The lore around the aggie cheer was told to me during orientation. The Yell Leaders of Texas A&M, five corps cadets members that are the main representation of the organization and have been since their first appearance in 1907, regaled a filled Rudder Auditorium, about 2,500 people, with the tale. And it has come to my notice that not every aggie at this university knows of the tale. So, I have taken it on as my sworn duty as an aggie to educate you all.
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Back in Old Army, there was a mountain lion prowling through the campus, striking fear into aggie’s hearts.
A ‘courageous’ freshman got it into their minds to scare the mountain lion off. With a rifle in hand, they approached the mountain lion, only to freak when the mountain lion turned its attention to them. Turning tail and running, they threw their hands into the air, screaming “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa” all the while.
Now, a sophomore – laughing at the freshman’s failure – decided to take care of the problem themselves. With their two pistols in hand, they approached the mountain lion. Bravely, they let off five shots. Five shots that all embedded themselves in dirt and not the mountain lion.
A junior, humored by both attempts, knew it was their turn now. Confident in their abilities, they aimed a single pistol – with swagger of course – at the mountain lion. Firing off four shots, they released a “Whoop!” as the last shot hit true. But their victory was short lived as they had not hit true enough.
With a bullet-grazed mountain lion stalking its new prey, a senior stepped up to the plate. Without preamble or any extra bull, they aimed their pistol and shot once. Because once was all they needed. They released a satisfied “Whoop!” because the prowling mountain lion was no more. Hats off to the senior, who truly was the best of them all.
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And from this story, the wildcat cheers came to be. Below are the specifics on how to say your cheer:
*It is important to note that only upperclassmen can say “Whoop!” So, underclassmen must strike the word whoop from their dictionary until they have earned the right to say that glorious word.
For Freshmen:
Shoot those hands into the air, as high as possible, and yell at the top of your lungs “Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.”
For Sophomores:
Create two pistols with your hands – thumb up, pointer and middle finger out, and ring and pinky curled. Point the pistols to the floor and shout “Aa-aa-aa-aa-aa” with pride.
For Juniors:
Bring your hands together to create a single pistol – pointer and thumb out while the rest are curled. Point your pistol towards your left foot and say “Aa-aa-aa-Whoop!” with vigor.
For Seniors:
With the same pistol as the Junior, point towards the ground then the sky, and proudly shout “Aa-Whoop!” As you “Whoop!”, lift your left foot behind your right.
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So, next time you hear your year, don’t be a two percenter. Instead, say those cheers with aggie pride.