Texas A&M University Yell Leaders
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Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University Yell Leaders

History of the Yell Leaders

For over 100 years, the Yell Leaders have embodied the unique Aggie Spirit for which Texas A&M is so well known. The Yell Leaders are comprised of five students that are elected by the student body. They are the official spirit organization of the university and they lead Aggie fans in “yells” during athletic and other university events. Unlike cheerleaders, the Yell Leaders do not perform gymnastic feats. Instead they use a variety of hand signals, called “pass backs”, to direct and intensify the crowd. The Texas Aggie Yell Leaders represent the 12th Man at Aggie athletic events, serve as campus ambassadors to A&M and Aggie Mother’s Clubs across Texas and the U.S., and regularly make appearances at campus-wide events for current, new, and prospective students, former students, campus administrators, visitors and dignitaries. Midnight Yell Practice has been dubbed a “College Football Bucket List” item and is one of Texas A&M’s most well-known traditions.

In 1907, the first Yell Leaders were selected, and until 1936-37, what we now know as the Head Yell Leader was simply known as “Chief.” While most Yell Leaders have come from the Corps of Cadets, the first non-Corps, or “non-reg,” Yell Leader was selected in 1946. Since then, a number of non-Corps Yell Leaders have served. Of these, four Yell Leaders (Don Houston ’57, Robert Anderson ’62, Ronnie McDonald ’93 and Ricky Wood ’01) served two terms as a Yell Leader. Wood ’01 is the only non-Corps Head Yell Leader. The only year in which there was more than one non-Corps Yell Leader was in 1973-74. Ronnie McDonald ’93 was the first black Yell Leader and Memo Salinas ’22 was the first Hispanic Yell Leader. Read more about the Yell Leader history as told by the Association of Former Students.

Founded in 1995, the Former Yell Leaders Association was established to support the current Yell Leaders with fundraising, maintaining historical data about the Yell Leader program, and perpetuating the tradition of Yell Leaders at Texas A&M.

Then

When Texas A&M was an all-male military college in 1907, students often invited guests from Texas Women’s University to take the train to College Station and attend Aggie football games. Then as now, only a certain number of guest tickets were available, and these would be handed out based on seniority, so freshmen were rarely able to bring guests to the games.

According to legend, the Aggies were being out-scored so badly during one football game that the TWU students were threatening to leave the game due to boredom. To prevent this, the upperclassmen ordered the freshmen, or “fish,” to find a way to entertain their guests.  The freshmen raided a janitor’s closet and changed into the white coveralls they found there and began leading the crowd in yells from the track area in front of the stands. The freshmen got so much attention from the students of TWU that it was decided that only upperclassmen would be allowed to participate in this entertainment in the future.

Now

Today, the Texas Aggie Yell Leaders have evolved into a team of five upperclassmen, three seniors and two juniors. Student body elections to choose the Aggie Yell Leaders are held annually, and it is not uncommon for more students to vote for yell leader candidates than to vote in the Student Body President elections.

The Yell Leaders attend all home and away football games, all home basketball games, all home volleyball games, all home soccer matches, and post-season football, basketball, and volleyball. They can always be found on the sidelines of the playing field in front of the student section.  Additionally, the Yell Leaders can be seen annually at the Texas A&M Coach’s Nights, all new student conferences, all Fish Camp sessions, and numerous campus events hosted by student organizations and university departments.

Texas A&M University

Former Yell Leaders