Many folks in the state of Texas are excited about the return of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry at Kyle Field this year. That group includes more than a few Austin College Kangaroos. Longhorn-Aggie conference matchups resume after a 13-year hiatus dating back to a 2011 Aggie loss at Kyle Field.
Those 13 years are not the only gap in the rivalry’s history. A famous 4-year hiatus began in 1911. Bad blood after a 1911 Aggie win resulted in the Longhorns dropping Texas A&M as an opponent. UT found a replacement for A&M the following year: Austin College. The Longhorns escaped with a 3-0 win over the Roos, aided by a controversial call; see the comments.
But the bad blood ended and the rivalry resumed in 1915, when Texas A&M upset Texas 13-0 at Kyle Field. Aggie cadets then branded the Longhorn mascot with that game’s score, giving rise to the (not true) legend that the “13-0” brand was later modified to “BEVO” to erase the score. The legend is a part of Aggie lore.
While the BEVO legend is not true, here’s a story that is! Austin College also played Texas A&M at Kyle Field in 1915, just weeks before the famous 13-0 Aggie victory over Texas. A&M defeated the Roos, but the AC Chromascope was still positive about the Roo effort:
“The game with the Aggies seemed to be a poor showing but in fact it was not. Our men were lighter and much less experienced than the Aggies. The game proved that the Kangaroo team possessed fine spirit and a great abundance of pep.” Much of that spirit and pep was provided by a guy named J.B. “Biff” Walling.
J.B. “Biff” Walling was a starting halfback and defensive end for the 1915 Roos. Walling battled valiantly against the Aggies that afternoon at Kyle Field; the Chromascope later called Biff “a terror on the defense and a tackler of great ability.” Perhaps the 13-0 Aggie victory over the Longhorns weeks later was due in small part to the preparation provided by Walling in Aggieland.
Well, if J.B. “Biff” Walling’s effort in 1915 ushered in the first return of the rivalry, then maybe we should all give a shout out to Walling’s granddaughter during this second return of the rivalry. You may know her as a Kangaroo who always shows a “fine spirit” and “abundance of pep” for her alma mater. And today she celebrates a birthday.
So, join me in wishing Betsy Walling Furler a big happy birthday.
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1912: We. Wuz. Robbed. UT 3, AC 0
https://www.texasexes.org/about-us/history-and-traditions/truth-about-bevo
