Cut V (72 images)

duddleysdraw88 said:

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General Jack D. Ripper said:

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I've been to Student BF. It's fine, but it will never compare to the 100s of thousands of people, the band, the corps and the football team being there.

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Sadly, it can never compare apples to apples again.

Bottom line is because of liability risk! Some of my best memories revolved around everything Bonfire!

Not having it on campus, no BQs and CTs there, not hearing Dan Campbell speaking truths, did make it different.

I was originally against the off campus version and never gave it much notice!

Fast forward a several years and I am beginning to see something that is continuing not only a great tradition, but also building something a little different than just a stack of logs in some random pasture!

Just like in our day, they are building that trust, loyalty, friendships, pride that made Bonfire so much freaking fun.

But let us not forget that they are building back and continuing the everlovin' HATRED for those despised t-sips over in asstin.

F sip
(and FSankey)

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Because 12 people died in a progressively more poorly managed stack. The issues that caused the collapse should have led to cancellation especially after the restack in a previous year. Ground wasn't stable.

I presume with engineering oversight the current student bonfire is safer not the least because of abandoning the wedding tier.

And the liability was due to the administration pretending the school would not be responsible not because the administration took full responsibility before deaths.

I have nothing against it continuing offsite led by students as long as not even me more person dies. Otherwise? The student led bonfire should be canceled by the very wise student leaders forever. And keep in mind that the insurance goes up when there was a payout in a claim. And depending on the policy and the perceived risk the policy might not be renewed. You can't have apples to apples unless you count ALL the apples.

But a significantly scaled back bonfire reduces risk.

Getting in the spirit for tomorrow's Family Cut (aka Father/Son Cut), here's a proud papa brag from last weekend... my little motivators with Legett "being useful" (as is the order of the day when they visit).

Reviewing photos from Family Cut live...

Family Cut (138 images)

https://instagr.am/p/DBWQJfjRSbb

Another proud papa moment. It's the last regulation Cut before next week's Dress Log Cut. My oldest is shooting with me today. After a morning shooting together, she's now in the Corps Woods on her own while her old man gets on a Truck at Load.

Cut VII (74 images)

https://instagr.am/p/DBfEZuKRlBG

https://instagr.am/p/DBfFadhxbg5

https://instagr.am/p/DBkUXNzx_GI

Centerpole is in the hole. Aggies will be tamping all night. Windle Sticks tomorrow.

duddleysdraw88 said:

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General Jack D. Ripper said:

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I've been to Student BF. It's fine, but it will never compare to the 100s of thousands of people, the band, the corps and the football team being there.

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Sadly, it can never compare apples to apples again.

Bottom line is because of liability risk! Some of my best memories revolved around everything Bonfire!

Not having it on campus, no BQs and CTs there, not hearing Dan Campbell speaking truths, did make it different.

I was originally against the off campus version and never gave it much notice!

Fast forward a several years and I am beginning to see something that is continuing not only a great tradition, but also building something a little different than just a stack of logs in some random pasture!

Just like in our day, they are building that trust, loyalty, friendships, pride that made Bonfire so much freaking fun.

But let us not forget that they are building back and continuing the everlovin' HATRED for those despised t-sips over in asstin.

F sip
(and FSankey)

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BQ's, and CT's are out there.

Is it built as high? No. Are the same traditions still kept alive through hand written materials kept by individual crews? Yes.

Centerpole Unload (70 images)

Perimeter Poles (32 images)

I know it's been a rough night. But this made me feel better. I hope it helps. Never seen 'em quit. BTHOB.

Centerpole Raising (67 images)

FtnTXAg03 said:

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Cut III, Pt. 2 (53 images)

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Hello future chiropractor patients!

Whoop! BTHO tu!

Windle Sticks (29 images)

WaldoWings said:

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MSCAg said:

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Damn I wish they'd bring it back to campus.

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I think if there was some funding available for true advertising it could be just as big of a deal off campus

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The funding will not be provided by the school. Look for donors. Usually local events offer advertising to local businesses and the take supports administration costs not so much for marketing except directed at the participating demographic (think little league.)

Probably need former students to provide the support. Is there a non-profit for the effort? They could solicit marketing but what is the purpose of the marketing? Is there a donation requested at burn?

It gets complicated very fast.

BONFIRE, LLC is the non-profit under which Bonfire operates. You are correct that Former Students provide the bulk of the financial donations. Materials, supplies, and services are also donated or offered at a lower cost. Still, for the time being, Bonfire has to charge a gate fee for Burn to cover the substantial costs of Burn and to provide for operating expenses for the start of the next season which begins immediately after Burn.

The largest obstacle Bonfire has to overcome right now is a permanent piece of land acquired and tailored specifically and exclusively for Bonfire. Bonfire leases operating pastureland today. As such, what Bonfire is allowed to do to the land is limited. This makes event parking a major challenge, for one. A group of Former Students is looking for land nearer to town, close to a highway, with multiple access points, good drainage, room for or access to parking, and other considerations. This will be a big lift, and one we as Former Students cannot expect the current students to take on while also safely and faithfully executing Bonfire (which they can only just afford, year over year).

They've set us an example of what a little grit can do, and it wouldn't be immodest to admit that they are carrying on our examples from when we had our opportunities. We got a great deal out of our opportunities, and I am confident that we can and will collectively be motivated to overcome this challenge with and for the students.

Is there any thought that bonfire will not burn this year due to dry conditions?

Dress Log Cut (121 images)

10:24 tonight...

Red/Brown/Green Stack (10 images)

https://instagr.am/p/DCQT8quvRB9

Chief Stack (72 images)

I will be in town on Tuesday before Thanksgiving with some out-of-state visitors. Does anybody know if we could drive out to Stack site and show that to them? I don't know if we'll be back in town on Friday night to watch it burn, but would love to show them the stack at least.

Quote:

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The bottom line is due to 12 deaths and significant settlement costs…never talk about bringing it back on campus without mentioning 12 deaths. Ever.

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Talked to RC at a tailgate this year and he told me he was absolutely against bringing it back to campus and one of the many that spoke to the president about it.

He was the coach when this happened and sounds like the toll it took on him was we need to honor those lost and let the on campus bonfire debate go away.

Stack site is open every day except for 11/17. On that day, Stack rests going into the Memorial and everybody - leadership included - takes the night to rest, reflect, and attend Memorial. Former Redpots return to town to guard the Stack and keep site closed. Every other day, it's open. There's a Google map on bonfire.ag.

First Stack (34 images)

Canyon Lake Agbu94 said:

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Is there any thought that bonfire will not burn this year due to dry conditions?

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Robertson County is still in a burn ban, with conditions getting worse every day without rain. Rain is only one factor with the index, but very rough estimates show needing 1-2" of the right kind of rain (slow and steady, and county-wide) in the next two weeks, and in enough time before burn to be able to have the ban lifted and then commit the substantial non-refundable, non-transferable expenses and resources associated with Burn.

All that said, this has happened before with Burn being rescheduled for January, after students get back. In fact, the single largest attendance was one of these January Burns. It is not ideal. But part of how these Aggies have arrived at where they have over these last 20+ years is a regard for safety, and their community.

FtnTXAg03 said:

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Canyon Lake Agbu94 said:

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Is there any thought that bonfire will not burn this year due to dry conditions?

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Robertson County is still in a burn ban, with conditions getting worse every day without rain. Rain is only one factor with the index, but very rough estimates show needing 1-2" of the right kind of rain (slow and steady, and county-wide) in the next two weeks, and in enough time before burn to be able to have the ban lifted and then commit the substantial non-refundable, non-transferable expenses and resources associated with Burn.

All that said, this has happened before with Burn being rescheduled for January, after students get back. In fact, the single largest attendance was one of these January Burns. It is not ideal. But part of how these Aggies have arrived at where they have over these last 20+ years is a regard for safety, and their community.

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Thank you for the follow up. Forecast does not look favorable, but we will see. At any rate, Beat the hell outta everyone!!

Stack II (48 images)

This is the definition of Good Bull, as I understand it!!!

Im still nursing blisters from Father/Son cut on the bonfire that fell !

fightinag said:

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Im still nursing blisters from Father/Son cut on the bonfire that fell !

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Can't tell if trolling or just really bad with words. You don't exactly have the most positive / pro-Ag posting history. Regardless, it's still nothing to make light of.