Texas A&M Football: A Journey Through Aggie Bowl History

1922 Dixie Classic

There is no tradition in college sports more hallowed than the 12th Man. This is where it all started.

Every true college football fan in the country has heard of the 12th Man. While other sports team, i.e. Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts, refer to their fans as the 12th Man, only Texas A&M fans have lived the meaning behind the nickname.

Texas A&M faced Centre College in the 1922 Dixie Classic in Dallas. By half time the Aggie’s team had been depleted by injuries and few players stood able to continue playing. Coach Dana X. Bible called on spectator E. King Gill to put on the uniform of an injured player and stand on the sideline in case the team needed him.

Gill had left the team shortly before the bowl game to play basketball. Gill never played in the game that day, even though by the end of the game he was on the only reserve player remaining.

The Aggies defeated the Centre College 22-14 handing the Praying Colonels their first loss of the season. More importantly, the legend of the 12th Man was born. To honor Gill and to mimic his readiness to help the team, all students stand for the duration of football games at Kyle Field.