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Texas A&M Football: Top 10 Lonestar Showdown games

By Mary Catherine McCord

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Stephen McGee #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies runs for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium November 24, 2006 in Austin, Texas. The Aggies defeated the Longhorns 12-7. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Stephen McGee #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies runs for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium November 24, 2006 in Austin, Texas. The Aggies defeated the Longhorns 12-7. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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1. 1999 Football: Texas A&M 26, (7) Texas 24

Every win over Texas is celebrated (especially because it only happened 37 times in 118 years), but perhaps none more than this one. Played just eight days after the Bonfire fell, resulting in the loss of 12 Texas A&M students and injuring another 22, everything about the rivalry was changed after ’99.

Texas’ annual Hex Rally (held every year the night before the A&M game in an effort to “hex” the Aggies) was cancelled and a candlelight vigil was held instead, and attended by students of both schools. Midnight Yell the night before the game saw 60,000 fans – along with the football team – pack Kyle Field, there to mourn.

The game itself didn’t matter in the grand scheme of the season. Texas A&M came into the game with a 7-3 record, already bowl eligible. With a 4-3 record in the Big XII, and Texas with a 6-1 conference record, the South was already decided. All that mattered was winning for the 12.

Texas star quarterback Major Applewhite was sick the day of the game did not start the game for the Longhorns. Instead, freshman Chris Simms took the field in his first career start. Simms would lead the Longhorns to a 16-6 halftime lead, but the Wrecking Crew would stand strong in the second half; the Longhorns only managed two first downs, and the defense would force a fumble by Simms in the drive following a Randy McCown to Matt Bumgardner touchdown to complete the comeback for the Aggies.

Next: Could the Longhorns ever join Texas A&M in the SEC?

Brian Gamble’s recovery, and Dave South’s call – “who’s got it? Aggies got the ball! Aggies got the ball!” – stand as the best Lonestar Showdown moment in the history of the rivalry.