“No Experience Required” well worth the watch for us diehards
The SEC Storied feature on the 12th Man Kickoff Team of the 80s is one to add to Aggie classic films.By: Slim Slocum
Photo: via @AggieNetwork
“No Experience Required,” an SEC Storied feature directed by Keenan K. Holley, premiered just a few days ago on SEC Network. If you have yet to see this in-depth look at the history of the Texas A&M 12th Man Kickoff Team, you should set your DVR now. It’s one of those Aggie tales that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up and feel that Aggie pride deep in your bones. You might even find a frog in your throat (certainly not a horned frog, just a normal, “might have some blurry eyes” frog). SEC Network has been playing it once a day or so since it premiered on November 24th, so finding a replay to record shouldn’t be too difficult.
The story begins with how the Aggie football teams of the 80s were disconnected from the spirit, passion, and tradition of the student body, who have always been as invested in the football program as they come. Once Jackie Sherrill arrived, that disconnect from campus continued during the new coach’s first few years...until Sherrill made a trip over to help with Cut for Bonfire after being confronted by a student in his office. That sparked an idea for Sherrill - after witnessing the service, strength, grit, character, and dedication to Texas A&M that the Redpots embodied, Sherrill thought he could make something that would fit well with the unique personality of the school.
Enter the 12th Man Kickoff Team. Sherrill held tryouts that drew close to 200 students vying for their chance to don the Maroon and White on gamedays at Kyle Field. After a few days of tryouts, the field was whittled down to what became the first iteration of an all walk-on kickoff team.
The film takes you through how the 12th Man walk-ons began as outcasts before earning the respect of scholarship players and Aggie greats like Ray Childress. Like modern-day Rudy Ruettiger’s, they came to practice every day and worked their tails off to earn their spots and learn their jobs. Except to my knowledge, they were never offsides, unlike Rudy. They also played every kickoff as UNIT for many years, not just one play. To put it in perspective, an Aggie Nation article from 2013 pulled the stats: the Aggies led the nation in kickoff coverage twice, and never finished outside the top 5 over the five since after their inception. These dudes played above and beyond their God-given talent and became the on-field embodiment of the spirit and heart of the Texas A&M student body.
Speaking of Notre Dame, you’ll want to stick around to the end, as the film’s best moment comes when it highlights one of the best moments of the 12th Man Kickoff Team. I won’t spoil the story, but to set it up, the Ags were playing the mighty Fighting Irish led by the famed Lou Holtz and superstar receiver and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown in the 1988 Cotton Bowl. You’ll have to watch to get the story, but it is well worth it. Even Tim Brown is interviewed to discuss the incident that sparked the Aggies to a big win over the Golden Domers.
Photo: courtesy Cushing Memorial Library
Members of the 12th Man Kickoff Team celebrate after a stop in the 1988 Cotton Bowl.
If your blood runs Maroon like ours here at TJB, you won’t regret giving this one a watch. It’s likely one you’ll throw on over and over again. I sure as hell wish there was a 12th Man Kickoff Team when I was in College Station because no matter what I looked like or what kind of chance I had to make the team, I damn sure would have been on that field for tryouts - probably all four years.
Enjoy the film, Gig’em Ags, and BTHO LSU!
You can watch the trailer below:
