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I grew up in Texas, but didn't go to A&M. I did, however, visit the campus a few times, and let me tells you, there is no other school I've seen that is so hardcore into traditions.
There is a plot of ground on the campus that if you walk on it, you will either be picked up and carried off it, or beaten the crap out of for walking on it (to be fair, it is a dedication to the alumni who have fallen in line of duty, so that is a bit understandable).
Their yell practices are the closest thing I've ever seen to a Nazi rally in this country. Not that I've been to one in this country or any other, but the amount of fervor, obsession with tradition, and amount of hate (and racism) for an enemy I've never even seen at anti-abortion rallies.
Sitting at a football game is not an option. Again, a violent response is almost guaranteed for anyone sitting down.
On the bit about the "12th Man," I always knew that was an Aggie tradition, although I was aware that it seems a little generic and used by others.
Small ironic story: "Gig 'Em," another Aggie phrase, was actually stolen from another school, Texas Christian, back around the time they first claimed the "12th Man". "Gigging" was a slang term for an action done by Horned Toads when they shoot blood out of their eyes (TCU are the Horned Frogs, but there is no such thing, actually). Doesn't really make sense of Aggies doing that.
And finally, true Aggie story (been confirmed to me by Aggies themselves). There is a library on the A&M campus that is 3 stories high, but it originally was designed to be 10 stories high. The architect, an A&M alum, had to shorten it because he forgot to factor in the weight of the books. You can't make this stuff up.
