Texas-Texas A&M Brews Bad Blood

For a game that used evoke so much emotion on either side and often divided homes and friendships down the middle, this Texas-Texas A&M rivalry has strangely morphed into that just-another-game feel.

Maybe it's the fact the Aggies haven't seriously challenged for the Big 12 South championship this decade, while the Longhorns have seemingly been part of the division title conversation most seasons. Perhaps, it's because Oklahoma, in most years, has been the most dominant team in the South so Texas has directed its energy toward toppling the Sooners in their annual Red River Rivalry Game every October.

Some would might even suggest Texas Tech and --gasp -- Oklahoma State have become greater rivals to the Longhorns than A&M.

Don't expect to hear anyone on Texas side admit the rivalry with A&M has lost any of its luster as the second-ranked Longhorns get set to head into packed Kyle Field to take on the Aggies and the 12th Man on a Thursday night. In the players hearts and minds this is still one of the best traditional rivalries in college football no matter what the pundits say or recent history shows.

"It's really one of the best in college football, and the 12th Man is still as effective as it's ever been," said UT senior center Chris Hall. "They've got a great crowd, great atmosphere; all of the traditions and the yell leaders are a great example of great college football. The atmosphere at A&M is tops."

"It is a rivalry game -- you look at A&M, they have got one of the top offenses," UT sophomore defensive end Sam Acho said. "Honestly, their team has been up and down, but they have a great offense and they will come to play every year.

"You look at it whether they are undefeated or they are 0-11, they are going to give their full effort. They treat it like a championship game and we have to do the same, otherwise we won't like the results, so that's what really gets me excited for the game."

Some would argue that A&M's success in this game in recent years should be enough to have the Longhorns attention. The Aggies knocked them off in 2006 and 2007 before the Longhorns exacted revenge, 49-9, in Mike Sherman's go-around as A&M's head coach.

But members of the UT senior class actually coming into the Thanksgiving night game with a 1-2 record against the Aggies and with the stinging memory of a 38-30 loss the last time they played at Kyle Field in 2007 when Dennis Franchione completely flipped the script from the spread option attack to a wide open passing attack in his final game as A&M's coach.

Apparently those defeats are a distant memory to the Longhorns, who hold an all-time series lead of 74-36-5 in this rivalry that stretches back to both programs' Southwest Conference days.

"For us right now it's all about finish," said UT senior quarterback Colt McCoy, whose team is 11-0, 7-0 and has its sight set on the BCS national title game in Pasadena in January. "We don't really talk about '06 and '07. We don't like to think about that. We talk about being the best we can be and finishing what we started. That's enough motivation for us. We've got a lot at stake."

The Aggies would tell you they have a lot riding, too. It's just has nothing to do with tangible stakes of an undefeated finish and a national championship. This is about pride and being able to turn the Longhorn sign upside down with the conviction of knowing they've ruined another Texas season.

Raising the stakes for the Aggies is a chance to derail a potential national championship season for Texas. Led by quarterback Jerrod Johnson and an emerging running game behind freshman back Christine Michael and sophomore Cyrus Gray, the 6-5 Aggies can be a dangerous team. It just depends on which squad shows up, the one that blasted Texas Tech on the road this season or the one that laid down for Kansas State and Oklahoma.

For what it's worth, the Aggies are coming off a dominating 38-3 win last week over Baylor so if the season pattern holds true they are poised for a letdown Thursday night.

"They will be Jekyll Thursday night. We won't see Hyde. Hyde goes away," said UT coach Mack Brown. "They are talented. They've got tremendous skill, and they continue to get better each week.

"I think it showed they way they dominated Baylor last week. They can run it and beat you and they can pass it, which gives them the balance that can make it tweaked."