Texas’ Preemptive Strike Takes Out A&M;’s Cannon

The University of Texas football team may not be able to stop Texas A&M; University from scoring in Saturday’s game, but the scores won’t generate as much noise because university officials have banned the Aggies’ howitzer cannon from Memorial Stadium.

Texas officials said Wednesday that they have also restricted the number of caretakers for A&M;’s mascot collie, Reveille.

Officials say the changes are necessary because space will be limited when 2,800 temporary chairs are set up behind the south end zone for Saturday’s big game.

“There’s just no place to put the cannon without blowing people’s ears out,” Texas events manager Al Lundstedt said.

Texas’ ban on the cannon, which fires blank 75-millimeter shells, “upsets a lot of Aggies,” said Lt. Col. Don Johnson, assistant commandant of the Corps of Cadets.

Texas’ own 10-gauge cannon, “Smokey,” will be on hand.

“They say (their cannon) doesn’t make as much noise as ours. Of course, ours has been firing more lately than theirs,” he said.

The Aggies have beaten the Longhorns six consecutive years.

Only five caretakers for Reveille will be allowed on the field.

“Two years ago, they came over here with 22 people, and we let them in,” Lundstedt said. “If we can handle a 1,500-pound steer with five people, I would think they could handle Reveille.”