Bowen Loftin remains certain Bill Powers meant no ill will. Loftin has no doubt Powers had only the best intentions during that moment in February 2010 when he said exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time.



Loftin, then the president of Texas A&M, had driven to Austin with one of his vice presidents to meet with Powers, then the president at Texas, to discuss strategy for the upcoming legislative session. After their business concluded, Loftin asked to speak to Powers alone. When the vice presidents left the room, Loftin had a question. He’d heard some rumors about Texas talking to representatives of the Pac-10 conference. Powers said he couldn’t reveal any information regarding those rumors. Then he offered a statement that meant one thing to him and meant something completely different to Loftin, an Aggie ring-wearing, Howdy-greeting member of the Texas A&M class of 1971.



Don’t worry. We’ll take care of you.



“I’m...