Posted on 11/24/2006 7:08:25 AM PST by Dog Gone
AUSTIN, Texas - While the chance to repeat as national champion is long gone for Texas, the Big 12 title is still there for the taking.
For rival Texas A&M, it's there for the spoiling.
No. 11 Texas (9-2, 6-1 Big 12) and Texas A&M (8-3, 4-3) meet today for the 113th time in a fierce rivalry that dates to 1894 but has been decidedly one-sided since the Aggies' last victory in 1999.
A Texas win locks up the Big 12 South and a berth in the conference title game. An Aggie victory legitimizes the program's resurgence under fourth-year coach Dennis Franchione.
Throw in state bragging rights, Aggie jokes, "horns down" signs, Aggie yell leaders, Bevo, the Corps of Cadets, etc., and there's still plenty to play for even if the big crystal trophy has been taken off the table.
"This is a fun week," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "It's a game these guys will remember for the rest of their lives."
A&M defensive coordinator Gary Darnell, who coached at Texas from 1992-96, puts the hard-hittin' rivalry in slightly more, um, colorful terms.
"When it gets right down to it," Darnell said, "it's about sweating and stinking and blowing snot bubbles."
Good times.
Texas was cruising toward a Dec. 2 conference title game rematch with Nebraska before losing to Kansas State on Nov. 11. Quarterback Colt McCoy was knocked out of that game in the first quarter but is expected to start this week.
Texas hopes it was just a two-week delay in clinching a Big 12 South title.
"We have a chance to go to the Big 12 championship game," McCoy said. "What more can we ask for? That was our goal in the beginning of the season."
If Texas loses, the Longhorns must hope Oklahoma loses to Oklahoma State on Saturday for their chance to play for the conference crown.
"There was too much talk about the Big 12 before Kansas State," Brown said. "The focus this week is A&M. Nothing more."
Not winning the Big 12 the season after the national championship would be a major letdown for a program that figured it had secured a long-term spot above the Sooners in the South Division pecking order.
"Obviously you don't want to consider losing as an option," said Texas defensive tackle Frank Okam. "Our goal all season was to win the Big 12."
It looked for a while like the Aggies might challenge for the title.
A&M's eight wins are the most in Franchione's tenure with the Aggies. They were on track for a chance to play for the division title before back-to-back one-point losses at home to Oklahoma and Nebraska. All that's left for them is to spoil their rival's season and end the losing streak.
"There's not an Aggie that doesn't want to beat Texas real bad every year," said A&M offensive lineman Kirk Elder.
The Aggies haven't won in Austin since 1994, and their last victory over Texas came in 1999, the year 12 people were killed when the A&M campus bonfire stack collapsed the week before the game.
Most of the games since then haven't been close. Texas has won the last six by an average of 19 points, the closest being 40-29 last season.
Franchione is 25-22 with two losing seasons in his four years at A&M. Beating Texas would be the signature win he needs to get some discontented fans off his back.
Another loss to Texas would make Franchione 1-11 against the Longhorns, Texas Tech and Oklahoma, his chief divisional rivals. It would also send the Aggies into bowl season on a three-game skid.
"This game, more than any other, it's an important game for our program," said A&M defensive end Chris Harrington.
For Texas, Friday is also the last home appearance for 26 seniors - including 12 starters - who have won 43 games, including two Rose Bowls and the national title.
Texas will conduct a ceremony to introduce the seniors and their families to the expected crowd of more than 85,000.
"It's my last rodeo," said senior offensive lineman Kasey Studdard. "Kind of crazy."
Brown said he'll warn his players against getting too worked up on an emotional day.
"If you're going to cry, let's cry after," Brown said. "Because you'll definitely be crying unless you play well and win."
My uncle after consuming a marathon Thanksgiving dinner?
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