Photo by: Texas A&M Athletics
SPOTLIGHT: No Better Experience
Sep 27, 2017 | Football
Kyle Field will shine even brighter these next two weeks with games under the lights
The 200,000-plus fans who will be lucky enough to pass through the gates of our beloved Kyle Field over the next two weeks are in for a real treat.
For the first time in at least 20 years, Texas A&M will play two straight Saturday night conference home games.
We all know how special Kyle Field is. There is nowhere else like it.
But kick on those lights, and line up against a league foe?
There is no better environment in college football than a Saturday night conference game inside the Home of the 12th Man.
"No, there's not," agrees defensive lineman Jarrett Johnson. "There's no better experience out there. (The 12th Man are) the best fans in the world, in my opinion."
"We love our fans," senior wide receiver Damion Ratley said. "Our fans are always crazy to see us, and we're crazy about them and ready to put on a show for them. I love them to death. I'm excited as all (get out) just to get underneath the lights again and play on Kyle Field."
Junior Landis Durham admits to even pausing a split second between plays every now and then to quickly take in the atmosphere.
"Man, it's crazy," Durham said. "I remember the first time running out here…it was amazing. I knew right then at that point that I was part of something great, something really special…the biggest stadium in Texas, 105,000 standing and yelling the whole game."
"I know the 12th Man can't wait to get back out there, especially at nighttime, and be able to cheer us on," junior wideout Christian Kirk said. "We know they're going to have our backs the whole entire game and, for us, it's special."
And that standing…that yelling…that constant, overpowering noise…it dials up a few notches when the game is at night.
Is that even possible?
"The intensity goes up," senior running back Keith Ford said. "Everyone's more into the game. You can just feel it. You can feel the stadium shake. You can barely hear what's going on on the field. It's a blessing (to play at Kyle Field). It's tremendous."
"It's just amazing…amazing…to be under the lights," junior defensive lineman Kingsley Keke said. "The field, the fans…it's rocking and rolling at nighttime. Man. It's insane."
"Oh man," says sophomore running back Trayveon Williams, as he breaks into a wide grin. "Kyle Field, at night…I just love the lights. There's more electricity, that fan base…that atmosphere at nighttime. I love it. It feels like the whole town is there at a night game. I love it."
Aggies of all ages have their favorite Kyle Field "after dark" memories.
Under the lights, the 1987 Aggies locked up their third-straight Cotton Bowl trip with a 20-13 win over Texas.
"Give credit to our crowd," head coach Jackie Sherrill said after that game. "(This is) maybe one of the toughest places to play in the nation."
Defensive line coach Terry Price was on that '87 team.
"That's the wonderful thing about Kyle Field," Price said. "It's not just the best stadium in the country, but the loudest stadium in the country. We make memories like that every game and every year. Every year you're going to have some kind of memory where, 'Man. I couldn't believe how loud it is'."
In 2010, Texas A&M hosted ninth-ranked Nebraska with a shot at a division title on the line. In front of the largest pre-renovation crowd in school history (90,000-plus), the Aggies outlasted the Huskers 9-6.
The iconic image of the entire stadium waving 12th Man towels at night is one that will live on forever, especially in the mind of one of the best wide receivers in school history, Ryan Swope.
"That Nebraska game was probably the most memorable," Swope said. "We had this place jammed tight, even on the sidelines. To look up and see the 12th Man…I'm standing by (defensive lineman Spencer) Nealy, and it literally looked like (the stadium) was shaking. Towels were waving, it was probably 10:30 at night. It's an atmosphere that, as a player, you dream about.
"It's incredible what the 12th Man brings to the table," Swope said. "They help win football games for us."
Stephen McGee, a fan favorite who quarterbacked the Aggies a decade ago, never forgets how much the fans meant to him.
"When they're sawing varsity's horns off, and you look up…it's magical," McGee recalls. "You think, 'How lucky am I to play in this place, in this environment?'"
Most modern-era SEC teams and their fans have not experienced the magic of Kyle Field at night…yet.
Two will soon get their chance.
The 12th Man won't want to miss these next few Saturdays.
They'll be there early, spending the day with family, friends and fellow Aggies on campus.
Then, when Power hits, the flames fly and the team takes the field, those in the stadium will stand, as always, ready.
And they will do what they do best.
Bring the noise.
"There's always a certain feeling when you play under the lights, especially at Kyle Field," Kirk said. "We're excited. We know the stadium is going to be rocking."
"Everyone's there," Johnson said. "Everyone's live. Everyone's ready to go. I'm very excited to play."
For the first time in at least 20 years, Texas A&M will play two straight Saturday night conference home games.
We all know how special Kyle Field is. There is nowhere else like it.
But kick on those lights, and line up against a league foe?
There is no better environment in college football than a Saturday night conference game inside the Home of the 12th Man.
"No, there's not," agrees defensive lineman Jarrett Johnson. "There's no better experience out there. (The 12th Man are) the best fans in the world, in my opinion."
"We love our fans," senior wide receiver Damion Ratley said. "Our fans are always crazy to see us, and we're crazy about them and ready to put on a show for them. I love them to death. I'm excited as all (get out) just to get underneath the lights again and play on Kyle Field."
Junior Landis Durham admits to even pausing a split second between plays every now and then to quickly take in the atmosphere.
"Man, it's crazy," Durham said. "I remember the first time running out here…it was amazing. I knew right then at that point that I was part of something great, something really special…the biggest stadium in Texas, 105,000 standing and yelling the whole game."
"I know the 12th Man can't wait to get back out there, especially at nighttime, and be able to cheer us on," junior wideout Christian Kirk said. "We know they're going to have our backs the whole entire game and, for us, it's special."
And that standing…that yelling…that constant, overpowering noise…it dials up a few notches when the game is at night.
Is that even possible?
"The intensity goes up," senior running back Keith Ford said. "Everyone's more into the game. You can just feel it. You can feel the stadium shake. You can barely hear what's going on on the field. It's a blessing (to play at Kyle Field). It's tremendous."
"It's just amazing…amazing…to be under the lights," junior defensive lineman Kingsley Keke said. "The field, the fans…it's rocking and rolling at nighttime. Man. It's insane."
"Oh man," says sophomore running back Trayveon Williams, as he breaks into a wide grin. "Kyle Field, at night…I just love the lights. There's more electricity, that fan base…that atmosphere at nighttime. I love it. It feels like the whole town is there at a night game. I love it."
Aggies of all ages have their favorite Kyle Field "after dark" memories.
Under the lights, the 1987 Aggies locked up their third-straight Cotton Bowl trip with a 20-13 win over Texas.
"Give credit to our crowd," head coach Jackie Sherrill said after that game. "(This is) maybe one of the toughest places to play in the nation."
Defensive line coach Terry Price was on that '87 team.
"That's the wonderful thing about Kyle Field," Price said. "It's not just the best stadium in the country, but the loudest stadium in the country. We make memories like that every game and every year. Every year you're going to have some kind of memory where, 'Man. I couldn't believe how loud it is'."
In 2010, Texas A&M hosted ninth-ranked Nebraska with a shot at a division title on the line. In front of the largest pre-renovation crowd in school history (90,000-plus), the Aggies outlasted the Huskers 9-6.
The iconic image of the entire stadium waving 12th Man towels at night is one that will live on forever, especially in the mind of one of the best wide receivers in school history, Ryan Swope.
"That Nebraska game was probably the most memorable," Swope said. "We had this place jammed tight, even on the sidelines. To look up and see the 12th Man…I'm standing by (defensive lineman Spencer) Nealy, and it literally looked like (the stadium) was shaking. Towels were waving, it was probably 10:30 at night. It's an atmosphere that, as a player, you dream about.
"It's incredible what the 12th Man brings to the table," Swope said. "They help win football games for us."
Stephen McGee, a fan favorite who quarterbacked the Aggies a decade ago, never forgets how much the fans meant to him.
"When they're sawing varsity's horns off, and you look up…it's magical," McGee recalls. "You think, 'How lucky am I to play in this place, in this environment?'"
Most modern-era SEC teams and their fans have not experienced the magic of Kyle Field at night…yet.
Two will soon get their chance.
The 12th Man won't want to miss these next few Saturdays.
They'll be there early, spending the day with family, friends and fellow Aggies on campus.
Then, when Power hits, the flames fly and the team takes the field, those in the stadium will stand, as always, ready.
And they will do what they do best.
Bring the noise.
"There's always a certain feeling when you play under the lights, especially at Kyle Field," Kirk said. "We're excited. We know the stadium is going to be rocking."
"Everyone's there," Johnson said. "Everyone's live. Everyone's ready to go. I'm very excited to play."
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