AGGIE BAND: 1989 t.u. Drill "Saw Varsity's Horns Off!"

This game was the icing on the cake for the 1989 Season... We had put the "Red Pots" in their place the night before by lighting "their" Bonfire, we "Sawed Varsity's Horns Off" at halftime, and demoralized the t-sips on the football field for an embarrassing 6th time in a row...
This drill was simply incredible..! My hat goes off to Combined Band Drum Major Mike Sammis for his unique and creative drill design. I may not have always agreed with the Class of '90, but I have always had the utmost respect for their Drum Majors and Band Commander.
This unique drill design came about one afternoon in November 1989. I had just gotten back to my room, 11-215, after class when Head Drum Major Mike Sammis, who lived next door, stuck his head in. "I need to borrow your calendar," he said. "It's for something very important, but I can't tell you yet." My ol' lady, Richard Wariner '91, had a calendar that a t-sip teacher of his from high school had given him with a large burnt orange longhorn at the top, which we proudly displayed in our room, just for the purpose of an "attention getter"... And, that it did..! However, mostly negative, as you can imagine... Mike took the calendar, and disappeared to his room. Soon after, when he had properly scaled the longhorn on the drill sheet, he returned the calendar and swore us to secrecy about his drill.
I've never witnessed a more motivated group of individuals, when Mike Sammis announced to the Combined Band on the drill field what special design we were going to be doing in the drill that week.
As you watch the drill, you will here the typical roar of the 12th Man when the Band steps off... Listen to the change in tone as the longhorn emerges from the endzone... The crowd is not quite sure what to think of this until they start to realize the lyrics that they are about to sing to the War Hymn... Then you hear the crowd really get into singing just before "Saw Varsity's"...
The rest of the drill depicts the traditional "Haney" influence in both music and style, with a special "Sammis" flair...
THE FIGHTIN' TEXAS AGGIE BAND: "Not the easiest, but the best!"
Michael Percifield, BQ '91
B-Company Street Fighter

[@RichardHay]

I was a fish in 1989 and I was in the left "horn" in this video I was in the 7th rank so six removed from the bugle rank in spread band. Dan Nicholas was in front of me on the goal line and fish Hay was behind him in the two rank "horn" I remember the stadium was hushed and chattering with speculation on why we would march out in the shape of a Longhorn head. When we executed the rear march abruptly at the south 35 at "Saw Varsity's" the crowd erupted. We won the game too.

[@scott1564]

I was on the second deck! Gig 'em. I can also tell you that the video doesn't do justice to how loud it got after the countermarch.

[@sofializzy4519]

@@scott1564 Videos never do justice compared to actually being there. ❤

[@sofializzy4519]

Looked awesome!

[@Oldag75]

They are perfect. There's no other word for describing them. Perfect, just perfect. They are the best in the world. The best that ever has been, the best that ever will be. A genuine Texas State Treasure. Gig 'em.

[@howardbaxter2514]

Never lose at halftime

[@TRGrad88]

I was there as a sophomore. Hard to believe this happened almost 35 years ago. I remember this as if it happened yesterday. Many thank for sharing. Class of’92. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@icyaquarius86]

I look forward to the day "TEXAS AGGIES" will be once again painted in the endzones.

[@feathersax]

As a "band guy" who was a director for 40 years, I've always appreciated the Aggie Band drills. 30 years marching in the Tennessee National Guard & other bands is a factor, too.

[@Neaptide184]

If you have more from the 1980's and 90's, be good to see them posted. Think that was the best years for the complexity of drills. I was a BQ in the 70's, so doubt much chance of those being reproduced. Thanks. One of the top 10 drills I have seen was the 1991 Arkansas halftime, but this is well done.

[@robertridley9279]

amazing to see the growth of both the band and the stadium from then until now. this was only seven years before my first time in the stadium and by then there was already the third deck and the big jumbotron in one of the end zones, and no track. I couldn't tell how big the band was because I was on the field with OU's band.

[@jeremiahmartinez9756]

Can't stop watching this!! 2015

[@bigjake55555]

Awesome to watch again TY 72’

[@erinmorrow5001]

This is fantastic ! Thanks for the back story on how it all came together.

[@jagvocate]

Very unique! And cool, too

[@madelynmoye1503]

I bet everyone who disliked this video went to UT or roots for the longhorns

[@storm6627]

DOn't ya mean TU? lol

[@zacharyclifford4345]

No, actually it's t.u.

[@christophercott8517]

Nope, am an Eagle.

[@brandonmaddox4862]

Now that t.u. Is coming to the sec, they can expect this every thanksgiving

[@jmpercy]

I’m not sure if we’ll be able to... t.u. might get offended and have to find a safe place during the second half...🤣

[@mysteriousj3019]

@@jmpercy better watch out, you may make a longhorn fan cry with such comments!

[@jimwhiteaker8891]

What makes you think we're gonna play on Thanksgiving? That's the weekend we play LSU

[@gdaywriting]

As good as good bull gets!

[@lspelker8048]

I remember that game and that half time win!! Class '91

[@CHICKDIGSBASEBALL]

L Spelker I do too ! Class of ‘94 - it’s amazing to see how huge the fTab is today.

[@timothyspearman9347]

Terrific! As always.

[@susanmazzanti5643]

I love a good band and this is still one of the best. Besides as I often told my mother who got her terminal degree in Austin, I really do like orange. Besides I started collage at Arkansas A & M. It was the University oh Arkansas at Monticello by the time I graduated. Then I got a masters at Corpus Christi State and we know the name now so I am a closet Aggie. I love the way they hold their place even when they are across the field from each other.

[@luckycenter2]

gig em aggies!!!

[@hitchyourwagon4720]

Hopefully the sawed off horns drill will return in 2025!

[@Rendeveaux]

Whoop!!

[@Rexag]

Great! We didn't do that often....LOVE IT! I sure don't miss them...not one bit. At first, I was for keeping it on the schedule...then after they acted like they do...I'm not interested ...ever. GIG'em

[@blakemasters7443]

Gotta play them again... Just sayin. My dad is an Aggie. I grew up it.

[@joustsquad]

after experiencing gamedays in college station and now at uta, as an LSU man, gotta say I'm damn happy aTm is in the SEC & I 100% understand why y'all left em to rot.

[@tuff47]

"Sounds like hell"..............Whoop!

[@robertridley1029]

I wish we had done a step off like that in the Pride of Oklahoma during OU-texas

[@jmpercy]

Robert Ridley that would have been classic..!!!

[@wallacenails91]

I was one of the bass drummers in that drill

[@prosmokeprochokeantibroke]

Sawed off

[@svgitana2499]

That was my freshman year!! I miss that Texas A&M, when the majority of the school were red ass, today 98% of the students are what we used to call 2%. Today it’s just a facade and not Aggie to the core. Glad I went to A&M when I did.

[@hitchyourwagon4720]

Easy to determine who won halftime!

[@monicabennett6605]

I was there!

[@linedanzer4302]

Human Tetris Machine!

[@prosmokeprochokeantibroke]

I love kyle field with turf and track classic!

[@TheRobertoroboto]

hows that crummy tv channel working out for you

[@johnw3922]

😲 damn. The Texas A&M band today is still the best in the world but some skill does seem to have been lost.

[@jmpercy]

As a former BQ ‘91, sadly, I have to agree with you regarding skill set...

[@weatherlou]

How the 2024 halftime should start Nov 30, plus only allow the burnt orange queens a pep band and no show.

[@darvish2012]

How about this? You try to organize about 300 cadets and try to make a perfect longhorn. See you well you do!

[@matt22nesloney]

Didn't* off** and we'll*** Good job. See you in seven years when you guys come to your senses.

[@Limescale12]

7 years later... wtf were you talking about

[@loeylancastor3208]

Longhorns live rent free in the heads of aggies everywhere for all time😂

[@matthewhood4716]

Saw off Varsity's horns? Why not just saw Bevo? I've never heard of Bevo being called Varsity or any Longhorn reference.

[@matthewhood4716]

Wow thanks for the explanation! Was was very thorough.

[@jamesgoode9246]

HaHaHa @ matthewhood4716

[@wesmiller3520]

Great show as usual, but E.V. would not approve. '66

[@jmpercy]

Wes, my dad is John Percifield ‘63, Maroon Band, and like most BQs of that era, he agrees with you! Gig’em and God Bless!

[@78704here]

Breaking News: The UT football team is STILL celebrating on the 50 at Kyle Field, the lingering memory you'll keep forever. The aggies are wee.

[@cbellomy]

Why would the tu football team still be celebrating on the 50 at Kyle Field when nobody at tu cares about A&M? So confusing.

[@ul7185]

Grand March from The All New Bozo Show

[@ellao.2433]

Poor Aggies, the same half-time show every year...left, right, left, right...

[@TylerMcComb18]

I'm not even an Aggie fan, but the Aggie band is cleaner and more precise than the Texas band will ever be.

[@bksfv6812]

Tyler McComb Damn right, Tyler. Oh, yeah, and Gig 'em.

[@gavinmorris7864]

+Tyler McComb look like Ella is a t-sip

[@moddrrrusky2910]

+Gavin Morris Y'all have an inferiority complex

[@briskbronco8292]

Coming from the mouth of a sip fan. Gtfo

[@AshleyKreitzer]

Thats the worst longhorn I have ever seen... wow. Aggies suck :P OH and it didnt look like it was sawing of the horns, just making it a T. Maybe next time well saw off your mascots tail, bet you'd love THAT!

[@Rock_Hardcastle]

Ashley Kreitzer 🤦‍♂️