Gig ‘Em! A Fan’s Guide to Texas A&M Aggies Football Game Day

If you’re headed to Aggieland, say “Howdy!” In the “Home of the 12th Man,” Texas A&M football fans have already earned their place at Kyle Field, but they’ve maintained their spot in the stands with plenty of time-honed traditions. After grabbing your Texas A&M Aggies football tickets and Kyle Field tickets, learn how to bring “Good Bull” by studying up on the biggest traditions and tailgating tips for a TAMU game day.

Pre-Game Traditions

If you’re in College Station for a Texas A&M football game, you’ll want to arrive at least one day early. On the day before kickoff, over 25,000 students and fans assemble at Kyle Field for one of the most important, and loudest, traditions in the TAMU pregame schedule: the Midnight Yell. Starting at midnight and running for about 30 minutes, the Midnight Yell is equal parts pep rally and cheer practice, with Yell Leaders refreshing fans on classic chants and fight songs before the game. Traditionally after singing the final “Aggie War Hymn,” the stadium lights go out briefly for couples to kiss. The event also showcases the Parsons Mounted Calvary, who launch several shots from a cannon.

For the Midnight Yell, gates at Kyle Field open at 11:00 p.m. Parking for the Midnight Yell is available on many surface lots on campus, with Lots 48, 61, 62, 100a-c, 102 and 104 closest to Kyle Field. Reservations can be made ahead of time via Destination Aggieland app, which can also be used for updates, closures and alternative transportation methods. No overnight parking is permitted.

On a home Aggies game day, fans are free to prepare however they please, but make sure to be close to Kyle Field for the Team Spirit Walk. About two hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff, the Team Spirit Walk takes place on Houston Street as the Aggies football players and coaches, Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band and Yell Leaders march from the War Hymn Statue toward Kyle Field. 15 minutes before the Team Spirit Walk, Yell Leaders gather at the statue for Kids’ Yell Practice.

In 2024, the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets introduced a new Aggies pregame tradition with the Campus March. Replacing the Corps of Cadets Step-Off tradition, in which the 2,500-plus members marched from The Quad to the Kyle Field, the Campus March now keeps the cadets in front of fans with a parade around the Quad starting an hour and a half before kickoff.

While on the College Station campus, seek out notable landmarks like the Century Tree, believed to bring good luck to couples who pass underneath, or the statue of former university president Lawrence Sullivan “Sully” Ross, where students place pennies in hope of good exam scores. See much of the grounds by taking the Military Walk through campus and visit some of TAMU’s major points of interest like the Academic Building, The Gardens, Aggie Park, J. Wayne Stark Galleries and Albritton Bell Tower.

Football fans won’t want to miss Aggies exhibitions in the Sam Houston Sanders Corps of Cadets Center and George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, while the cemetery for past bearers of the mascot title Reveille can be found on the north side of Kyle Field along with a bronze Reveille statue unveiled in 2023. Nearby, fans can pay their respects at the Bonfire Memorial, honoring former students who died in a discontinued Aggies football tradition called Bonfire.

Tailgating Tips

Aggie Spirit is already high well ahead of the opening whistle. Aggie Fan Zone on the north end of Kyle Field hosts the free Texas A&M tailgate opening three hours and 30 minutes before kickoff. The pregame experience features all-ages games and activities, food vendors and live music. Meanwhile, the Coors Light Victory Street tailgate is another free, pregame event for fans on the west side of Kyle Field.

Aggie Park is the primary tailgating area on game day, though free and premium spaces require a reservation. Private Aggie Park tailgating at Texas A&M can be reserved through the Virtual Land Rush for free plots and REVELxp for full-service VIP spaces. The Virtual Land Rush runs from the preceding Sunday at 6:00 p.m. to Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., with confirmation emails being sent the next day. On game day, gates for Aggie Park tailgating open at 7:00 a.m.

Free and premium tailgate spots are also reservable on the Simpson Drill Field and near Reed Arena on Texas A&M’s West Campus. Unlike Aggie Park, setup for West Campus tailgates can begin at noon the day before an Aggies football game. However, no overnight camping is allowed in any tailgate space.

Before attending a Texas A&M football tailgate, be aware of the university rules which prohibit tents using stakes longer than 12 inches, open fire pits, use of motorized vehicles and industrial generators. Although alcohol is generally permitted in tailgates and available for purchase inside Kyle Field, alcohol consumption is not allowed on Memorial Student Center Lawn, the All Faiths Chapel Grounds and inside university facilities. Additionally, Texas A&M became a tobacco-free campus in 2020, barring guests from using vapes and other smoke products inside and out of Kyle Field. Make the most of your pregame time by checking out all of the Texas A&M tailgating guidelines via The 12th Man Foundation website.

Whether you’re hosting or visiting an Aggies football tailgate, prepare to enjoy some College Station essentials like beef brisket, barbecue, smoked pig shots and pecan pie. For local finger foods, grab a handful of Texas Trash, a spicy trail mix specialty, or try Texas Twinkies, a bacon-wrapped jalapeño popper stuffed with brisket, cream cheese and barbecue sauce.

Inside Kyle Field

Before taking your spot as The 12th Man at Kyle Field, make sure to review the biggest in-game traditions, entry rules and clear bag policy at the Texas A&M Aggies football stadium.

The 12th Man

Kyle Field is otherwise known as “The Home of the 12th Man,” representing the constant presence of Texas A&M Aggies football fans in addition to the 11 active players on the field. The tradition dates back to 1922, when student-athlete E. King Gill was pulled from the stands mid-game to suit up for a depleted Aggies squad. Just as Gill once stood on the sideline ready to join the action, fans show a similar willingness to serve by standing every game.

Aggie Yells

Over a dozen Aggie cheers, or “yells,” could be in rotation during a Texas A&M game day, but the most-commonly used include “Gig ‘Em,” “Beat the Hell,” “Farmers Fight,” “Locomotive” and “Horse Laugh.” You’ll likely hear “Gig ‘Em” the most, which always pairs with a thumbs-up sign. Before a game, look over the different Aggie Yells and their corresponding hand motions via the TAMU website.

Wildcats

No, it’s not a different mascot. For TAMU fans, a wildcat is code for a set of cheers and hand signals given to each class level. Wildcats come out in-game after a big play, at the end of an Aggie Yell, when a class year is mentioned or during general introductions. At the end of the school year, students “graduate” their wildcat to the next level and unlock new “privileges” like cheers and codewords. Find a breakdown of each class’ wildcat via the Traditions Council.

Howdy

It might seem like a simple “hello” to some, but between Aggies fans, “Howdy” means a whole lot more. As the preferred greeting in College Station, current and former students can identify each other anywhere in the world.

Hissing

Instead of booing, Aggies hiss at opponents. Also known as the “Horse Laugh,” the popular sound of disapproval mimics the Aggie Yell “Horse Laugh” and is accompanied by a hand signal formed with both hands pressed together flat at the palms and shaken.

Reveille

Also known as the First Lady of Aggieland or Miss Rev, Reveille is the Texas A&M mascot mantle held by a live dog since 1931. In 1966, the first purebred Rough Collie held the title, and each successor since has come from the same breed. As the highest-ranking member of the Corps of Cadets, Reveille sports five diamonds on her Texas A&M cape and leads the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band onto Kyle Field on game day.

BTHO

Shorthand for “Beat the Hell Outta” followed by the opponent’s team name.

Whoop

An upperclassmen privilege, Texas A&M fans will often say “Whoop!” at the end of an Aggie Yell. However, any freshmen or sophomores caught “Whoop”ing are subjected to a “push,” or push-ups.

The Spirit of ’02

After every Aggies touchdown at home, the Corps of Cadets fires a restored World War-era cannon called The Spirit of ‘02. Discovered in 1974, the three-inch M1902 field gun has been used at home games since 1984 and is operated by Parsons Mounted Cavalry.

Maroon Out

Although Texas A&M’s maroon and white team colors are a given on an Aggies game day, one game per year is designated a “Maroon Out.” The first Maroon Out game in 1998 caused a national shortage of maroon t-shirts and has since inspired a charity organization of the same name, which designs and sells a new Maroon Out shirt each season. Proceeds are directed back to Texas A&M.

“Texas, Our Texas” Flyover

Following the singing of the National Anthem, fans should look to the sky to catch a flyover featuring several American military aircraft like F-16s, F-35s and EA-18G Growlers. Scored to the official state song, “Texas, Our Texas,” the flyovers are often conducted by crews with former Texas A&M students.

Never Say Lose

The Aggies don’t lose games. Instead, if the final score doesn’t reflect a win, Texas A&M fans will say the team “ran out of time.”

“The Aggie War Hymn”

One of Aggieland’s most powerful cheers, “The Aggie War Hymn” is sung after a Texas A&M home victory. The song becomes a stadium-wide experience as fans sway together and try to shake Kyle Field. Occasionally, the “The Aggie War Hymn” is followed by the brief coda “Saw Varsity’s Horns Off.”

“The Spirit of Aggieland” 

If the Aggies “run out of time,” the stadium will come together to sing the Texas A&M alma mater “The Spirit of Aggieland.” However, the song also doubles as a term for the endless passion of TAMU fans, called Aggie Spirit.

Post-Game Activities

After a win or time-stoppage, Aggies football fans can bring the Aggie Spirit to a number of bars and restaurants across College Station. Popular postgame hotspots in the Northgate District include O’Bannon’s Taphouse, The Corner Bar, Rough Draught Whiskey Bar and Good Bull Icehouse. For classic bites, head to The Chicken, C&J Barbeque, Layne’s of College Station,  Grub Burger Bar or Fuego Tortilla Grill.

Texas A&M Aggies Game Day Schedule

Catch every moment of an Aggies game day by checking out Texas A&M’s regular season football schedule.