Wvc Swimming  Personal Bests, Top Times

Ann Arnone 
December 24, 1999

By JERRY KELLAR Times Leader Sports Writer
 Sunday, December 26, 1999 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1C 





SAN ANTONIO - It was the fourth quarter of Texas A&amp;M's game against hated
Texas last month, and guard Chris Valletta wasn't sure if he'd make it to the
finish line. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I was getting tired,'' the Aggie junior said. ``I think we all were.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then he looked in the stands at Kyle Field. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The 12th Man was ready. Just in case. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It's just unbelievable,'' Valletta said about A&amp;M's renowned student
section. ``They're standing and screaming their lungs out the whole game. I
was like, if they're not tired, neither are we. Let's go.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 To no one's surprise (at least to those wearing maroon and white), the
Aggies went on to beat the Longhorns, 20-16, in the regular-season finale. A&amp;M
rallied for two touchdowns in the second half to secure the victory. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 As for The 12th Man, well, its legend lives on. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``The 12th Man is the best thing in college football,'' junior linebacker
Jason Glenn said. ``People who aren't Aggies just can't understand what this
is all about.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What it is is one of the most storied traditions in college football.
According to legend, The 12th Man is the reason A&amp;M students stand for each
entire football game. They stand in readiness in case they are needed to go
into the game like the original 12th Man - Dr. E. King Gill, an A&amp;M student
who nearly got into a football game in 1922. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It might sound corny to everybody else, but it's serious stuff around
here,'' junior safety Michael Jameson said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The late Dr. Gill related this story - reprinted in the Texas A&amp;M football
media guide - a few years ago. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I was in the press box helping, when, near the end of the first half, I
was called down to the Texas A&amp;M bench. There had been a number of injuries,
but it was not until I arrived on the field that I learned that Coach (D.X.)
Bible wanted me to put on a football uniform and be ready to play if he needed
me. There were no dressing rooms at the stadium in those days. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I put on the uniform of one of the injured players. We got under the
stands and he put on my clothes and I put on his uniform. I was ready to play
but never was sent into the game.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This tradition, one of several associated with Texas A&amp;M, is unmatched by
any other college or university in the United States. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``When it comes to tradition,'' Valletta said, ``there is no place like
this place.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Said punter Shane Lechler: ``This is the most special school in the country
because of the tremendous support from the fans and how strong a family the
Aggies are.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That unity was shaken to its very core on Nov. 18 by the bonfire collapse
on campus that killed 12 students and a recent graduate and injured 27 others. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 About 70 people were stacking the wood tower for the annual event before
the Aggies' game against rival Texas when the pile gave way. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The tragedy weighed heavily on the hearts and minds of the Aggies when they
took the field against the Longhorns, who, despite taking an early lead, never
really had a chance to win the game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After all, the numbers were stacked against them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``There was no way they were going to let us lose that game,'' Jameson said
of The 12th Man. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``When we came out for the second half, we saw that the crowd didn't give
up and believed in us,'' quarterback Randy McCown said. ``I look back on the
season and think, hey, we beat Texas, and that means a lot under the
circumstances.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Texas A&amp;M hopes to give Penn State fans a taste of the ``Spirit of
Aggieland'' (South) at Tuesday's Alamo Bowl in San Antonio (7:30 p.m., ESPN).
The Alamodome is less than a three-hour drive from College Station, home to
A&amp;M. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although the Lions have sold just a little over half their 10,832-ticket
allotment, Aggie fans simply can't get enough. Alamo Bowl ticket manager Dick
McDowell said Texas A&amp;M asked for 17,000 seats, but he can't fill all the
orders. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``It is an away game for us,'' Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``With our crowd, it will be tough for (the Lions) in the beginning,''
Valletta said. ``But the crowd can be taken out of a game very easily. We're
not banking on our crowd keeping us in the game. Penn State has played in
hostile environments before. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We just hope our fans make it as tough on them as possible.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

12th Man Always In Reserve For Texas A&m