Texas A&M University's mascot Reveille IX became the subject of a new episode of the Disney+ show It's A Dog's Life. The episode featuring the university's long-haired Collie mascot is available now on the streaming channel.
The show's host and film crew spent time on campus last fall working closely with university staff and students, filming Reveille as she conducted many of her mascot duties such as the Corps March-in and her appearance at the home football game against Auburn on Sept. 21.
The show will also feature Reveille's handler, Corps of Cadets Mascot Corporal Colton Ray '22, a geographic information science and technology major from Greenbrier, Arkansas. He spent several days escorting It's A Dog's Life host Bill Farmer around campus with Reveille, as she met and excited fans everywhere she went.
"I grew up watching Disney shows and movies, so to have the opportunity to represent Miss Rev and our university on that high of a level is truly an honor," says Ray, a sophomore at the time of filming. "My family and I are very excited to watch it together."
Farmer is best known as the voices of the Disney characters "Goofy" and "Pluto," roles he's played for more than 30 years.
In It's A Dog's Life, Farmer travels around the country meeting "dogs with jobs," including search and rescue, guide dogs, and sheep dogs. Reveille is the only university mascot to be featured in the show's inaugural season.
Farmer says he was amazed to witness the loving and devoted relationship that Reveille has with Aggies, and it was a pleasure getting to spend time with the "Queen of Aggieland."
"She has a life that I want – a life befitting a queen," he says. "Everywhere we went, everyone was so excited to see her — you could see it in their faces. It was like seeing Brad Pitt running around on campus."
Farmer describes Reveille as "enthusiastic" and "the sweetest dog ever," and says he experienced Texas hospitality while on campus.
"All of the students were so kind and generous. Everyone was kind – just the best – it was a totally exciting adventure," he says.
During his stay, Farmer attended a military science class with Reveille, visited Ray's dorm, and met Aggies and campus visitors in the Memorial Student Center. He even attended the mascot's six-hour long appointment with a groomer in Bryan, the university's neighboring town.
After participating in a Corps drill, in which Farmer said he gave the drill sergeant a ripe opportunity to make fun of his ineptitude, the cadet refused. "He was just too kind," Farmer says.
Ray says filming with Disney was an outstanding experience.
"They were respectful of our time and respectful to Reveille most of all. It was just a normal day in the life of Reveille, aside from having the voice of Goofy ask you questions and three cameras following you around," he says.
Ray's job as Reveille's handler will conclude at the end of the summer, and a new mascot corporal will be chosen. He says that whoever gets the job, and the rest of Company E-2, the Corp of Cadet's mascot company, should be prepared for and enjoy opportunities like the Disney show when they come along.
"Getting to represent the university with Miss Rev is a huge honor and responsibility, and you never know what cards are going to be dealt to you," he says. "When you get opportunities to be a part of a production like this, just enjoy it and have fun with it."
