New Bonfire idea: The Pit of FIre
President Ray Bowen has cited cost, liability, and safety factors as the reasons to discontinue Aggie Bonfire in its present form. Perhaps a 45ft tall stack of 800-1,000 pound logs is not the way of the future. The Aggies maybe still could have their bonfire, but in a different, slightly modified form. Bonfire was a project that brought the University together. The student led project would create a fantastic stack of logs that symbolized the Aggies burning desire to beat Texas (t.u.) The bonfire would attract people from all over Texas. They wanted to view the burning spectacle and they wanted to participate in an atmosphere somewhat like a huge family campfire. Aggies and others would sit around the “campfire” for hours visiting with each other and having a good time. Anything that would replace the bonfire of old, would have to embody the spirit of family, tradition, camaraderie, pride, and in my opinion a “campfire”.
Here is my suggestion.
The students still use the polo fields. But instead of building one huge 45ft tall bonfire, they build twelve smaller bonfires.. Twelve to represent those that died in 1999 and the spirit of Texas A&M in the 12th Man. The smaller bonfires will be placed around the polo fields 50-100 ft apart. They could be about 15 ft-20 ft high. Each with a “centerpole” using a “teepee” or “wedding cake” design. The logs will be thin enough that 1-2 people could lift them. Maybe twice as thick as a flag pole. The idea is to make the mini bonfires small enough that they are not a danger to crush someone, but yet large enough to see from the back of a large crowd. High Schools through out Texas hold bonfires every year and from what I have heard, those bonfires are as big or bigger than 15-20 ft high. If they can do it, so should the Aggies.
In the center of all of the mini-bonfires would be a pit. This pit would become a “pit of fire” or the “BBQ Bevo pit”. This pit would be dug by the Texas A&M students each year. The students would only be allowed to use shovels. The pit would be no deeper than 6 ft and it would be sloped at a 45 degree angle or at an angle acceptable by OSHA regulations. The pit would be 70 ft. in diameter and filled with fire wood. The fire wood would be stacked no higher than the pit and would be coated with a flammable substance like jet fuel or lighter fluid. In the middle of the pit would be a large wooden pole 30 ft. high. The “t.u. outhouse” would be placed on top of the pole, just like with the old bonfire.
A raised platform would be erected overlooking the pit. This would be the platform on which the Yell Leaders and Team/Coaches would lead yell practice.
On Bonfire Night, the lighting of the mini-bonfires would somehow trigger the lighting of the flammable stuff in the pit.
Once the mini-bonfires are all burning and the pit of fire is going and yell practice is over, we then have the “BBQ Bevo” ceremony. This will be the highlight/entertainment for the night.
The BBQ Bevos would be large “life-sized” (5ft tall and 6ft long) paper mache Longhorns (i.e. BEVO). Each dorm or student groups on campus would make their own paper mache Bevo that will be thrown into the pit of fire. These “Bevos” would be decorated in unique ways with slogans and such that exemplify Aggies “Burning desire” to beat the hell out of t.u.” Each dorm or student group would elect representatives to be the one’s to “throw” their Bevo into the pit of fire. Perhaps a special ramp will be created to allow the Bevo to safely “slide” into the pit while the representatives remain at a safe distance. It would all be in good fun and im sure the students could think of some unique and funny ways to design their dorm’s Bevo.
So, in the end you have 12 mini bonfires burning around a pit of fire/Bevo BBQ pit with an outhouse. The mini bonfires would be spaced far enough apart that people/crowds could walk in-between them to view the pit. Each bonfire and the pit would be blocked off to keep people at a safe distance, yet still allow them to get “close” to the “action”. Real BBQ and non-alcoholic beverages could be made available to give the event a “tailgate” type of atmosphere.
Student activities will be to build the 12 bonfires and to dig the pit. This will allow plenty of opportunity for sweating and developing teamwork. Plus, each Dorm/Student Group will participate with their unique “Bevo” that will burn. I can think of some pretty funny ways to make a Bevo.
I call on the current Texas A&M students to form a new bonfire tradition. Perhaps even one like I have outlined here. Keep the fire burning!
David Wallace
Texas A&M class of 1991
Houston, TX
See some computer generated pics of this concept.
www.buzzard-golf.com/pitoffire2002/index.htm
[This message has been edited by BQbassdrum91 (edited 2/5/2002).]
[This message has been edited by BQbassdrum91 (edited 2/6/2002).]
President Ray Bowen has cited cost, liability, and safety factors as the reasons to discontinue Aggie Bonfire in its present form. Perhaps a 45ft tall stack of 800-1,000 pound logs is not the way of the future. The Aggies maybe still could have their bonfire, but in a different, slightly modified form. Bonfire was a project that brought the University together. The student led project would create a fantastic stack of logs that symbolized the Aggies burning desire to beat Texas (t.u.) The bonfire would attract people from all over Texas. They wanted to view the burning spectacle and they wanted to participate in an atmosphere somewhat like a huge family campfire. Aggies and others would sit around the “campfire” for hours visiting with each other and having a good time. Anything that would replace the bonfire of old, would have to embody the spirit of family, tradition, camaraderie, pride, and in my opinion a “campfire”.
Here is my suggestion.
The students still use the polo fields. But instead of building one huge 45ft tall bonfire, they build twelve smaller bonfires.. Twelve to represent those that died in 1999 and the spirit of Texas A&M in the 12th Man. The smaller bonfires will be placed around the polo fields 50-100 ft apart. They could be about 15 ft-20 ft high. Each with a “centerpole” using a “teepee” or “wedding cake” design. The logs will be thin enough that 1-2 people could lift them. Maybe twice as thick as a flag pole. The idea is to make the mini bonfires small enough that they are not a danger to crush someone, but yet large enough to see from the back of a large crowd. High Schools through out Texas hold bonfires every year and from what I have heard, those bonfires are as big or bigger than 15-20 ft high. If they can do it, so should the Aggies.
In the center of all of the mini-bonfires would be a pit. This pit would become a “pit of fire” or the “BBQ Bevo pit”. This pit would be dug by the Texas A&M students each year. The students would only be allowed to use shovels. The pit would be no deeper than 6 ft and it would be sloped at a 45 degree angle or at an angle acceptable by OSHA regulations. The pit would be 70 ft. in diameter and filled with fire wood. The fire wood would be stacked no higher than the pit and would be coated with a flammable substance like jet fuel or lighter fluid. In the middle of the pit would be a large wooden pole 30 ft. high. The “t.u. outhouse” would be placed on top of the pole, just like with the old bonfire.
A raised platform would be erected overlooking the pit. This would be the platform on which the Yell Leaders and Team/Coaches would lead yell practice.
On Bonfire Night, the lighting of the mini-bonfires would somehow trigger the lighting of the flammable stuff in the pit.
Once the mini-bonfires are all burning and the pit of fire is going and yell practice is over, we then have the “BBQ Bevo” ceremony. This will be the highlight/entertainment for the night.
The BBQ Bevos would be large “life-sized” (5ft tall and 6ft long) paper mache Longhorns (i.e. BEVO). Each dorm or student groups on campus would make their own paper mache Bevo that will be thrown into the pit of fire. These “Bevos” would be decorated in unique ways with slogans and such that exemplify Aggies “Burning desire” to beat the hell out of t.u.” Each dorm or student group would elect representatives to be the one’s to “throw” their Bevo into the pit of fire. Perhaps a special ramp will be created to allow the Bevo to safely “slide” into the pit while the representatives remain at a safe distance. It would all be in good fun and im sure the students could think of some unique and funny ways to design their dorm’s Bevo.
So, in the end you have 12 mini bonfires burning around a pit of fire/Bevo BBQ pit with an outhouse. The mini bonfires would be spaced far enough apart that people/crowds could walk in-between them to view the pit. Each bonfire and the pit would be blocked off to keep people at a safe distance, yet still allow them to get “close” to the “action”. Real BBQ and non-alcoholic beverages could be made available to give the event a “tailgate” type of atmosphere.
Student activities will be to build the 12 bonfires and to dig the pit. This will allow plenty of opportunity for sweating and developing teamwork. Plus, each Dorm/Student Group will participate with their unique “Bevo” that will burn. I can think of some pretty funny ways to make a Bevo.
I call on the current Texas A&M students to form a new bonfire tradition. Perhaps even one like I have outlined here. Keep the fire burning!
David Wallace
Texas A&M class of 1991
Houston, TX
See some computer generated pics of this concept.
www.buzzard-golf.com/pitoffire2002/index.htm
[This message has been edited by BQbassdrum91 (edited 2/5/2002).]
[This message has been edited by BQbassdrum91 (edited 2/6/2002).]
) I think it's my right to comment on a huge expenditure and potential liability entered by a public university, and I think that's a proposal I could get behind. Sounds safe and inexpensive. Good forward thinking. 
