradition" at Texas A&M if you want to, but I don't see it the same way. Things ARE different, in many ways, across campus, but I still am confident that the Corps - the place where MOST of our traditions began - still upholds those traditions during game day. They may not be conducted the same way they were when you and I were at A&M, but they are STILL conducted. And thats good enough for me.
This horse is dead and gone now - if it wasn't already...
And seriously - "game day unrecognizable??" When was the last time you attended a game? I would offer that game days have been changing since our first football game almost a century ago. And they will continue to do so - especially as our stadium continues to change.
But the Corps still holds its place in the game day experience just as they always have - march-ins, boot line, ODs, Yell Leaders, Aggie Band halftime, capturing Yell Leaders after victories, - we even brought back the Corps Block T that USED to be a part of A&M game days in the 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s, ended in 56, and now we have have done it the last 4 years.
You can choose to lament the "demise" of "tradition" at Texas A&M if you want to, but I don't see it the same way. Things ARE different, in many ways, across campus, but I still am confident that the Corps - the place where MOST of our traditions began - still upholds those traditions during game day. They may not be conducted the same way they were when you and I were at A&M, but they are STILL conducted. And thats good enough for me.
This horse is dead and gone now - if it wasn't already...
Word on the street is that the Aggie Band has been substantially limited from playing during the games compared to in the past. So much so that the opposing band plays more than ours. Any truth to this?
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