If tu cancelled the t-day game with us out of spite due to the conference realignment, could that be used as a catalyst to bringing Bonfire back on campus? (ie, continuing the tradition as a symbol of our burning desire to BTHOtu!)

By doing so in a very public way, it would/could draw attention to the fact that we want to continue the series and that it is they who are avoiding the game.

Disclaimer - I am in no way belittling the fine young students who are continuing to build an off campus Bonfire. Off campus Bonfire is Bonfire (for now) IMO and I very much appreciate the efforts by current students to keep the tradition going. I think everyone would agree though that getting it back on campus so the team, band and milkmen can be a part of it again is the ultimate goal.

I think we can all agree that the ultimate goal is a Bonfire wherein students may participate and lead in every stage of its execution. Unfortunately, as has been discussed at length, that is an absolute impossibility on campus.

I wonder if it's been discussed what is keeping the players, band (with instruments), yellboys, etc... from coming out now twelve years down the road? I've heard the alleged reasons, but I wonder if there's anything in the books that gets pointed to for enforcement?

Might that be something that could change?

That would have to be the direction to head. Years ago, a couple good friends of mine and the organization who were just a year removed from being Yell Leaders (one of them Head Yell), were moved to make themselves available to Bonfire to lead yells and tell a story at Burn. They about burst with pride out there, as did all of us watching them, finally having a bona fide Bonfire Yell Practice.

The next night I caught one of them coming out of the Chicken. I thanked him again for what they'd done. He looked pretty low, but he took a certain intense pride in picking his head up, saying that it had been his honor. I asked him what was bothering him. He said that he had gotten a couple calls from a few people long-and-far removed from the situation and they weren't kind, to put it mildly. "It's bull****," he said "But I'd do it again. I'd do it right now."

THAT is the kind of courage that it will take, and has taken, even just a little bit at a time. It took courage to start again, to pave a new way for this old Tradition. And it takes courage every year from those outside the organization to lead more of the Aggie family out to watch and participate in a Bonfire built by and for Aggies.

[This message has been edited by FtnTXAg03 (edited 9/14/2011 3:30p).]

If, lets say, Ryan Tannehill showed up to Burn, what exactly would/could the school do about it?

If old #17 showed up, and I were Mike Sherman, I'd be pretty mad that he wasn't at home resting/going over game footage.

Granted, there isn't anything he could really do about it, but I would much rather all of our players be on the same page with the coach, just for team unity's sake.

The Yell Boys, on the other hand, are a completely different story. There probably isn't a real rule in place other than some hazy 'conduct unbecoming' clause, which, if challenged wouldn't really stand. Having said that, the Yell Boys from the Corps are the ones that spend their entire college careers playing Corps politics, and therefore aren't going to go against that by coming out to Bonfire, let alone even have the impulse to do so anyway.

"Besides, what else are you doing at 6 am to not come out to Cut?"

Thanks for that Heddy.

Think of it this way, though (and this is mostly me just going stream-of-consciousness):
As a Yell Leader (or any other public figure for that matter), you have name/face recognition. What's going to happen as soon as a Yell Leader or football player/coach or SBP or the Aggie Band shows up in their official capacity? Everyone gets on tweetbook and myface and goes all "zomg teh yell leaders came to Bonfire!!!!1!!1!" and now the whole world knows. Now your response is, "So what, be your own man, make your own decisions. If it doesn't specifically say in your by-laws 'thou shalt not attend Student Bonfire', then what's keeping you from going?" Well, now that the whole world knows that the Yell Leaders came to Bonfire, the media will see an official representative of the University implicitly supporting an organization that the University has made the decision to not be affiliated with/not recognize (right, wrong, or indifferent). Now the University is suddenly involved and can be implicated in any future potential litigation (thanks to this sick, suit-happy world we live in) as soon as the next John Doe wants to file a lawsuit. So even if there are no set in stone rules saying "you cannot go to Bonfire" (which would in and of itself be acknowledging it), a single person or group making the decision to go out and "be redass" can cause a whole shitstorm of bad press for the University. They made a decision to represent our great University, and I applaud them for that because, contrary to popular belief among many Bonfire folks, Bonfire is not the only way to "prove" that you're redass. It's a huge honor and privilege, but it certainly comes with some strings attached. I don't think anyone involved, including Bonfire, would want any negative consequences for the University, however unintentional or ridiculous, just to have the Yell Leaders, or the Band, or the Team at Burn.

Now, you can certainly argue the validity of the University's stance, but from an individual choice standpoint, I can at least understand the position they find themselves in.

As far as formers are concerned, though, I have a hard time finding justification for them. Hand them a piece of paper to sign that says, "I do not represent Texas A&M University", and be done with it.

And, for the record, I agree with DM on this, that it will take courageous individuals stepping up to make things happen, and I hope we continue to see that. I would add, however, that no matter how good the intentions are, we should be mindful of unintended consequences and make sure we do things the right way. So far, I haven't seen anything to the contrary.

No offense meant there, Coop. I just know from the things I hear from CTs in my engr classes (one of which ran inside the Corps and didn't get the nomination, so I guess there could be some sour grapes involved there).

And lol, tweetbook and myface XD

Definitely some good points made.

I wonder if sympathetic figures in SGA could get something passed that vaguely says "no policy prohibiting attendance at off campus, non-university, events will be made." Would that be enough to allow individuals to attend 'events' in their off hours. I know at the moment, and for a while now, a lot of figures have had to tow the company line for the sake of saving face, but if there were to be an official policy of no policy...then what?

Definitely way too much political correctness going around these days - even in Aggieland!

Gig 'em &
Happy Trails

BTHOtu whomever they play. Now and forever.

@Fitch: SGA has proposed bolder bills before.

Interesting... Definitely before my time. Nice research there commando

Wasn't so much "research" as the fact that I remembered it from being there at the time (as a grad student and as half of the Clements Bonfire Crew).

half? well done

Yeah. It was just me and DoctorSnoball. (Until I finally got Lars to come out to one Stack shift.)

Sno identified more with Lechner, though. He had this crazy dream of getting their crew restarted.

not so crazy anymore...

I was actually one of the 32 co-authors on that piece of legislation in student senate in 2005. I remember it causing a load of issues and debate and, if memory serves me right, it eventually passing as a resolution instead of a bill. (I might be confused with the half a dozen other pieces of bonfire legislation we saw in those two years.) It is interesting to read about it all these years later.

Thanks for the shout out, commando! The nerds have done, and continue to do, considerably well and I couldn't be more proud! Let us not forget though that your help and enthusiasm for bonfire my sophomore and junior years was instrumental to all my efforts being as successful as they were my senior year. Thanks again!

Plus, "nerd crew" is actually a Lekner, McFadden, Clements, and others conglomeration, with several Clements based chiefs and several solely Clements members. Commandos, represent!

Clements Hall, the Boca of old Nerds!

Snoball
Lekner XV
Clements '04-'05

I'd say it was a great vision of Doctor Snoball's part. With the help of those around him, he laid the foundation of today's Nerd Crew. A definite 'WHOOP' to him today, of all days, for all that he has done and continues to do in support of all the good that Bonfire stands for.

"Besides, what else are you doing at 6 am to not come out to Cut?"

The nerds definitely were the crew to match this last week.

It's kind of interesting, these days there seems to be the will in SGA but not the impetus for bonfire related legislation. SB has sort of become the status quo.

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it eventually passing as a resolution instead of a bill

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What's the difference between the two?

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The nerds have done, and continue to do, considerably well and I couldn't be more proud!

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Me neither. I'm quite impressed with how things have changed since 2005

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Let us not forget though that your help and enthusiasm for bonfire my sophomore and junior years was instrumental to all my efforts being as successful as they were my senior year. Thanks again!

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Well, y'all did forget it while handing out Bonfire Nerds T-shirts. But you're very welcome.

Also, I'd like to thank Mike Winn '05, who helped me get involved.

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Commandos, represent!

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WHOOP!

I'd post a Clements yell, but the "North of Albritton" one doesn't really fit anymore.




BTW, happy birthday!

The difference between a bill and a resolution (outside of procedural things like time on the senate floor, voting stuff, etc) is that bills are official decrees by the senate and become imposable "law", whereas resolutions are just quick easily passed "opinion of the senate" sorts of acknowledgements. Bills have more meat and teeth than resolutions.

As for the shirt issue, I can have that resolved. No worries.

So, with no t.u. game, does the university get rid of its non-midnight yell practice?

Hm, I would have to think that they would not hold the non midnight yell, just because there'd be nothing to hold it for, unless of course they try to start up a new T Day rivalry.

"Besides, what else are you doing at 6 am to not come out to Cut?"

What a bunch of nerds!!!!! :-p

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If tu cancelled the t-day game with us out of spite due to the conference realignment, could that be used as a catalyst to bringing Bonfire back on campus? (ie, continuing the tradition as a symbol of our burning desire to BTHOtu!)

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With 20/20 hindsight: No.