Midnight Yell
"Farmers Fight!"
Yell Practice began as a post dinner activity in 1913, when different corps companies
would gather together to "learn heartily the old time pep." However, it was not
until 1931, that Yell Practice as it is known today, was held before the t.u. game. It began,
when a group of cadets were gathered in Peanut Owen's dorm room in Puryear Hall. Someone
suggested that all of the freshmen should fall out and meet on the steps of the YMCA
building at midnight. The cadets notified senior yell leaders Horsefly Berryhill and Two
Gun Herman from Sherman, who could not authorize it, but said that they may just show up.
Well, needless to say, the word spread quickly, and when the freshmen began to arrive,
there were railroad flares and torpedoes stuck in flower pots around the YMCA building to
light the area. The first Midnight Yell had begun!!!
Today, Midnight Yell is held the night before a home game in Kyle Field and at the Grove
on Thursday nights before away games. Also for away games, a site is designated for a
Midnight Yell in the city of our opponent on the night before the game. For example, for
the t.u. game, it is held at the Texas Capitol in Austin. For a yell at Kyle Field, yell
leaders lead the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band and the Twelfth Man into the stadium. The yell
leaders lead the crowd in old army yells, the singing of the fight song, and tell fables
of how the Aggies are going to beat the everlivin' hell out of our opponent for the next
day. Lastly, the lights go out, and Aggies kiss their dates. If they don't have a date,
all they have to do is flick their Bicks. As the story goes, the flames make it easier for
two dateless people to find each other, and maybe they won't be dateless anymore!
The purpose of Midnight Yell is to pump up the Twelfth Man for the next day's big game!
In September 17, 1999, a new tradition was formed... First Yell (the first Midnight Yell of the school year) brought with it many related activities for everyone on Friday and Saturday including concerts, BBQ, and a Former Yell Leaders Reunion.
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