GRID IRON BASH THE ULTIMATE FAN COMPETITION

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COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M has made a push for diversity over the past decade. On April 19, the Aggies will go a long way toward reaching their goal.

At least on the hippie front.

I can see it now: A&M receiver Howard Morrow, his own luxurious locks whipping in the wind, will be running one of his many – many! – deep routes in the Mike Sherman Regime during the Aggies’ annual Maroon & White game at Kyle Field.

Sprinting toe to toe with A&M corner Danny Gorrer, Morrow will glance into the crowd and think, “Wow, there sure are a lot of longhairs in the stands!”

That’s because of what’s taking place the night before – a ZZ Top concert at Kyle Field on April 18 as part of the Gridiron Bash held on campuses across the country. Tickets are $40 for the concert and game combined.

To understand the importance of this event, let’s go back a couple of weeks ago, when associate athletic director for football Tim Cassidy casually mentioned the ZZ Top concert to a bunch of Houston Aggies and hangers-on (I’d be in the latter) gathered to hear a couple of the new assistant coaches speak.

A good friend, Jason Francis, who graduated from A&M in 1999, leaned back against a wall in the Fox Sports grill in the Galleria.

“What kind of outfit are we running these days?” Jason wondered.

Good question, Jason, glad you asked. This isn’t the first concert held at Kyle, but it’s by far the grandest.

When I first heard the university would hold a huge concert at Kyle, I figured the e-mails would start rolling in protesting the event. Why?

The 55 American flags atop Kyle honor the Aggies killed in World War I. For that reason, many Old Ags consider Kyle a memorial, and not suitable for something like a hillbilly concert.

“Kyle’s a memorial!” Jason said.

Yeah, we got that – but the protests (as far as I can tell) have been minimal. Steve Miller, A&M athletics director of events, said the company behind Gridiron Bash is essentially renting Kyle for the event – and the university stands to earn plenty of revenue.

Miller said the stage will be set up on the south end, with some fans in front of it, as well. So I asked him if it would be like the Super Bowl halftime show.

“No,” he said, chuckling, “I don’t think we’re going to open the gates and have people come running in.”

I think the idea of a ZZ Top concert – or any other big name, for that matter – is great. In 1984 as a 12-year-old, I once dedicated the song “Legs” on 79Q in Houston – a lot of fellow Houstonians will remember that station – before I even knew what Legs were.

Through the wonders of e-mail, I asked a cross-section of Good Ol’ Ags – one from each decade spanning the last six and on into the next – what they thought of ZZ Top playing Kyle. The reactions were mixed, but mostly positive for a little flair – and a little “La Grange” – added to stately Kyle.

From Pat Resley, Class of 1958:

“HELL NO. Kyle Field is a memorial – not a public auditorium. We have an auditorium on campus. I don’t agree with Kyle Field being used for the masses. This group (ZZ Top) is unknown to me, but I know drugs etc. will be present. It will be trashed.

“Plus, our 50th reunion starts on the 18th. I want to be able to get around and see the campus. Farmers Fight!”

From Pat Patterson of College Station, Class of 1962:

“I might not have been in favor if it had been some other group, but ZZ Top has been one of my favorites since they first came out. I expect it will be a good, clean evening of smooth and relaxing music, and it can’t be any worse than Midnight Yell Practice. Count me as one in attendance (don’t know about my wife yet).

“Gig ’Em and beat the hell outta those other places that are having concerts.”

From Tim Malloy of San Angelo, Class of 1978:

“ZZ Top performing in Aggieland is like drinking cold beer and eating Mexican food. They’re great on their own, but in combination they enhance the experience. I never attended a high school dance where “La Grange” wasn’t played two or three times.

“Driving Highway 6 between College Station and Houston in my 1970 Bronco, “Tush” was cranked up on the radio, trying to out-roar the wind from the open windows (no AC). I played a broad range of music from Charley Pride and John Denver to the Eagles, and ZZ Top fit right in there.

“They’ll be able to cross the generations of Aggies from the ’70s through today, and be received at Kyle Field with as much enthusiasm as a stomping of the Texas Tech ‘Red Rioters.’ ”

From Keith Mitchell of New Braunfels, Class of 1979:

“Kyle Field is central to Texas A&M and that Fightin’ Texas Aggie Spirit. To Aggies, it is much more than a football stadium. Besides being home to the football team, it’s a memorial to the Aggies who died during World War I.

“The ways I remember respecting Kyle Field included not allowing alcohol to be consumed on the premises, and no one being allowed to walk on the football field between Midnight Yell Practice and the home game the following day.

“I recall feeling a sense of reverence for Kyle Field because it’s a memorial. Everyone knows Texas A&M has strong traditions, and I certainly want to preserve those traditions.

“That said, I don’t recall any traditions that forbid a concert. What I know about the event is that it’s a great opportunity for Texas A&M to do what it does best – compete (against other schools in the Gridiron Bash), and show our Aggie Spirit!

“I know that all Aggies respect what Kyle Field stands for and that those who attend the concert and participate in the competition will bring honor to their school and the memory of fallen Aggies by the way they conduct themselves – even while they’re digging ZZ Top. So I’m all for it!”

From Greg Fazzino of Kingwood, Class of 1989:

“I’m pro ZZ Top. In today’s competitive environment of marketing universities, every little bit helps. TAMU has the reputation of lagging behind ‘other’ universities, in being arcane and stodgy.

This goes a long way in melding the old and the new. ZZ Top isn’t some grunge band from Seattle. They’re Texas born and bled. It’s a nice change, and an exciting addition to the Aggie landscape.”

From Jason Francis of Houston, Class of 1999:

“What kind of outfit are we running these days? Kyle’s a memorial!”

(Yeah, we gotcha.)

From Kade Eckert of Harper, Class of 2007, whom I interviewed the old-fashioned way – by phone:

“My first thought was that this wasn’t going to fly, because the old alumni base considers Kyle Field as sacred, and we haven’t ever really had anything like this here before.

“But it’s going to be a great atmosphere – something fun to be at.”

Finally, from my nephew, Kyle Zwerneman of Tomball, Class of 2011:

“Who’s ZZ Top?”

Kidding. He actually said, “Honestly, I wasn’t excited. I wasn’t like, dude, I have to be there for that. That’s old school.”

Exactly why Pat, Tim, Keith, Greg and Kyle’s ol’ uncle like the idea!

For more information on the wild and woolly weekend capped by the spring game on Saturday, go to www.aggieathletics.com. I’ll be the one in the black “Eliminator” T-shirt.