Not-so musical chairs: SEC rule may force Aggie Band to move

  • By VIMAL PATEL

  • Posted: Sunday, February 12, 2012 7:00 a.m.
  • Text size: A A A


The Aggie Band may have to find a new place to sit in Kyle Field because of a Southeastern Conference rule that students can't sit directly behind the visiting bench.


The longstanding rule, meant to protect the safety of the visiting players, prohibits students from sitting in the first 25 rows behind the opposing bench between the 30 yard lines.


That would impact 1,400 seats, including all of the 374-student Aggie Band. Some 30,000 tickets are set aside for students in the 82,600-capacity Kyle Field.


Students voiced strong opposition to the rule last week, prompting Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin to schedule a meeting with student leaders Monday to discuss options.


"The Aggie Band is the pulse of the spirit of Aggieland," said Jeff Pickering, student body president. "Having them right there on top of the opposing team is important."


The student senate also opposes reduced student seating, stating in a resolution that it would hurt the "traditions and pageantry" of Kyle Field's atmosphere.


"We have no idea what they're going to tell us Monday morning," said Mark Jessup, head drum major of the Aggie Band. "We'll submit to authority because that's our job as Aggies, but until then, we'd like to see the university fight this."


The rule came up during discussions between the university and the SEC's transition teams that are preparing for Texas A&M's conference entrance, said Jason Cook, vice president for marketing and communications.


"We understand this is an important issue to students," Cook said. "It's also an important issue to the university administration. That's why President Loftin is reaching out to the students to make sure we understand the issue and discuss options together."


Charles Bloom, the SEC's associate commissioner for media relations, said that, to his knowledge, a waiver of the policy has never been requested. If one is requested, it would have to be approved by a vote of the league's athletics directors.


Bloom said most of the SEC transition team's time has been spent on scheduling issues. "Additional meetings will take place prior to the summer, in which, I am sure game management policies will be discussed," he said in an email.


Cook said that Texas A&M hasn't been able to file a formal appeal because, technically, it doesn't become a member of the SEC until July 1.


But he noted that the issue has been brought up with Commissioner Michael Slive along with members of the transition team, some of whom visited Kyle Field during last season's Kansas game to examine gameday operations, including the seating issue.


Pickering, the student body president, said an exception should be made for Texas A&M because it's unique. He said the Aggie Band, which is a unit in the university's storied Corps of Cadets, is a military outfit.


"We can control a military outfit," Pickering said. "And the fish [freshmen] are thinking about the show they're about to put on. They don't have time to throw things. And what are they going to throw? A piccolo?"


If a waiver isn't possible, Pickering said, his next priority would be to make sure students have the same number of seats in Kyle Field. He added, "But that's not where we start. Where we start on Monday is where are we on the appeals process."

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