'Howdy!' is the official greeting of Texas A&M. A&M is known as the friendliest campus in the world, and its students love to extend a warm Howdy! to visitors and friends alike.

A closed fist with the thumb up is a sign of approval and of winning just about everywhere. When Aggies give each other this sign (which they frequently do), they accompany it with a hearty 'Gig 'Em!' To Aggies, this is encouragement to go out and do your best at whatever you are doing. So when you see some Aggies, give them a 'Gig 'Em!' and they will be proud to give you one right back.

As old elephants wander off and die when they are of no further use to the herd, symbolically so do the seniors who will no longer be active members of the 12th Man. Elephant Walk is a time for seniors to reflect on their days at A&M as they gather together before the last football game and wander about campus like dying elephants seeking a secluded spot to end their days as active members of the 12th Man.

Where other schools have cheers, Aggies proudly (and loudly) show enthusiasm through their many yells. They shout these yells at Yell Practice to build motivation and spirit for an upcoming event, whether it is a football game or another competition. Yell Practice is led by the Yell Leaders, three seniors and two juniors elected by the student body for their burning desire to motivate the Aggies. For home football games, Yell Practice occurs Friday night before the game at midnight at Kyle Field. For an away game, a Yell Practice is held on Thursday evening in the Grove and on Friday at midnight in the town of the opponent. The first Midnight Yell was held in 1932; there are many stories as to the origin of Midnight Yell. Most Aggies believe that it began with a group of cadets who spread a rumor telling everyone to fall out of their dorms and meet at the YMCA building. Although this was against the rules, everyone showed up, and the Midnight Yell Practice was born.

Reveille VII is the newest in the line of canine mascots that have served Texas A&M since the 1930s. The purebred rough collie was born October 9, 2000 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She was presented to the university by breeders Cindi Bossart, Jim Efron and Nancy McDonald and arrived in Aggieland February 16,2001. Texas A&M's mascots have not always been registered collies; Reveille I was a stray. On their way home from a trip to immediately picked up the injured dog and brought her back to school to care for her. The next morning, when the bugler played Reveille, the dog howled and barked; the Aggies immediately christened her with her name. In time, Reveille adopted the cadets and they adopted her, and after a crowd-pleasing performance with the band at a football game, she was named the official mascot of the college.