 "Photo: Osa Okundaye")
The Lone Star Showdown. The Backyard Brawl. No matter what it's called, everyone in the state knows of the Texas - Texas A&M rivalry. From its inception in 1894 to today, the rivalry has gained national recognition and intensity with every game that is played. The series, which Texas leads 74-36-5, is the third-most played rivalry in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision history.
"This is one of the greatest traditions of all time," head coach Mike Sherman said. "This state looks forward to this game every single year. It's a very special game."
The first game ever played between the two Texas institutions was in 1894, when the Aggies traveled over to Clark Field in Austin. It was not only the Aggies' first matchup with the Longhorns, but their first game of college football ever that was sponsored by A&M. Their inexperience was evident in the score, as the Longhorns thrashed the Aggies by a score of 48-0.
On the eighth try, Texas A&M got into the win column, overtaking Texas on Nov. 27, 1902 in San Antonio by a score of 12-0. Texas disputes this win by the Aggies, however.
1909 is the first win over Texas that is not disputed by the school. The first undisputed win, like the first tie, was held at a neutral site; Texas A&M's defense shut down and shut out the Longhorns on Nov. 9, 1909 by a one-sided score of 23-0. Just over a half month later, the Aggies repeated their performance by beating the Longhorns in Austin 5-0. Bonfire was also started that year by Texas A&M students to show a "burning desire to beat the hell outta t.u."
A friendly competition began to turn into a hostile rivalry in the second decade of the 20th century. Texas grads decided that in 1916, the Longhorns needed a Longhorn on their sidelines. Steve Pinckney collected $124 from 124 Texas Exes to buy the steer, which was unnamed at that time, and delivered the animal to the Texas student body on Thanksgiving Day in 1916.
The owners suggested branding the steer with a large T and the score from the 1916 game (Texas won the 1916 matchup 21-7), but the student body decided the idea was too cruel for the animal. On February 11th, 1917, however, the owner of the stockyard where the longhorn was kept found a "13-0" (the score A&M beat Texas by in 1915) branding on the steer. While it has never been confirmed, it has been assumed to be Texas A&M students.
The Longhorns, devastated that this happened on their watch, crafted the 13 into a B, the dash into part of an E, and put a V before the 0, turning the name into "Bevo," which was also the name of a famous non-alcoholic beer at that time.
From 1924-1955, the Texas Longhorns dominated the rivalry, especially in Austin, where the Aggies were only able to muster a tie in 1948.
The biggest win for Texas during this period came in 1940. The Aggies, who were the defending national champions, came into Austin with an 8-0 record and a defense that had allowed only seven points total in its last three games. The Longhorns, coached by former Aggie head coach Dana X. Bible, shut out Texas A&M at Memorial Stadium, bringing the Aggies' hopes of a repeat national championship crashing down.
1941 was another big year for the Longhorns, who had not defeated Texas A&M in College Station since 1923. Before the matchup, students went to fortune teller Mozzelle "Madame Augusta" Hipple, hoping for anything to bring them to victory over an Aggie team that was undefeated. Hipple told the students to burn red candles, which she said symbolized challenge and opposition. Students, alumni, and Texas fans burned red candles throughout the week. The Longhorns upset Texas A&M 23-0 and the annual "Hex Rally" was started. Hex Rally has now become a pep rally that happens in the week before the game with Texas A&M.
In 1956, the Aggies traveled to Austin to face a Longhorns team that was sitting at 1-8. Texas A&M, in its third year of the Bear Bryant era, came into the game with an 8-0-1 record and a stranglehold on the Southwestern Conference championship. The game was the final one for the eight seniors left from the Junction summer camp of 1954, and would be their last shot to beat Texas.
"There was no doubt whatsoever [that we would beat them]," Dennis Goehring, a guard on the 1956 team and one of the survivors of the Junction camp, said. "We were a seasoned team by then, and we knew what we were doing, and we had a determination that we didn't have for any other games. We were destined to win."
Despite an early 13-0 Aggie lead, the Longhorns were able to fight their way back to within six, 20-14, at the half. The second half of the game was completely controlled by the Aggies, outscoring the Longhorns 17-7 en route to a 37-21 final. The 'Junction Boys,' however, had planned on one last surprise if they had been given the ball with any time left on the clock.
"It was towards the end of the game and we were on the offense, I was going to change out with [senior fullback Jack] Pardee," said Goehring. "He would be on the line and I was going to be in the backfield. We were going to let the linemen run in the backfield whether we got the ball or not. That would've put Coach Bryant in a state of hysteria."
Kyle Field hosted the "War in Texas" in 1975. Legendary coaches Emory Ballard and Darrell Royal took to the sidelines for the No. 2 Aggies and No. 5 Longhorns, respectively. Both teams brought out the Wishbone and controlled the clock. But in the end, the Aggie defense was able to hold down the Texas offense, taking a 20-10 victory.
On Nov. 18, 1999, the Texas Aggie Bonfire collapsed, and 12 students lost their lives. On Nov. 26th, the 24th ranked Aggies hosted the Longhorns, who were ranked No. 5. At the half, the Aggies were down 16-6. But a determined Texas A&M group went out into the second half and never allowed the Longhorns to score again. With just over five minutes left, quarterback Randy McCown found receiver Matt Bumgardner in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown pass.
Dennis Franchione may not have been the most successful coach in Texas A&M history, but one thing he will be remembered for is his upset over the eleventh-ranked Texas Longhorns. After losing to three straight ranked teams previous to the Longhorn matchup by over 16 points per game, not to mention the "VIP Connection" newsletter scandal, Franchione looked to be on his way out. But, in front of 88,253 screaming Aggie fans, the much-maligned coach had what can only be called "Fran's Last Stand."
The Texas A&M offense came to play early, scoring two touchdowns including a fake field goal run by holder T.J. Sanders, and a field goal to give the Aggies a 17-0 lead. By the end of the half, Texas was able to get a field goal to cut the score to 17-3. Franchione's offense clicked for the second straight half, and at one time the Aggies held a 38-17 lead. Texas scored two quick touchdowns to get to within eight points, but the Aggies got the ball on the ensuing kickoff, ran out the clock, and won 38-30. After what was arguably the biggest win of his career, Dennis Franchione resigned.
Another chapter will be written on Thursday, when Mike Sherman's improvements during his second year at the helm are tested against what could be the best Longhorns team since 2005, if not ever. But, as history suggests, nothing is impossible.
"There's not too many experiences in college football like this," junior quarterback Jerrod Johnson said. "If you can't get up for this, why play the sport?"
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