Rivals with a cause: Brownsville waiters raise $40,000 for UT, A&M scholarships
Brownsville alumni from the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University in College Station converged Thursday on the International Bank of Commerce in Brownsville to raise hometown scholarship funds for future students in a prelude to this year’s big game.
The 16th annual Aggies vs Longhorns waiters challenge played out in IBC Bank’s lobby on Ruben Torres Boulevard as waiters representing the rival schools battled it out to see who could collect the most tips prior to the Texas-Texas A&M showdown, which will be played Nov. 28, the Friday after Thanksgiving, in Austin.
Teddy’s BBQ in Weslaco catered the event, with waiters serving tables throughout the lobby and tip jars on the tables designated for either of the two schools.
Event organizers said proceeds totaled an estimated $40,000 for future scholarships to UT and A&M for students from the Brownsville area.
The rivalry game was played every year from 1915 to 2012, when A&M left the Big 12 to join the Southeastern Conference. It resumed in 2024 when Texas joined the SEC.
Dressed in a tuxedo and apron with maroon and white trim, 2002 A&M graduate Connor Pace predicted an Aggie victory in a close game in the Lone Star Showdown
He said his dad Pat Pace pulled duty as a waiter dating back to the event’s beginnings until 2012.
“When they brought it back last year, I got a go at being a waiter here. I wear the same thing he does, the tuxedo,” Pace said.
A&M, 10-0 overall and 7-0 SEC, is ranked No. 3 in the country in the latest AP college football poll. Texas, 7-3/4-3, is ranked 17th.
“So, it’s a rivalry game. It’s always going to be a close game. In a rivalry game, anything can happen. A&M’s going to Austin. Big rivalry. Big atmosphere. It’ll be a close game, but I think the Aggies will come out on top,” Pace said.
The game alternates between Kyle Field in College Station and Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin.
There was a silent auction for gifts provided by sponsors and a live auction for items that included a pair of game tickets provided by university presidents at the two schools.
The UT auctioneer for the tickets told the crowd he looked it up and when Texas and Texas A&M play at Kyle Field, A&M wins 52.8% of the time. When they play at Austin’s Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium, Texas wins 76.7% of the time.
The tickets sold for $1,600.
Jenica Russell, a 2004 UT graduate, and A&M graduate Javier Martinez Jr. represented the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. Russell works in the business development department and Martinez is an engineer.
“This is my second time here. As an engineer, a lot of my tuition was paid for by scholarships, so anything I can do to give back to the community, Aggies or even Longhorns, I’m here,” Martinez said.
Pullam Elementary Principal Michael Moreno sat at a table with both UT and A&M alumni.
“Being a UT Austin alumni and an elementary school principal, you really appreciate this type of event where it helps our youth and our graduating seniors that are going to go and choose either UT or A&M. I think it’s a wonderful event because it also brings together a lot of alums and it’s good healthy competition. We’re able to harness that competition to create something that’s going to help our youngsters as they graduate,” Moreno said.
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