 Almost every year since 1909 , A & M students have built a large bonfire to celebrate their " burning desire to beat the hell outta " the University of Texas . Aggie Bonfire was traditionally lit around Thanksgiving in conjunction with the festivities surrounding the annual college football game between the schools . Though it began as a trash pile , Aggie Bonfire evolved into a massive six @-@ tiered structure , the world record being held at 109 feet ( 30 m ) . The collapse of the 1999 structure , causing the deaths of 12 students and an alumnus , prompted the university to suspend the official sanction of the bonfire , and the tradition continues off @-@ campus . 
