Leading the 12th Man

Yell Practice at The Big Event in 2011.

The life of a Fightin’ Texas Aggie Yell Leader demands dedication and the ability to balance academics and campus involvement while serving as one of the most visible student ambassadors of Texas A&M University. For senior Yell Leader Patrick Ivey ’12 being a Yell Leader is a time-consuming activity, but one he is honored to be a part of. “Serving as a Yell Leader at Texas A&M has been the privilege of a lifetime,” Ivey said. 

While many of us see the Yell Leaders at Midnight Yell Practice or leading the football team into Kyle Field during Spirit Walk, the Yell Leaders spend much more time serving the Aggie community than just passing back yells on game day. The football game day weekend starts much earlier in the week as the Yell Leaders prepare and rehearse their “fables” for Midnight Yell. They not only lead Midnight Yell, but also a children’s yell practice three hours before each home football game and a victory yell practice after the game on the steps of the YMCA building.

Senior Yell Leader Patrick Ivey '12.

Even in the summers, the Yell Leaders stay active within the Aggie community. They travel across the state to speak with Aggie Mothers’ Clubs, A&M Clubs, Coach’s Night for the football team and numerous other events which promote the Aggie Spirit. They often attend three or four events in a single day. They also speak at each new student conference and Fish Camp to welcome incoming students and teach them the yells and traditions of Texas A&M.

“My goal as a Yell Leader is to inspire and motivate the 12th Man to yell as loud as they can to support our Aggies,” Ivey said. “Texas A&M is unlike any other institutionbecause our unique identity comes from an unbreakable spirit and the people who make up the Aggie Network. While the Yell Leaders are a distinct and defining characteristic of Texas A&M, we are just another player in the grand scheme of what makes Texas A&M such an incredible university.”

By Pristine Remolona '12

You can support the Texas A&M Yell Leaders with a gift to the Yell Leader Endowed Fund.

The Yell Leaders prepare for a home football game on Kyle Field.