Even years later I get chills by this. Proud Aggie, but that day we were briefly united with our fellow Texans. God bless the Longhorn Band for what they did that day.
This was the one and only A&M v Texas game I was ever able to attend and the memory is still as fresh as the day it happened. I grew up to dislike "t.u." but after that day I have had the deepest respect for them.
Just like any good rivalry, it should only get heated with sports, and the schools should respect and cooperate with one another when it comes to academics and student well being. I applaud y’all for the true class that Texas had shown Aggies on that day.
I still bawl like a baby. I was sitting with an Aggie football recruit a few rows back on the 50 yard line. One of the trombone players looked me straight in the eye as he walked off of the field and said "I'm so sorry." I grew up an Aggie, but at a time of so much pain the Longhorns were our brothers. I still thank them today for how wonderfully they supported us through Bonfire 1999. We remember. Class of '02.
I grew up in an Aggie house. We wouldn't even drive through Austin to get down south, that's how deep it ran. However, on that day, a respect and love grew just a bit in my heart for UT.
Class of '79 here....this was a moving tribute 15+ years ago, and it still brings tears to my eyes. What a wonderful moment when everyone came together, not as Aggies or Longhorns, but as Texans.
We have a special relationship with UT. We love to hate each other and from the bottom of my heart I'll never hate anyone more than I hate a Longhorn:) Jokes aside, this was touching and just shows how classy the University of Texas is. Gig em ags and hook em horns.
I am a proud Aggie class of '11, my wife class of '10. No matter how many times I see this video, I get teary eyed and chills run all over me. This was a day Orange and Maroon truly came together. It wasn't about rivalry, it was about human beings in pain that was being felt. This would have been one of those days I would Gig 'Em on one hand and Hook 'Em on another. God Bless those 12 we lost. This is what true spirit is all about. Gig 'Em
I was an Australian on exchange abroad there, I arrived in September 1999 and was injured that night, this November I will be heading back for the 20 year memorial, I was only an Aggie for several weeks and had to go back to Australia injured ..but alive God bless the 12 indeed.
Currently a student at TAMU. My brother graduated from UT so it’s really a house divided. But at the end of the day we are all Texans and still love and respect each other. God bless Texas!
I am a die hard A&M fan 24/7 however this was a great act of Texas. They may be that school I hate but It definitely earned some respect for the school
Wow... it's hard to form thoughts right now. What a perfect way to show the real spirit of being a Texan. Classy, respectful, and reverent. I stumbled on this because I'm considering A&M Law School here in Ft. Worth - really glad I found it. God Bless the fallen 12, Aggieland, Longhorn Nation, Texas, and the USA.
Thanks. I was actually at that game. I was 8 at the time. My dad graduated from UT and we wore maroon ribbons to the game. I'm actually hoping to go to a&m because I'm hoping to become a vet.
Huge win this weekend over those Razorbacks, well played Aggies. I can't say Gig 'Em, so when I say Hook 'em, just know it is earnest and I loved cheering for you Farmers this weekend. Missing SWC a little......
I still remember this like it was yesterday - I cried for a week when Bonfire fell, and I thought for sure that I was all cried out, and then the kids of the UT band made me cry all over again with this moving tribute to those we lost. A classy, classy act, and one that will always be remembered and appreciated. We may be rivals on the field, but we are always there for each other when it counts. Thanks for posting this -
Today marks the 14 anniversary of that Bonfire night in 1999. I am proud to say that I am the first in my family to attend college and become an Aggie that has felt the presence of the 12th Man whether it be the student body, the traditions, and most importantly these 12 students who's lives were taken too soon. We will never forget with "a spirit that can 'neer be told"...
I can't believe it's been 10 years. I was tearing up while watching/listening to this. So powerful. Thank you, Texas. Rivals till the end, but the respect for each other with always be beyond a rivalry. Thanks and gig 'em. c/o 2011
I remember this. What a year. I'm proud to be a Longhorn fan and proud to have so many great Aggie friends and neighbors. And okay, just for fun... it's 7:45 a.m. and OU still sucks! :-) Hope the Big 12 has a great football season this fall. Gig 'em... and Hook' em!
As a long time fan of A&M Football, I naturally despise the Texas Longhorns, but at the end of the day, it's just a football game. What the Longhorn Band, and Longhorn Nation in general did during this game showed nothing but class, and it hasn't been forgotten. Hook 'em Horns and Gig 'Em Aggies.
Nebraska fan here. I fucking hate Texas football (indifferent to A&M honestly). However, this has to be one of the finest displays of camaraderie I have ever seen in cfb history. Well done.
I go to A&M and i am a proud aggie, but i have got to say that I actually like Texas because they show class. Unlike the losers at Texas Tech or University of Oklahoma.
Im an aggie and i respect UT i have been told stories of how UT students where showing up in college station four hours after the logs fell to help with the rescue efforts..which means they left the moment they found out about it..that is classy..on the other hand tech was making fun of aggies saying that they dont even khow to make a fire correctly..thats worthless
IT was a truly sad time in College Station that week. I remember no one could think about anything else. Gotta thank T.U. for a true showing friendship over rivalry. Gig'em
Quite a TearJerker - Glad other Adults on here had the Strength to Let It Go, & the Courage to Share It... for as Children there was No Shame in the Healing, Refreshing, & Cleansing Tears^^^ Another Reminder of the Deeper Spirit that Binds ALL of Humanity... God's Family - Lost as We Are, that it too often Takes Tragedy to Slap Us into Sanity, over & over again~~~
I'm a Red Raider, but in Novemeber of 99 we were allkAggies for awhile. While I love a little jabbing here and there, I have the utmost respect for my fellow Texans...despite our battles on the football field, we're one big, dysfunctional, yet loving family at the end of the day -Cameron, Texas Tech Red Raider Class of 2014.
Oh my goodness. This was beautiful. What a touching tribute. This Baylor girl (Sic 'em!) wishes both UT and A&M all the best in your respective futures. I'm sorry the tradition's at its end. You are both worthy competitors.
i would love to see this happen at the tech vs ut game. ive seen it from both schools though. they hate each other so much it wont happen. im a tech student and even i wish both schools could have a little more respect for each other.
@aggiechic13 I went to Texas Tech University. We may love football, but we also know when the line between rivalry and human decency must be drawn. We all mourned for those who died. I know that every time I watch footage of the bonfire I am brought to tears. So, maybe I can speak for all of the Red Raiders, but this Red Raider's heart goes out to the Aggies.
That looks like a treble clef to me FOB... I was in college when this tragedy unfolded, videos like this bring a tear to my eyes. Someone should link 'class' on wiki to this video. Gig 'Em or Hook 'Em I dig the respect.
there is a service every year at 2:42 am (the time it fell) at the site but ii would expect something special this year. also since the a&m-ut game is in college station this year, i would expect something done at the game too.
As an Aggie fan, it's obvious that the Longhorns are my most hated rival, but it's good to see the Longhorns paying tribute to the fallen 12. You 12 will live in our hearts forever. Rest in peace... And I can't believe I'm saying this, but thank you for this great act of compassion, Texas. Thank you.
GiG'eM longhorn band. Was at that game and it was hard to speak or do anything at half-time during this. Thanks LHB, it meant alot to all AGGIES and we wont forget you for it.
Ags and the Horns fight hard, but in the end we're from the same cloth. Respect is earned and both universities have earned it from each other ten fold. Thanks and Gig em.
Such a perfect example of immediately laying down rivalry in favor of respect. I am one of those weird Texans who grew up as a UT fan but me and my wife got 3 degrees from A&M (class of '01, '11, and 17). This is one of those moments that is similar to fighting with your brothers - you don't like each other until someone rails on them, then you are the first to stand up for them. Both schools have such a storied and unique history. I don't for a second believe that either school would wish ill on the other. I can only hope for the day that this Texas spirit is shared worldwide.
Im a longhorn but i still cry about this event. This is a very good thing the the longhorns did and I'm sorry for all the aggies who died in that horrible accident
that is so amazing that the biggest rivals in the biggest sport still have the love and respect for each other to dedicate their halftime preformance to the other school, and for the other school to stand and support them while doing so. That could only happen in a place like texas nowhere else has the ability to respect one another like that. I wish the rest of the country would do that, it would be a much better place to live.
I was on the field for the game and was amazed at the compassion demonstrated by the half time performance of the Texas Band. Makes you realize that we love beating each other in sports but this was life and death and the Texas Band rose above the simple sports rivalry to show respect. In the end we are all Americans
One of the most classy tributes of one team for another magnified by a century long rivalry. My Longhorn Band of the Univ of Texas plays the Amazing Grace hymn halftime in the stadium of the Texas A&M Aggies the week after 12 Aggies were killed in a tragic bonfire pep rally accident. Both teams hold the highest respect for the other, and carry that on the field in a moment of solidarity, faith, and love. The two schools flags flying together was incredibly emotional, especially when the UT flags withdraw, leaving the A&M flags flying proudly in memorial.
This is still moving years later. I remember when this incident happened the tower was made all white in honor of the tragedy. Sad moment, but a very beautiful tribute!
R.I.P "Bonfire 12" I remember when it collapsed and we will ALWAYS remember the ones we lost. Seeing pictures and videos of the rememberance ceremony at 2:42 a.m brings tears to my eyes and pride in the fact that I am too a Fighting Texas Aggie! WHOOP! GOD BLESS TEXAS! Longhorns or Aggies alike. Good Bull!
Just like all the others, I agree....When it comes to football, I love kickin' the piss outta A&M like a younger brother would an older brother. But we are family.....God Bless A&M and God Bless the Longhorns! The Great State of Texas!
