Texas Aggie Has Some Ideas on How You Can Spend Your Game Day While Leaving Plenty of Time to Make It to Your Seat Before Kickoff
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
G A M E D A Y I N A G G I E L A N D Kyle Field. Football tickets. Midnight Yell. Yes, it’s the college in College Station that draws most of the town’s visitors. But as captivating as the sea of maroon can be, the hot sun, a late game time and then time to spare before march-in can inevitably take its toll on even the hardiest of game-day revelers. Sound familiar? Texas Aggie has some ideas on how you can spend your game day while leaving plenty of time to make it to your seat before kickoff. ollege Station isn’t called Aggieland for visitors feeling a little out of the loop when it comes to nothing. Former students, football fans things to do on game day that don’t involve the actual and families have poured into the town by game. the Brazos for decades of autumn kickoffs. Have you ever wanted to come early for Midnight CBut beyond the sidewalk that winds its way round the Yell, but didn’t know what you’d do before the next day’s Kyle Field main event, there are many other pockets of game? Always wanted to tailgate, but don’t know how? entertainment. Couldn’t find football tickets, but still want to see the College Station as a town is as distinct as the Aggies game live? Or, after so much driving, do you just want to that inhabit it. As the home of the 12th Man and the park your car and stay awhile? Then tear these pages out. nearly 500,000-member strong Aggie Network, the On campus and off, Texas Aggie has a few suggestions for town’s matchlessness can sometimes be overwhelmed by your next trip to Aggieland, and all on a tight budget. its football massiveness. And that can leave Aggieland’s 66 texas aggie | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010 aggienetwork.com When You Arrive The world seems smaller when Kyle Field was like during a game, a You must visit the Clayton W. you stand in front of the wall-sized joystick allows you to pick the direction Williams, Jr. Alumni Center. Newly computerized global map with you want to watch. Then, visit the Spirit enhanced with extended hours during its pulsating red dots that show exhibit and stand in front of a blue football season, your home on Texas where Aggies live and serve in their screen to be superimposed on an image A&M’s campus truly has something for communities. Listen and watch their of Kyle Field as you lead a Fightin’ everyone. stories of adventuring, justice-seeking Texas Aggie yell practice. and hard-working excitement. “We hear so many comments about Then, tell your own story. In how visitors get goosebumps as they the memories exhibit, add your re-experience so much of what makes recollections to The Association’s broad Aggieland unique,” said Association collection of oral histories. Sit in the Vice President Marty Holmes ’87. “This quiet of the partially walled exhibit and is a must-see stop on your return to tell the video camera about your time at Texas A&M and the importance and Kicking off each home game impact it has had on your life. weekend, the Singing Cadets hold an But, don’t leave after you’re done. open rehearsal at The Association Stay and scroll through others’ stories, at 5 p.m. on Fridays. Internationally like R.C. Slocum’s memory of the known as the voice of Aggieland, the emotional Bonfire football game of Singing Cadets have been harmonizing 1999, or his reaction to the Red, White Aggieland’s favorites since 1893. and Blue game in 2001. Hear the On Saturdays, The Association’s stories behind Texas A&M’s admission complete game day experience starts of women, why Aggies are men and Aggieland if you want to get your Aggie three hours before kickoff, but the women committed to service, and what batteries recharged!” building opens for visitors at 10 a.m. it means to be a former student. If you don’t have tickets to the game, (sometimes earlier for morning or early Step into the Traditions corner to visit the APO Ticketmart or stay at The afternoon kickoffs). Come upstairs to watch game day at Kyle Field, Midnight Association and watch the game on the venture through the extensive Aggie Yell Practice, Aggie Bonfire and Silver 49-panel Huddleston Video Wall—the Ring collections. Walk the timeline Taps, all filmed using a 360-degree largest LCD screen of its type in the from A&M’s first years, through times camera—the cleverest of inventions world. With the live feed from Kyle of war and prosperity, through times of for traditions. If you like watching the Field’s 12th Man TV, you won’t miss a celebration and grieving, and remember Aggie Band at yell practice, or if you’ve thing, from the Aggie Band’s opening how Texas A&M is part of you. always wondered what the view from notes to football replays. Plus, you can Each Aggie home game is shown on the Huddleston Video Wall via live feed from Kyle Field. aggienetwork.com SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010 | texas aggie 67 GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND + GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND + GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND + GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND + GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND + GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND For tailgating regulations, visit tailgating.tamu.edu. follow other college football games Access Sites.” These are tailgating March-In. Go take a look. being played at the same time. spots open to anyone who agrees to Thanks to State Farm in its role follow the rules. Though none of the n Have a favorite tailgating spot this year as the presenting sponsor of regulations are hard to stick to, there that you want to verbally claim game day at the Alumni Center, The are still a good number of them—so before anyone gets there? You’d Association has a floored, climate- many that it is best you check them out better get there first. No claiming controlled tailgating tent open to all at for yourself at tailgating.tamu.edu. allowed. The earliest you can set no charge. Spend your pregame in the With that settled, haul your gear to up your site is noon on the Friday 80-foot by 90-foot State Farm Aggie Spence Park or the grass around Reed before a Saturday home game. Tailgate tent, outfitted with flat screen Arena and check out our tailgating tips: televisions programmed to show the n Tailgating is free, so splurge for n Bring your pets, but don’t forget weekend’s biggest football games, along steaks for the grill! the leash. with food and drinks for purchase. “State Farm Texas is proud to support n Don’t get too comfortable in your If you’re traveling in an RV and The Association’s Game Day efforts lawn chair. The Aggie Fan Zone, plan on using it for tailgating, your this season,” said Ronnie Vandiver, located between the MSC (which best bet, according to Transportation zone marketing manager for State is closed for construction) and Services, is to get a pass for Lot 50, Farm’s Texas Zone. “On behalf of the Kyle Field, opens three-and-a- over by the Bonfire Memorial. An more than 40 Aggies who are State half hours before kickoff. Get RV parking pass in Lot 50 is going to Farm agents in Texas, we are proud to your autographs, listen to KBTX- support The Association’s mission to TV’s “Aggie Gameday” pregame serve Texas A&M and its student body.” show, get your 12th Man towel, You’ll find the State Farm and bring the kids over for Aggie Tailgate tent behind The games and free entertainment. Association’s 12-foot Aggie You might even visit the Texas Ring Replica, another must-see A&M Bookstore, now located destination on game day weekend. on the floor of G. Rollie White The Association brings the Aggie Coliseum. Network together. Make the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. Alumni Center your n While you’re up, head to Joe game-day headquarters. Routt Boulevard to watch the run you, depending on the size you Aggie Band lead the Corps of want, $60, $75 or $90 for the whole The Tailgate Tradition Cadets March-In one hour weekend starting Friday at 6:30 p.m. First, there’s a bit of jargon that needs before kickoff. Or, if you want to You’ve undoubtedly seen the other definition before you read further. On march in behind the Corps, head lots—like 100e, R, Olsen Park, and Texas A&M’s tailgating website you’ll over and join the crowd on the Penberthy—full of RVs, Aggie flags see several mentions of the term “Open Quad, 90 minutes before kickoff. and lawn chairs. However, the waiting lists for some of those sites run about n Don’t just stick to your tailgate. 350 deep. And, as you can imagine, the Walk around. This is Aggieland, turnover is very slow as families have you’ll probably run into old been tailgating in the same spot for friends. There’s no doubt you’ll years. make new ones. There’s hope for the newcomer, though. Sometimes a RV pass holder n Follow the horses. The Parsons can’t make it to a game and will post Mounted Cavalry keeps their his pass for sale. So, if you plan it right, Corps March-In horses in Spence Park prior to you can buy an unused pass, crank open 68 texas aggie | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2010 aggienetwork.com GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND + GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND + GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND + GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND + GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND + GAME DAY IN AGGIELAND Fan Zone Alumni Center Bonfire Memorial exhibits your RV’s awning and relax with the Services can help you out at rest of the seasoned tailgaters.