BBQ Canceled

After speaking with the BBQ chain, we've decided to cancel tomorrow's outfit BBQ due to the weather forecast for 1200. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. The whole point of the BBQ is to have fun with family and friends and I didn't see this happening while sitting in the mud or crammed into the dorm hallways. Hopefully you can find a dry place to spend time with your child!

Fish Spurs

This week, the freshman have been wearing their newly constructed to fish spurs. Spurs are a tradition that bring the fish class together in many ways. The spurs must be unified within the outfit and the fish all work together to make them. It is typically one of the first times that they all get to sit down and talk to each other for an extended period of time. I can still remember going to a buddy's lake house and making my fish spurs freshman year. The best part was having time to relax and get to know the people who would soon become my best friends.

Below are a few pictures of A-Co 17's spurs. There is also a link to an article by the Batallion.

The wire coat hangers that form the frame of the spur

were wrapped in duct tape to prevent damaging the shoe

The fish opted for a chain harness system to hold the spur on

From the back, the spurs form a "17"

The Batt: http://www.thebatt.com/news/spur-the-ponies-1.3063230

SMU Game Schedule

0700 Drill (Possibly 0800 depending on Thursday/Friday drill)
1230 A-Co BBQ
         Menu: Hamburgers, chips, water, Gatorade
         Cost: $6-7 (awaiting Gatorade pricing)
1530 Spirit Band "D"
1630 Step off from the Quad
1800 BTHO SMU
2130 Victory Yell at YMCA Building

Thank you everyone that came out to last week's BBQ. I apologize for the delay in serving the latter half of the line. Our BBQ chain has taken steps to ensure that we will not have the same issue again. I look forward to seeing you on Saturday!

SHSU Halftime

If you weren't able to make it to the game, or just want to see the drill one more time, here is the halftime from the SHSU game presented by the Texas Aggie Band Association.

Alabama Game Schedule

Friday:
1705 form up for Alabama review
1730 Review at OR Simpson
2000 "First Yell" at Reed Arena, cost is $8 (not mandatory for the band)
0000 Midnight Yell

Saturday:
0700 Drill
1300 Step off from the quad
1430 BTHO Alabama
1830 Victory Yell
1930 BBQ
          Menu:
          Beef Fajitas
          Refried Beans
          Spanish Rice
          Water

We will likely have more events between drill and step off that pertain to game day and all the festivities that come along with it. I'll have more information to post as soon as I know.

We might be starting slightly later for the BBQ depending on whether or not we can send personnel back early start cooking.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Saturday Schedule

0800 Drill (possibility of 0700 depending on Friday drill)
1200 Outfit BBQ
          Menu: Hotdogs, Beans, Chips, water
          Cost: $6
          Location: Behind dorm 9 (I recommend bringing a  folding chair)
1530 Spirit band "B"
1630 Step of from the quad
1800 BTHO Sam Houston State
2200 Victory Yell at YMCA building

Silver Taps

"Silver Taps is the student body’s final tribute paid to an Aggie who, at the time of his or her death, was enrolled in undergraduate or graduate classes at Texas A&M."

Silver Taps is one of A&M's most cherished traditions. While the death of a fellow student is something that no one enjoys, we are privileged to honor their life and remind ourselves of what is truly important.

The ceremony is held in academic plaza in front of the statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross with the families and many students from the Corps and university. The lights are shut off and in complete silence, the Ross Volunteer firing squad marches into the plaza to deliver a 21-gun salute. After the rifle volleys, buglers play a special mellow and dissonant rendition of taps. The song is repeated three times; once to the North, South, and West, signifying that the sun will never rise on that Aggie again.

The silence and solemness of Silver Taps make the ceremony incredibly powerful and thought provoking. It reminds us to live as if we might be honored at next month's taps.

Below are the names of the individuals honored this month:

Nathan Walker Hardcastle - Ecological Restoration

Saron Alexander Hood - Physics

Vergil "Coke" Hopping - Ag Leadership, Education & Communication

Travis Terrell Lamb - Computer Science

Raka Mallick - Industrial Engineering

Polo Hafoka Manukainiu - Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences

Ian Alexander Pogue - General Studies 

Austin Kyle Stanfill - International Affairs