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Missouri State fan with some questions

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MSUBearsDude
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10:55a, 8/31/26
Hello Aggie fans! We made a last minute decision to head down to Bryan/College Station for the game on Saturday. Really looking forward to visiting your campus.

The first question I had was about Yell Practice: If we happen to be in the area on Friday night, would attending that as a visitor and wearing MSU maroon be a bad idea? My group wouldn't really be looking to troll as much as just observing the tradition and such.

I have a decent amount of work colleagues and associates who went to school at rival Southwest conference schools back in the day and while they have begrudgingly nice things to say about the football traditions and campus, almost all of them advised us to find stuff to do outside of the local Bryan/College Station community on Friday night and during the day on Saturday. They made it seem like it's just college students and pretty much everyone else drives in from DFW, Austin, Houston, etc and goes straight to campus on gameday. We didn't know if the local downtown area is worth visiting or not.

Thanks! And we are looking forward to Saturday. We didn't compete that well in our opener at the FBS level against USC but we had a double digit lead on SMU a few weeks later, and ended up making a bowl game. Our hope is that we can compete with you all for a while and maybe keep it interesting like New Mexico State did in Tallahassee in Week 0.
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Mat Lanticus
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10:58a, 8/31/26
AG
You'll be fine and welcomed at yell practice. Enjoy the trip.
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Blonde Coffee Beans
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11:03a, 8/31/26
Our fanbase is overly nice. If you can handle guys pacing back and forth, making fun of your school to get a rise outta of Aggies, you'll be just fine. Its essentially a huge pep rally and very harmless
"I don't care about your feelings OP. I'm not going to let fandom replace reason, thought, and history"
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cajunaggie08
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In reply to MSUBearsDude • 11:05a, 8/31/26
AG
your colleagues sound older. There are definitely things to do in B/CS on a friday evening. The town is usually packed. Northgate is where the college kids will be so if you are wanting something at a slower pace then downtown Bryan can be a nice place to hang. Your biggest issue will be finding a hotel/place to stay for friday night if you are coming to town the day before.
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Mr.Short-termMemory
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11:06a, 8/31/26
AG
That was true when we were in the Southwest Conference. There was little tail-gating, we had 7 hotels in total, and all games kicked off at 1:00pm.

Now A LOT of alumni go to Yell Practice. But either way, you'll not be shunned for being there or wearing your schools attire.

I hope you enjoy the campus, the environment, and the game until kickoff.
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RoadkillBBQ
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11:07a, 8/31/26
"Local downtown area"
That would be called Northgate. Particularly the Dixie Chicken. Pretty famous hole in the wall beer joint. Worth visiting so you can say you've been there.
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MSUBearsDude
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In reply to cajunaggie08 • 11:20a, 8/31/26
cajunaggie08 said:
your colleagues sound older. There are definitely things to do in B/CS on a friday evening. The town is usually packed. Northgate is where the college kids will be so if you are wanting something at a slower pace then downtown Bryan can be a nice place to hang. Your biggest issue will be finding a hotel/place to stay for friday night if you are coming to town the day before.


Appreciate it. Since it came together sort of late we were most likely going to stay in the northern Houston suburbs. I've been to a few different SEC towns on gameday weekends, sometimes for the game and sometimes not, but it's almost impossible to get a hotel in a lot of those places. It looks like there are quite a few hotels with availability in the immediate area which surprised me. In places like Oxford, Starkville, Auburn, etc there is nothing at all available and you have to travel from a greater distance. I was guessing that there might not be as much enthusiasm for a game against a CUSA team that was FCS until last year but it was interesting to see it is possible to stay in town even this late in the process.
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FrankK
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11:21a, 8/31/26
AG
Bush Presidential Library, Corp March to the stadium, Texas women, some pretty good Texas smoked brisket joints. You'll be fine. Lots of options.
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ABattJudd
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11:23a, 8/31/26
AG
I always advise visitors to go to the Quad and watch the Corps step off. Also make sure you stick around in the stands for halftime.
"Well, if you can’t have a great season, at least ruin somebody else’s." - Olin Buchanan
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StinkyPinky
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11:42a, 8/31/26
AG
Enjoy! Definitely would be welcomed to yell practice and you'll find good friendly conversations welcoming you in your MSU gear. I would also suggest to join a tail gate before the game and come a couple of hours ahead to watch the march in and all the other pre-game activities. Place will be electric. You'll love your Kyle Field experience
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Pizza
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In reply to ABattJudd • 11:57a, 8/31/26
ABattJudd said:
I always advise visitors to go to the Quad and watch the Corps step off. Also make sure you stick around in the stands for halftime.


this.

Midnight yell, corp step off, finding a few good restaurants to eat at, the game/halftime check off most of the boxes.

There's the corp museum, and several other interesting things to see around the area as well.

The campus is big, and getting around can be difficult. Showing up early for anything you intend to do helps remove allot of the stress caused by traffic and/or overcrowding.
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Jugstore Cowboy
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In reply to MSUBearsDude • 12:00p, 8/31/26
AG
The Bryan-College Station area has grown a lot since most of us were in school, and certainly since the SWC days. Your dining and entertainment options there won't look a ton different than any decent suburb. And a lot more alumni and families stay in town for game weekends these days. Hotel prices and restaurant wait-times are the only reason not to stay in town, but this weekend will be easier than a lot of game weekends.
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Cinco Ranch Aggie
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12:09p, 8/31/26
AG
Quote:
Southwest conference schools back in the day

Only 3 of those schools have played at Kyle Field since we moved to the SEC - sips, Pigs, Rice. None of the others have likely been through Aggieland to know that it's no longer 1971. Bryan-College Station has plenty to offer, and since 2012, tailgating on campus has blossomed into a massive event up to SEC standards. You will be welcome both at tailgates and at Yell Practice on Friday night wearing whatever you want. Enjoy your visit (well, not too much).
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milner79
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12:11p, 8/31/26
You will be amazed, I imagine, at the attendance numbers for Yell Practice.
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zooguy96
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12:36p, 8/31/26
AG
Our fans are about the polar opposites of LSU fans.

You'll be fine with whatever you do, except if you are overly rude
I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.
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92Ag95
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12:56p, 8/31/26
AG
Should be good. Can't guarantee you won't run into any drunk idiots though.
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NoahAg
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1:09p, 8/31/26
Be sure to get midnight yell tickets early.
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philothea
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1:32p, 8/31/26
I believe first friday in downtown Bryan is this friday. Could go down there, grab some dinner before.
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Credible Source
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2:11p, 8/31/26
AG
You can definitely party at Northgate, there will be people of all ages out having a good time.
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zag213004
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2:27p, 8/31/26
AG
It will be hot and humid. Prepare accordingly. Lots of water. It can overwhelm norther….. everyone. Especially if walking around in the sun leading up to game
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AGDAD14
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2:41p, 8/31/26
Visit/tour the MSC, it's indoors and the bookstore is located there (directly across from the North end zone plaza where the 12th man statue and Reveille graveyard are located).

There's a great ice cream parlor in the middle of Aggie Park (east side of stadium). It helps in the heat of the day prior to kickoff. Also, on the south side of Aggie Park, is the Aggie Ring monument.

The Aggie hotel, next to the MSC, has chairs & tables to relax and watch other football games during the day.

Local flavor and hole-in-the-wall places that our family likes…
- Jose Mexican Restaurant
- Koppe Bridge (burgers; 11777 Wellborn, get there early)
- 1775 Texas Pit BBQ (8203 Raymond Stotzer, HWY 60, there will be a line outside in the heat; visit there website)
- more chain related…
- Texas Roadhouse is really good in College Station
- Saltgrass Steak House is also decent
- call ahead is available at both

Have a safe and fun trip! Gig'em!
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BboroAg
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In reply to AGDAD14 • 2:47p, 8/31/26
AG
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Leggo My Elko
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3:05p, 8/31/26
AG
Yes, Midnight Yell is 100% worth it to see, it's a fun spectacle. Everyone will be super friendly, unless you happen to run into the handful of drunk A-holes, we have much much less of those than the avg fanbase. More likely than not, you will have the opposite problem, overly friendly people that want to make sure you have a good time and will take all the time and conversation you give them and then some.

As for GameDay itself, the Corp step off and the Quad is a great thing to put on your list of things to see. It's 90 minutes before kickoff. Then walking around the tailgate areas in the Aggie Park area is the way to go. If you meander around with your MSU gear on, you will get lots of "Howdys" and likely be offered food, beer and conversation.

Here's a link that breaks all the timing and locations of everything on gameday:
https://kylefield.12thman.com/
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twk
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In reply to MSUBearsDude • 3:30p, 8/31/26
AG
MSUBearsDude said:
cajunaggie08 said:
your colleagues sound older. There are definitely things to do in B/CS on a friday evening. The town is usually packed. Northgate is where the college kids will be so if you are wanting something at a slower pace then downtown Bryan can be a nice place to hang. Your biggest issue will be finding a hotel/place to stay for friday night if you are coming to town the day before.


Appreciate it. Since it came together sort of late we were most likely going to stay in the northern Houston suburbs. I've been to a few different SEC towns on gameday weekends, sometimes for the game and sometimes not, but it's almost impossible to get a hotel in a lot of those places. It looks like there are quite a few hotels with availability in the immediate area which surprised me. In places like Oxford, Starkville, Auburn, etc there is nothing at all available and you have to travel from a greater distance. I was guessing that there might not be as much enthusiasm for a game against a CUSA team that was FCS until last year but it was interesting to see it is possible to stay in town even this late in the process.

There are a lot more hotels in BCS than their used to be. It has really loosened up the market for the non-marquee games. There was a time when I used to stay at my sister's house in Tomball on game weekends due to the hotel shortage, so I know the drive. If this is your only visit to A&M, I would stay in town if you can. You should also give some thought to where you are going to park, as that makes a difference if you are driving in and out on gameday.
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13B
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3:33p, 8/31/26
I highly encourage going to Midnight Yell. It's dorky but a good time and would be a shame to miss.

First Friday in Downtown Bryan will probably be crowded but lots to do.

We pretty much have any restaurant you might would want (except for Pappadeaux's) but if you want something unique to B/CS then I would recommend (with the understanding that they will all be pretty busy):

Burgers: Top of the Hill, Margie's Bar and Grill, Chicken Oil Company, Dixie Chicken or Koppe Bridge (Top of the Hill and Margie's being #1a & 1b)

Burritos: Freebirds (if you haven't had one) or, if you are a little more brave, try a Queso Burrito at Pepe's

Breakfast Tacos: Jesse's

BBQ: 1775, C&Js is a step down probably but they are pretty consistent, have three locations and the one in Bryan has plenty of room. Cooper's has been good but the last couple of times I have gone it wasn't near as good.

Pizza: Many good ones but I would recommend Pepperoni Rolls from Double Dave's Pizzaworks

Sandwiches: The Wild Grain (they may also have pizza, depends on the day)

General Steakhouse: The Feed Barn or Longhorn Tavern Steakhouse

Hope you have a good experience despite, hopefully, your team losing.
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Russ79
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3:47p, 8/31/26
AG
Folks have pretty much covered the outside the stadium experience but wanted to bring up a couple of things. If you are taking a wife/girlfriend they need to understand that they can't carry their regular purse- everything must me in clear bag and will be looked at as you go in. You can take some bottled water in with you as long as it is still sealed- there are water refill stations inside the stadium that are free. All concessions are cashless so make sure you have a credit card with you- I usually load up a prepaid debit card with a few hundred dollars to get me started on the season. Enjoy the experience and don't run to the can when halftime starts- stay for the band.
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Ag1188
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4:16p, 8/31/26
AG
Nobody will care what you're wearing. Probably be happy to see opposing fans visiting Midnight Yell.
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StinkyPinky
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In reply to Russ79 • 4:18p, 8/31/26
AG
This!

Absolutely watch the band at halftime.
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Kansas Kid
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5:27p, 8/31/26
Your maroon will blend in perfectly with ours so many won't notice. Walk around the tailgate areas and make new friends and get stuffed before game on free food.

The irony is we don't have a full fledged Buc-ee's like you do in Springfield even though the cofounder, Beaver, went to A&M.
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MSUBearsDude
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6:26p, 8/31/26
Thanks for all of the advice. It's genuinely been very helpful.

I haven't been able to get a clear answer from our athletic department about how well we are going to travel to this game, but we had a surprising number of people that made it to LA to the USC game last year. Of course that was our first game as an FBS school so the novelty factor could have been driving that.

Our team is ready to go. One of the grad assistants told me they were playing highlights of that App State/A&M game from 2022 or 2023 in the facility constantly this week to inspire the team. We have a decent amount of Texans on the team that feel like they were overlooked and have a whole bag of Tostitos on their shoulders.
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StinkyPinky
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In reply to MSUBearsDude • 8:01p, 8/31/26
AG
MSUBearsDude said:
Thanks for all of the advice. It's genuinely been very helpful.



Our team is ready to go. One of the grad assistants told me they were playing highlights of that App State/A&M game from 2022 or 2023 in the facility constantly this week to inspire the team. We have a decent amount of Texans on the team that feel like they were overlooked and have a whole bag of Tostitos on their shoulders.
Lol, that's pretty smart and awesome. I respect the approach and passion!
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jickyjack1
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In reply to FrankK • 8:11p, 8/31/26
FrankK said:
Bush Presidential Library, Corp March to the stadium, Texas women, some pretty good Texas smoked brisket joints. You'll be fine. Lots of options.


Smoked brisket joints? Some years ago lung considerations forced me to stop inhaling anything but air, and I completely missed out on those. But hey; sounds like fun.
jickyjack1
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C2 Ag 93
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9:01p, 8/31/26
If you are looking to experiencing tradition, then yes, your best bet is stay in B/CS, but rooms will be at a premium and slim pickings for a "last minute" trip.

Definitely go to Midnight Yell if you are a fan of seeing other schools traditions. You'd be fine mixing in the crowd, but many opposing fans like to sit in the wings / endzones and see the whole stands as well. The "there's nothing in B/CS to do" is an old trope. Lot's to do, bars, restaurants, etc. that will be hopping on a game weekend.

You said "head down," so not sure if that means flying or driving. If flying down you likely picked Houston (IAH). If there basically a full day Friday or Sunday and not going to B/CS to stay the nights, Space Center Houston (NASA) is the major draw (over 1 million visitors a year). Would not recommend trying to see it though if you have less than around 4 hours Friday or Sunday (you'd miss a lot there and it's around a 30-40 minute drive from the center of Houston, or an hour from IAH area).

Even if staying outside of B/CS, still recommend driving in early to see gameday tailgating and the Corps March In (step off is an hour and a half before kickoff). So arrive around 3 to 4 hours before kickoff.
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Aggie Infantry
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In reply to Mr.Short-termMemory • 5:55a, 9/1/26
AG
Mr. Short-termMemory stated: " Now A LOT of alumni go to Yell Practice."

Username checks out. We are not "alumni". We are Former Students.
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dixichkn
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6:54a, 9/1/26
AG
Quote:
Burgers: Top of the Hill,

Holy smokes…..this is the way. Just went there a couple of weeks ago for the first time. Burger so good it's orgasmic. A little off the beaten path but worth the trip if you're in town a day early or late.

Enjoy your trip! But hope you hate the game itself……..
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