Well i've noticed that most Aggie fans aren't as excited about this years matchup.  I haven't heard many non-sarcastic "Keep the streak alive!" chants breaking out among the Aggie faithful.  Perhaps because Texas is #2 in the BCS and on it's way to a possible/probable Big 12 Championship and National Title game apperance. 

I believe that UT will win.  Perhaps because A&M has looked SO bad recently.  When I attended the Army game, a Baylor friend of mine leaned over and said, "If you plan on playing this bad against Baylor, don't expect to win." But I of course said, "Oh, well we'll get better."  Unfortunately this never really came to be.  There just simply isn't a lot of hope for this team on Thursday. 

Every mediocre or worse team deserves an upset.  USC loses to Stanford, West Virginia loses a week out of it's BCS title game bid.  You eventually will lose to a much worse team.  And every bad team will eventually upset a big team. (it just might take a while)  I believe after the Arkansas St. lose when everyones expectations were put into perspective, and predictions began to fly, everyone expected a bad season with perhaps an upset win over a ranked team thrown in.  Now, we're down to one game.  Does this team have an upset win in them at all?  They played upset qualitiy football aganst Tech for a half but have played no good since then in upset situations.  Even against Baylor a qualitiy team could not be put on the field. 

The past two years A&M has played exceptionally well against UT.  You could even argue that three years ago we played well but didn't come through.  We always play this game like a rivalry game is supposed to be played, with our hearts full.  Last year, as Frangate rumbled in the minds of all those in attendance, the players stepped it up and ignored the distractions.  Can they do the same this year?  Can they forget that they're not playing for a bowl and simply play to win?  Last year it seemed overall that Fran finally let the players have fun. 

Now I'm not predicting a win, in fact I'm predicting somewhat of a blowout.  But, is it possible that this team has it in them to beat Texas one more year?  It would save Shermans first season.  It would save the legacy of the seniors.  It would promote the future and of course it would help recruiting.  Two years ago when we rolled into Austin, no one gave us a chance, now no one is giving us a prayer.  I'm not hoping that UT overlooks this game, I'm hoping that our players have this game quadruple circled.  This will be our biggest game of the year.  It will be on national television.  It is against our rival who is #2 in the country.  And, we've upset them the past 2 years.  If there was ever a time to make a statement and play your hearts out, this is it. 

Play hard.