Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: News

Stephen Fogg - The Battalion The student section at Reed Arena raise their hands waiting for a free throw to be shot at the Baylor game on Saturday. The Aggies won the game, 97-87.

As the lights go out and the music booms, an aura of elation spreads across awaiting enthusiasts like fire across a dry field. Ignited by a passion, a spirit that can ne'er be told, the hearts of thousands of Aggies old and young beat as one. With the intensity of Kyle Field's 12th Man, Reed Arena's 6th Man fills the stadium with yells for Aggieland's newest athletic sensation.

"I started coming to basketball games my junior year of high school," said Christopher Lafitte, a freshman petroleum engineering major. "I really hoped that we'd get a good program, and then Gillispie came. This really is a dream come true."

Three years ago, when asked what one thought of Texas A&M's 0-16 basketball team, many students would have scoffed at the question.

"I've followed Aggie basketball for three and a half years," said Cecil Allred, a freshman biomedical science science major.

Many Aggies attribute the basketball team's success to the coaching ability of Billy Gillispie, who even has a town founded after him, located at the east entrance of Reed Arena.

"I'm the mayor of Gillispieville. I bring a tent and camp out, bring my 52-inch television and the XBOX 360, and we barbecue for everyone," said Ryne Sandel, senior psychology major. "Gillispieville started at the OSU game, and it just kind of took on a life of its own."

Jourdan Bremmer, sophomore general studies major, dons a maroon wig for each game and carries a cardboard cutout of Acie Law's face.

"I've been to every game this season. I've camped out for every game, and I've missed class, but don't tell anyone!" Bremmer said. "I have this (cutout) of Acie Law because he's just a good player."

"For the OU game, we all bought these maroon wigs to wear to the game so we'd stand out. We wear them to every game, including the women's. I just love the basketball games ... you get to really get into it and freak out."

Holding up yellow "Caution!" tape each time the referees made calls they saw as atrocious, Patrick McMahon, a freshman entomology major, and Jay Behrens, a freshman animal science major, yelled at officials to look their direction.

"We figured it would be a good idea when the refs made bad calls," McMahon said.

Wearing a maroon and white boa and flashing Texas A&M pins, Vanessa Chapman, mother of Aggie basketball player Chris Chapman, said seeing the Aggie spirit come alive for the team has been an incredible experience.

"I haven't missed a home game in the last two years," she said. "Chris was the manager last year, and this year he's on the team, and it's been a fantastic year. The boys have worked so hard, and seeing this spirit here is great."

Johnny Lyon, Class of 1959 and friend of the late Shelby Metcalf, said that the A&M basketball program is, simply put, awesome.

"I go to the women's and the men's games. I've been to 95 percent of the games," said Lyon, a former high school and Air Force basketball coach. "I sure hope that we can get the same support for the women as we do the men because this is just awesome."

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