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What’s your sign?
  
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By Marene Gustin
What’s your sign? If you said Capricorn instead of hook ‘em or gig ‘em, you might want to stop reading right now because this is about one of the most famous football rivalries in history. On the other hand, if you bleed orange or maroon, read on.
It’s a Texas tradition as much as rodeo and Friday night lights, that’s right – it’s time for the annual University of Texas versus Texas A&M University showdown.
“We had to get a satellite dish for the game,” said Rich Sproba who’s active, along with his wife Christie, in the Montgomery County A&M Club. The Sproba family is having Thanksgiving Day at a place in the country, and since the big game is on that evening, the new dish was as important as the turkey. Holiday or not, no self-respecting Longhorn or Aggie would miss this legendary line up.
The fight songs for both teams even mention each other, and while other games may be more important wins, the match up between Longhorns and Aggies goes much deeper than just collegiate football standings. It’s a part of each college’s culture.
The rivalry started way back in 1894, the first time Texas played Texas A&M. The teams have faced off against each other a total of 114 times and, for those counting, UT holds a 73 to 36 game advantage (five were draws). The football rivalry has even spawned a book by W. K. Stratton called “Backyard Brawl: Inside the Blood Feud Between Texas and Texas A&M.”
They are so competitive that the schools engage year-round in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown where they award points for wins in all their sports, totaling them up for an annual trophy and bragging rights.
This year the sold-out game is being held in Austin and besides all the pre-game buildup — huge rallies, tailgating and a plethora of college pranks including a hex rally by Texas — the two colleges are also engaged in an online scholarship fundraiser.
“It’s a friendly rivalry,” said Texas alum Gary Wylie. “I have a lot of friends who are Aggies.”
Still, Wylie, who used to attend the game every year but now watches it on television, plans on seeing A&M go down.
“They’ve beat us the last two years so we’re out for blood. They don’t have a good defense now,” he said. “I smell a 50-point lead.”
Indeed, Texas has had a much better year, and even die hard Aggies agree.
“That’s an understatement,” said Sproba. “But there’s always a chance, Texas is probably thinking it’s going to be a cakewalk so maybe we can surprise them.”
Some Houston Texas Exes will gather at Lucky’s Pub for the game, but because of the holiday a lot of viewers will probably stay home and watch with their families.
And one thing about Texas and Texas A&M fans is that loyalty does seem to run in families. Wylie’s wife and ex-wife were both Texas grads as are his two sons, both of whom will be in Austin to cheer on UT Thursday. As for Sproba, his wife, brother and sister-in-law are all Aggies.
“We’ll pay for our kids to go to A&M,” he said jokingly. “But if they want to go to Texas, they’re on their own.”
Lone Star Showdown
The Texas A&M University versus University of Texas football game is Thanksgiving night, Nov. 27, with a start time of 7 p.m. in Austin. Check your local television listings to catch the game on TV.
It’s a Texas tradition as much as rodeo and Friday night lights, that’s right – it’s time for the annual University of Texas versus Texas A&M University showdown.
“We had to get a satellite dish for the game,” said Rich Sproba who’s active, along with his wife Christie, in the Montgomery County A&M Club. The Sproba family is having Thanksgiving Day at a place in the country, and since the big game is on that evening, the new dish was as important as the turkey. Holiday or not, no self-respecting Longhorn or Aggie would miss this legendary line up.
The fight songs for both teams even mention each other, and while other games may be more important wins, the match up between Longhorns and Aggies goes much deeper than just collegiate football standings. It’s a part of each college’s culture.
The rivalry started way back in 1894, the first time Texas played Texas A&M. The teams have faced off against each other a total of 114 times and, for those counting, UT holds a 73 to 36 game advantage (five were draws). The football rivalry has even spawned a book by W. K. Stratton called “Backyard Brawl: Inside the Blood Feud Between Texas and Texas A&M.”
They are so competitive that the schools engage year-round in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown where they award points for wins in all their sports, totaling them up for an annual trophy and bragging rights.
This year the sold-out game is being held in Austin and besides all the pre-game buildup — huge rallies, tailgating and a plethora of college pranks including a hex rally by Texas — the two colleges are also engaged in an online scholarship fundraiser.
“It’s a friendly rivalry,” said Texas alum Gary Wylie. “I have a lot of friends who are Aggies.”
Still, Wylie, who used to attend the game every year but now watches it on television, plans on seeing A&M go down.
“They’ve beat us the last two years so we’re out for blood. They don’t have a good defense now,” he said. “I smell a 50-point lead.”
Indeed, Texas has had a much better year, and even die hard Aggies agree.
“That’s an understatement,” said Sproba. “But there’s always a chance, Texas is probably thinking it’s going to be a cakewalk so maybe we can surprise them.”
Some Houston Texas Exes will gather at Lucky’s Pub for the game, but because of the holiday a lot of viewers will probably stay home and watch with their families.
And one thing about Texas and Texas A&M fans is that loyalty does seem to run in families. Wylie’s wife and ex-wife were both Texas grads as are his two sons, both of whom will be in Austin to cheer on UT Thursday. As for Sproba, his wife, brother and sister-in-law are all Aggies.
“We’ll pay for our kids to go to A&M,” he said jokingly. “But if they want to go to Texas, they’re on their own.”
Lone Star Showdown
The Texas A&M University versus University of Texas football game is Thanksgiving night, Nov. 27, with a start time of 7 p.m. in Austin. Check your local television listings to catch the game on TV.
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