Aggieland holds a special place in the hearts of those who live here. Many colleges across the country have unique cultures but there’s something different about Texas A&M University. We try to hold each other accountable to our values and help each other get better. We even have our unique dialect of the English Language. You’ve probably heard words or phrases related to Texas A&M that you don’t understand. We’ve compiled a list of vocabulary words to help navigate Texas A&M and Aggie Culture.
Let’s start at the beginning, “Howdy!” This is the official greeting of Texas A&M. You will hear it as you walk across campus and encounter students. So when someone says “Howdy,” you say it back!
Our school song states, “We are the Aggies, the Aggies are we!” But what is an Aggie? When Texas A&M was founded it was originally called “The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.” We produced farmers and engineers. For a long time, people just called us the “Farmers.” That root in agriculture created the term “Aggie.”
The Basics
The Aggie Honor Code states “Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do.” Aggies hold themselves and their peers to this ethos. Whether in a sporting event or the classroom, we try to uphold integrity in whatever we do.
When you visit Texas A&M, you will often hear people reference the Aggie Core Values — Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, Selfless Service. Often abbreviated as “R.E.L.L.I.S.,” these core values are pillars of an Aggie’s character. We try to let these character traits guide us and inform our decision making. We even talked about it at length here.
When students attend Texas A&M, they have the opportunity to get involved in student organizations. There are more than 1,100 student orgs on campus, including fraternities and sororities, student government (SGA), clubs based on interests and hobbies, FLOs and SLOs (Freshman Leadership Organization and Sophomore Leadership Organizations) and a full-time ROTC program and leadership development program with more than 2,000 members called the Corps of Cadets. The Corps of Cadets is home to Reveille (our Rough Collie mascot and the First Lady of Aggieland), the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, Fish Drill Team, Parsons Mounted Cavalry, the Ross Volunteers and many more special units to help cadets find camaraderie and develop their leadership skills.
A student organization even plans our biggest community service project of the year. The Big Event is a physical manifestation of selfless service. It is a chance for students to give back to the Bryan/College Station community. Last year, more than 13,000 students participated in the day of labor to make our community a better place. Students volunteer in construction and clean up projects that serve residents and non-profits in the local community. Since 1982, the Big Event has conducted 1,084,940 hours of service. The Big Event is now a nationwide service day with more than 116 universities and colleges participating.
Sports Terminology
Most schools have a fight song, but we’re not like other schools. We’re built different. We have a “War Hymn.” It kicks off with the words, “Hullabaloo Caneck Caneck.” After a few inspiring verses, we end the War Hymn by locking arms and swaying back and forth to symbolize “sawing the horns off” of our longhorned rival from conferences of old and new. In 2024, our long-time rival, the University of Texas, will be joining the Southeastern Conference, and the War Hymn will be restored to its full glory as we BTHO t.u.
BTHO is a common acronym you hear at Aggie sporting events or even on campus. It stands for “Beat the Hell Outta.” We say BTHO in regards to lots of different things, opponents for football games, but also Finals, COVID and even student debt. Our favorite thing to BTHO is t.u. This refers to the University of Texas. We like to remind them that they are not the only university in Texas.
When you watch Aggie sporting events, you’ve probably noticed that Texas A&M doesn’t have cheerleaders. Texas A&M started as an all-male school. During a football game in 1907, several freshman cadets put on white coveralls and led the student section in yells; thus, the Yell Leaders were born. The tradition has evolved over the years. Now two juniors and three seniors lead yells for the fans during Aggie sporting events!
Yell Leaders are a critical piece of Aggie sporting events. They lead yells which are cheers passed down through many generations of students. We use these yells as we stand during football games. At the end of each yell, students sign off with their class year’s “Wildcat.” A Wildcat is a combination of a hand sign and shouts that signifies your classification. We rehearse all of the yells the night before a game at Midnight Yell practice. This event features the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, storytelling, singing the War Hymn and yelling (obviously).
Texas A&M's student section is known as the 12th Man. The term comes from a historic football game in 1922 when the Aggies went down to just the 11 players on the field. The coach asked a student in the stands to suit up and be ready to sub in the game. He called down E. King Gill, a former football player who had left the team to start training for the Aggie basketball season. Gill didn’t hesitate and stood on the sidelines, ready to help the team. We embody his spirit and dedication while we stand during the entire football game and wave our white 12th Man Towels.
Catchphrases
Even our motto —“Gig ’Em” — started at a Midnight Yell Practice. A Yell Leader was telling a story the night before we played the TCU Horned Frogs. When you go frog hunting, you use a small spear called a “gig.” The Yell Leader said, “The Aggies will gig ‘em tomorrow,” and it stuck!
You might also hear an Aggie “Whoop” when they get excited. Whooping signifies something good happened. It’s also a part of the junior and senior Wildcats.
When something good happens, Aggies will often call it “Good Bull.” In contrast, when something bad happens, we would call it “Bad Bull.” Examples:
Aggie Baseball making it to the College World Series — Good Bull
You scored a date with that cute guy from your math class – Good Bull
Taylor Swift announcing a new album – Good Bull
Parking tickets – Bad Bull
Sleeping through your 8:00 a.m. class – Bad Bull
Wearing a hat in the MSC – Bad Bull
Terms of Remembrance
Speaking of the MSC, our student union is called the Memorial Student Center. It serves as a living memorial for the Aggies who fought and died defending the United States. To honor them, we don’t walk on the grass or wear hats in the MSC. The MSC is home to a lot of important things on campus: the Department of Multicultural Services, the campus bookstore, the Hall of Honor (which features tributes to Aggies who have been awarded the Medal of Honor), multiple art galleries, the Flag Room and a Chick-fil-A.
A key component of Aggie Culture is remembrance. Remembering those who paved the way for us to succeed. Remembering those who sacrificed for their country. Remembering our friends we lost too soon. We practice this remembrance through ceremonies like Silver Taps, Bonfire Remembrance and Muster. Silver Taps happens on the first Tuesday of every month during the semester to mourn the Texas A&M students who passed away the month prior. The Bonfire Remembrance Ceremony takes place at 2:42 a.m. on November 18 every year to grieve the Aggies we lost during the Bonfire Collapse of 1999. And every year, Aggies gather all around the world on April 21 for Muster. Muster is an opportunity to commune with fellow Aggies. No matter what age we are or where you live after graduation, you always have something in common with another Aggie: Aggieland. Muster is a chance for us to remember the Aggies who passed away that year. A Roll Call Coordinator reads their name from a list, and the other Aggies in attendance respond with “Here” for those we lost. The Muster on campus serves as the 50-year reunion for a class.
There are so many more phrases and traditions that make Texas A&M special. We hope your road leads you to Aggieland. We’ll greet you with a warm “Howdy!” Texas A&M University provides a home to students from all backgrounds. With 1,100+ student organizations and more than 140 undergraduate programs to choose from, the Aggie family extends to people with different interests, passions and hobbies.
Let’s start at the beginning, “Howdy!” This is the official greeting of Texas A&M. You will hear it as you walk across campus and encounter students. So when someone says “Howdy,” you say it back!
Our school song states, “We are the Aggies, the Aggies are we!” But what is an Aggie? When Texas A&M was founded it was originally called “The Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.” We produced farmers and engineers. For a long time, people just called us the “Farmers.” That root in agriculture created the term “Aggie.”
The Basics
The Aggie Honor Code states “Aggies do not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do.” Aggies hold themselves and their peers to this ethos. Whether in a sporting event or the classroom, we try to uphold integrity in whatever we do.
When you visit Texas A&M, you will often hear people reference the Aggie Core Values — Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, Selfless Service. Often abbreviated as “R.E.L.L.I.S.,” these core values are pillars of an Aggie’s character. We try to let these character traits guide us and inform our decision making. We even talked about it at length here.
When students attend Texas A&M, they have the opportunity to get involved in student organizations. There are more than 1,100 student orgs on campus, including fraternities and sororities, student government (SGA), clubs based on interests and hobbies, FLOs and SLOs (Freshman Leadership Organization and Sophomore Leadership Organizations) and a full-time ROTC program and leadership development program with more than 2,000 members called the Corps of Cadets. The Corps of Cadets is home to Reveille (our Rough Collie mascot and the First Lady of Aggieland), the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, Fish Drill Team, Parsons Mounted Cavalry, the Ross Volunteers and many more special units to help cadets find camaraderie and develop their leadership skills.
A student organization even plans our biggest community service project of the year. The Big Event is a physical manifestation of selfless service. It is a chance for students to give back to the Bryan/College Station community. Last year, more than 13,000 students participated in the day of labor to make our community a better place. Students volunteer in construction and clean up projects that serve residents and non-profits in the local community. Since 1982, the Big Event has conducted 1,084,940 hours of service. The Big Event is now a nationwide service day with more than 116 universities and colleges participating.
Sports Terminology
Most schools have a fight song, but we’re not like other schools. We’re built different. We have a “War Hymn.” It kicks off with the words, “Hullabaloo Caneck Caneck.” After a few inspiring verses, we end the War Hymn by locking arms and swaying back and forth to symbolize “sawing the horns off” of our longhorned rival from conferences of old and new. In 2024, our long-time rival, the University of Texas, will be joining the Southeastern Conference, and the War Hymn will be restored to its full glory as we BTHO t.u.
BTHO is a common acronym you hear at Aggie sporting events or even on campus. It stands for “Beat the Hell Outta.” We say BTHO in regards to lots of different things, opponents for football games, but also Finals, COVID and even student debt. Our favorite thing to BTHO is t.u. This refers to the University of Texas. We like to remind them that they are not the only university in Texas.
When you watch Aggie sporting events, you’ve probably noticed that Texas A&M doesn’t have cheerleaders. Texas A&M started as an all-male school. During a football game in 1907, several freshman cadets put on white coveralls and led the student section in yells; thus, the Yell Leaders were born. The tradition has evolved over the years. Now two juniors and three seniors lead yells for the fans during Aggie sporting events!
Yell Leaders are a critical piece of Aggie sporting events. They lead yells which are cheers passed down through many generations of students. We use these yells as we stand during football games. At the end of each yell, students sign off with their class year’s “Wildcat.” A Wildcat is a combination of a hand sign and shouts that signifies your classification. We rehearse all of the yells the night before a game at Midnight Yell practice. This event features the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, storytelling, singing the War Hymn and yelling (obviously).
Texas A&M's student section is known as the 12th Man. The term comes from a historic football game in 1922 when the Aggies went down to just the 11 players on the field. The coach asked a student in the stands to suit up and be ready to sub in the game. He called down E. King Gill, a former football player who had left the team to start training for the Aggie basketball season. Gill didn’t hesitate and stood on the sidelines, ready to help the team. We embody his spirit and dedication while we stand during the entire football game and wave our white 12th Man Towels.
Catchphrases
Even our motto —“Gig ’Em” — started at a Midnight Yell Practice. A Yell Leader was telling a story the night before we played the TCU Horned Frogs. When you go frog hunting, you use a small spear called a “gig.” The Yell Leader said, “The Aggies will gig ‘em tomorrow,” and it stuck!
You might also hear an Aggie “Whoop” when they get excited. Whooping signifies something good happened. It’s also a part of the junior and senior Wildcats.
When something good happens, Aggies will often call it “Good Bull.” In contrast, when something bad happens, we would call it “Bad Bull.” Examples:
Aggie Baseball making it to the College World Series — Good Bull
You scored a date with that cute guy from your math class – Good Bull
Taylor Swift announcing a new album – Good Bull
Parking tickets – Bad Bull
Sleeping through your 8:00 a.m. class – Bad Bull
Wearing a hat in the MSC – Bad Bull
Terms of Remembrance
Speaking of the MSC, our student union is called the Memorial Student Center. It serves as a living memorial for the Aggies who fought and died defending the United States. To honor them, we don’t walk on the grass or wear hats in the MSC. The MSC is home to a lot of important things on campus: the Department of Multicultural Services, the campus bookstore, the Hall of Honor (which features tributes to Aggies who have been awarded the Medal of Honor), multiple art galleries, the Flag Room and a Chick-fil-A.
A key component of Aggie Culture is remembrance. Remembering those who paved the way for us to succeed. Remembering those who sacrificed for their country. Remembering our friends we lost too soon. We practice this remembrance through ceremonies like Silver Taps, Bonfire Remembrance and Muster. Silver Taps happens on the first Tuesday of every month during the semester to mourn the Texas A&M students who passed away the month prior. The Bonfire Remembrance Ceremony takes place at 2:42 a.m. on November 18 every year to grieve the Aggies we lost during the Bonfire Collapse of 1999. And every year, Aggies gather all around the world on April 21 for Muster. Muster is an opportunity to commune with fellow Aggies. No matter what age we are or where you live after graduation, you always have something in common with another Aggie: Aggieland. Muster is a chance for us to remember the Aggies who passed away that year. A Roll Call Coordinator reads their name from a list, and the other Aggies in attendance respond with “Here” for those we lost. The Muster on campus serves as the 50-year reunion for a class.
There are so many more phrases and traditions that make Texas A&M special. We hope your road leads you to Aggieland. We’ll greet you with a warm “Howdy!” Texas A&M University provides a home to students from all backgrounds. With 1,100+ student organizations and more than 140 undergraduate programs to choose from, the Aggie family extends to people with different interests, passions and hobbies.