Reveille (Texas A&M)
Encyclopedia
Reveille is the official mascot
of Texas A&M University
. Students adopted the first Reveille, a mixed-breed dog, in 1931. To thank Texas A&M for its assistance during World War II
, the US Army designated Reveille a Cadet General (5 diamonds), the highest ranking member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.
Eight years after the death of the first Reveille, 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 American Collie
; all subsequent mascots have belonged to this breed. Reveille IV, V, and VI, died in 1989, 1999, and 2003 respectively. Reveille VII has retired and is living in Wellborn, Texas. The current mascot, Reveille VIII, has served since August 2008. All Reveilles to date have been female.
Upon her death, Reveille is buried in a special cemetery located outside the north end of Kyle Field
. She is placed 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.
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.
Due to the quantity of officers and soldiers Texas A&M contributed to the US Armed Forces in World War II
, Reveille was given the honorary title of Cadet General by the U.S. Army. Since that time, Reveille has worn the rank of Cadet General (5 diamonds). Since 5 diamonds are not manufactured, cadets align Cadet Colonel and Cadet Lieutenant Colonel rank on her uniform.
Upon her death on January 18, 1944, she received a formal military funeral on the fifty yard line in Kyle Field and then was buried at the north entrance facing the scoreboard so that she can always watch the Aggies play.
Reveille II was the second official Aggie mascot. Eight years after the first Reveille died, the student body attempted to raise money to purchase a new mascot. After they failed to raise enough, Arthur Weinert, a graduate of the Class of 1900, donated a Shetland Sheepdog
to the students in 1952. Named Reveille II, the new unofficial mascot was cared for by the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band
from 1952-1954. During the summer of 1954, a student found Reveille II wandering loose around campus. He and a classmate cared for her and then took her home with them for the rest of the summer. During the fall semester, she lived with one of the students, Sam Netterville, in his dorm room.
The university at the time refused to pay for the mascot's care. Netterville convinced the student senate to pass a resolution stating that Reveille's care would be provided by his unit, A Quartermaster Company. The unit asked fellow students to donate money towards her but took responsibility for her daily needs.
Netterville took Reveille with him everywhere, including classes, thus launching the tradition of the mascot being escorted at all times. "Miss Rev," as they called her, marched with the Aggie Band at football games, but had a habit of relieving herself on the football field. Students often placed bets as to which yard line she would choose.
Reveille II died in 1966 of kidney failure and arthritis.
Reveille III was the first of the Texas A&M mascots to be a pure-bred collie. She served as mascot from 1966 through 1975.
Reveille IV served as Texas A&M mascot from 1975–1984. Over 10,000 mourners attended her funeral on April 9.
Reveille V was a descendant of a championship purebred American collie. She was chosen to be mascot from a pool of 2000 puppies because of her lineage and her marking. In December 1984, Reveille V was brought to the Texas A&M campus, and her first official appearance as mascot came at a basketball game on January 11, 1985. During her tenure, she attended every Texas A&M football game with one exception. During the 1987 corps trip, TCU officials refused to allow the Aggie mascot into the TCU stadium citing a regulation disallowing live mascots at home games. She attended many home basketball, baseball and volleyball games. A mischievous dog, Reveille V often stole erasers from chalkboards during class.
In early November 1993, Reveille V underwent emergency surgery for gastric volvulus
, which causes an animal's stomach to twist out of place. The surgery was successful, and she made a full recovery. Later that month she relinquished her spot as mascot to Reveille VI. For the next six years she lived with a local veterinarian and graduate of Texas A&M, Dr. Joe West. Reveille V was euthanized in June 1999 because she suffered from arthritis and a neurological disorder. Her funeral was delayed until September to enable students to attend. Over 3,000 students and alumni attended the funeral, which included Taps
, a prayer from a campus chaplain, and eulogies from her former handlers. Reveille V was initially buried at Cain Park on the Texas A&M campus, but her grave was relocated to the north end of Kyle Field
once stadium renovations were finished.
Reveille VI was a registered collie born in Woodward, Oklahoma
and took over as Texas A&M's mascot from Reveille V during halftime of the football game against the University of Louisville
on November 13, 1993. Upon induction into the Aggie family, she quickly assumed the roles and duties of her predecessor and began attending university functions including football games.
Shortly after beginning her duties, Reveille was stolen by a University of Texas at Austin
student, Neil Andrew Sheffield. Prior to this time, Texas A&M was the only school in the Southwest Conference whose mascot had never been stolen. Reveille was taken over winter break. Because the school was closed for the vacation, Reveille was staying at the Dallas home of her handler, Jim Lively. Sheffield found Reveille alone in the back yard and lured her through the gate. For almost a week, Texas A&M denied that the mascot had been stolen. After the school finally acknowledged her disappearance, Sheffield tied her leash to a sign post near Lake Travis
and called the police to report her location. She was returned unharmed to Texas A&M and resumed her duties.
Reveille VI became a movie star in the 1996 film "Reveille, My Life as the Aggie Mascot." She was in attendance with the Aggie football team during their first Big 12 Championship in 1998, and celebrated alongside President George W. Bush
at the inaugural ball in Washington, D.C.
in 2000.
In 1996, she was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy
and later arthritis
. Although for the next four years she was able to resist her ailments and continue with her duties as mascot, these health problems would eventually lead to her early retirement in May 2001.
She was retired on May 12, 2001 into the care of Dr. Charlie Hall, who served as the veterinarian for Reveilles IV, V and VI. She celebrated her 10th birthday on September 3, 2003, at a party hosted by Hall and his wife, Diana. Reveille VI was in declining health and was said to be taking nine different pills and two forms of liquid medications each day to help combat seizures and other problems.
Six weeks later, on October 18, 2003, Reveille VI was euthanized
. The decision was made by Hall and other Texas A&M veterinarians because of her deteriorating health. Funeral services were held Sunday, November 2, 2003, at Kyle Field
. Speakers at her funeral were former mascot czars Mark Boynton, Class of 1997, and Jeff Bailey, Class of 2000. Following the funeral service, Reveille VI was buried among earlier Reveilles at the north entrance to Kyle Field.
Reveille VII is a registered collie born in Argent Kennel, which is part of the Animal Hospital of Ft. Lauderdale. She was donated to Texas A&M by Dr. Cindi Bossart, VMD, her husband Jim Efron and breeder Nancy MacDonald. Reveille arrived on campus on February 16, 2001 and officially took over duties from Reveille VI at the Corps of Cadets Final Review on May 12, 2001.
After a pre-game performance of the Texas A&M-TCU
game in December, Reveille's nervous, high-pitched barks could be heard above the band. It was decided by administrators and the Corps of Cadets that she be sent to obedience school. She worked closely with her professional trainer, Dr. Kay Stephens, and her newly-appointed mascot corporal throughout the summer for her return for football season. Despite several stints in obedience school, Reveille's manners at times need work. Though other incidents have been suspected, in 2007, it was reported that Reveille VII bit her handler after having her tail stepped on during a morning run.
On February 13, 2008, her impending retirement at the end of the school year was announced at a news conference at the Corps Center.
In the summer of 2008, she began her retirement at the age of 7 living with two other dogs under the care of Paul and Tina Gardner in Wellborn, Texas
.
.
A May 1, 2008 memo released by Dr. Dean L. Bresciani revealed some of the features of the new dog. It would be a mature female, meaning she would be at least 1½ years old. The special committee assigned to look for Reveille VIII looked for a mascot that would be medium to large size, healthy, have an upbeat personality, be at ease around crowds and like people, be able to be calm around loud noises, and be positively motivated as well as not highly reactive. Perhaps most importantly, to prevent the behavioral problems seen in Reveille VII, “professional training protocols and oversight [are to] be established, implemented and periodically evaluated, [and will include] a transition period to help Reveille successfully acclimate to and carry out her role as the mascot of Texas A&M University.”(Official Texas A&M Memo)
On Monday, August 11, 2008, Texas A&M University announced the selection of Reveille VIII. She is a two-year-old female collie, formerly named Kelly. She was donated by the Collie breeders Julie Hinrichsen and Russell Dyke, owners of Juell Collies in Topeka, Kansas.
In compensation for the new mascot, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets donated $5000 in private donations to the Collie Club of America and the former owners donated $1000.
Reveille is considered a cadet general and the highest ranking member in the Corps of Cadets. To designate her rank, Reveille wears 5 diamonds on her maroon-and-white blanket. Freshmen cadets are required to address her as "Miss Rev, ma'am." Reveille is the only canine on campus, other than service animals, who is permitted to enter any campus building. It is a widely-held tradition that if Reveille decides to sleep on a cadet's bed, that cadet is required to sleep on the floor. However, in reality, she is constantly under the care of her handler and is not permitted to freely roam the dormitory or campus. This tradition likely applied only to the first Reveille. By tradition, if she barks in class, that session is canceled. Reveille has her own cell phone, operated by the mascot corporal, and her own student identification card.
with their noses and paws pointed so that they could look through the north tunnel and see the stadium scoreboard. This way, "they can always watch the Aggies outscore their opponent on the field."
In 1997, the university decided to expand Kyle Field and build the Bernard C. Richardson Zone at the north end of the stadium. This necessitated the removal of the cemetery. After meeting with representatives of the Traditions Council, Student Senate, and E-2, the athletic department decided to create a temporary cemetery across the street in Cain Park. Upon completion of the stadium addition in 1999, the graves were relocated to a permanent cemetery at the new, tree-lined Kyle Field Plaza. Due to the recent additions the gravesites' view of Kyle Field were blocked, a miniature scoreboard was constructed on the outside of the stadium so that the mascots can still watch the Aggies outscore their opponents.
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
of Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
. Students adopted the first Reveille, a mixed-breed dog, in 1931. To thank Texas A&M for its assistance during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the US Army designated Reveille a Cadet General (5 diamonds), the highest ranking member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.
Eight years after the death of the first Reveille, 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 American Collie
Collie
The collie is a distinctive type of herding dog, including many related landraces and formal breeds. It originates in Scotland and Northern England. It is a medium-sized, fairly lightly built dog with a pointed snout, and many types have a distinctive white pattern over the shoulders. Collies...
; all subsequent mascots have belonged to this breed. Reveille IV, V, and VI, died in 1989, 1999, and 2003 respectively. Reveille VII has retired and is living in Wellborn, Texas. The current mascot, Reveille VIII, has served since August 2008. All Reveilles to date have been female.
Upon her death, Reveille is buried in a special cemetery located outside the north end of Kyle Field
Kyle Field
Kyle Field is the football stadium located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. It has been the home to the Texas A&M Aggie football team in rudimentary form since 1904, and as a complete stadium since 1927. It is known as The Home of the 12th Man...
. She is placed 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
Reveille I (Unknown – January 18, 1944)In January 1931, several members of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band
Fightin' Texas Aggie Band
The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band is the official marching band of Texas A&M University. Composed of over 300 men and women from the school's Corps of Cadets, it is the largest military marching band in the world...
were returning from a party in nearby Navasota, Texas
Navasota, Texas
Navasota is a city in Grimes County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,789 at the 2000 census. In 2005, the Texas Legislature named the city "The Blues Capital of Texas," in honor of the late Mance Lipscomb, a Navasota native and blues musician....
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
Reveille
"Reveille" is a bugle call, trumpet call or pipes call most often associated with the military or summer camp; it is chiefly used to wake military personnel at sunrise...
" 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
Kyle Field
Kyle Field is the football stadium located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. It has been the home to the Texas A&M Aggie football team in rudimentary form since 1904, and as a complete stadium since 1927. It is known as The Home of the 12th Man...
for a half-time performance. She would wear a jacket with A&M colors and pace the sidelines during games.
Due to the quantity of officers and soldiers Texas A&M contributed to the US Armed Forces in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Reveille was given the honorary title of Cadet General by the U.S. Army. Since that time, Reveille has worn the rank of Cadet General (5 diamonds). Since 5 diamonds are not manufactured, cadets align Cadet Colonel and Cadet Lieutenant Colonel rank on her uniform.
Upon her death on January 18, 1944, she received a formal military funeral on the fifty yard line in Kyle Field and then was buried at the north entrance facing the scoreboard so that she can always watch the Aggies play.
Reveille II
Reveille II (ca. 1952 – August 23, 1966)Reveille II was the second official Aggie mascot. Eight years after the first Reveille died, the student body attempted to raise money to purchase a new mascot. After they failed to raise enough, Arthur Weinert, a graduate of the Class of 1900, donated a Shetland Sheepdog
Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog, often known as the Sheltie, is a breed of herding dog.They are small to medium dogs, and come in a variety of colors, such as sable/white, tri-color, and blue merle. They are vocal, excitable, energetic dogs who are always willing to please and work hard...
to the students in 1952. Named Reveille II, the new unofficial mascot was cared for by the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band
Fightin' Texas Aggie Band
The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band is the official marching band of Texas A&M University. Composed of over 300 men and women from the school's Corps of Cadets, it is the largest military marching band in the world...
from 1952-1954. During the summer of 1954, a student found Reveille II wandering loose around campus. He and a classmate cared for her and then took her home with them for the rest of the summer. During the fall semester, she lived with one of the students, Sam Netterville, in his dorm room.
The university at the time refused to pay for the mascot's care. Netterville convinced the student senate to pass a resolution stating that Reveille's care would be provided by his unit, A Quartermaster Company. The unit asked fellow students to donate money towards her but took responsibility for her daily needs.
Netterville took Reveille with him everywhere, including classes, thus launching the tradition of the mascot being escorted at all times. "Miss Rev," as they called her, marched with the Aggie Band at football games, but had a habit of relieving herself on the football field. Students often placed bets as to which yard line she would choose.
Reveille II died in 1966 of kidney failure and arthritis.
Reveille III
Reveille III (Unknown – May 31, 1975)Reveille III was the first of the Texas A&M mascots to be a pure-bred collie. She served as mascot from 1966 through 1975.
Reveille IV
Reveille IV (died March 29, 1989)Reveille IV served as Texas A&M mascot from 1975–1984. Over 10,000 mourners attended her funeral on April 9.
Reveille V
Reveille V (August 29, 1984 – June 25, 1999)Reveille V was a descendant of a championship purebred American collie. She was chosen to be mascot from a pool of 2000 puppies because of her lineage and her marking. In December 1984, Reveille V was brought to the Texas A&M campus, and her first official appearance as mascot came at a basketball game on January 11, 1985. During her tenure, she attended every Texas A&M football game with one exception. During the 1987 corps trip, TCU officials refused to allow the Aggie mascot into the TCU stadium citing a regulation disallowing live mascots at home games. She attended many home basketball, baseball and volleyball games. A mischievous dog, Reveille V often stole erasers from chalkboards during class.
In early November 1993, Reveille V underwent emergency surgery for gastric volvulus
Gastric volvulus
Gastric volvulus or volvulus of stomach a twisting of all or part of the stomach by more than 180 degrees with obstruction of the flow of material through the stomach, variable loss of blood supply and possible tissue death. The twisting can occur around the long axis of the stomach, this is called...
, which causes an animal's stomach to twist out of place. The surgery was successful, and she made a full recovery. Later that month she relinquished her spot as mascot to Reveille VI. For the next six years she lived with a local veterinarian and graduate of Texas A&M, Dr. Joe West. Reveille V was euthanized in June 1999 because she suffered from arthritis and a neurological disorder. Her funeral was delayed until September to enable students to attend. Over 3,000 students and alumni attended the funeral, which included Taps
Taps
"Taps" is a musical piece sounded by the U.S. military nightly to indicate that it is "lights out". The tune is also sometimes known as "Butterfields Lullaby", or by the lyrics of its second verse, "Day is Done". It is also played during flag ceremonies and funerals, generally on bugle or trumpet...
, a prayer from a campus chaplain, and eulogies from her former handlers. Reveille V was initially buried at Cain Park on the Texas A&M campus, but her grave was relocated to the north end of Kyle Field
Kyle Field
Kyle Field is the football stadium located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. It has been the home to the Texas A&M Aggie football team in rudimentary form since 1904, and as a complete stadium since 1927. It is known as The Home of the 12th Man...
once stadium renovations were finished.
Reveille VI
Reveille VI (September 3, 1993 – October 18, 2003)Reveille VI was a registered collie born in Woodward, Oklahoma
Woodward, Oklahoma
Woodward is a city in and the county seat of Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the largest city in a nine-county area. The population was 12,051 at the 2010 census....
and took over as Texas A&M's mascot from Reveille V during halftime of the football game against the University of Louisville
Louisville Cardinals football
The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship...
on November 13, 1993. Upon induction into the Aggie family, she quickly assumed the roles and duties of her predecessor and began attending university functions including football games.
Shortly after beginning her duties, Reveille was stolen by a University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
student, Neil Andrew Sheffield. Prior to this time, Texas A&M was the only school in the Southwest Conference whose mascot had never been stolen. Reveille was taken over winter break. Because the school was closed for the vacation, Reveille was staying at the Dallas home of her handler, Jim Lively. Sheffield found Reveille alone in the back yard and lured her through the gate. For almost a week, Texas A&M denied that the mascot had been stolen. After the school finally acknowledged her disappearance, Sheffield tied her leash to a sign post near Lake Travis
Lake Travis
Lake Travis is a reservoir on the Colorado River in central Texas in the United States. The reservoir was formed in 1942 by the construction of Mansfield Dam on the western edge of Austin, Texas by the Lower Colorado River Authority...
and called the police to report her location. She was returned unharmed to Texas A&M and resumed her duties.
Reveille VI became a movie star in the 1996 film "Reveille, My Life as the Aggie Mascot." She was in attendance with the Aggie football team during their first Big 12 Championship in 1998, and celebrated alongside President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
at the inaugural ball in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 2000.
In 1996, she was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
and later arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
. Although for the next four years she was able to resist her ailments and continue with her duties as mascot, these health problems would eventually lead to her early retirement in May 2001.
She was retired on May 12, 2001 into the care of Dr. Charlie Hall, who served as the veterinarian for Reveilles IV, V and VI. She celebrated her 10th birthday on September 3, 2003, at a party hosted by Hall and his wife, Diana. Reveille VI was in declining health and was said to be taking nine different pills and two forms of liquid medications each day to help combat seizures and other problems.
Six weeks later, on October 18, 2003, Reveille VI was euthanized
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
. The decision was made by Hall and other Texas A&M veterinarians because of her deteriorating health. Funeral services were held Sunday, November 2, 2003, at Kyle Field
Kyle Field
Kyle Field is the football stadium located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. It has been the home to the Texas A&M Aggie football team in rudimentary form since 1904, and as a complete stadium since 1927. It is known as The Home of the 12th Man...
. Speakers at her funeral were former mascot czars Mark Boynton, Class of 1997, and Jeff Bailey, Class of 2000. Following the funeral service, Reveille VI was buried among earlier Reveilles at the north entrance to Kyle Field.
Reveille VII
Reveille VII (born October 9, 2000)Reveille VII is a registered collie born in Argent Kennel, which is part of the Animal Hospital of Ft. Lauderdale. She was donated to Texas A&M by Dr. Cindi Bossart, VMD, her husband Jim Efron and breeder Nancy MacDonald. Reveille arrived on campus on February 16, 2001 and officially took over duties from Reveille VI at the Corps of Cadets Final Review on May 12, 2001.
After a pre-game performance of the Texas A&M-TCU
TCU Horned Frogs football
The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football...
game in December, Reveille's nervous, high-pitched barks could be heard above the band. It was decided by administrators and the Corps of Cadets that she be sent to obedience school. She worked closely with her professional trainer, Dr. Kay Stephens, and her newly-appointed mascot corporal throughout the summer for her return for football season. Despite several stints in obedience school, Reveille's manners at times need work. Though other incidents have been suspected, in 2007, it was reported that Reveille VII bit her handler after having her tail stepped on during a morning run.
On February 13, 2008, her impending retirement at the end of the school year was announced at a news conference at the Corps Center.
In the summer of 2008, she began her retirement at the age of 7 living with two other dogs under the care of Paul and Tina Gardner in Wellborn, Texas
Wellborn, Texas
Wellborn was an unincorporated community in Brazos County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 100 in 2000. It is part of the Bryan–College Station Metropolitan Statistical Area....
.
Reveille VIII
Reveille VIII assumed her duties as the official mascot of Texas A&M University in August 2008, just before the Fall semester, following the retirement of her predecessor at the conclusion of the Spring semester. She was introduced formally at the August 31, 2008 season-opening football game at Kyle FieldKyle Field
Kyle Field is the football stadium located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. It has been the home to the Texas A&M Aggie football team in rudimentary form since 1904, and as a complete stadium since 1927. It is known as The Home of the 12th Man...
.
A May 1, 2008 memo released by Dr. Dean L. Bresciani revealed some of the features of the new dog. It would be a mature female, meaning she would be at least 1½ years old. The special committee assigned to look for Reveille VIII looked for a mascot that would be medium to large size, healthy, have an upbeat personality, be at ease around crowds and like people, be able to be calm around loud noises, and be positively motivated as well as not highly reactive. Perhaps most importantly, to prevent the behavioral problems seen in Reveille VII, “professional training protocols and oversight [are to] be established, implemented and periodically evaluated, [and will include] a transition period to help Reveille successfully acclimate to and carry out her role as the mascot of Texas A&M University.”(Official Texas A&M Memo)
On Monday, August 11, 2008, Texas A&M University announced the selection of Reveille VIII. She is a two-year-old female collie, formerly named Kelly. She was donated by the Collie breeders Julie Hinrichsen and Russell Dyke, owners of Juell Collies in Topeka, Kansas.
In compensation for the new mascot, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets donated $5000 in private donations to the Collie Club of America and the former owners donated $1000.
Daily life
Reveille is officially cared for by Corps of Cadets Company E-2, known as the "mascot company". A sophomore in the unit is designated the "mascot corporal" and has ultimate responsibility for her care. Reveille accompanies the mascot corporal everywhere, including to class and on dates.Reveille is considered a cadet general and the highest ranking member in the Corps of Cadets. To designate her rank, Reveille wears 5 diamonds on her maroon-and-white blanket. Freshmen cadets are required to address her as "Miss Rev, ma'am." Reveille is the only canine on campus, other than service animals, who is permitted to enter any campus building. It is a widely-held tradition that if Reveille decides to sleep on a cadet's bed, that cadet is required to sleep on the floor. However, in reality, she is constantly under the care of her handler and is not permitted to freely roam the dormitory or campus. This tradition likely applied only to the first Reveille. By tradition, if she barks in class, that session is canceled. Reveille has her own cell phone, operated by the mascot corporal, and her own student identification card.
Cemetery
Texas A&M maintains a cemetery on campus where all of the past Reveilles are buried. Reveilles I through IV were buried side-by-side in a small cemetery in front of Kyle FieldKyle Field
Kyle Field is the football stadium located on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. It has been the home to the Texas A&M Aggie football team in rudimentary form since 1904, and as a complete stadium since 1927. It is known as The Home of the 12th Man...
with their noses and paws pointed so that they could look through the north tunnel and see the stadium scoreboard. This way, "they can always watch the Aggies outscore their opponent on the field."
In 1997, the university decided to expand Kyle Field and build the Bernard C. Richardson Zone at the north end of the stadium. This necessitated the removal of the cemetery. After meeting with representatives of the Traditions Council, Student Senate, and E-2, the athletic department decided to create a temporary cemetery across the street in Cain Park. Upon completion of the stadium addition in 1999, the graves were relocated to a permanent cemetery at the new, tree-lined Kyle Field Plaza. Due to the recent additions the gravesites' view of Kyle Field were blocked, a miniature scoreboard was constructed on the outside of the stadium so that the mascots can still watch the Aggies outscore their opponents.