The college football world plays a game in another league when it comes to their mascot. We are all familiar with the Colorado Buffaloes’ tradition of running with Ralphie, the bison, which began in 1967. Coming to Oklahoma, when they score a touchdown, two white ponies, Boomer and Sooner, charge out with the Sooner Schooner. But this time, the mascot game will not be like any other year for Mike Elko’s Texas A&M. Their favorite Reveille IX, the former First Lady of Aggieland, passed away on September 27. Right now, Elko and the boys must be having too many things to take care of as they face Mississippi State. But how could they forget Reiveille IX? So, they poured in their tribute during the game.

On October 4, senior Texas A&M Sportswriter Travis L.Brown posted a snap from Kyle Field. The big screen displayed a big picture of the Aggies’ mascot. “Texas A&M paying tribute to Reveille IX in Kyle Field tonight, after the retired mascot died this week,” wrote the analyst. Reveille IX’s demise left Elko and co. with an irreparable loss after he passed away due to complications from pneumonia.

How could the Aggies fans let go of the bond? After all, Reveille IX served as the university’s mascot from May 2015 until she retired in April 2021. Every Texas A&M “First Lady” since Reveille III has been a full-blooded Rough Collie, pampered, protected, and proudly cared for by a sophomore from Company E-2. Even after taking her retirement on April 30, 2021, Texas A&M could not part ways with the school’s highest-ranking member in the Corps of Cadets. 

They kept her close as Reveille IX enjoyed retirement at the Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center on Texas A&M’s campus. She has passed on her duties to Reveille X. Here came a post from the present Aggies mascot, Reveille X, “This weekend, we said goodbye to my friend and Former First Lady of Aggieland, Reveille IX. Her pawprints are forever etched into Aggieland, and her memory will live on in the hearts of the 12th Man. Rest easy, #MissRev.”

Every Reveille earns a place of honor at Kyle Field’s north end, buried facing the stadium with a dedicated scoreboard so she never misses a game. “Texas A&M University is an institution founded on honor, pride, and tradition. The traditional Aggie spirit has taken many forms, one being that of Reveille, the university mascot,” a plaque reads outside the special cemetery. But how did one small dog become Texas A&M’s legendary Reveille?

How did the Reveille legacy begin at Texas A&M?

In 1931, on a quiet Texas road near Navasota, a group of cadets accidentally struck a small black-and-white dog. And from that twist of fate, the Reveille legend was born. Back then, pets were not allowed on campus. However, the cadets did not want to leave the injured pup. So, they hid it in their dorm. But poor them! Her secret didn’t last long.

The moment the morning bugle played “Reveille,” she barked loud enough to wake the whole campus. That’s where the name came from, and soon she was leading the Aggie band onto the field as Reveille I, Texas A&M’s first official mascot. Reveille I served for 13 years until she died in 1944. Back then, too, Texas A&M put immense effort into paying tribute to its first mascot. She was honored with a military funeral at Kyle Field, and that’s when their tradition of burning outside the north end of Kyle Field started.

After Reveille I, a few unofficial pups filled the void, but Reveille II restored the crown. Then came Reveille III, the first Rough Collie and the start of a timeless Aggie tradition that lives on today with Reveille X, who took over in May 2021. Now that Texas A&M’s Reveille IX has passed away, it’s time to reminisce about the memories she gifted the university.

A post from February 16, 2019, by Texas A&M University’s Instagram page read, “And that’s a strike! Reveille IX helped her handler, Mia Miller, throw out the first pitch at tonight’s @aggiebaseball game…” After honoring Reveille IX in their showdown with Mississippi State, the question now is whether Mike Elko’s squad can make their late mascot proud. The Aggies face injury setbacks, with key players like LB Scooby Williams and safety Bryce Anderson ruled out for game day. But their late mascot is watching from above, ready to inspire a little magic on the field.