Aggieland,America and the true meaning of the 12th ManWrittenby Allen West onNovember 28, 2014 Goodday and I pray all of you had a very Happy Thanksgiving and got a chance to eat
lots of great food especially turkey. Our family joined with Rep. Bill Flores
and his wife Gina along with his son's family at the Miramont Country Club for
an absolutely delicious Thanksgiving meal.Afterwardswe headed over to the Texas A&M University campus for the football game
with LSU really bad call to end the game there, refs. Anyway, we went into
the Alumni Center and took a family photo inside the Aggie ring.Butmy wife Angela and the girls including our Chinese exchange student Lin, who
flew down from Indiana University immediately fell in love with the Corps of
Cadets Aggie band we were there for the step off. It's one thing to see this
band on TV but something phenomenal to see them in person the discipline and
precision is impeccable.Rep.Flores and I linked up with Commandant of the Cadets, BG Ramirez along with his
dad and son who is also an artilleryman, there's something about being a
Redleg! We walked on over into Kyle Field to prepare for the March In of the
Corps of Cadets.Aswe were walking in, I got a chance to meet a Aggie football legend Charles
"Tank" Marshall, former defensive lineman back in the mid 70s if you know
college football you remember these things. He still looks like he could suit
up and rush the QB. Not only did I get to meet Aggie stalwart Tank Marshall but
also legendary Coach RC Slocum. When Coach Slocum roamed the sidelines it was
the venerable "wrecking crew" defense that put fear into the opposition and
he still looks like he could coach the Aggies.Afterwards,we walked onto the hallowed ground of Kyle Field and then took the reviewing
stand for the Cadets. Watching these young men and women march in reassures you
of the exceptionalism and greatness of America something I wish we all could
have seen, instead of being inundated with the scenes of Ferguson, Missouri. I
got to meet the Cadet Commander, an impressive young man seeking a U.S. Marine
Corps commission.I'vebeen to quite a few college football venues but one thing that is special about
Texas A&M is the Aggie tradition yeah, I got to learn some yells. When
the anthems of America and Texas are played, there is quiet and folks sing
and I mean everybody, young and old. As you're walking around, there is a
warmth and welcome as everybody greets you with a happy and hearty "howdy."
This community nestled along the Brazos River embodies a spirit the 12th Man
and sorry Seattle Seahawk fans, this is where it originated.Accordingto Aggielandlore, the tradition of the Twelfth Man was born on the second of January1922, when an underdog Aggie team was playing Centre College, then the nation's
top ranked team. As the hard fought game wore on, and the Aggies dug deeply into
their limited reserves, Coach Dana X. Bible remembered a squad man who was not
in uniform. He had been up in the press box helping reporters identify players.
His name was E. King Gill, and was a former football player who was only
playing basketball. Gill was called from the stands, suited up, and stood ready
throughout the rest of the game, which A&M finally won 22-14. When the game
ended, E. King Gill was the only man left standing on the sidelines for the
Aggies. Gill later said, "I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the
winning touchdown, but I did not. I simply stood by in case my team needed me."That"12th Man" tradition isn't just the embodiment of Aggie Football and its
campus, it actually reflects America at least what America should be and must
return to being. It reflects an attitude that says, "Here am I, send me."E.King Gill didn't ask Coach Bible, "hey, coach what's in it for me, or I want to
play if I suit up." Nope, Gill wasn't focused on himself and his own
self-elevation, he was focused on supporting the team. Gill wasn't looking for
adulation or entitlement he was just stepping into the gap as needed.Iwould hope that we all come to embody the 12th Man spirit it is the essence
of who we are as Americans not this other mess which we're being fed. It's
not just about cheering. It's about standing ready to serve.Cometo think about it, perhaps those Minutemen at Lexington and Concord unknowingly
started the tradition of the 12th Man as they left the warmth of their homes
just as Gill left that press box and stood on the line. Perhaps it was the
12th Man spirit and tradition that President John F. Kennedy unknowingly
thought of when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what
you can do for your country." Just as Gill didn't ask Coach Bible what he would
get he simply answered the call.Andso as I stood there watching those superb young men and women of the Corps of
Cadets march in I saw the 12th Man. I saw the tradition and the spirit of E.
King Gill. I saw the next generation who were ready to answer the call of the
coach for them the coach is the American people, our liberty and freedom. As
I stood on that field during the game I looked up to see that simple slogan on
the stadium "Welcome to Aggieland, Home of the 12th Man." I finally understood
what it meant America!So,to wrap up what was a fantastic experience horrible calls by the referees
notwithstanding I walked down from our seats in the president's box to meet
our 41st president and his wife yes, George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara
Bush. What a stately couple and what was special was when they began to speak
Chinese to Lin something she will never forget. President Bush saw my wings
on the lapel and I said yes sir, I was an American paratrooper. He responded,
"Allen, I got one more jump to do." What a guy!Justgotta tell ya, I cannot wait until Texas A&M and Tennessee begin playing
against each other in football and there is a relationship between these two
schools due to our General Bob Neyland. The tradition of the 12th Man along
with the service of the Tennessee Volunteers who came to Texas to fight for
liberty well, that is a game I will not be missing. And since we will be
moving to Texas, I'll be back each fall to this special place called
Bryan-College Station, known to all in these parts as "Aggieland."
lots of great food especially turkey. Our family joined with Rep. Bill Flores
and his wife Gina along with his son's family at the Miramont Country Club for
an absolutely delicious Thanksgiving meal.Afterwardswe headed over to the Texas A&M University campus for the football game
with LSU really bad call to end the game there, refs. Anyway, we went into
the Alumni Center and took a family photo inside the Aggie ring.Butmy wife Angela and the girls including our Chinese exchange student Lin, who
flew down from Indiana University immediately fell in love with the Corps of
Cadets Aggie band we were there for the step off. It's one thing to see this
band on TV but something phenomenal to see them in person the discipline and
precision is impeccable.Rep.Flores and I linked up with Commandant of the Cadets, BG Ramirez along with his
dad and son who is also an artilleryman, there's something about being a
Redleg! We walked on over into Kyle Field to prepare for the March In of the
Corps of Cadets.Aswe were walking in, I got a chance to meet a Aggie football legend Charles
"Tank" Marshall, former defensive lineman back in the mid 70s if you know
college football you remember these things. He still looks like he could suit
up and rush the QB. Not only did I get to meet Aggie stalwart Tank Marshall but
also legendary Coach RC Slocum. When Coach Slocum roamed the sidelines it was
the venerable "wrecking crew" defense that put fear into the opposition and
he still looks like he could coach the Aggies.Afterwards,we walked onto the hallowed ground of Kyle Field and then took the reviewing
stand for the Cadets. Watching these young men and women march in reassures you
of the exceptionalism and greatness of America something I wish we all could
have seen, instead of being inundated with the scenes of Ferguson, Missouri. I
got to meet the Cadet Commander, an impressive young man seeking a U.S. Marine
Corps commission.I'vebeen to quite a few college football venues but one thing that is special about
Texas A&M is the Aggie tradition yeah, I got to learn some yells. When
the anthems of America and Texas are played, there is quiet and folks sing
and I mean everybody, young and old. As you're walking around, there is a
warmth and welcome as everybody greets you with a happy and hearty "howdy."
This community nestled along the Brazos River embodies a spirit the 12th Man
and sorry Seattle Seahawk fans, this is where it originated.Accordingto Aggielandlore, the tradition of the Twelfth Man was born on the second of January1922, when an underdog Aggie team was playing Centre College, then the nation's
top ranked team. As the hard fought game wore on, and the Aggies dug deeply into
their limited reserves, Coach Dana X. Bible remembered a squad man who was not
in uniform. He had been up in the press box helping reporters identify players.
His name was E. King Gill, and was a former football player who was only
playing basketball. Gill was called from the stands, suited up, and stood ready
throughout the rest of the game, which A&M finally won 22-14. When the game
ended, E. King Gill was the only man left standing on the sidelines for the
Aggies. Gill later said, "I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the
winning touchdown, but I did not. I simply stood by in case my team needed me."That"12th Man" tradition isn't just the embodiment of Aggie Football and its
campus, it actually reflects America at least what America should be and must
return to being. It reflects an attitude that says, "Here am I, send me."E.King Gill didn't ask Coach Bible, "hey, coach what's in it for me, or I want to
play if I suit up." Nope, Gill wasn't focused on himself and his own
self-elevation, he was focused on supporting the team. Gill wasn't looking for
adulation or entitlement he was just stepping into the gap as needed.Iwould hope that we all come to embody the 12th Man spirit it is the essence
of who we are as Americans not this other mess which we're being fed. It's
not just about cheering. It's about standing ready to serve.Cometo think about it, perhaps those Minutemen at Lexington and Concord unknowingly
started the tradition of the 12th Man as they left the warmth of their homes
just as Gill left that press box and stood on the line. Perhaps it was the
12th Man spirit and tradition that President John F. Kennedy unknowingly
thought of when he said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what
you can do for your country." Just as Gill didn't ask Coach Bible what he would
get he simply answered the call.Andso as I stood there watching those superb young men and women of the Corps of
Cadets march in I saw the 12th Man. I saw the tradition and the spirit of E.
King Gill. I saw the next generation who were ready to answer the call of the
coach for them the coach is the American people, our liberty and freedom. As
I stood on that field during the game I looked up to see that simple slogan on
the stadium "Welcome to Aggieland, Home of the 12th Man." I finally understood
what it meant America!So,to wrap up what was a fantastic experience horrible calls by the referees
notwithstanding I walked down from our seats in the president's box to meet
our 41st president and his wife yes, George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara
Bush. What a stately couple and what was special was when they began to speak
Chinese to Lin something she will never forget. President Bush saw my wings
on the lapel and I said yes sir, I was an American paratrooper. He responded,
"Allen, I got one more jump to do." What a guy!Justgotta tell ya, I cannot wait until Texas A&M and Tennessee begin playing
against each other in football and there is a relationship between these two
schools due to our General Bob Neyland. The tradition of the 12th Man along
with the service of the Tennessee Volunteers who came to Texas to fight for
liberty well, that is a game I will not be missing. And since we will be
moving to Texas, I'll be back each fall to this special place called
Bryan-College Station, known to all in these parts as "Aggieland."
The Main Thing is to keep The Main Thing The Main Thing