Wanted: a victory over UT
Win on Friday would do Franchione and Aggies a lot of good10:29 PM CST on Wednesday, November 22, 2006
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – What if someone said Texas A&M could win the national title but would have to lose to archrival Texas first?
Coach Dennis Franchione realizes that's a hypothetical situation Aggies debate amongst themselves, and he would even ponder it a bit, though ultimately he'd take the championship.
"I think what they're trying to do when they say that is quantify how special this game really is," Franchione said.
So special that it can redefine a coaching tenure? Would an upset victory Friday erase memories of 4-8 in 2003, 5-6 in 2005 and the criticized decisions in two straight one-point losses this season?
Texas A&M at Texas
11 a.m. Friday, Ch. 8
Tell Us: Who will win?
Former Aggies coach Jackie Sherrill believes one game in a fierce rivalry can make an immeasurable impact, especially when it's a first.
"If he can win this game, this would be the biggest win he'd ever have," said Sherrill, who was 15-16-1 overall heading to Austin for the final game of his third season in 1984. A&M prevailed, then went 36-12 during the rest of Sherrill's stint.
The Aggies won 10 of the next 11 meetings in the series.
"It's hard to describe," Sherrill said. "It's kind of like a little kid riding a bicycle. All of a sudden, he no longer falls. Now he knows he can ride a bicycle.
"Until they beat Texas, they don't have that feeling. They don't understand it. That's what Fran's going through."
Beyond satisfying fans' desire to vanquish their rival, a victory would be just Franchione's third in November in four seasons at A&M and first this month as an underdog.
The power of a rivalry triumph is far greater for the program that has recently been on the losing side, Sherrill said. The Aggies have lost six straight to the Longhorns and nine of 11.
"You can't put a price tag on it," Sherrill said. "You can't put an emotion tag on it."
Franchione acknowledged that a rivalry as heated as this can become a 365-days-a-year kind of thing. That's 364 days to bask in a win or stew over a loss.
"These games have a life of their own and an identity of their own," he said. "I know that they touch your fan base very deeply. They should touch your players very deeply. I know our former players are touched very deeply by this game, and I think as a player and a coach, you have a sense that this game means more than about any game."
E-mail rcohen@dallasnews.com
Texas A&M (8-3, 4-3 Big 12) at No. 11 Texas (9-2, 6-1), 11 a.m. Friday (Ch. 8; KFXR-AM 1190, KSKY-AM 660, KFJZ-AM 870 in Spanish)