Yell Practice

No we are not doing the "thumbs up" sign. We are doing the sign for "gig 'em!" I don't even know where to begin. This was our second night here. Nate had a yell practice that he had to go to for work. Hundreds of freshman came to learn the cheers of Texas A&M. There are a ton! I was so mad that I forgot my camera! Luckily a coworker of Nate's took this picture for us, but the thing I really wanted to capture was the yell leaders. They were 20 something year old men wearing overalls with an ATM on the butt (that's the symbol to recognize Texas A&M) and then scriptures and other things written all over their overalls. There are five yell leaders, and I guess they have to be elected. It is a bigger deal than being the quarter back on the football team according to some people. Texas A&M has some crazy traditions. There are too many to explain and I don't understand some of them but you have to check out this website sometime when you get bored.  You can read all about the traditions.  Here is an excerpt about the Gig 'em sign:

Pinky Downs, class of 1906 and a member of the Board of Regents from 1923 to 1933, is credited with the Gig ‘Em hand sign. At the 1930 Yell Practice before the TCU football game, Downs shouted out, "What are we going to do to those Horned Frogs?" Answering his own question, he replied, “Gig ‘Em, Aggies!” while making a fist with his thumb extended. A “gig” is a spear-like tool used for hunting frogs. The gesture became known as the first hand sign of The Southwest Conference.

I will have to include other excerpts as time goes on.  I can't wait to go to our first midnight yell practice (they do it the Friday before each game at midnight).  Anyways, I love the school spirit that everyone has here.  Go Aggies! (and Cougars!)