Reveille | |
---|---|
Reveille VII
|
|
University | Texas A&M University |
Conference | SEC |
Description | Rough Collie |
First seen | 1931 |
Reveille is the official mascot of Texas A&M University. Students adopted the first Reveille, a mixed-breed dog, in 1931. The cadets raised $100 during World War II to make Reveille a general, as part of a fundraiser for the K-9 Corps. Reveille is the highest-ranking member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.
Eight years after the first Reveille died, a graduate of the university donated a Shetland Sheepdog to be the second official Aggie mascot, Reveille II. The third Reveille was the first to be a purebred Rough Collie; all subsequent mascots have belonged to this breed. Reveille IV, V, VI, and VII died in 1989, 1999, 2003, and 2013, respectively. Reveille VIII served from August 2008 until her retirement in 2015. The current mascot, Reveille IX, assumed her role as mascot on May 9, 2015 during the Corps of Cadets Final Review. All Reveilles to date have been female.
When they die, the Reveilles are buried in a special cemetery located outside the north end of Kyle Field. The bodies are laid facing the south end zone and the scoreboard. After the addition to Kyle Field was built at the north end, blocking the view of the scoreboard, a small scoreboard was placed outside the stadium, named the Reveille Scoreboard, so the tradition could live on.
Reveille I (Unknown – January 18, 1944)
In January 1931, several members of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band were returning from a party in nearby Navasota, Texas when they unexpectedly hit a small black and white stray mutt. They brought the dog with them, and smuggled her into Legett Hall, fully intending to take her to the vet school the next day. The next morning, her presence was made apparent when "Reveille" was blown by a bugler and the dog began barking, hence Reveille became her name. Although it was against the rules to keep pets in the dorms, the cadets fell in love with the dog and kept her anyway.
During the opening of football season, Reveille was named official mascot when she led the band onto Kyle Field for a half-time performance. She would wear a jacket with A&M colors and pace the sidelines during games.