Texas A&M; dedicates victory to 12 killed in bonfire collapse

The Daily Texan COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- (U-WIRE) The logs still lay on the ground as a reminder of what happened on the morning of Nov. 18. Reminders were everywhere. Maroon and white ribbons fluttered in the wind as a garden of flowers circled the fenced-off area. Even a few class rings were left to remember the 12 who died. It was the scene of tragedy and immense grief. But still, a chapter had yet to be written. About five miles away at Kyle Field, that chapter was being created in a relatively meaningless football game between two bitter rivals, Texas and Texas A&M.; As unimportant as the game may have seemed, in its own special way it found a way to have some significance. And it was the last play that meant so much. When Texas A&M; quarterback Randy McCown took the last snap from under center to take a knee, a crowd of 86,128 -- the largest crowd to ever watch a collegiate football game in the state of Texas -- erupted in cautious jubilation as the No. 24 Aggies thwarted the No. 7 Longhorns 20-16. Tears welled up in the eyes of McCown and several other Aggies as the clock rang up goose eggs. He and his teammates had done the only thing they felt they could do to honor the memory of those 12 students, and the emotion had overcome them. "You can't put it into words," McCown said, choking on his own words. "I mean to be out there? to be in that kind of atmosphere. It was so hard-fought the whole game and we came out on top. It's the kind of thing that you wish for your whole life." As unlikely as it seemed, the Aggies found a way to remember, even after trailing for most of the contest by a score of 16-6. Late in the fourth quarter, McCown hit receiver Matt Bumgardner on a 14-yard touchdown pass to give A&M; its first lead at 20-16. The Aggies then held on to the four-point lead after Texas quarterback Major Applewhite, who did not start Friday's game because of a stomach virus, had the ball stripped from his hands by Jay Brooks during Texas' last chance. A&M; linebacker Brian Gamble came up with the fumble recovery and allowed the Aggies on the sideline to immediately rejoice. "We came into this game knowing that we have a lot more to play for than just this game," said Texas A&M; offensive lineman Chris Valletta, who wore a white T-shirt under his jersey with the 12 names of the deceased scribbled on to it along with the Bible passage of Proverbs 3:5-6. "We came in with those 12 people that died in our minds and in our hearts. I personally want to send this victory to them and their families and I hope that this can ease some of the pain."