To Mug Down or Not to Mug Down? That is the Question!

mug down- to kiss one's date during Yell Practice or football games after a touchdown

Aggies are known (and made fun of) having a multitude of traditions ranging from "humping it" to "uncovering". Out of all of the traditions there is one that both guys and girls alike can agree can be magical or just plain awkward.

Midnight Yell is, as some guys call it, a "cheap date". You ask a girl to Yell, she says yes, you pay nothing to spend a quality hour with one another practicing yells, and then the lights go off in Kyle Field and ... Well, the rest is up to you. Mugging down is expected by some, avoided by others, and laughed at by the few dateless Ags "flicking their Bics" (lighting a lighter to try and help them find another dateless Ag to mug down with). However, what is the proper etiquette for this tradition? Should a girl be expected to mug with a guy just because he asked her? Is it okay to have random mugs?

If you look at it from the standpoint of a college student, most see it as an innocent tradition. For freshmen in the Corps of Cadets, it is essential to have a date. Upperclassman pester you if you don't and you get treated with respect if you do. For many it is seen as "redass" (Having a lot of Aggie spirit) if you take a different date to every Midnight Yell. I know a few Seniors in the Corps who have so many different girls to Yell they probably couldn't count on their fingers or toes!

I think that it's all in good fun. If you feel comfortable and want to mug down, do it! If you don't just turn your head and give your date the cheek. All I have to say is, every time the lights start to dim in Kyle Field I've been pretty pleased with the results. ;)