The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band

Just before the doors opened

    This is the scene inside Cowboys Stadium at 4:57 p.m., just before the doors opened for the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.
    When the gates were opened, at least a thousand Texas A&M fans rushed in from the east plaza (to the left in the photo). Meanwhile, a similar number of Oklahoma fans sauntered in from the west plaza (out of frame to the right).
    Don't know what that says about the fans' attitude about the game. Or maybe the party in the west plaza was too good to leave. But anyone who has had standing-room-only tickets at Cowboys Stadium events knows the best spots for viewing get taken up fast.

Aggies take over the Stockyards

    Above is a photo tweeted by @AggieFootball from Texas A&M's Yell Practice last night at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
    An estimated 7,500 Aggies showed up to work on their yells for tonight's game. They really don't need the practice, but it's an A&M tradition and a great way to bond and get excited for the game.
    Don't worry, they've saved their voices for the game. It should get plenty loud between the Aggies and the Sooners in Cowboys Stadium.

One last time through the Walk of Fame for the Sooners

    The Oklahoma Sooners will make one last trip over the Walk of Fame at the Gaylord Texan Hotel on their way to tonight's AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic at Cowboys Stadium.
    Remember, whether you're at the stadium or following on FOX television or ESPN Radio, you can also follow along on Twitter. The official hashtag for the game is #ATTCBC (or #attcbc).

Texas A&M Thursday practice report: One more workout under the lights

    ARLINGTON, TEXAS – The No. 9 Texas A&M Aggies fine-tuned its preparations for the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners and the 77th AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic with a light walk-through at Cowboys Stadium.
    With the stadium dressed up in logos and banners, the Aggies (10-2, 6-2 SEC) worked out in black shorts and T-shirts for just under an hour to take those final, crucial steps for their fourth-straight bowl game and sixth in seven seasons.
    “We got some kicking game stuff done and caught some balls in the lights. This is about as late as we’ve been in here so it was pretty game-like. Everything is painted up and ready to go,” said head coach Kevin Sumlin. “Our walk-throughs are more brisk than most people’s the day before (a game). There was a lot of energy and it should be. We haven’t played in a long time. These guys have had a lot of time to prepare and I think they will play well tomorrow.”
    Sumlin said the keys to a win over the Sooners (10-2, 8-1 Big 12) will be for his team to stay true to what it has done all season and not worry about the historical significance of trying to become the fourth team in school history to reach 11 wins in a season.
    “Particularly with the long layoff like we’ve had, I look at this bowl game like the first game of the season,” said Sumlin. “We have to get to game speed early and we have to execute. We have to have good ball security and take advantage of turnovers when we have the opportunity. For us it’s always the same thing --  third-down conversions on offense, third-down stops on defense to get off the field and turnovers. That’s really been the story of our success this year.”

Oklahoma Thursday practice report: Final preparations, then a movie

    ARLINGTON, TEXAS – Underneath a closed roof at Cowboys Stadium, the Big 12 Co-Champion Oklahoma Sooners held their final workout a day before squaring off against Texas A&M in the 77th AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.
    Players and coaches for the No. 11 Sooners (10-2, 8-1 Big 12) held an hour walkthrough in shorts and T-shirts implementing their final game plan for the Aggies (10-2, 6-2 SEC). Offense, defense and special teams each went through their specific final reviews at half speed.
    Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops is trying to keep his team on the same schedule like any other game. The Sooners ran through their typical “Friday” routine to keep consistent with a usual game buildup.
    “I believe we’re ready,” Stoops said. “After you’re here for five, six days and you do the events they want you to do, in the end the game is the best part of it. I think everyone is anxious to get on the field and play.”
    Thursday night, Oklahoma players had the option of either attending a private screening of the movie Jack Reacher or watching the Fiesta Bowl between Oregon and Kansas State.

Get your picture taken with the Heisman - Just like Johnny!

    The AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic’s rich lineage of Heisman Trophy winners participating in the historic postseason game will continue with the addition of the most recent recipient,Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, who will lead the ninth-ranked Aggies against No. 11 Oklahoma on January 4th at Cowboys Stadium.
    A couple of past winners, John David Crow and Billy Sims, will team up with the newest member of the exclusive fraternity to further enhance the Heisman experience for fans on game day.
    Prior to kickoff of the 77 th annual bowl game, Crow, who became Texas A&M’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 1957, and Oklahoma’s Sims, the 1978 recipient, will be on hand to sign autographs and meet fans during their appearances at the LG/AT&T Huddle Up. The Heisman legends will appear from 4:00-5:00 p.m. at the game-day fan fest located on the plazas at Cowboys Stadium.
    Crow, an Aggie halfback who became legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant’s first and only Heisman winner, will greet Texas A&M fans at the LG Trophy Tent located on the East Plaza of the stadium. Sooner fans can meet Sims, one of Oklahoma’s five Heisman Trophy recipients, in the LG Trophy Tent on the West Plaza. The doors to both plazas will open at 3:00 p.m. on game day.
    Fans also will have the opportunity to get their picture taken with the Heisman Memorial Trophy, which will be on prominent display at the LG/AT&T Huddle Up. During the game-day fan fest sponsored by LG and AT&T, Sooners and Aggies alike also can win prizes by participating in fun, interactive football challenges; enjoy live concerts performed by local bands; and cheer on their favorite team during school band and spirit group performances.
    And when Manziel takes the field for Texas A&M during the 77th annual AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, which kicks off at 7:00 p.m. at Cowboys Stadium, he will join seven other Heisman Trophy winners who have taken part in the game’s storied history.
    The previous Heisman winners to play in the Cotton Bowl are: Doak Walker (SMU), Roger Staubach (Navy), Earl Campbell (Texas), Doug Flutie (Boston College), Bo Jackson (Auburn), Tim Brown (Notre Dame) and Ricky Williams (Texas).