Aggies Pre-Game Entrance
Considering it was the highest ranking CBS college football game in the past 27 years, I figure there is a good chance that most of you saw the Texas A&M – Alabama game this past Saturday. Since Linda and I were in our usual seats (no we didn’t sell our tickets for $1400, the going price in our section of the stadium), I thought you might be interested in how we saw the game from inside the stadium.
This was a fantastic football weekend. To me it was close to being the quintessential football weekend — only some cooler weather could have made it better (well, that and an Aggie win). We’ve all heard the phrase, ”the pageantry of sport.” While it has been used so often it has become a cliche, it definitely described this football game.
Ever since Texas A&M upset Alabama in Tuscaloosa last year, everyone in Alabama and Texas has had this game circled on their calendar. And when game time finally arrived, the atmosphere was positively electric. It started Friday night when the Aggie Midnight Yell Practice (a sort of pep rally held before every football game) had a record attendance of over 50,000. 50,0000 – that’s just to get ready for the game. Attendance at the game was almost 88,000.
This was a fantastic football weekend. To me it was close to being the quintessential football weekend — only some cooler weather could have made it better (well, that and an Aggie win). We’ve all heard the phrase, ”the pageantry of sport.” While it has been used so often it has become a cliche, it definitely described this football game.
Ever since Texas A&M upset Alabama in Tuscaloosa last year, everyone in Alabama and Texas has had this game circled on their calendar. And when game time finally arrived, the atmosphere was positively electric. It started Friday night when the Aggie Midnight Yell Practice (a sort of pep rally held before every football game) had a record attendance of over 50,000. 50,0000 – that’s just to get ready for the game. Attendance at the game was almost 88,000.
Midnight Yell Practice
Saturday found the tailgating in full swing. No matter where you looked there where canopies and cookers and who knows how many people eating who knows how much good Texas barbecue and consuming who knows how many adult beverages. Over the past 10 years tailgating at Texas A&M has grown almost exponentially, and today it is considered one of the ten best tailgating experiences in the college football. Add that to one of the country’s loudest stadiums, stir in two top-10 teams, and you have the perfect ingredients for a great day of college football.
You Can't Properly Tailgate Without Your Smoker
In our 15 years of season tickets, I haven’t quite experienced what was happening on Saturday. Kyle Field was absolutely rocking from start to finish. And I have never seen so many white 12th Man towels waving as I saw this past Saturday. They told everyone to wear maroon and wave white. Well, that’s what happened – to the nth degree. And loud? At one time Linda actually handed me her soda cup so I could feel it vibrating! The noise level continued for the entire game.
Student Section of Kyle Field on Game Day
The 12th Man (the student body) was in its best form – possibly ever. A&M has the country’s largest student section with over 30,000 at every game, and they are known for their controlled yells. During pre-game warm-ups we watched the ‘Bama players do a double-take and look up at the stands with surprise and just a degree of astonishment. It was obvious from their reaction that even though they had experience in all the big venues, they had never experienced 80,000 Aggies doing a synchronized yell. And the student section kept it going all day.
Half time was as incredible as the game. Alabama brought their Million Dollar Band, which was very good with their crimson uniforms and pretty twirlers. Then The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band took the field. The world’s largest military marching band gave its usual incredible halftime performance of great march music and intricate maneuvers delighting us as usual and leaving Alabama fans in absolute awe.
Half time was as incredible as the game. Alabama brought their Million Dollar Band, which was very good with their crimson uniforms and pretty twirlers. Then The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band took the field. The world’s largest military marching band gave its usual incredible halftime performance of great march music and intricate maneuvers delighting us as usual and leaving Alabama fans in absolute awe.
Fightin' Texas Aggie Band
Before and after the game Linda and I had occasion to speak with a number of different ‘Bama fans. Every one of them (not some, but all) brought up how great the Aggie fans are and how much they were enjoying their experience in College Station. A number of them said they had attended Midnight Yell and were blown away by it. One woman was taking a photo of the “Hats Off” sign at the MSC because she thought it was “so cool” and wanted to share it with the folks back home. The MSC (Memorial Student Center) is considered a memorial to Aggies who have fallen in battle, so everyone (men & women) are requested to remove their hats.
And finally…
… the actual game. What a great game! We’re up 14 points. It’s tied. We’re down 7 points. We are going to tie it up. Oops, a broken route and an interception in the end zone. Halftime is Alabama 28-14 instead of 21 – 21. ‘Bama goes 3-and-out to open the second half. We are driving, and the receiver bobbles the ball on the 15 — interception and 85 yards for a TD. 35 – 14. Ags fight back, including a 95 yard touchdown pass on a 3rd and 9, and the game ends 49 – 42 with the Ags trying a last ditch on-side kick.
Of course you also need a Johnny Football update, so here it is. Johnny Manziel was fantastic and put himself right back at the top of the Heisman Trophy race for this year. He passed for 464 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also ran for 98 yards. His passing yardage and his total yardage are both in the top 5 all-time SEC performances.
I love this team. They gave this game and the fans absolutely everything they had. They left nothing on the field. Yes, I know the final score. But I also know they gained more yards and scored more points against a Nick Saban-coached Alabama team than any other team ever has. And they never quit. As Aggies say, they didn’t lose, they just ran out of time. It’s not often you walk away from a game that your team loses with smile on your face, but it happened this weekend. It was that good.
And no matter what the game’s outcome was, Texas A&M was absolutely a winner this weekend. In all respects, this was college football at its absolute best.
We wish all of you could have been there with us.
And finally…
… the actual game. What a great game! We’re up 14 points. It’s tied. We’re down 7 points. We are going to tie it up. Oops, a broken route and an interception in the end zone. Halftime is Alabama 28-14 instead of 21 – 21. ‘Bama goes 3-and-out to open the second half. We are driving, and the receiver bobbles the ball on the 15 — interception and 85 yards for a TD. 35 – 14. Ags fight back, including a 95 yard touchdown pass on a 3rd and 9, and the game ends 49 – 42 with the Ags trying a last ditch on-side kick.
Of course you also need a Johnny Football update, so here it is. Johnny Manziel was fantastic and put himself right back at the top of the Heisman Trophy race for this year. He passed for 464 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also ran for 98 yards. His passing yardage and his total yardage are both in the top 5 all-time SEC performances.
I love this team. They gave this game and the fans absolutely everything they had. They left nothing on the field. Yes, I know the final score. But I also know they gained more yards and scored more points against a Nick Saban-coached Alabama team than any other team ever has. And they never quit. As Aggies say, they didn’t lose, they just ran out of time. It’s not often you walk away from a game that your team loses with smile on your face, but it happened this weekend. It was that good.
And no matter what the game’s outcome was, Texas A&M was absolutely a winner this weekend. In all respects, this was college football at its absolute best.
We wish all of you could have been there with us.
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