First yell is a whooping success

Reed Arena was roaring with whoops and laughter Friday at First Yell. Current and former students packed the place, sat down, read the program and committed to more than three hours of non stop laughter.

"I think everything went excellent," said Rusty Thompson, associate director of student affairs and adviser to the yell leaders. "I think the production was great - the opening acts, the guitar man and then Jeff gave the crowd everything they expected and more."

All the effort that went into First Yell paid off and was well worth it, according to students.

"It was one of those funny, chill atmospheres," said Cassey Bell, junior recreation, parks and tourism sciences major. "Everyone was whooping, and Jeff was including us in the show with all the whooping and hissing. Aggie jokes were coming out everywhere, and it was really funny."

The yell leaders surprised their fellow students when they took the stage with opening acts and showed off dance moves and supreme attitude.

"I did really enjoy Jeff, but seeing the yell leaders dance with Fade 2 Black was pretty awesome," Bell said.

The Singing Cadets shocked the crowd when the group performed personal renditions of a few songs by the Temptations. Students were impressed by the Cadets' hidden talent of dancing gracefully and hilariously while still maintaining a perfect pitch.

"We tried to spice it up a bit with the yell leaders being more involved with the student acts," Thompson said. "Everyone up there just made the night really special."

After the student acts, Brian Haner, also known as the "Guitar Man," took the stage where just about every word that came out of his mouth was humorous and entertaining.

He did some stand-up comedy, and then blew the audience away when he started playing guitar.

Then Jeff Dunham took the stage, and even after students thought they didn't have it in them to laugh anymore - they laughed some more, Thompson said.

"Everyone was rolling laughing in the aisles," Thompson said.

Dunham informed the crowd of his new show which premieres in October on Comedy Central. He showed the audience clips of what he calls a "reality comedy show" so the world could see what real life is like for him and his puppets,

"I thought the show was fantastic and Jeff Dunham was a great entertainer to bring to Texas A&M," said Alex Grant, junior ocean engineering major and member of the Aggie Wranglers.

He then brought out Walter, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, Peanut, Jose Jalapeno on a stick and Bubba. Bubba's act was a favorite because the audience was saying his lines simultaneously with Jeff Dunham.

At one point Bubba commented, "this sounds like some weird kind of church…we will now read from the book of Bubba."

Dunham and his puppet said they were both impressed with the fans' perfect delivery of

the lines.

After the performance, many Aggies headed to Kyle Field for yell practice and mugging down - the Aggie way to end a perfect evening.

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