Concept Uniforms

I like it, actually.

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I usually like concept unis, but idk about those, Sturm

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Seriously? Why not? Just an opinion thing, or is there any concrete reason(s)?

I'm against it solely because the players aren't part of the corps. As a non-reg former student, I started to recognize how hard it must have been to juggle the corps and a full slate of A&M courses after I graduated. Its something that only a select number of individuals can hack and it wouldn't be fair for those that went through the corps to see non regs wear the corps emblem. I'd imagine it may rub some former corps member the wrong way (tbird?) sorta how Texas A&M Kingsville grads piss me off when they call themselves Ags.

Also, I don't think it would appeal to recruits. Every alternate uniform we have had so far has been done with the intention to appeal to HS athletic youth. I don't think a prospect from DeSoto HS would care much for this tbh.

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it wouldn't be fair for those that went through the corps to see non regs wear the corps emblem. I'd imagine it may rub some former corps member the wrong way (tbird?)

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Nah, that wouldn't bother me at all, actually. I just like looking at kickass concept unis/alternate unis.

It probably would rub some former CTs the wrong way, but to me it'd just be a football uniform, not like they're mocking the Corps or anything

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Every alternate uniform we have had so far has been done with the intention to appeal to HS athletic youth. I don't think a prospect from DeSoto HS would care much for this tbh.

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I didn't think about that angle. Yeah, not sure how that'd resonate.

On the other side of that coin, though, the drum cadence entrance has always been a huge hit for players/fans, so idk where the appreciation for military influence stops and starts

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Celebrating one of the best things about Texas A&M was the main intent.

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Big fan of this

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I'm against it solely because the players aren't part of the corps.

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Ding! The correct answer.

ETA: But not because Corps members would be offended by it. Hell most of them would love it. Football players? I'm guessing not so much.

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Celebrating one of the best things about Texas A&M was the main intent.

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I can understand that. With that said I think the corps get enough "celebration" without the need to drag every part of the university into it.

In particular trying to mix the very unfun corps environment with football has held back our program for far too long. For example, the corps block ruins some of the appeal of TV exposure for A&M, as it over-represents that portion of the student body. Or the fact that we for the longest time only used corps imagery (Old Sarge, etc.) to represent the entire student body. It implies that almost all A&M students are part of the corps, which couldn't be farther from the truth.

I mean I appreciate the history of the corps and what it means for A&M, but it isn't cool in the modern sense. It is about sacrifice, and waking up early, and getting your arse kicked and lots of other things that are as appealing to millennials as their dad's Sting collection. By constantly trying to make sure our image aligns with the black and white one of days past I think you push away those who want to be associated with A&M but don't want to be a part of a military organization-especially after the Iraq War was a flop. We sell it too hard.

We need to realize that A&M's destiny is to be more than the single thing its always been. Its destiny is to represent quality Texans of all walks of life. The corps is an important part of the history, but the future and present of A&M is non-reg by far. I know the point is to appeal to Old Army, but those people have been placated enough. Their sense of what is cool isn't even dated, it maybe never existed. Quite frankly they are too quick to accept what is basically a marketing trick instead of demanding a better program, and that is part of the reason we aren't near our potential.

Winning is always cool, but that is easier said than done. Until we are winners we don't have the cool cache to make something like the corps cool for a wider audience. So instead of us dragging it up, it drags everything down with it. The corps can be a positive brand benefit in moderation like everything else, but we lack restraint with it far too often in our history.

We need to keep on the path we are on- shooting for a broader brand. That means not what Aggies like- young or old- but what Texans (especially young ones) like. Rap music, crazy uniforms, focusing on state pride instead of school pride. That is the direction we need to go.

Then maybe if we can crank out a few national titles in a row Bama-style then the corps stuff can come out of the closest. Then give us the military inspired uniform, the appearance of a greater military culture and camo everything. Because then we will be cool enough to make that uncool stuff cool, like Notre Dame did to Catholics.

Until then though it needs to stay in the closet more often than not, and Old Army needs to start being more skeptical when they do see it.

Sure let's take away all the Corps references.
No more Muster, Silver Taps, Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, Bonfire, 12th Man, Miss Rev. Let's do away with the medal of honor winners being mentioned on campus. Let's go ahead and rip out all the trees around Simpson Drill Field. Ii mean after all the Corps is such a small part of the university it should not be represented. While we're at it why don't we sue Texas to change the name of their mascot back to varsity. Let's throw away the cornerstones of what makes up the entire purpose of the school and shows the guiadance for Corps and non-reg education. Let's just put all that in "closet" so to speak so heaven forbid you're sensibilities don't get offended.

I say f*** that. we should be celebrating what makes us different. What makes us better. There is a reason the Aggie Network is so strong. And it sure isn't because we seek out to blend in or be just another school. We have always done things our way and damned be the person who thinks they can stop us.


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I would much rather see the '39 style uniform that we wore this year than this concept. It just does not strike me like other uniforms do. YMMV.

Yall are both going too far.

I don't think the corps needs to be buried completely, or even be represented at the levels of "other" ROTC programs. It is an important part of our history, and should have a special place.

With that said this attitude drives me nuts:

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What makes us better.

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That is the problem- we aren't "better." Especially because you don't include me or what is now 90%+ of Aggies in that we.

Heck, if we are talking football which is the thread, we are actually WORSE THAN we should be as a program. And I will say overplaying the uncool military image for far too long is a huge part of that.

Beyond football how else are we better?

Because we have a ROTC program that MAYBE sends a higher percentage of people into the actual military than the national average? Because we have a bunch of made-up Patton quotes, or an over-inflated sense of our role in the actually military? No way.

"Better" is the wrong attitude. Not only is it T-sipish arrogant, but it isn't anything factually provable. We are better because we say we are better, even though almost every five star recruit (aka the people who matter in football) prior to Sumlin didn't agree.

Heck the "better" assumption is an insult to me and even other non-reg because it assumes that everyone who goes through the corps is a "better" Aggie than non-regs. That is the EXACT kind of divisive crap that harms the Aggie Network instead of making it stronger.

What we are is "unique" and "special." And I think that should be celebrated in the form of Muster, Silver Taps, Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, Bonfire, 12th Man, and Miss Rev. I wouldn't change a THING about any of those, or any tradition A&M had that is older than me. What is great about all all of those traditions is that almost every Aggie- corps or non-reg- can participate. That should be the priority. We should maximize inclusiveness and participation.

But all those younger traditions that separate the student body into camps like the corps block? They need to be flushed down the crapper, along with any new tradition that tries to flaunt the "superiority" of the corps. We are all Aggies, and we need an image that represents us all.

I get the want to not turn into Generic U, but jeez we are SOOOOOO far from that you could erode our traditions for decades and still keep most of what makes us unique. We went too far in that direction for so long that we need to focus elsewhere for BALANCE.

We are like a carpenter who was hired to build a house, but because he started out as a lumberjack up until now all he did was cut boards for the project. Now here we are years out and he has enough wood to build three houses, but the foundation for the house isn't in place. It is time to stop cutting wood. We can use the stockpile we have, but the uncut logs need to go into storage until we need them.

That is all I am saying. We need more balance.

And we are getting it. Our current marketing direction that started under Jason is the perfect balance. I hope we don't run back into our bad habits of putting the corps on a pedestal now that he is gone.

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No more Muster, Silver Taps, Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, Bonfire, 12th Man, Miss Rev. Let's do away with the medal of honor winners being mentioned on campus. Let's go ahead and rip out all the trees around Simpson Drill Field. Ii mean after all the Corps is such a small part of the university it should not be represented. While we're at it why don't we sue Texas to change the name of their mascot back to varsity. Let's throw away the cornerstones of what makes up the entire purpose of the school and shows the guidance for Corps and non-reg education. Let's just put all that in "closet" so to speak so heaven forbid you're sensibilities don't get offended.

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Yes, advertising the Corps a little less = throwing it all away.

Come on man. This aint a FoxNews/MSNBC fake debate panel. Why you gotta go full on hyperbole?