Maroon Out Memories

--Extra Points with Steve Miller appears throughout the Texas A&M athletics season and is generally posted every other week.

Roylin Bradley

But, after joining the Big 12 Conference and seeing how fans at other member schools donned their team's color, Aggies discovered what an intimidating site that can be and a group of students began to work on the concept of Maroon Out.

In 1997, the Aggies made a trip to Manhattan, Kan., to face the Kansas State Wildcats. It marked the first trip to the "Little Apple" for A&M, and the Aggies were looking to avenge a loss at home to KSU from the year before.

Despite being outscored in Manhattan in 1997, many A&M fans had a great time in the city and some formed a few friendly rivalries with the Wildcats' fans that would blossom in years to come.

But, many other Aggies left K-State with the memory of the gameday atmosphere that included a sea of purple worn by the fans at Wagner Field.

The Aggies rebounded from that loss and won the following week in Lubbock, eventually winning four straight games enroute to the Big 12 South Championship.

The win over Texas at the end of the regular season gave the Aggies their first league trophy and set up a title game in San Antonio with North champion Nebraska.

It's no secret that the Aggies were on the wrong side of the scoreboard against the eventual national champion Cornhuskers in 1997, but a new A&M football tradition was coming into bloom.

Kyle Valentine, the Class of 2000 Junior President, not only left the game wishing the Aggies had won, but he and the friends he watched the game with were taken by the support the Huskers' fans showed by wearing red. Not just a group of fans here and there, but every fan who rooted for Nebraska donned red.

Warrick Holdman

It was definitely a sea of red that afternoon in The Alamodome.

Valentine wanted to bring the spirit that the Huskers demonstrated back to an already spirited Kyle Field and to the 12th Man.

What better way to support the Aggies than by wearing maroon?

With a goal of uniting the Aggie faithful, not looking to make money, Valentine's group sold shirts for a mere five dollars, essentially the cost of the shirt. Many fans can still remember the bustle and build up for that game and the lines they waited in to get the coveted shirts.

Nebraska was coming to town and the Aggies were going to welcome them to Kyle Field with more than tradition, it was going to be the first Maroon Out.

Visions of that day are still fresh in the minds of many A&M fans.

As the Aggies entered the field that perfect October day, a sea of maroon clad fans yelled.

What a sight to behold, it was maroon everywhere. Those not wearing the maroon stood out, and for that group it was red they were showing for their team just down from the visitor's bench.

Ja'Mar Toombs

With so many great moments on the field that day, it's hard to choose just one.

Take a moment to revisit some the standout plays on a day that a new tradition was born.

Wide receiver Chris Taylor streaking 81-yards toward the under-construction north end zone after hauling in a pass from quarterback Randy McCown. It was the Aggies' first score of the game, and after Nebraska matched the score, the Aggies never looked back.

Who will forget Ja'Mar Toombs' 71-yard rumble toward the JumboTron at the south end that set up the Aggies second quarter score?

Or what about defensive lineman Ron Edwards sacking Bobby Newcombe, forcing a fumble that was recovered in the endzone by A&M linebacker Warrick Holdman?

Or even the three huge defensive players that stopped the Huskers on fourth down?

That list goes on with every Aggies' own memory, but what was important on that day was an A&M victory over the defending National Champions, a No. 2-ranked team that made its first visit to Kyle Field and left with a loss. At the time, it was the highest ranked team the Aggies had ever beaten.

On October 10, 1998, the Aggies were victorious and went on to capture the Big 12 Championship and a Nokia Sugar Bowl appearance as part of the Bowl Championship Series.

Now, it's hard to remember a game at Kyle Field where the 12th Man has not worn maroon. It's become tradition.

Chris Taylor

Kyle Field in 2002 is a bit different than the one the Huskers visited in 1998. Back then, the capacity was barely 60,000 due to the construction. With the addition of the Bernard C. Richardson Zone at Kyle Field, the Aggies boast the largest stadium in the Big 12 with a capacity of more than 82,600.

It's just more room for A&M fans to wear maroon, yell for the Aggies and claim another win at Kyle Field.

Each year there is a designated Maroon Out game, it's tradition.

And thanks to Kyle Valentine and the efforts of those since, every game at Kyle Field is a maroon out and every game on the road is a maroon out, too.

This weekend the Huskers return to Kyle Field and another Maroon Out is expected. Find that favorite maroon shirt and ball cap, if you wish, because it's gameday in Aggieland and this one's on national television for the whole nation and world to see.

Just imagine what Kyle Field and Aggie Football would be without maroon.