The idea was ingenious. But critics and coaches ridiculed it and said it would never work.
“Too risky… Too much of a gamble… It was a recipe for disaster…”
Yet, Jackie Sherrill, in his second year as head football coach at Texas A&M, stubbornly stuck to his plan to implement a 12th Man Kickoff Team, comprised solely of all-volunteer, non-scholarship, former high school athletes from the Aggie student body. And, the 12th Man Kickoff Team, fueled by the heart of a bunch of over-comers, was born.
Fast-forward twenty-five years and Coach Sherrill had another great idea…he just knew would work. Coach Sherrill challenged the men who had once taken the field for him as the legendary 12th Man Kickoff Team to “step out of the stands” once again. This time the goal was to serve their university in a different way, through providing scholarships, service and spreading Aggie love to a new generation of over-comers.
In 2008, the 12th Man Kickoff Team Foundation was officially formed as a non-profit organization. Over 80 players strong, the primary mission of the Foundation is to raise funds to award scholarships to students attending Texas A&M University. Just like the early teams, the Foundation is made up entirely of volunteers. Unlike the teams of the 80’s, there are no tryouts! Anyone and everyone who desires to make a difference can become a member.
BE A PART OF A TEAM WHO GIVES
"If these kids are this tough and this crazy and give so much back to their school, then I can find 10 to go down the field on my kickoff team.” Jackie Sherrill, Sports Illustrated 1983
REPRESENTING THE 12th MAN ON THE FIELD
| 1980’s | ||||
| Chad Adair | John Bulovas | David Fry | Ike Liles | Tony Pollacia |
| Todd Adkins | Tom Bumgardner | Scott Gillespie | Corey Lindscombe | Dan Pollard |
| Corey Allen | John Burnett | Ronnie Glenn | Paul Luedtke | Chris Probst |
| Bill Allison | Dennis Burns | John Gregg | Mark Mazoch | Tom Ray |
| Tom Arthur | Henry Campbell | Leroy Hallman | Torin McCoy | Ron Reynolds |
| Les Asel | Brian Carpenter | Paul Hawrylak | Andy McDonald | Steve Sarkissian |
| Danny Balcar | Rene Casas | Rick Hill | Lyn McDonald | Robert Segura |
| Brian Bancroft | Brit Chapman | Bubba Hillje | Craig McPike | Ed Silverman |
| Warren Barhorst | Trent Childress | Randy Hinson | Bobby Middleton | Shawn Slocum |
| James Barrett | Tom Christner | John Hogg | Doug Middleton | Derrick Smith |
| Spencer Baum | Brent Clements | Mike Holton | Butch Motley | Garry Sorrell |
| Eric Beckham | David Coolidge | Harold Huggins | Dennis Mudd | Barry Stevens |
| Dean Berry | Robert Crouch | Bryan Jackson | Derek Naiser | Rick Tankersley |
| Tom Bevans | Alec Cuellar | Rudolph Jackson | Greg Nehib | David Thelen |
| Russ Birdwell | Dan Debenport | Larry Johnson | Danny Neighbors | Mike Tolleson |
| Jeff Blair | Dennis Descant | Bryan Johnston | Keith Newton | David Vannaman |
| Keith Blaschke | Craig Dornak | David Joiner | Pat O’Boyle | Shawn Walker |
| Tommy Bolcerek | Blake Dwoskin | Marc Kohler | Sean Page | Mark Wurzbach |
| Bobby Bostic | Ashley Eddington | Brian Kotara | Vince Palasota | |
| Jeff Boutwell | Brian Edwards | Doug Lawson | Michael Partney | |
| Steve Bullard | David Fronk | Dan Leyendecker | Kirk Pierce |
| 1990’s | ||||
| Chuck Alvarado | Spencer Earl | John Gilby | Dan Michalk | Cocy Smoot |
| Kip Amedeo | Tod Eenigenburg | James Goerig | Derek Mills | Eric Stanford |
| Luke Anderson | Hector Elizondo | Steve Guzzetta | Nick Mirgeaux | David Thelen |
| Ross Aschenbeck | Jay Elliot | Kyle Hemmi | Matt Moore | Keith Underwood |
| Trent Bishop | Drew Ellis | Julias Hollie | James Muniz | Robert Watson |
| Travis Blaylock | Chris Fischler | Philip Hundl | Nic Muoneke | Joseph Webb |
| Drew Bridges | Wes Flores | Russell Kallus | Benjamin Puig | Scott Wells |
| Steve Bullard | James Flournoy | Kurtis Koop | Cole Reinarz | Brian Wesley |
| Kevin Caffey | Keith Francis | Thomas Little | Shawn Reynolds | Tom Wilson |
| Garrett Carey | Chad Frantzen | Matt Longhofer | David Rock | Greg Yount |
| Pat Cosgrove | James Fuller | Torin McCoy | Jeff Rogers | |
| David Crane | Chad Gary | Chad Merick | Scott Sanders |
| 2000’s | ||||
| Beau Adams | Nathan Haile | Will Mays | Tim Philbeck | Scott Stickane |
| Don Bishop | Robert Jordan | Justin McQueen | John Ray | Jason Ware |
| Matt Douglas | Blake Kendrick | Ryan O’Bryant | Anthony Squillante | |
| Derek Dumas | Nick LaMantia | Thomas Perry | Eric Stanford |
| 2010’s | ||||
| Don Bishop | CJ Jones | Caleb Russell | DeAndre Thompson | Jason Ware |
| Justin Bass | Sam Moeller |
| 2020’s | |||||
| Connor Choate | Braden White |
OUR MISSION
The 12th Man Kickoff Team Foundation exists to “STAND READY” with support and inspiration for Overcomers.
OUR VISION
Supporting students through scholarships, supporting our communities through hospital visits and financial aid, and INSPIRING OTHERS through personal speaking engagements.