COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Samantha Ketchum's website describes her as a "red-ass third generation Aggie," whose ties to Texas A&M include parents who met at a midnight yell practice.
"We've got about a total of nine in the family that have gone to A&M, so we're a big Aggie family," said Ketchum.
Known by her friends as "Sam," Ketchum hopes to one day lead those yells that are for her a family tradition.
"I like the fact that instead of having a bunch of cheerleaders out on the field, we have the entire student body rooting our team on," said Ketchum. "The yell leaders are the ones that get to facilitate that and really serve the 12th Man, and I just want to be a big part of that."
The role of yell leader goes back more than 100 years, and consists of five traditionally male students chosen by their classmates to fire up the crowd at sports events and act as sort of ambassadors for the university.
"I feel like almost every single football game or midnight yell practice, you look down there, and you think that would be so awesome," said Ketchum.
Over the years, many women have run and lost, but Ketchum believes she's different.
"Most girls just run under the heading of 'Elect me, because I'm a girl,' and that's not why I'm doing it...which is why I think I've gotten a lot more support. I'm doing it because I actually want to be a part of it," explained Ketchum.
Ketchum knows not everyone is on board.
"There's, of course, a lot of opposition just because we are such a tradition-based school," she said.
Student Scott Bixler explained the importance of traditions of all sorts to students at Texas A&M.
"It's absolutely fundamental," said Bixler. "It definitely forms a lot of the core of who we are; that's what brings us together."
When asked by KVUE, most Aggie students said they wouldn't be opposed to the idea of voting for a female yell leader.
"I think I would, because I'm in for the change," said student Victoria Salinas.
"It depends on her enthusiasm and her spirit for A&M," said student Grant Leathers. "I mean, if it's a girl, I don't think that matters a whole lot."
"I think having a female yell leader would be a good change for Texas A&M," said student Elizabeth Jaroscewski, despite conceding she doesn't expect such a change this year.
Many of the same students were less certain the student body as a whole is ready to elect a female.
"I think a good amount of us are, but then there are some that are a little resistant," said Jaroscewski.
"It's hard to say because we're so deeply rooted in kind of that just male leadership and that tradition," said Bixler. "It's really hard to say. I can see it happening -- probably not this year. Maybe in the next few years, but down the road, I can definitely see it."
Campaigning for yell leader can be intense. Candidates spend the final weak before elections blanketing the campus with signs and banners, promoting campaign videos online, and stumping with student groups.
"It's a pretty competitive thing. It always is," said Junior yell candidate Drew Nelson. "It's definitely a big responsibility and a big honor."
Asked what he thought of the possibility of a female getting elected, Nelson said it's tough to call.
"If the student body likes her, if there's 50 percent of the vote for her, I think half the campus is going to be happy," said Nelson. "Whatever the student body wants is going to happen."
KVUE asked whether Ketchum planned to list herself on the ballot as "Samantha" or the more ambiguous "Sam."
"I toyed with the idea of going under Sam, because that's actually what everybody calls me anyway," laughed Ketchum. "But I decided I'm not ashamed of the fact that I'm a woman running for yell leader, so why try to hide that on the ballot?"
Online voting starts Monday and Tuesday, with results announced Tuesday night. Whether Ketchum's undeniably infectious Aggie spirit can change a 100-year tradition will be up to the 12th Man to decide.
