To Top of Page
Saturday November 18th, 2005
12:06pmMy Brother's Words
This morning my brother, Sean, went to the Bonfire Memorial Ceremony out at the Polo Grounds. Sean is in his first semester at A&M and I think it is safe to say that he found his home in Aggieland. He sent an email to my parents and me following this morning's ceremony that I felt needed to be shared.
I think that what Sean experienced this morning was that undescribable feeling that is the Aggie Spirit.Wish you could have been there. I know pictures weren't allowed, so the best I can give you is my words to describe it.....
November 18th, 2006, around 2:40 in the morning I stepped onto what should have been the site of the Texas A&M Bonfire stack. Instead I stepped onto a memorial for those Aggies who lost their lives 7 years previous. The setup couldn’t have been any more perfect for a feeling that you seem to only see in movies. The night sky was crystal clear and it must have been 45 degrees out. Lights that surrounded the memorial were dimly lit which gave off an amber-colored glow. As my friend, Brandon, and I walked to the memorial there were Aggies who were walking with their arms around each other, step by step in unison. As we approached the memorial at the Tradition Plaza, there were a few students handing out maroon and white ribbons, in front of the Spirit Wall, to be pinned on our shirts. We proceeded to walk and read the Last Corps Trip Wall, which was traditionally recited every year before the Bonfire was lit.
“Last Corps Trip”After reading the poem, we proceeded down the History Walk, which is a path bordered with granite that has a lighted rectangular cut every few feet indicating every previous year that the Bonfire was built and the glow that Bonfire had, dating back to 1909. We got to the Spirit Ring and found a spot to stand. I stood there without moving and just stared at the marker where the center pole of the Bonfire was the night of the collapse. There was complete and utter silence with only the train in the background, which, as an Aggie, you learn to accept in times of silence. Looking up at the hill that encompassed the site were the silhouettes of some members of the Corps of Cadet. They were lined up straight, standing with their arms behind their backs. It was a chilling, yet amazing sight to see. At 2:42 in the morning, the family members of the fallen Aggies entered into the middle of the memorial, hugging each other as they met again over an unfortunate tragedy. As I looked around I saw people with their eyes closed and their heads down, praying. As I saw this, I began to tear up, as this showed me exactly what this school is about, the passion Aggies have, and the undying spirit of a body of people who can and will survive through anything. One of the family members then called out, “Gather round Ags,” and we all started filing through the portals of the 12 Aggies. I was toward the back of the crowd and heard only a muffled voice speaking, followed by a muffled word, which I thought was Amen. The crowd grew a little louder, yet still being as soft as possible and it became clear to me that we were doing the role call for the absent.
by P.H. DuVal Jr. '51It was Judgment Day in Aggieland
And tenseness filled the air;
All knew there was a trip at hand,
But not a soul knew where.Assembled on the drill field
Was the world-renowned Twelfth Man,
The entire fighting Aggie team
And the famous Aggie Band.And out in front with Royal Guard
The reviewing party stood;
St. Peter and his angel staff
Were choosing bad from good.First he surveyed the Aggie team
And in terms of an angel swore,
"By Jove, I do believe I've seen
This gallant group before.I've seen them play since way back when,
And they've always had the grit;
I've seen 'em lose and I've seen 'em win
But I've never seen 'em quit.No need for us to tarry here
Deciding upon their fates;
Tis plain as the halo on my head
That they've opened Heaven's gates."And when the Twelfth Man heard this,
They let out a mighty yell
That echoed clear to Heaven
And shook the gates of Hell."And what group is this upon the side,"
St. Peter asked his aide,
"That swelled as if to burst with pride
When we our judgment made?""Why, sir, that's the Cadet Corps
That's known both far and wide
For backing up their fighting team
Whether they won lost or tied.""Well, then," said St. Peter,
"It's very plain to me
That within the realms of Heaven
They should spend eternity.And have the Texas Aggie Band
At once commence to play
For their fates too we must decide
Upon this crucial day."And the drum major so hearing
Slowly raised his hand
And said, "Boys, let's play The Spirit
For the last time in Aggieland."And the band poured forth the anthem,
In notes both bright and clear
And ten thousand Aggie voices
Sang the song they hold so dear.And when the band had finished,
St. Peter wiped his eyes
And said, "It's not so hard to see
They're meant for Paradise."And the colonel of the Cadet Corps said
As he stiffly took his stand,
"It's just another Corps Trip, boys,
We'll march in behind the band."
Miranda Denise Adams…here.
Christopher D. Breen…here.
Michael Stephen Ebanks…here.
Jeremy Richard Frampton…here.
Jamie Lynn Hand…here.
Christopher Lee Heard…here.
Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr. … here.
Lucas John Kimmel…here.
Bryan A. McClain…here.
Chad A. Powell…here.
Jerry Don Self…here.
Nathan Scott West…here.There was then a moment of silence as I reflected everything this school means and the message it portrays. Passion. Spirit. Tradition. Honor. Friendliness. Compassion. Unity. Respect. There was then a low sound that was heard. I thought it was the muffler of someone’s car at first, driving down the street behind us. I then I heard it in front of me, acting like a wave, starting off slowly and working it’s way to the back of the crowd. I started to quietly sing, “For there’s a spirit can ne’er told, it’s the spirit of Aggieland.” I have never heard such a large group of people sing so softly, yet so loud with pride at the same time. The singing of Amazing Grace with another moment of silence followed. We then proceeded to, in the wave-like form again, sing the Fightin’ Texas Aggie War Hymn. At almost 3 in the morning on a Friday night/Saturday morning, I am amazed as to how many people stop what they’re doing to come and show respect to their fellow classmates by singing the school’s fight song. There at 3 in the morning, in the middle of the night, all Aggies put their arms around their neighboring Aggies and we sawed Varsity’s horns off by swaying back and forth to tribute those 12 Aggies. There at 3 in the morning we stood in unison, as one whole student body, and we paid our respects to those 12 Aggies who represented our school and lost their lives carrying on the Traditions that build this school and that make this school that much better. When we finished, some students went and spoke with the family members of the fallen. As we exited at 3:07 a.m., no one said a word, for nothing need be said. Everybody was thinking the same thing…there was a spirit that night, one that can ne’er be told.
"From the outside looking in, you can't understand it. From the inside looking out, you can't explain it."
I think Sean did a wonderful job explaining it.
Gig'em, God Bless, and B.T.H.O. texas!.
12:09amBonfire
In Remembrance
In Remembrance
November 18, 1999
2:42 amEarly morning on November 18th marks the the date that Texas A&M suffered it's most tragic event. Seven years ago the Bonfire stack collapsed with approximately 70 students on it and with many more inside the perimeter of the Bonfire area. Twelve students lost their lives that night or in the following days due to injuries sustained.
I was a senior in high school that fall, but I had already made my decision that Texas A&M was the school that I wanted to be a part of...or more so, I wanted to be a part of me.
The following fall I was very upset that there was to be no Bonfire, but I kept hope that the following year I would be able to experience, what I believe to be, Texas A&M's finest and most important tradition.
I remember going out to the Polo Grounds in the freezing rain at 2:00am with all of my friends to participate in the Memorial Ceremonies. I remember seeing Reveille VI being carried by her handler out to the location of the tragic event because all of the grass had been worn away to mud after thousands of students had walked over it in the rain on their way to remember the fallen Aggies of a year ago.
This was one of my first experiences with the true Aggie family. I remember people embracing others, comforting strangers who could not keep all of the emotions inside of them. I say stranger, but there were no strangers....everyone out there that night was part of a 44,000 person family in mourning.
People shared umbrellas as the rain kept coming down, which was very fitting in describing the mood and feelings that went through the crowd. I remember that I could not see what was actually going on with the actual ceremony because there were too many people in front of me and I was so far back. I remember people passing flames from candle to candle....thousands of little lights across the Polo Grounds. I remember hearing the beginning of "Amazing Grace" being hummed softly, and hearing it grow louder and louder....and I remember not being able to control my emotions any more and hugging the person next to me.
That night, I learned what it meant to be an Aggie, and I knew then and there that I had missed something very special. I know that if there was a Bonfire stack being built, I would have been on it in a heartbeat.
I was not given the opportunity to participate in Bonfire the following year, and I don't think any future Ag will with the consent of the school. Since I arrived here on campus in the Fall of 2000, I have seen the true spirit of this great University slip away year-by-year, as the unity brought to our campus by Bonfire slips further and further away with each graduating class. Even though I never saw Bonfire burn, and never took part in building it, I will always remember that night out in the cold rain my freshman year.
Please keep the twelve fallen Aggies in your thoughts today and do not ever forget about them or their love for their school....
- Christopher David Breen '96
- Jeremy Richard Frampton '99
- Jamie Lynn Hand '03
- Christopher Lee Heard '03
- Lucas John Kimmel '03
- Bryan Allen McClain '02
- Chad Anthony Powell '03
- Jerry Don Self '01
- Nathan Scott West '02
- Michael Stephen Ebanks '03
- Miranda Denise Adams '02
- Timothy Doran Kerlee, Jr. '03
The Bonfire Memorial has been erected and was dedicated in 2004. During the dedication Chip Theil, who was injured in the collapse, gave a speech that brought tears to the eyes of even those who had never experienced Bonfire.
Five years ago I stood on top of the world perched atop 4th stack with 3 dear friends of mine watching Aggies build what is one of our greatest traditions. Suddenly, in some unforeseeable twist of fate, my life changed, the life of every Aggie that came before and after me changed. Texas A&M changed.As a natural result Texas A&M has to adapt to a life without bonfire on campus. As we celebrate the memories of 12 Aggies whose lives were cut short as they willingly participated in this university's greatest tradition, I would like to reflect on the contagious spirit of a tradition left behind.
My favorite time of year comes in the fall, when the northern air arrives to push the humidity down to a reasonable level, to turn leaves brown, and to remind me and Ags everywhere that it is bonfire weather.
Many current students do not know the meaning bonfire weather and many former students have let the memory fade. Bonfire weather is the time of year when Aggies unselfishly sacrifice time, grades, and everything in between to cut, load, transport, unload, and stack a forest full of trees to create the largest bonfire in the world.
It was bigger than necessary and defied reason and possibility, but we would not have it any other way. While it would have been more efficient to use modern technologies and equipment, we chose to do it as it was done for 90 years; with sweat, blisters, grunts, groans, teamwork, axes, machetes, ropes, chains, wire, over-sized nails, pliers, steel toed boots, carhartt jackets, generous donations, left handed sky hooks, FFE semis, muddy pick-ups, muffler less tractors, scarecrows, and perimeter pole fires.
Then just before the fightin Texas Aggie football team squared off against the ladies from Austin, we burned it in an arrogantly flamboyant ceremony that said, "We are the Aggies, the Aggies are we." While 10s of 1000's gathered annually to witness the big fire, the cadets, non-regs, O.C. hogs, brownpots, yellowpots, butt-pots, crew chiefs, centerpolepots, pink pots, redpots, bonfire buddies, blacks, women, asians, men, whites, latinos, and randoms who had invested 1000's of hours of sweat equity in that stack of wood knew that the only reason we burned it was to clear the Polo Fields so that we could do it all over again next year.
I would now like to take you back to a day prior to Nov 18, 1999 to enjoy what many Ags enjoyed...a common day at bonfire. Not to diminish the memories of the fallen, but to burn into your memory why they were here that night. If you would like, go ahead and close your eyes and take a nostalgic journey back to the good ol days.
As you make your way to the polo fields, first you hear it. It's dark outside and you are walking across a sleeping and studying campus. Steel toe boots clunking along the sidewalk. A chain jingles at your side that is taped to your pliers. Your pot rattles a little. The first sounds from the field emerge as the buzz of chainsaws, tractor engines, and then some faint music. A nearly worn out Jerry Jeff tape moans out "desperadoes waiting for a train..." Then you can hear the shouts and your pace quickens. "1-2 halfway up, I need a log right here, gimmie some wire, I want my chain back, headache!, I need a heave." all mixed with the proper expletives.
Then you can see it. A home made flag waves atop an oppressive hulk of a structure lit by old beat up gas lights atop leaning perimeter poles. A chill of Aggie pride runs down your spine. A mass of people are there; some working, some watching. A huge crane lifts another log and swings it gently into place.
Then you can smell it. Smoke from perimeter fires, mud or dust depending on the year, chainsaw mix, cigar smoke, stale coffee, non-reg's grodes, sawdust and fresh cut hardwood.
Then you can taste it. You flick a dead bee off an old donut and wash it down with coffee that tastes like it was made last week. On your way to the stack, you put in a dip of Copenhagen...no less than a third of the can.
Finally you can feel it. A chilly north wind, oaky bark, cold wire, metal pliers, a 2x8 for a seat in a swing on third stack, perimeter ropes nearby. You survey your quadrant and agree with your ground man where you need to concentrate. You spy a penny nail a few logs in. You get it and stick it through the hole in the sleeve of your jacket so you can use it later. Then you shout with all of your might I NEED SOME WIRE AND A LOG UP HERE RIGHT NOW!!! Again sprinkled with expletives.
At the end of the shift, the sun is peeking up over the oak trees. You work your way down the stack. Your voice is spent. You walk back to the dorm joking with your friends...probably your friends for years to come. All of you tired, but proud to be Aggies and united by the fire.
That is the Bonfire I knew, that is the Bonfire I miss.
God Bless America and the Soldiers that defend her.
Gig 'em Chip Thiel '00
Bonfire Links of Interest
1999 Aggie BonfireOfficial Site of the Bonfire Commission
Pictures
Click THIS LINK to see the archive I'm putting together for pictures that I have come across of past Bonfires. I've got lots more I just haven't had the time to put in.
Thursday November 16th, 2006
2:25pmDubious Roomies
This week in the comics section of The Battalion there has been a pretty funny series of strips from Dubious Roomies by Zack Sweeten. I thought I'd share them with you.
[edit: added 11/17 comic strip]
Wednesday November 15th, 2006
12:06amRemember
This week is Bonfire Rememberance week.
Tonight at 7pm in the MSC Flagroom there will be a Bonfire Presentation for the current students to help them understand and put their head around what Bonfire was. Friday night/Saturday morning at 2:42am out on the old Polo Grounds will be the Bonfire Memorial observation.
Off-campus Bonfire will burn this year on Tuesday November 21st at 7pm.
I just wanted to make sure it was on your mind this week.
Monday November 13th, 2006
12:06amAgs Drop Another Heart Breaker, 28-27
My stomach is still sore from the direct kick it took at the game. Our three losses have all been the same, with us just barely falling short. I really can't decide if these 1 point losses are easier to swallow than the 20-30 point losses we've taken in years past.
If just losing our game was equivalent to my grandmother kicking me in the stomach, watching texas lose to Kansas State was like Justin Brantly kicking me in the stomach. Not because I wanted texas to win but because I realized that we would be playing texas for the Big 12 South title --winner takes all-- had we won.
I don't know really what to pinpoint the game on. There were a couple of coaching decisions I didn't agree with but we also made a handful of mistakes. Our mistakes on the field were big ones as we dropped 4 or 5 passes, we were flagged for a tremendously poor timed roughing the passer on a 3rd & 10 on Nebraska's game winning drive moving them inside the 10 yard line, we ran out of bounds as we were trying to run out the clock, and on that same drive we had a 42-yd FG attempt blocked that would have iced the game with under 2 minutes remaining.
I didn't agree with the way we handled our 3rd & 2 from the 3 yard line as we were losing 21-10. For the second time in two weeks we throw an incomplete pass and then bring out the FG unit. This time it was at the end of the 3rd quarter, not the 4th quarter like the OU game, but since we could have picked up a first down at the one yard line we essentially had 6 chances to move the ball 3 yards for a TD. Where on earth is Jorvorskie, you are asking? On the third down he was lined up along the right sideline as a WR.
Regardless of what the reason, we cannot continue to settle for FGs. In our last 5 games we have kicked 7 FGs from the 6 yard line or closer. Those need to be TDs. In our three losses we have attempted 8 FGs compared to only 11 attempts in our 8 victories.
On our first possession of the 4th quarter Stephen McGee broke a monster 57 yard TD run to bring the score to 21-19. We go for the two point conversion, which I agreed with, but we lineup in a shotgun formation with no running back. Jorvorskie was on the sideline this time. It was a pass play and it went wrong and McGee ended up being tackled before he could get into the end zone.
I simply can't figure out is why on earth we completely abandoned running the ball with Jorvorskie Lane? He has been an extremely integral part of the offense, especially since Fran has focused on time of possession. I think we all realize that he's a fairly good bet in short yardage carries.
J-Train had two carries, of 2 and 4 yards, in the first quarter....and he didn't get another touch until the 3:17 mark of the 3rd quarter. It had nothing to do with a lack of production. You can't give up on your go-to running back after two carries....it wasn't even as if he was running for a loss. You ride the horse that brought you there. He had 4 carries in the second half, one was a 1-yd TD, but again he was neglected over the final 7:28 of the game. Yep, he didn't even touch the ball on our possession when we started trying to run down the clock at the 2:50 mark. All we needed was one first down and the game was ours.
I've been told that Jorvorskie didn't get more carries because Nebraska's front 7 is so strong. The #8 rushing offense should be able to rush against the #45 rushing defense. I've also been told that Nebraska has the best red-zone defense in the Big 12. Well, no one in the Big 12 has more red-zone rushing TDs than we do.
I think what bothers me so much is that we're shying away from stuff like that without even giving it a try. If their strength can beat our strength then they're a better team. I'd much rather lose that way than keep wondering, "What if".
Mike Goodson did get a few more carries than Jorvorskie and he was quite successful running for 80 yards and a TD on 11 carries (7.2 ypc). Goodson also had 2 receptions for 34 yards. I'm not saying we need to take carries away from Goodson to give to Jorvorskie but we need to find more touches for him somewhere.
Martellus Bennett had the nice evening I predicted leading the team with 6 receptions for 67 yards plus a two point conversion reception.
Justin Brantly continued his stellar season punting the football. He had a 40 yarder, a 57 yarder, a 56 yarder, and a 37 yarder that we were about 6" from grabbing before it went into the end zone for a touchback. He is third in the nation now averaging 45.88 yards per punt. Interestingly, and somewhat strangely, he is behind two other Big 12 punters who are tied at 46.47 ypp (Matt Fodge of Oklahoma State and Daniel Sepulveda of Baylor....Sepulveda has 60 attempts to Fodge's 36). How crazy is it that two of the top three punters in the nation won't be first team all-conference?
The defense continued to play Jekyll & Hyde giving up 227 yards in the first half and only 140 in the second half. 75 of those 140 second half yards came on Nebraska's final drive which points out the parallel between this game and the tech game even more.
Mark Dodge, on Veteran's Day, played like a superstar filling in for an injured Misi Tupe. He had SEVENTEEN tackles and what we all thought was the clinching interception with just under 3 minutes remaining. Brock Newton, Justin Warren, and Melvin Bullitt also had nice evenings with double digit tackles.
I also wanted to mention Jordan Peterson. This poor guy has been spotlighted as the defender who got beat with last second TDs in both the texas tech game and the Nebraska game.
Jordan had an incredible football game. He had FOUR pass breakups. To put that into perspective, only Melvin Bullitt, Red Bryant (our DLman; who like Tupe missed this game due to injury) have more than 4 deflections on the season.
On that final TD play it really, really looked like Maurice Purify pushed off of Jordan prior to leaping for the TD reception. I watched the play again on TV but Purify/Peterson weren't in the view of the cameras until Purify was already in the air.
There was another no-call that I couldn't believe. In the second quarter Nebraska threw a little screen to their tailback that he ran 42 yards downfield to the 4 yard line. Somewhere back around the 30 yard line there was a HUGE holding penalty that wasn't called. It was like a 6 second hold. He had our defender so wrapped up it looked like they were doing the waltz....the only thing he didn't do was dip him at the end of the play. Obviously, we don't know what would have resulted but I'm surprised you didn't hear me on the TV broadcast yelling about that from my seat.
Our next game is the big one but we finally get our first off week of the season before having to face off with texas in Austin. It will be my 50th Aggie football game to attend.