Texas A&M University's next mascot should be an adult dog with a noble look about her, similar to that of a collie or golden retriever, according to a committee in charge of finding Reveille VIII.

Unlike previous mascots, the dog that will replace retiring Reveille VII should be at least 18 months old so that officials can better determine her personality before she begins her tenure, A&M administrators said Thursday as they announced the committee findings.

The committee stopped short of naming a specific breed that should replace the current mascot, but it did outline a list of seven characteristics the next dog should have -- including being a healthy, medium to large dog that is outgoing, positively motivated, at ease in large crowds and not highly reactive or afraid of loud noises. The panel also recommended that the next mascot should have undergone some sort of service dog training.

"Frankly, I was impressed," Dean Bresciani, A&M's vice president for student life, said during the Thursday press conference. "I anticipated an emotionally charged discussion that might wander, but instead they took their job very seriously."

Administrators now will conduct a nationwide search to find the next dog. Bresciani said he hoped to have a recommendation by the end of the summer so a new mascot could be introduced in the fall, but he stressed that the process would not be rushed.

The committee findings came about three months after Bresciani announced that Reveille VII would retire at the end of the semester. Her tenure will end next week following the May commencement ceremonies. University officials have a "short list" of potential homes and hope to make a final selection next week, Bresciani said, suggesting that the family would be local and familiar with the mascot.

The 16-member committee -- made up of students and former students, faculty and staff and representatives from the Corps of Cadets, the athletics department and the Federation of Texas A&M Mothers' Clubs, as well as a nationally known veterinarian from A&M -- has been pondering whether her replacement should be another collie or a different breed.

"Nothing was really off the table when we started," Kevin Jackson, assistant vice president for student affairs, said during Thursday's press conference.

The committee recommendations announced Thursday were similar to the suggestions originally offered by administrators and members of the Corps of Cadets Company E-2, the unit responsible for the mascot.

The extensive review was completed to ensure that the mascot was well cared for and used reasonably, the vice president said. Administrators and committee members collectively concluded that Reveille probably as being asked to do more than is reasonable, he said.

"This mascot is used like no other mascot in the nation," Bresciani said.

Students have stressed the importance of seeing Reveille on campus and in class on a day-to-day basis and being able to approach and pet her. So university officials plan to review the mascot's schedule to determine what activities -- if any -- may need to be cut, Bresciani said.

"The health and welfare of the dog is our No. 1 priority," he said.

Bresciani said he would have the responsibility of assuring that training protocols and oversight are established and evaluated regularly. But both he and Jackson stressed during the press conference that while periodic reviews are needed, no glaring problems were found in the university's current protocols.

Throughout the process, Bresciani said, he received several hundred e-mails, as well as a number of phone calls and "drive-by" comments offered in passing. Most people responded positively to the process, though a few were critical, he said. Many called for A&M to return to the earliest version of the tradition and adopt a mutt, while others were adamantly in favor of the collie -- or what they thought was a collie, he said.

"What people think the collie is -- it's always absolute, but it's not always accurate," Bresciani said, laughing.

The split was about even between those who wanted a mutt and those who wanted a collie, though additional suggestions ranged across the board, Bresciani said. Among the submissions were the breeds Blue Lacy, which is the state dog of Texas, and Labradoodle, he said.

Texas A&M senior and E-2 Commander John Morello said he and fellow cadets were pleased with the committee's guidelines.

"In a roundabout way, it was pretty much what we wanted," Morello said, pointing to the dog's age and the option of continuing with a collie-like breed. "We didn't have any problems with what they picked."

He and fellow cadets did question whether new Mascot Cpl. John Busch would need to be with the trainer as the next Reveille was trained. Administrators told cadets that would depend on the trainer and would be played by ear. While all new mascots work with a trainer, Morello said, this time may be a little different because the trainer will be working with an older -- and probably already trained -- dog, as opposed to a puppy.

Busch soon will be enrolled in summer school, but when time permits he will work with the administration and committee members as they search for a new dog.

Morello, who graduates in December, said he was eager to see Reveille VIII after all the work he and others had put into the process.

"They've not really been slow on it, but wanting to make sure it was right. I believe that what they've done -- they wanted to get the best they can find and not rush," Morello said. "I am just kind of curious to see what happens."

• Holly Huffman's e-mail address is holly.huffman@theeagle.com.

ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS

A 16-member committee studying the type of dog that should serve as Texas A&M University's next mascot recommended a set of essential characteristics the dog should have, regardless of breed.

• Medium to large size

• Healthy

• Outgoing personality (upbeat)

• Likes people and is at ease in crowds

• Not afraid of noise

• Not highly reactive

• Positively motivated

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6 comment(s) found!

Posted by: Buddy Bradford ''61 On: Saturday, May 03, 2008 3:33 PM

Comment Title: Rev VIII
Rev VIII has to be a Collie! What''s this nonsense about a committee making any other decision? Buddy Bradford ''61
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Posted by: On: Friday, May 02, 2008 10:51 PM

Comment Title:
The original Reville was not a Collie. The story goes that some early Aggies found a mutt on the road and saved it. They showed some class. They showed some compassion for some poor mutt. But now we have to have a pampered yapper?
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Posted by: Robert On: Friday, May 02, 2008 2:51 PM

Comment Title: Reville
There shouldn''t even be a discussion on this. If they don''t get a Collie like Rev VII then get a student in a dog costume and let him/her run around the field.
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Posted by: Monica On: Friday, May 02, 2008 1:39 PM

Comment Title: Reveille
I hope Reveille remains a Collie. She is an icon of Texas A&M University.
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Posted by: Matt On: Friday, May 02, 2008 1:16 PM

Comment Title:
I agree 100% with Denise. Reveille IS a Collie. A 16-member committee to study this issue is the wasting of 16 people''s time!
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Posted by: Denise Hodnett On: Friday, May 02, 2008 11:08 AM

Comment Title: Reveille
It should be a Collie. End of discussion. Find one with a good temperment and breeding and move on. This is ridiculous.
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