It couldn’t have been a more beautiful day for a football game - sun and clear skies, a cool breeze and 75 degrees. We were sitting in Section 5 of the Alumni side, row 42, on the 50 yard line of Memorial Stadium. After taking in the monstrous HD godzillatron and getting buzzed by two Apache helicopters, I was really fired up for this game.
When the Longhorns decided to go for it on 4th and 1 in the first quarter, I knew the Aggies had a chance. And why shouldn’t Mack Brown make a call like that? The last time Texas A&M won in Austin was in 1994 not to mention Texas are the defending national champions. Sacrificing a field goal attempt and getting the first down certainly would have busted the morale of the Texas A&M defense and would have most likely ended their drive with a touchdown - they were on the Aggie 8 yard line.
But A&M held them, got the ball and scored a touchdown (missing the extra point). It was clear to me from that call that the Longhorn team assumed this game was going to be a walk in the park. And based on the performance of both teams this season, that’s exactly what needed to happen for the Aggies to win.
Texas A&M will always hold t.u. as their arch-nemesis, rival and foe. The second verse of the Aggie War Hymn, the school song, is dedicated to the rivalry. For Texas, this has changed - especially with their competition in the BCS over the past years. In fact, Texas’ considers Oklahoma to be their #1 rival, leaving Texas A&M as some cockroach that won’t flush down the toilet.
A&M’s 12-7 win over Texas is a defining moment for both teams. Texas was out of the BCS after losing to Kansas State the weekend before which must have been a slice for humble pie. They had to eat the rest of the pie at this game. The lesson for Texas is that a National Championship win doesn’t make their conference games - especially this one - trivial. And I think this lifts the cover on the weak Longhorn QB string when Colt McCoy isn’t 100%.
More importantly, it gives A&M some genuine bragging rights and means the Aggie/Longhorn football rivalry isn’t dead. Had the Aggies lost, I would fear that the rivalry - along with Coach Franchione’s job - would have been hung out to dry. Losing the rivalry would have been a bigger loss for the state of Texas.
Borrowing a quote from one of my favorite Aggies, “Gigemhowdywoop, damnit!” And how about that Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band? Even though the military style marching does resemble some notorious film footage from Germany in the late 1930s as some nearby Texas fans commented, it’s fantastic to watch: