Battle of the Brazos

Battle of the Brazos
Sport Football
First meeting 1899
Texas A&M 33, Baylor 0
Latest meeting October 15, 2011
Texas A&M 55, Baylor 28
Statistics
Meetings total 108
All-time series Texas A&M leads, 68–31–9
Largest victory Texas A&M, 73-10 (2003)
Longest win streak Texas A&M, 13 (1991-2003)
Current win streak Texas A&M, 3

The Battle of the Brazos was the official collegiate sports rivalry between the Baylor Bears and Texas A&M Aggies. The rivalry is named for the Brazos River[1] that flows by the two schools, which are only 90 miles apart. The Battle of the Brazos debuted in 1899.

History

In the early days of the rivalry (1905 and earlier), Baylor and Texas A&M played each other multiple times in a single year, possibly due to a dearth of regional opponents. The two teams were also geographically close with only a one-hour train ride separating the two colleges.

The Brawl

The 1926 football game coincided with Baylor's homecoming. During halftime Baylor Homecoming floats paraded around the field. When a float - actually a car pulling a flatbed trailer with several female Baylor students - neared the section where the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets sat, a cadet raced towards the car and grabbed the steering wheel. The motion caused Louise Normand to fall off the truck, injuring her and inciting a large riot. Students began using metal folding chairs and planks of wood that had been used as yard markers for weapons. Texas A&M student Lt. Charles Sessums was hit in the head during the melee and, although he initially appeared to recover, he died following the game.[2]

On December 8, 1926, the two school presidents agreed to temporarily suspend athletic relations between the schools.[3] The schools would not compete against each other in any athletic event for the next four years.[2] Baylor and Texas A&M would not meet in football again until 1931.[3]

Pranks

In 1936 Baylor students awoke to find Texas A&M signs plastered across campus, with red paint applied to turn the Baylor flagpole into a barber pole. A huge sign on Waco Hall predicted, "A and M 50, Baylor 0."

It was once great sport before a big football matchup for Aggie students to drive to Waco with nefarious intentions of capturing Baylor's bear mascot. Baylor students sometimes resorted to extraordinary defensive measures. In 1946 they placed mascot Chita in the custody of Waco Police so the Aggies could not find her.

In the 1950s, two Aggie students drove to Waco and stole the Baylor mascot, a young bear cub, from the Baylor campus. While they were driving back to College Station in a brand–new car belonging to one of their families, the bear became enraged. Twenty–miles from Waco, the bear ripped out the inside of the car, and the boys set it free. The young men were caught when they took the car to be repaired.[2]

In 1954, Baylor mascot Nip and her trailer disappeared. Yet, the next day both the bear and trailer were found under a bridge on the highway to College Station.

Baylor students likewise pranked the Aggies, often sneaking onto the Texas A&M campus to spray green paint on the statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross. Ross was the third president of Texas A&M, who graduated from Baylor's two year college preparatory program.

Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, was expelled from Baylor after he was in part found painting one of A&M's buildings green.[4][5]

Football

The competitive peak of the series between Baylor and Texas A&M most likely occurred between 1960 and 1990 during which time Baylor won 13 games, A&M won 16 games, and two games ended in ties. During that same time period 18 of the 31 games played saw the final margin of victory to be 7 points or less. Texas Football magazine voted the 1986 game between the schools the Game of the Decade of the 80s in the Southwest Conference. Baylor led the game 17–0 in the 1st half and was positioned to score again when the Texas A&M defense was able to stop the Bears with a goal line stand. The Aggies came back in the final minutes with an 80-yard drive resulting in a touchdown and a 31–30 victory. The victory allowed them to claim the SWC Championship and advance to the Cotton Bowl for a second straight year.[2][6] while Baylor finished in 2nd and ended the year with a victory over Colorado in the Bluebonnet Bowl. Another exciting game was the 1978 contest in which little-known Baylor freshman Walter Abercrombie rushed for 207 yards in a 24–6 Baylor win in College Station. The 207 yards were a then NCAA record for rushing yardage in an initial game. In the 1980 contest Baylor won by the score of 46–7, going on that year to win the SWC Championship by a record 3 games and garnering a berth in the Cotton Bowl, where they were beaten by Alabama.[7]

The thrilling 1986 A&M win began a period of domination in the series, in which Baylor did not beat A&M for 18 seasons (17 losses and a tie in 1990). The most lopsided match in the history of the rivalry occurred in 2003 when the Aggies routed the Bears by a score of 73-10.[8] However, in 2004 an underdog Baylor Bear team [9] defeated the No. 16 ranked Aggies[10] 35–34 in overtime at Floyd Casey Stadium when the Bears converted a dramatic 2-point conversion on the final play of the game to earn their first win over the Aggies since 1985. The rivalry again became bitter in 2005 when the Aggies completed two fourth down conversions to win at home 16–13 in overtime.[11]

The Baylor Bears defeated the Aggies for the second time in 5 years in 2008. Baylor has won 2 of the last 4 series games in Waco (2004 & 2008). In 2011 A&M won the probable final series meeting for the foreseeable future 55-28 at Kyle Field. With A&M's move to the Southeastern Conference following the 2011 season, resumption of the series is not likely for the foreseeable future.

Game results

Baylor victories Texas A&M victories Tie games
Date Location Winning team Losing team Series
1899 Waco Texas A&M 33 Baylor0 Texas A&M 1–0–0
October 11, 1901 Dallas Texas A&M 6 Baylor0 Texas A&M 2–0–0
November 5, 1901 Bryan Baylor 17 Texas A&M6 Texas A&M 2–1–0
November 28, 1901 Waco Baylor 46 Texas A&M0 Tied 2–2–0
October 10, 1902 Dallas Texas A&M 11 Baylor6 Texas A&M 3–2–0
October 14, 1902 College Station Texas A&M 22 Baylor0 Texas A&M 4–2–0
November 7, 1903 Waco Baylor 0 Texas A&M0 Texas A&M 4–2–1
November 14, 1903 Waco Texas A&M 18 Baylor0 Texas A&M 5–2–1
November 21, 1903 College Station Texas A&M 5 Baylor0 Texas A&M 6–2–1
October 15, 1904 Waco Texas A&M 5 Baylor0 Texas A&M 7–2–1
November 5, 1904 Waco Texas A&M 10 Baylor0 Texas A&M 8–2–1
October 28, 1905 Waco Texas A&M 42 Baylor0 Texas A&M 9–2–1
November 19, 1905 College Station Texas A&M 17 Baylor5 Texas A&M 10–2–1
October 10, 1908 College Station Baylor 6 Texas A&M5 Texas A&M 10–3–1
October 30, 1909 Waco Texas A&M 9 Baylor6 Texas A&M 11–3–1
November 18, 1911 College Station Texas A&M 22 Baylor11 Texas A&M 12–3–1
November 28, 1912 Dallas Texas A&M 53 Baylor0 Texas A&M 13–3–1
November 21, 1913 College Station Baylor 14 Texas A&M14 Texas A&M 13–3–2
November 11, 1916 Waco Texas A&M 3 Baylor0 Texas A&M 14–3–2
November 10, 1917 Waco Texas A&M 7 Baylor0 Texas A&M 15–3–2
November 9, 1918 Waco Texas A&M 19 Baylor0 Texas A&M 16–3–2
November 8, 1919 Waco Texas A&M 10 Baylor0 Texas A&M 17–3–2
November 6, 1920 Waco Texas A&M 24 Baylor0 Texas A&M 18–3–2
November 5, 1921 Waco Texas A&M 14 Baylor3 Texas A&M 19–3–2
November 4, 1922 Waco Baylor 13 Texas A&M7 Texas A&M 19–4–2
November 3, 1923 Waco Baylor 0 Texas A&M0 Texas A&M 19–4–3
November 1, 1924 Waco Baylor 15 Texas A&M7 Texas A&M 19–5–3
October 31, 1925 Waco Texas A&M 13 Baylor0 Texas A&M 20–5–3
November 30, 1926 Waco Baylor 20 Texas A&M9 Texas A&M 20–6–3
October 24, 1931 College Station Texas A&M 33 Baylor7 Texas A&M 21–6–3
October 22, 1932 Waco Baylor 0 Texas A&M0 Texas A&M 21–6–4
October 28, 1933 College Station Texas A&M 14 Baylor7 Texas A&M 22–6–4
October 27, 1934 Waco Texas A&M 10 Baylor7 Texas A&M 23–6–4
October 26, 1935 College Station Baylor 14 Texas A&M6 Texas A&M 23–7–4
October 24, 1936 Waco Baylor 0 Texas A&M0 Texas A&M 23–7–5
October 23, 1937 College Station Baylor 13 Texas A&M0 Texas A&M 23–8–5
October 22, 1938 Waco Baylor 6 Texas A&M6 Texas A&M 23–8–6
October 28, 1939 College Station Texas A&M 20 Baylor0 Texas A&M 24–8–6
October 26, 1940 Waco Texas A&M 14 Baylor7 Texas A&M 25–8–6
October 25, 1941 College Station Texas A&M 48 Baylor10 Texas A&M 26–8–6
October 24, 1942 Waco Baylor 6 Texas A&M0 Texas A&M 26–9–6
October 27, 1945 College Station Texas A&M 19 Baylor13 Texas A&M 27–9–6
October 26, 1946 Waco Texas A&M 17 Baylor0 Texas A&M 28–9–6
October 25, 1947 College Station Texas A&M 24 Baylor0 Texas A&M 29–9–6
October 23, 1948 Waco Baylor 20 Texas A&M14 Texas A&M 29–10–6
October 22, 1949 College Station Baylor 21 Texas A&M0 Texas A&M 29–11–6
October 28, 1950 Waco Baylor 27 Texas A&M20 Texas A&M 29–12–6
October 27, 1951 College Station Baylor 21 Texas A&M21 Texas A&M 29–12–7
October 25, 1952 Waco Baylor 21 Texas A&M20 Texas A&M 29–13–7
October 24, 1953 College Station Baylor 14 Texas A&M13 Texas A&M 29–14–7
October 23, 1954 Waco Baylor 20 Texas A&M7 Texas A&M 29–15–7
October 22, 1955 College Station Texas A&M 19 Baylor7 Texas A&M 30–15–7
October 27, 1956 Waco Texas A&M 19 Baylor13 Texas A&M 31–15–7
October 26, 1957 College Station Texas A&M 14 Baylor0 Texas A&M 32–15–7
October 25, 1958 Waco Texas A&M 33 Baylor27 Texas A&M 33–15–7
October 24, 1959 College Station Baylor 13 Texas A&M0 Texas A&M 33–16–7
October 22, 1960 Waco Baylor 14 Texas A&M0 Texas A&M 33–17–7
October 28, 1961 College Station Texas A&M 23 Baylor0 Texas A&M 34–17–7
October 27, 1962 Waco Texas A&M 6 Baylor3 Texas A&M 35–17–7
October 26, 1963 College Station Baylor 34 Texas A&M7 Texas A&M 35–18–7
October 24, 1964 Waco Baylor 20 Texas A&M16 Texas A&M 35–19–7
October 23, 1965 College Station Baylor 31 Texas A&M0 Texas A&M 35–20–7
October 22, 1966 Waco Texas A&M 17 Baylor13 Texas A&M 36–20–7
October 28, 1967 College Station Texas A&M 21 Baylor3 Texas A&M 37–20–7
October 26, 1968 Waco Baylor 10 Texas A&M9 Texas A&M 37–21–7
October 25, 1969 College Station Texas A&M 24 Baylor0 Texas A&M 38–21–7
October 24, 1970 Waco Baylor 29 Texas A&M24 Texas A&M 38–22–7
October 23, 1971 College Station Texas A&M 10 Baylor9 Texas A&M 39–22–7
October 28, 1972 Waco Baylor 15 Texas A&M13 Texas A&M 39–23–7
October 27, 1973 College Station Texas A&M 28 Baylor22 Texas A&M 40–23–7
October 26, 1974 Waco Texas A&M 20 Baylor0 Texas A&M 41–23–7
October 25, 1975 College Station Texas A&M 19 Baylor10 Texas A&M 42–23–7
October 16, 1976 College Station Texas A&M 24 Baylor0 Texas A&M 43–23–7
October 15, 1977 Waco Texas A&M 38 Baylor31 Texas A&M 44–23–7
October 21, 1978 College Station Baylor 24 Texas A&M6 Texas A&M 44–24–7
September 15, 1979 Waco Baylor 17 Texas A&M7 Texas A&M 44–25–7
October 18, 1980 College Station Baylor 46 Texas A&M7 Texas A&M 44–26–7
October 17, 1981 Waco Baylor 19 Texas A&M17 Texas A&M 44–27–7
October 16, 1982 College Station Texas A&M 28 Baylor23 Texas A&M 45–27–7
October 15, 1983 Waco Baylor 13 Texas A&M13 Texas A&M 45–27–8
October 20, 1984 College Station Baylor 20 Texas A&M16 Texas A&M 45–28–8
October 19, 1985 Waco Baylor 20 Texas A&M15 Texas A&M 45–29–8
October 18, 1986 College Station Texas A&M 31 Baylor30 Texas A&M 46–29–8
October 17, 1987 Waco Texas A&M 34 Baylor10 Texas A&M 47–29–8
October 15, 1988 College Station Texas A&M 28 Baylor14 Texas A&M 48–29–8
October 21, 1989 Waco Texas A&M 14 Baylor11 Texas A&M 49–29–8
October 20, 1990 College Station Baylor 20 Texas A&M20 Texas A&M 49–29–9
October 19, 1991 Waco #19 Texas A&M 34 #16 Baylor12 Texas A&M 50–29–9
October 24, 1992 College Station #5 Texas A&M 19 Baylor13 Texas A&M 51–29–9
October 16, 1993 Waco #13 Texas A&M 34 Baylor17 Texas A&M 52–29–9
October 15, 1994 College Station Texas A&M 41 Baylor21 Texas A&M 53–29–9
October 21, 1995 Waco Texas A&M 24 Baylor9 Texas A&M 54–29–9
November 9, 1996 Waco Texas A&M 24 Baylor7 Texas A&M 55–29–9
November 8, 1997 College Station #21 Texas A&M 38 Baylor10 Texas A&M 56–29–9
October 17, 1998 Waco #10 Texas A&M 35 Baylor14 Texas A&M 57–29–9
October 9, 1999 College Station #13 Texas A&M 45 Baylor13 Texas A&M 58–29–9
October 14, 2000 Waco Texas A&M 24 Baylor0 Texas A&M 59–29–9
October 6, 2001 College Station #22 Texas A&M 16 Baylor10 Texas A&M 60–29–9
October 12, 2002 Waco Texas A&M 41 Baylor0 Texas A&M 61–29–9
October 11, 2003 College Station Texas A&M 73 Baylor10 Texas A&M 62–29–9
October 30, 2004 Waco Baylor 35 (OT) #17 Texas A&M34 Texas A&M 62–30–9
October 1, 2005 College Station Texas A&M 16 (OT) Baylor13 Texas A&M 63–30–9
October 28, 2006 Waco #22 Texas A&M 31 Baylor21 Texas A&M 64–30–9
September 29, 2007 College Station Texas A&M 34 Baylor10 Texas A&M 65–30–9
November 15, 2008 Waco Baylor 41 Texas A&M21 Texas A&M 65–31–9
November 21, 2009 College Station Texas A&M 38 Baylor3 Texas A&M 66–31–9
November 13, 2010 Waco #23 Texas A&M 42 Baylor30 Texas A&M 67–31–9
October 15, 2011 College Station #21 Texas A&M55 #20 Baylor28 Texas A&M 68–31–9

Basketball

In men's basketball, Baylor and A&M have competed since the 1914–15 debut season of the Southwest Conference. With 218 games played, A&M leads the series with 139 wins, 75 losses and 4 ties.[12] Since the formation of the Big 12 the teams have followed somewhat parallel paths. Both spent the early years of the conference as lower-division teams (they combined for one NIT appearance and zero NCAA appearances from 1996 to 2004, and both suffered winless conference seasons during that span). However, in more recent years, they have grown into Big 12 contenders, with A&M reaching the NCAA's six straight years between 2006 and 2011 and Baylor making NCAA tourney appearances in 2008 before reaching a higher perch by advancing all the way to the Elite 8 in 2010 and 2012. In 2011, Baylor did not reach postseason play but swept the series with the NCAA Tourney-Bound Aggies. Future games have been scheduled in the Battle of the Brazos series beginning in 2014 at Waco followed by a 2015 meeting in College Station.

See also

References

  1. "Big-play Bennett keeps Texas A&M a step ahead of Baylor". CBS. October 28, 2006. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Farmer, Neal (October 18, 1990). "Baylor–A&M feud romantic, violent/ 'Brazos Brothers' play for 87th time". Houston Chronicle. Houston, Texas. p. Sports, page 1. Retrieved September 26, 2007.
  3. 1 2 Wangrin, Mark (September 29, 2005). "Baylor vs. Texas A&M: Remembering a 1926 tragedy". The San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
  4. "Tom DeLay won't be missed". Washington Square News. April 13, 2006. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
  5. "Open Mouth, Insert Boot". The Chronicle of Higher Education. May 3, 2002. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
  6. "High Five: Texas A&M-Baylor".
  7. Jones, Mike (January 2, 1981). "Tidal wave spoils Baylor's Cotton". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  8. http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=232840245
  9. Irby, Ryan (October 29, 2004). "Aggies searching for seventh win against Baylor". The Battalion. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  10. Parchman, Will (October 26, 2006). "Rivalry stands test of time". The Baylor Lariat. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  11. "Battle of Brazos becoming bitter". Sporting News. October 27, 2006. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
  12. "Texas A&M Men's Basketball: Year-by-Year Results".
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