SEC Network documentary to focus on Texas A&M '12th Man' walk-on tradition
Among the most storied traditions in college football is the 12th man at Texas A&M, a concept introduced when coach Jackie Sherrill held open tryouts in 1983 in order to create a kickoff coverage team featuring all non-scholarship walk-ons.
They soon became a nationwide sensation as one of the top kickoff coverage units in college football, and continued to enjoy success over the next seven seasons, igniting a new tradition that continues today at Texas A&M with a “12th Man” walk-on player each season. That story is featured on the latest “SEC Storied” documentary as this one is called “No Experience Required,” and is set to air on the SEC Network at 9 ET tonight.
Among those interviewed for the film were 22 members of those 12th Man kickoff coverage teams of the 1980s, along with Sherrill, Gary Kubiak, Von Miller and Ray Childress.
The documentary was directed by Kenan K. Holley.
“The story of the 12th Man kickoff team is the tale of a group of individuals that drew together to exude toughness in the face of a challenge,” said Holley. “The experience of playing football in Texas doesn’t leave you. For me, having played high school football there, it informs so many of the principles I carry with me to this day. Getting the opportunity, with ESPN Films, to direct this documentary has been one of the thrills of my career.”
Here is a trailer of the film:
The SEC has a lot of great football stories – this is one of the best. Can’t wait to watch.
Funny thing, I’ve heard there was a part of the prior Aggie administration that was blocking this for 3 or 4 years. Those were my years in College Station (had a next door neighbor that made the kick-off team). It should be fun to watch.
(*blocking the release of the film for 3 or 4 years)
This is a great tradition, and one of the reasons I am so glad TAM is in the SEC– even though you best my Mighty Gators! Jackie was on Finebaum today (Tuesday) talking about it. Very interesting stuff. He said the idea hit him as he was walking by the bonfire!
I was 11 years old when A&M hired Jackie Sherrill. A 3rd generation Aggie I had been growing up at Kyle Field since 1978. The documentary was good. Really good. I give it a thumbs up, but no 2-dimensional 50 minutes expose’ could ever capture that grandeur.
I’m an old man now, and I still fantasize about cornering the current yell leaders in a room and being able to explain to them the relationship that then existed between The 12th Man (the student body) and the Wrecking Crew (the Aggie defense). I saw it unfold. I was part of it. Every time they accomplished a 3-and-out (and God knows this happened a thousand times) we stood and yelled our lungs out until the 11th of them put his ass on the bench.
We paid them with praise. They paid us with pain (the opponents’).
We paid them with praise. They paid us with pain.
It was Ancient Rome.
It was beautiful.
…It was a symbiotic relationship.
It was a REAL relationship.
Now I stand in the palace that is Kyle and often feel like we have become t-sips,
…, like we have become too sthophisthicated to yell at a football game.
jesus.