COLLEGE STATION, Texas (PRWeb) – To “Aggies” – undergrads or alumni of Texas A&M University – the 12th Man tradition is sacred. Generically, “12th Man” has come to mean a contingent of high-spirited fans supporting a football team during a game. Its origin dates back to 1922, when Aggies started using the term as their distinctive moniker. In 1990, Texas A&M trademarked “12th Man.”
No one has ever had 12THMAN on an official Texas license plate, but soon Texas A&M University will auction online the right to display the one and only 12THMAN license plate.
Bidding opens August 12th and ends September 12th, 2013 – two days prior to the Aggies’ SEC showdown with defending national champion Alabama at Kyle Field.
Proceeds from the 12THMAN license-plate auction will benefit Texas A&M University and the General Revenue Fund of Texas. My Plates, which is hosting the auction, will redirect its share to the university.
This is the first time 12THMAN has ever been available on a Texas license plate, and it could be the last. The top bidder in the 12THMAN auction wins the plate for a 10-year term, with an option to renew the plate after that. The winner also has full rights to transfer or sell the plate to someone else.
By law, only a Texas license plate sold at auction by My Plates can be transferred. However, if the winner of the 12THMAN plate chooses never to sell and instead hand the plate on to heirs, the plate might never be available again. That means this may be the first and only time this coveted plate message is available for sale.
The plate has never been available before because only six letters were allowed on personalized plates in Texas until 2011. When the State made seven letters available, MyPlates.com reserved the plate message 12THMAN for auction, understanding such a highly sought-after plate has tremendous potential to raise money for the State of Texas and Texas A&M University.
“The 12th Man tradition at Texas A&M dates back to 1922 and signifies the loyalty and selfless service that is embodied by Aggies everywhere,” said Texas A&M Senior Associate Athletics Director Jason Cook.
Since November 2009, Texans have purchased more than 150,000 My Plates, putting more than $17.5M in the general revenue fund, which helps pay for services for all Texans. Texas A&M-related proceeds from My Plates have supported championship opportunities for Aggie student-athletes, both in the classroom and in competition, as well as funding for the Corps of Cadets and the Bonfire Memorial.
Texas A&M University Athletics is committed to “Building Champions” through academic achievement, athletic excellence and national recognition of student-athletes, teams and programs. Texas A&M’s almost 650 student-athletes compete at the NCAA Division 1-A level in 20 varsity sports. The university officially became a member of the storied Southeastern Conference on July 1, 2012. Opened in 1876 as Texas’ first public institution of higher learning, Texas A&M University is a research-intensive flagship university with more than 50,000 students — including 10,000 graduate students — studying in more than 120 undergraduate and 240 graduate degree programs in ten colleges. www.aggieathletics.com
Aggie fans and former students can register their interest in the MyPlates.com’s 12THMAN Auction at www.myplates.com/12THMAN.
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