BRYAN, Texas - Texas A&M football players welcomed tradition over travel, cheering loudly Sunday at the Bright Complex when told they'd play the University of Tennessee on New Year's Day in Dallas in the 69th annual SBC Cotton Bowl.

"(We) just broke out in applause," said senior offensive tackle Geoff Hangartner. "I mean we all knew about it before we came up here. But man, it's just great to go out that way, going to the Cotton Bowl. It's one of the premier bowls. After the BCS, I can't think of a bowl game I'd rather go to."

The Cotton Bowl pays $3 million.

"The way we look at it, the Big 12 Conference offered the opportunity for Texas to get into a BCS game," A&M second-year coach Dennis Franchione said. "It certainly created an opportunity for us to come to Dallas, which we're very, very excited about."

This will be A&M's 11th appearance in the Cotton Bowl.

"The SBC Cotton Bowl is rich in tradition and we look forward to going to Dallas," Franchione said. "Tennessee is a great opponent and you have two tremendous schools with great followings, and both schools are steeped in tradition as well. I think this is going to be a great week for our players and our fans."

As for dealing with the Vols, Franchione said he's not ready to set the game plan yet.

"I just know what to expect from Tennessee," he said. "Phil's (UT coach Phillip Fulmer) teams are always going to have certain qualities."

Franchione, earning his first New Year's Day bowl trip, talked about the school's cherished tradition of the 12th Man, which originated at Dallas' Fair Park Stadium in the 1922 Dixie Classic, which was the forerunner to the Cotton Bowl. E. King Gill came out of the press box at halftime when A&M suffered some injuries and dressed under the stands and stood on the sidelines as A&M beat Centre College, 22-14. Gill didn't play, but the tradition of the student body standing at games started.

Cotton Bowl president Rick Baker said organizers are pleased to have this matchup, even though having a BCS-snubbed Texas team would've brought more attention.

"We have absolutely zero disappointment," Baker said, noting that the Cotton Bowl has had Texas three times since A&M's last appearance. "It's always good to get new teams in here. Coach Fran has never been here before. ... We really feel like it's going to be a great matchup."

A&M will be in the Cotton Bowl for the 11th time, trailing only Texas for the most appearances.