Five years later, Texas A&M is back where it started.
In 2002, the Aggies were 6-5 heading into their season finale
with Texas, and disgruntled fans were calling for a coaching
change.
By then, A&M had slipped from elite to ordinary, the "Wrecking
Crew" defense had become a remnant of the past and its once-steady
supply of in-state recruits had started looking elsewhere.
The Longhorns beat the Aggies 50-20 and three days later, R.C.
Slocum was fired. Texas finished 10-2, won the Big 12 South and
played in the Cotton Bowl.
When the bitter rivals meet for the 114th time Friday and the
scenario is much the same, right down to the records.
Dennis Franchione succeeded Slocum, but he's failed to lead the
Aggies back to prominence.
With a messy e-mail scandal this season added to his ho-hum record, he's likely coaching his last game for A&M, even if the Aggies (6-5, 3-4 Big 12) upset the 13th-ranked Longhorns (9-2, 5-2).
