Texas A&M University is built on tradition. From historic Kyle Field to the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band to cool landmarks around College Station, it's everywhere. Nobody truly does it quite like Aggieland and the legend of the school's mascot proves it even more.
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To all Aggies, Reveille is special. Not only is she the official First Lady of Aggieland, she is also Texas A&M's official mascot. Reveille has some important duties, including joining the football team on the field on game day, is the highest-ranking member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.
A lot has changed over the years, but the original story of the first Reveille is truly one-of-a-kind.
How Did Reveille Become Texas A&M's Mascot?
In January 1931, while a group of cadets were returning from Navasota, they hit a small black and white dog with their car. As devastating as it sounds, the group picked up the dog and took it back to campus to take care of her. No pets were allowed at Texas A&M back then, so they hid her so they wouldn't get caught.
The next morning, however, a bugler blared "Reveille" to wake up cadets. It also woke up the dog because she started barking.
That's how she earned the name and became the school's official mascot.
The History of Reveille at Texas A&M
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From 1932 until her death in 1944, Reveille I led the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band onto the field. Then when she passed away, she was given a formal military funeral, including a 21-gun salute at Kyle Field.
Texas A&M had several other unofficial mascots after her death. Tripod, Spot, and Ranger all had trial runs, according to Texas A&M. Then finally, after eight years, a Shetland Sheepdog was donated to the university and named Reveille II.
Reveille III was the first purebred Rough Collie and every mascot since has been that breed, including Reveille IX, who has been the mascot since May 2015.
Miss Rev, as many call her, wears five silver diamonds. The Aggies Corps Commander only dons four. That means she pretty much rules everything.
As the story goes, if Reveille falls asleep in a cadet's bed, they have to find somewhere else to sleep. If she barks in class, the professor should end it because Miss Rev is bored.
Who Takes Care of Reveille?
At first, Reveille could do and go anywhere she wanted to on Texas A&M's campus. That all changed in 1960, however. She is now cared for by a Mascot Corporal, who is a sophomore cadet in Company E-2. The Mascot Corporal takes Miss Rev to all Aggie events, too.
The Reveille Cemetery
From Texas to Oklahoma to Kansas to even Ohio, Reveille can be born anywhere. When she dies, however, she is laid to rest in a special cemetery outside of the north end zone of Kyle Field.
The bodies face south, and there is even a Reveille Scoreboard so they can see the score of the Texas A&M football game.
Reveille I (1944), Reveille II (1966), Reveille III (1975), Reveille IV (1989), Reveille V (1999), Reveille (2003), Reveille VII (2013), and Reveille VIII (2018) are all buried in the cemetery.
The official mascot of Texas A&M is definitely special and there's no doubt she's always ready for football season.
This post was originally published on March 26, 2020.
