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The Domino Effect
Students use the game of dominoes to socialize and relax
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By Lydia Stout
THE BATTALION
As legend has it, a young Baptist boy in east
Texas created the dominoes game, Texas 42,
because his parents wouldn’t let him play
cards. Today, along with yell practice, Muster
and the Twelfth man, Texas 42 continues to
thrive in Aggieland.
When Curtis Cook, class of ‘64, Squadron 10,
came to Texas A&M, he was unaware that play
ing 42 in Dorm 12 four to five nights a week
with his Corps buddies would become the next
Aggie tradition.
He said the popularity of 42 has grown even
more since he graduated.
“I am not surprised, and I would suspect
Aggies played even before I got there,” Cook said.
Back then, 42 wasn't just a game played for
fun. To them, it was serious and sometimes
even dangerous.
One of the players figured out how to cheat
by sitting in the right place and gazing into the
mirror. When another guy called his hand and
accused him of cheating, a fistfight broke out,
Cook said.
“There’s nothing subtle about it when you’re
serious,” Cook said. “This was no casual thing, it
can get to be emotional.”
One thing remains the same; students will
always put off studying for a little game of
dominoes.
“It’s the biggest consumer of grade-points in
the history of the school,” Cook said. “It can cost
you, it can detract from your focus.”
Today, many students go to the Dixie Chicken
weeknights and weekends, just as Aggies have
done for years, to play dominoes.
“There’s people from class of ‘78 and ‘80 that
used to come play here,” said Stephen Ratcliff,
senior petroleum engineer major, as he played at
the Dixie Chicken with friends.
With country music playing, a friendly atmos
phere and tables set out and ready, the Dixie
Chicken provides an environment where students
Mcomfortable playing a game of 42.
“Iwme play every day, pretty much,” said LeAnn
•Ww,graduate agricultural education major. “More
JOHN C. L1VAS • THE BATTALION
Chad Camp and Ben Cobb play 42 at the Dixie Chicken Tuesday night with Jamie Snow and Stacey Riding.
people play it here than anywhere else.”
The Dixie Chicken allows patrons to rent
dominoes any day of the week in exchange for
an I.D., but some people prefer to bring their
own lucky set.
Tables are full on most Friday and
Saturday nights, said Lance Gordon, a Dixie
Chicken employee.
For more experienced players, the Dixie
Chicken holds tournaments every Monday and
Tuesday at 8 p.m. for $5 per person and the win
ner takes the accumulated money home.
Brad Broadus, class of ‘01, plays every
week in the tournaments held at the Dixie
Chicken with his partner Scott Chamberlain,
also class of ‘01.
“Everybody is pretty good at the tournaments,”
Broadus said. “It's pretty much what dominoes
you pick against what dominoes they pick.”
Although Broadus and Chamberlain play in
tournaments and often win a pot of money, they
haven’t forgotten that playing 42 is more for fun
than anything else.
“We play at the house, we play everywhere,”
Broadus said. “Once you play it, you want to
play all the time.”
For some students, like Ratcliff, the culture of
playing dominoes was first introduced to them in
College Station, while others have been playing
since childhood.
Scott Sinper, coming from Czech heritage,
said 42 was a family tradition.
Broadus also grew up around old Ags who kept
the tradition of 42 alive in their family gatherings.
“All my family are Aggies, that’s how I
learned to play,” Broadus said.
“Each family gathering, Thanksgiving or a
quick Saturday night get-together, is capped
off by 42,” said Karla Stone, Director of
Strategic Communications at The Bush School
and class of ‘97.
In a family of all Aggies, 42 can be a link that
brings relatives together and gives them the
opportunity to bond as a unit.
“I grew up sitting on my dad’s knee while my
parents and their siblings or friends played
against each other,” Stone said. “My mom and
one of her friends were so bad about talking
across the table. Actually, they played footsies
and had coded touches. They still lost most of the
time. My dad is just an awesome player.”
For Stone, who plays with multiple genera
tions of Aggies, “talking across the table” can do
more than guarantee a winning game.
“The unique game has allowed me to bridge
the gap and talk about issues otherwise never dis
cussed,” Stone said, “It is amazing how much
‘table-talk’ can bridge gaps between the years.”
One thing is certain, for those who are regular
players of the game 42, they all agree that once
you catch on, you can’t stop playing.
“It’s one of those games you just get addicted
to,” Chamberlain said.
The challenge of the game may be what
draws the interest of many of its players. The
skill level and strategy involved takes time to
master and of course, once you get the hang of
it, winning is fun too.
“It’s a lot more difficult than other games, it’s
something that takes a year to learn to play,”
Sinper said.
Although it is challenging, many students use
42 to relieve stress from their busy lives and
make up lost time with friends.
“It’s fun, relaxing, and it makes you think ”
Ratcliff said.
Playing dominoes may go on in other places,
but here in College Station, it is another tradition
amongst so many that makes Texas A&M such a
unique place to go to school.
“It’s definitely an Aggie tradition,” Ratcliff
said. “1 don’t know anyone from U.T. that
plays 42.”
BIGGEST DANCE FLOOR IN BRAZOS VALLEY
WEDNESDAY
Open 6pm-12am
No Cover • FREE Pool
$ 3 00 pitchers, $ 2 00 longnecks, $ l 50 well drinks all night
42 tournament Cash prizes awarded weekly., #
Winners to advance to end of semester final.*l
$1,000 Cash Prize to champions.
THURSDAY
• Open 8pm-2am
Ladies 21 & over FREE till 10pm
Penny Pints, 75* bar drinks, $ 1 00 longnecks 8-1 Opm
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Open 8pm-2am
Ladies 21 & over FREE til I Opm
$ l 25 longnecks, $ 1 25 Crown drinks
any coin, any bar drink 8-1 Opm
Attention Ladies
Wednesday, February 12,2003
Men of Lebare Show
Call for ticket info - 779-391 I
1600 S. College, Bryan
(The old Rodeo 2000 location)
Are You An
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Please Give Blood
February 5 - February 7
Wednesday and Thursday
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Friday
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Location
MSC-Sbisa-Commons
Everyone who registers to donate
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Sponsored by:
Carter
BloddCare
Your Community Not-For-Profit Blood Center