Texas A&M Football: 5 best bowl games of all-time for the Aggies

One of the great traditions in college football was born in this game. Texas A&M’s “12th Man” came to fruition in the 1922 Dixie Classic, played against Centre, in Jan. 1922. It was played at Fair Park Stadium in Dallas, now known as the Cotton Bowl.

Not only was this game the start of a tradition that still feels alive at Kyle Field today, but it’s also a game that featured a team that pulled off one of the biggest upsets in college football history earlier that year. Centre defeated Harvard 6-0 earlier in the season, a team that was looking to win a National Championship in 1921.

However, the tradition of the “12th Man” started with E. King Gill, a reserve player for Texas A&M that had not played all season. However, an injury to Aggies’ star Heinie Weir forced head coach Dana X. Bible to call Gill into action in the second half.

Even though Gill did not see any playing time in the game, his suiting up in Weir’s uniform began this wonderful tradition. Texas A&M also ended up pulling off the upset against Centre, 22-14, in a contest controlled by the Aggies the entire way.