We were sitting with Dad on the sofa watching football when he asked “Essex, Deacon what is your favorite college team?”
We howled back “Guess.”
He named off “Ohio State, Oklahoma, USC, Florida and Notre Dame.” We rolled our eyes. Then he said “It must be a dog.” Tails wagged. He said “The Washington Huskies, Georgia Bulldogs, Connecticut Huskies, and North Carolina State Wolfpack.” We shook our heads no.
Dad said “I give up, who is your favorite team?” We barked “Texas A&M.”
“The Aggies, why in dogs name are you Aggie fans?” Then we told him about Reveille.
Reveille VII from Wickipedia
Reveille is Texas A&M’s Collie mascot. She is a cadet general, and wears 5 diamonds on her maroon-and-white blanket. All freshmen cadets refer to her as “Miss Rev, ma’am.” She picks a sophomore to be the mascot corporal and Miss Rev goes classes and accompanies him on dates. Reveille has her own cell phone and student identification card. If she decides to sleep on a cadet’s bed, the cadet sleeps on the floor. We looked at Dad. He laughed his friendly low laugh and said “In your dreams guys.”
The story of Reveille started in January 1931. Several members of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie band were returning from a party when they unexpectedly hit a small black and white mixed-breed stray dog. They smuggled her into school, but the dog began barking when “Reveille” was blown by the bugler, thus the origin of her name.
Reveille I from Wickipedia
During the opening football season, Reveille I became the official mascot and led the band onto the field for their half-time performance. During WW II Reveille I was given the rank of Cadet General by the U.S. Army. When she crossed the rainbow bridge on 18 January 1944, a military funeral was held at the football stadium and she was buried at the north entrance facing the scoreboard so she could always watch the score of the game.
Reveille Grave Site from Wickipedia
The students tried but were unable to raise funds for a second dog. An alumnus donated a sheltie, who became Reveille II. Reveille II was the mascot from 1952-1966. “Miss Rev” marched with the Aggie Band during football games and she had a habit of relieving herself on the football field. Bets were often placed as to which yard line.
Reveille III – VIII have been purebred Collies. Some interesting things include when Reveille IV crossed the bridge in 1984 over 10,000 hoomans attended her funeral. Reveille V was mischievous and loved to steal erasers from chalkboards during class. Reveille VI became a movie star in the 1996 film "Reveille, My Life as the Aggie Mascot." Reveille VIII became took over in 2008 and was whelped in Topeka, Kansas. We wonder if Topeka is close to Wichita where Great (Great) Uncle Bobby used to live.
Hmmm, if we start licking Dad’s face and nibbling on his ear, maybe we can get our own cell phone and time on the bed. It is worth a try, right cyber-paw pals?
Dog Speed
Essex & Deacon
