1. It’s A City Big On Tradition And Loyalty
Whether it’s military ties or just in the water, everywhere you go here in College Station, you’ll find a city that is rich with tradition, loyalty, and a serious amount of ceremonies. If something good happens for the city, it will be celebrated on that date for the rest of forever.
2. Folks In College Station Have Being An Aggie In Their DNA
Texas A&M University is the heart and soul of College Station. It’s the flagship branch of the institution, and its presence is everywhere. Most kids grow up assuming that’s where they’re going to go to school. And even the people who have no ties to the university or care for the sports are still Aggies by pure association, and they wouldn’t even deny it.
3. Being A Redass Is A Good Thing
There are varying levels of college allegiance at any school, but at Texas A&M, most students and alumni seem to agree that their school is superior in every way imaginable and go out of their way to sport maroon, and attend every game and event. That school spirit gets people labeled as “redasses.” And all of those redasses put together are the reason why The Daily Beast listed Texas A&M as the Nation’s Happiest College Campus.
4. A Yell Leader Isn’t A Cheerleader
Texas A&M prefers intimidation tactics over cuteness. That’s why they have yell leaders – a group of guys who literally yell their war calls out in lieu of pom poms and cheers. Feel free to call them cheerleaders all you want. But once you see the size of their arms, I’m guessing you probably won’t.
5. If Someone Yells “BTHO” Around You, Duck
“BTHO!” isn’t internet shorthand. It’s one of the Aggie calls used when the yeller is hoping to “beat the hell out” of another team. Chances are no one is talking about you. But just in case, hit the deck.
6. How To Gig ‘Em
Everything Aggies learned, they learned from Fonzi. Stick those thumbs up as a sign of approval. That’s how you “Gig ‘Em.” If you hear someone yell out, “Gig ‘em, Aggies!” they’re just calling for a beat down. And always remember, Aggies never lose, they just might run out of time.
7. Skip The Bagels And Go For The Breakfast Tacos
Everyone in College Station knows that bagels are for amateurs and people under 12. The only proper on-the-go morning meal is a breakfast taco. This is Texas, after all. And the best place to find those here in Aggieland is at Fuego Tortilla Grill.
8. Long Live George Bush Senior
President George H. W. Bush is something of a local hero despite the fact that he’s not from College Station and has never been an official Aggie. He did, however, give a rather stellar commencement speech during graduation a few years ago. In other words, you don’t talk bad about the man here and the faster you realize that, the easier time you will have.
9. Break Out The Smurf Attire For A Free Meal
If you’re particularly hungry for a home-cooked meal but barely have two dimes to scrape together, you still have a little bit of luck. All you have to do is get dressed in head-to-toe blue and go on over to the Blue Baker where you’ll be able to get yourself a free meal.
10. The Heart Of Dixie Is Chicken
The Dixie Chicken is a famous local bar in the Northgate district that locals just refer to as The Chicken. Close your eyes and picture what a bar named Dixie Chicken in the heart of Texas might look like and…yep, nailed it. Get a burger and a beer while you’re there. And if you wear your Aggie colors, someone just might buy you a round.
11. It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than A 42 And Brew
The crowd at the Dixie Chicken ranges from college kids to old cowboys looking to clean up in a game of 42. Yes, this bar is really big on dominoes tournaments. What, isn’t yours?
12. Howdy, Ms. Rev
If you hear someone talking about a “Miss Rev,” they’re talking about Reveille, an American collie who serves as the Texas A&M mascot and the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets. She’s a big deal and the Freshman have to refer to her as “Miss Rev, ma’am.” Which means, yes, a dog has more seniority than you do here.
13. Don’t Drive During Ring Day… For More Reason Than One
Ring Day is yet another Aggie ceremony that is considered one of the biggest milestones for students. For three days a year, students gather around the giant replica ring outside of the Association of Former Students for photos and a commemoration. Then comes the real reason everyone shows up: the ring dunk party, which involves downing pitchers of beer in celebration.
14. It Doesn’t Get More Texas Than Chilifest
Every spring, Chilifest rolls around in College Station, bringing two days of pure Texas to the city. From daisy dukes to Willie Nelson, this two-day music festival boasts a little bit of all of the best parts of Texas. And yes, that includes chili, too.
15 If You Don’t Know How To Two Step, You’ll Survive
It’s not mandatory for you to know how to two step here. Plenty of people do. But if you end up at a bar and decide that you’d rather watch from the sidelines, you’ll still be in the majority. But it’s actually really fun, though, so give it a try.
16. They’re Bringing Bingo Back
If you think no one under the age of 78 plays bingo, think again. You’ll find the fifth-largest bingo hall in all of Texas in the area at Brazos Bingo which awards prizes over $50,000. Not sounding so lame anymore, now is it?
17. Yes, The Bush Library Contains Books … A Lot Of Them
A&M is home to the George Bush Presidential Library, which is an impressive collection of the life, work, and history of the 41st president but also part of the community, as a popular spot for summer camp, movie nights, family and game night events, guest lectures, and other awesome stuff.
18. The Pancakes Cause Quite A Hullabaloo
Believe the hype. There’s a reason Hullabaloo Diner was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. If the pancakes here could run for president, not only would they win, but they would get their own library, too.
19. The Color Red Isn’t Just For Sports
The only color that matters in College Station is red. They put the red in the Ags (maroon, but close enough), the red in politics, and the red in the red, white, and blue. They like their politics conservative and their flags big.
20. There’s No Shame In An Old Fashioned Howdy
Not everyone in Texas says howdy when you meet them. But the folks in College Station sure do. It’s the preferred greeting and try as you might to not say it yourself, it’s infectious and fun to say. Howdy.
21. BTW, There’s More Than A&M Going On At A&M
The letters A&M used to stand for “Agriculture and Mechanical,” but that was as far back as the 1960s. Since then, the letters remain only to pay homage to the university’s past.
22. It Should be Known As The Big Friendly
Oklahoma City might have already staked their claim on the term The Big Friendly, but everybody in Texas knows that Aggies deserve it the most. As long as you’re able to say hello with a smile, throw a thumbs up, and participate in a little conversation every now and then, you won’t have any trouble at all making friends here. If you can’t do those things, though, chances are you can’t make friends anywhere.
23. But Don’t Go Showing Off Your Longhorns Or Tigers Paraphernalia
Okay, so the rivalry with UT Austin hasn’t been fueled since A&M left the Big 12 Conference, but you should probably let sleeping dogs lie to be safe, because the Longhorns-Aggies rivalry was one of legends. While you’re at it, you might want to bury all your LSU pride deep down during your stay in Aggieland--they can smell it on you from a mile away.
24. Spring Is For Blue Bonnets
Texas doesn’t experience frigid winters, so spring doesn’t symbolize a time for defrosting the way that it does so many other areas of the country. But it does still represent a time for rebirth and renewal. A favorite sight around the city is when the patches of blue bonnets begin to appear and fill the city with color.
25. College Station Folks Are Probably Classier Than You
Along with being friendly, people in Aggieland pride themselves on being classy. They have manners and they know how to use them. Even during games, the most passionate fans still refuse to “boo,” as they feel it makes them look like poor sports. Although, they have no problem hissing at the opposing team. Hey, no one’s perfect.
26. The North Pole Has Been In Texas All Along
Thirty-two acres of Christmas lights and decorations? Yes, please. You might not be getting any snow for Christmas in College Station, but that doesn’t mean the holidays aren’t still a blast thanks to Santa’s Workshop. Kids come for Santa, the adults come for the Wonderland Winery. Maybe that’s why adults have to buy all their own presents…
27. If You Don’t Like It Here, Highway 6 Runs Both Ways
Don’t feel bad if you don’t understand everything there is to know about the culture of College Station right away. It take some time to get used to this much awesome. As the Ags say, "From the outside looking in you can't understand it, and from the inside looking out you can't explain it.”
What do you have to explain to out-of-towners about OKC? Tell us in the comments below! 
