TDMMC March Madness - CULTURE - The 12th Man vs. Running Through Smoke

[Phishfan]

Aggie football fans call themselves the 12th Man, meaning they are there to support the 11 players on the field. To further symbolize their "readiness, desire, and enthusiasm", the entire student body stands throughout the game.[47] In a further show of respect, the students step "off the wood" (step off of the bleachers onto the concrete) whenever a player is injured or when the band plays the Aggie War Hymn or The Spirit of Aggieland.[48][49] At the end of the Aggie War Hymn, fans sway back and forth, causing the upper deck of the stadium to move. The 12th Man tradition began in Dallas on January 2, 1922



The traditional Hurricane "smoke" entrance in the Orange Bowl began in the 1950s. In an attempt to increase fan interest, UM transportation director Bob Nalette came up with the idea of using fire extinguishers to produce the now-famous smoke that Hurricanes run through as they enter the field. In his spare time 40 years ago, Nalette welded the pipe together that even today billow smoke from the top of the Hurricanes’ entrance tunnel. The original set up included flashing lights, two large hurricane flags and a tape of a hurricane being blasted over the loud speaker. The flags and lights are now gone but the smoke and sound track still remain.

[Brian Fein]

The 12th man thing is done all over the place, most notably in Seattle.  But the other traditional stuff that the Aggies do is different.

[Phishfan]

I don't think Seattle was playing football in 1922 though. I think something has to be said for people copying your tradition.

[Brian Fein]

I know, you're right there, but just calling yourself the "12th man" isn't really the thing is it?  I mean, the Panthers have a banner hanging in the arena that says "7th man" - did they steal that from A&M, or is that just typical sports nomenclature at this point?

I guess the argument is that it IS typical sports nomeclature, and the Aggies started it, and that's the point.  Right?

[Dave Gray]

The point of the 12th man is this (It was one of my favorite when researching traditions for the bracket).

"The tradition of the Twelfth Man was born on the second of January 1922, when an underdog Aggie team was playing Centre College, then the nation's top ranked team. As the hard fought game wore on, and the Aggies dug deeply into their limited reserves, Coach Dana X. Bible remembered a squad man who was not in uniform. He had been up in the press box helping reporters identify players. His name was E. King Gill, and was a former football player who was only playing basketball. Gill was called from the stands, suited up, and stood ready throughout the rest of the game, which A&M finally won 22-14. When the game ended, E. King Gill was the only man left standing on the sidelines for the Aggies. Gill later said, "I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the winning touchdown, but I did not. I simply stood by in case my team needed me.""

Therefore, as a symbol of this readiness, the entire section stands at the ready for the entire game.

[Dave Gray]

I'm shocked and disappointed by this result.  The homerism is gross.

[Sunstroke]

One of those 3 votes for the 12th Man is mine, and I agree with you completely on the homerism... This one should be lopsided in the opposite direction, imo.

[Phishfan]

Guess who the third vote is. I kind of expected the homerism though.

[Fau Teixeira]

i voted for the smoke .. not a hurricanes fan .. the 12th man thing is boring . .that was my criterea

[Brian Fein]

I voted for the smoke, not because I'm a Hurricanes fan, but because I think the "12th man" thing is commonplace amongst sports and doesn't deserve special consideration.  Thought I made that clear in my previous posts, above.

[Dave Gray]

An entire section standing since 1922 is nothing I've ever heard of.

[Phishfan]

I find it hard to buy an originality argument when the other tradition is one I've seen football teams, basketball teams, boxers, and even professional wrestlers use.

[el diablo]

The 12th man is a very cool concept. But running through smoke is awesome. Go Canes!