As waistlines expand and hairlines recede through the years, memories of specific games from long ago often become as foggy as the coastal air on a warm winter’s morning.

Unless there was something remarkable that took place or something special on the line, even the participants of those games often lose touch with the specific details of the contests.

"There’s an awful lot of games I don’t remember," said former Texas A&M center Mike Arthur, an All-American center in 1990. "I guess I just got hit in the head too many times."

That’s an occupational hazard for football players. Of course, it’s also human nature to forget things as the years go by.

Quick: What was the score of the 1984 A&M-Rice game?

How about the ’74 TCU game? The ’65 Houston game? Or the 1950 battle against Virginia Military Institute?

You’re probably either a genius or a freak of nature if you can name them all. Even the players from those teams have most likely forgotten.

But there is an exception. Ask any player who participated in an A&M-Texas game about the contest, and there’s a good chance he could not only tell you the final score, but could also give you a fairly accurate play-by-play summary.

"There’s something about that game that sticks with you for a lifetime," said former A&M linebacker/running back Jack Pardee, an All-American in 1956. "It really doesn’t matter what the records are on either side, that’s always a big game. And the memories really last a lifetime."

With another memory-making moment on the horizon, 12th Man Magazine asked some former participants from the annual Lone Star State showdown to share some of their favorite memories from previous games. Here is the recall roll call:

Quarterback Edd Hargett on the 1967 Texas game at Kyle Field:

"The fact we got the (10-7) win and went onto the Cotton Bowl. The thing I remember most is the long pass (80 yards to Bob Long). I’m thinking what play am I going to call next because I didn’t think he could score. We were down 7-3 at the time, and I knew he was going to catch the ball, but he still had 40 or 50 yards to go to the end zone. I didn’t think he’d get in the end zone."

On the atmosphere of A&M-Texas:

"There is just so much electricity in the stands. It’s like the Nebraska game last year, but it’s like that every year."

Linebacker Larry Kelm on the 1985 game at Kyle Field:

"I remember it was Thanksgiving night, and there was an electricity in the air that could have powered the entire country. If we won, we were going to the Cotton Bowl (for the first time since 1967). What I remember most was getting their quarterback (Todd Dodge) completely rattled. It was so loud that he would come to the line of scrimmage and just wait for the crowd to die down. Then, he’d finally snap it, and we’d sack him again, and the crowd would get even louder. The highlight, though, may have been walking off the field (after the 42-10 win) and seeing our fans throwing cotton onto the field. It was magical."

Bob Goodwin, Texas player from 1957-60 and father of former A&M lineman Hunter Goodwin, on the 1994 game at Memorial Stadium:

"We never lost to A&M when I was at Texas, and I made damn sure of that. We weren’t going to lose to those guys. I had some great memories of playing in that game, but my best memory is of Hunter’s first year (in ’94) of the Aggies going into Austin and kicking the ---- out of Texas (34-10). Bunch of pansies is what they were. I was ready to go down there and gloat with some of my old UT buddies, but they were blowing out of (the stadium) like quail. You know my blood pumps maroon now, and it was one of my finest days to see my son help whip those dogs."

Linebacker Jack Pardee on the 1956 game in Austin:

"We were on probation that year, so the Texas game was our bowl game. We had never won over there, so the buildup was incredible. I do remember that Texas wasn’t that good that year, but they played their tails off, and it was too close at halftime. Fortunately, we came out in the second half and put it away (34-21). That was the icing on the cake for all of us seniors who had gone through the 1-9 season and the Junction trip two years earlier."

All-American running back John Kimbrough on the 1939 and ’40 games:

"They didn’t have a prayer of stopping us (in 1939). We rolled right through them (20-0) and went on to win the national championship. But sometimes, I think we were remembered more for losing that game in 1940 (7-0) than we were for winning it all. That was a bitter pill to swallow."

Lineman Ronnie Moore on the controversial 1963 game in which a blown call by the officials cost the Aggies an upset and propelled UT to a 15-13 win and the national title:

"It’s been said that we let that game slip away. I don’t think that’s really accurate. It would be more accurate to say that we had it taken away. We did everything we needed to do to win that game. And in my opinion, we did win it. Even the Texas players, although they probably wouldn’t admit it, know that in their hearts. I’ve spent a lot of years dreaming about officials reversing that call. I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen now. But maybe one of these days the law of averages will all work out, and the Aggies will get the breaks and pull off a huge upset."

Heisman Trophy winner John David Crow on the 1957 game:

"First of all, the 1956 game was probably the highest of highs for me. I was fortunate enough to score the first touchdown of that game, and we beat them for the first time ever in Austin. On the other hand, the ’57 game may have been the lowest of lows for me. It was an all-out war every step of the way, but they beat us, 9-7. We had been No. 1 in the nation just a few weeks earlier, and they really spoiled it for us. I’m sure that delighted them as much as we were so high about beating them the previous year."

Defensive end Grady Allen on the 1967 and ’93 wins: