STAND WITH THE
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12 TH MAN
The 12th Man has, for generations, been the cornerstone of tradition, honor and respect at Texas A&M University. It’s something that hundreds of thousands of students have come to instill in their everyday actions and carry on long after their stay in College Station.
It all began at the end of the 1921 Aggie Football season. E. King Gill was, at the time, a sophomore who formerly served as a backup running back. However, he decided halfway through the season to focus on basketball as a center and left the football team. The Aggies eventually claimed the Southwest Conference title with a 5-1-2 record and earned a trip to the Dixie Classic in Dallas.
Here they would face off against the undefeated No. 1 team in the nation, the Centre College Praying Colonels, under former A&M coach Charley Moran. Gill just happened to attend the game while staying in his hometown of Dallas and helped keep track of stats in the press box.
The Aggies preceded to be pummeled in the first half. Their reserves quickly became depleted due to injuries including starting running backs Sammy Sanders and Heine Weir, who left the game in the first quarter. Quarterback A.B. Morris, fullback Bull Johnson and halfback Louis Miller soon joined them on the sidelines.
The head coach at the time, Dana X. Bible, beckoned to his former player. Gill ran down from the press box, under the bleachers, and put on Weir’s uniform. He stood ready at the sidelines for the remainder of the game and was the only healthy player not on the field. And thus the 12th Man was born. Gill never had to enter the game, yet he stood while the Aggies upset Centre College, 22-14.
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Legendary Texas A&M Head Coach R.C.
Slocum reflected on how he has witnessed the spirit of the 12th Man over the 45 years of his service at A&M.
“It probably would have added to the story if you went in and scored the winning touchdown, but he never played,” said Slocum. “He was standing ready to help if called upon. That concept I think is one of the hallmarks of Texas A&M. That Aggies help Aggies and Aggies stand ready when called upon to help.”
Since the honor began, a walk-on player, often a specials team ace, is elected each football season to bear the number 12 on their chest. It was Cullen Gillaspia, the Katy, Texas native who claimed the 12th Man jersey in 2016. Initially turning down D1 football offers in order to attend Texas A&M, Gillaspia said it was a decision he’s never looked back on since stepping foot on campus.
“It really meant everything,” said Gillaspia. “As a walk-on it’s kind of something you dream about. Throughout the offseason I had it in my mind that that was my goal. It’s such a big honor to be able to represent the student body and be able to be a part of something, one of the best traditions in college football. I think
it makes the student body feel more like a
part of the game and really brings the school to life. The real 12th Man is the people up the stands and for one of them to be down on the field and represent them, there’s no better way to have the student body involved.”
Slocum said it’s this idea of togetherness and standing up for one another that sets Texas A&M apart from every other university in the nation. He said that’s essentially the fabric of the 12th Man and what it stands for. Over the years it’s extended to the point where they’re not only standing ready to help, they’re looking for what needs help. Slocum said one of the basic educations given to students at A&M is the concept of getting involved and helping and giving back. Aggies, Slocum said, are committed not only to the school, but to each other. All schools have alumni groups and they support the school, but at A&M it goes deeper than that.
Today a statue of Gill still stands at the ready outside of Kyle Field as well as Rudder Fountain. Although Gill never touched the turf, his selfless readiness to help others will be an inspiration to Aggies for decades to come.