Chris Elan posts his thoughts on the Aggie Bonfire:

In February 2001, in Carrollton, TX, I met Jerry and Bulinda Ebanks, whose son Michael was killed by the accident. We went to dinner at a Cracker Barrel (me and my underclassman wearing our dreadful penguin performance suits). Since I was a student public relations manager for Texas A&M, I quite expected the conversation to turn to Bonfire and the tragedy of Michael's death. But the Ebanks did not discuss that. We spent over an hour sharing our love for Texas A&M, and extolling the virtues of what we all firmly believed is the greatest University on God's green earth. If I had any doubts about the Aggie Spirit prior to that meal, the Ebanks washed them away with their graciousness and candor.

You see, Michael's older brother, Keith, Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of '89, had died five years earlier in a car crash. The Ebanks had buried two of their Aggie sons within five years of each other. Yet Texas A&M still felt like home to them. Texas A&M was family.

Not being an Aggie myself and coming from a Longhorn family, I don't particularly understand the tradition-fixation that Aggies have even though I am a traditional-minded person in many ways. But to the extent that their odd array of ring-drinks, woops, that tree and countless other goofy things produce that kind of school loyalty - I really can't help but admire that.

A&M and UT play each other in a week or so in their annual gridiron grudge-match. With A&M football having turned the corner they stand as good a chance of winning as they've had in a few years. I will, of course, be rooting for the Longhorns. But the further I get from Texas, the more I find myself wishing both teams well.