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