PHOTOS BY JP BEATO & CODY WAGES/The Battalion
LAYOUT BY GUY ROGERS/! 11 ^
Page 10* November 22, 1999
The Battali The Bat
t was Judgement Day
in Aggieland,
And tenseness filled
the air;
Ail knew there was a trip at
hand,
But not a soul knew where.
Assembled on the drill field
Was the world-renowned
Twelfth Man,
I The entire fighting Aggie team
And the famous Aggie Band.
And out in front with Royal
Guard
The reviewing party stood;
St. Peter and his angel staff
Were choosing bad from good.
First he surveyed the Aggie
team
And in terms of an angel
swore,
“By Jove, I do believe I’ve seen
The gallant group before.
I’ve seen them play since way
back when,
And they’ve always had the
grit;
I’ve seen em lose and I ’ve seen
‘em win
But I’ve never seen them quit.
No need for us to tarry here
Deciding upon their fates;
Tis plain as the halo on my
head
That they’ve opened Heaven’s
gates.”
And when the Twelfth Man
heard this,
They let out a mighty yell
That echoed clear to Heaven
And shook the gates of Hell.
“And what group is this upon
the side,”
St. Peter asked his aide,
“That swelled as if to burst
with pride
When we our judgement
made?”
“Why, sir, that’s the Cadet
v^orps
That’s known both far and
wide
For backing up their fighting
team
Whether they won, lost or
tied.”
“Well then,” said St. Peter,
“It’s very plain to me
That within 'the realms of
Heaven
They should spend eternity.
And have the Texas Aggie
Band
At once commence to play
For their fates too we must de
cide
Upon this crucial day.”
And the drum major so hear
ing
Slowly raised his hand
And said, “Boys, let’s play The
Spirit
For the last time in Aggieland.”
And the band poured forth the
anthem,
In notes both bright and clear
And ten thousand Aggie voices
Sang the song they hold so
dear.
And when the band had fin
ished,
St. Peter wiped his eyes
And said, “It’s not hard to see
They’re meant for Paradise.”
And the colonel of the Cadet
Corps aid
As he stiffly took his stand,
“It’s just another Corps Trip,
boys,
We’ll march in behind the
band.”
he emo
tions I am
experi
encing right
now are hard
to put into
words. There is
no clear cut
feeling, just a
ishmash of
ge, frustration
sness and im
Although I di
of the victims p<
impelling urge
n to preserve
Hi lat is why I at
memorial servic
Fountain. That
the Polo Fields i
stunned silence
i writing this
The obligatic
has taught me £
jespite what e\
gie spirit is a
I know, it soi
lealistic and d<
e to say that,
Many of the oui
outlets have ref
he Agg,
ith amazemei
ow could thes
nts have this
pride and lo>
hool and thei
To an outside
en out of the <
is just another d
The compas:
ave witnessed
days has tou<
belief. You shoi
for a brief mom
stopped and tri
hat it means 1
though they cai
ly understand,
e Aggie spirit
eir hearts anc
jommended fo
I To the famil
urns, 1 offer rm
liies and cond
elieve me, yoi
ot die in vain
s a permanen
ow strong am
ggie spirit ree
'ill doubt that
David Lei
econom
s a fairly
cynical
college
dent, I have
ways be-
^Bwed dissent-
m opinions,
en those crit
zing the
ost beloved
ditions, neet
an opinion
more than
re critical of
rsity. But as
Rver been so
nt at such a
y and a men
it family.
It has been i
is trying time,
■d sobs of son
] terrupted by t
ticism. In the
ing the tragi
e, every studi
opriately witl
rity. Eventual
blame and ci
cident, but tb
ioughts are fo
In the iminr
ch a tragedy
ood Ag” or
|as no such tf
nter. One hu
e student bo
|fid every Agg
gie, demons
ofiy id
|e pin on our;
It is one of tl
lest cliches tl
make you re
evious critici:
hits about h
havior at cut
thing when 1
M even more
Wednesday
out Bonfire
e investigatii
gisite. Thursday
I among the tea
irning chill,
ly on the sa
der stack.
Let the fingi
— right no\
igers to help wi
Eric Die
Eng