College football’s back, so can we at least try to keep traditions cordial?

Texas A&M made waves within Gamecock Nation last week when it was announced the Aggies’ Midnight Yell would be held at 12 a.m. on the steps of the South Carolina State House in Columbia on the eve of both teams’ season opener on Aug. 28.

Event organizer Bill Wood, a 1984 Texas A&M graduate and Columbia businessman, said he expects at least 1,000 maroon-clad fans descending on South Carolina’s state capital building to take part in a long-standing tradition held before every Aggies football game, home or away.

He chose the state house as the host site since it’s in a central location and not in the vicinity of any major residential areas.

“I went hunting for a site when we first started planning for the game,” Wood said in an interview with GoGamecocks.com’s Josh Kendall. “It was never a problem when I was a student. I hope everybody behaves. (Trash-talking) is certainly not the spirit of the event.”

Wood said he expects Texas A&M fans to flood Williams-Brice Stadium for the nationally-televised SEC Network opener.

“Aggie fans travel really well,” Wood said. “For a Saturday game, I would have no doubt we would have more people. The Thursday night thing might cut into it a little bit, but I think people are going to be excited about coming out to a new place, seeing the rivalry kick off. It’s an awful good game for the opening of the season.”