1922 Dixie Classic (Pennant) / 1921 Southern Champions
This is an authentic pennant that is from the 1921 season. The pennant is made of felt, as are the letters that have been sewn to it. The Football (that you see on the white field) is a leather patch.
Notice the pennant says "Southern Champions." Texas A&M was a member of the SWC from 1915 to 1996. However, the SEC was not formed until 1932 and the "Southern Conference" (that pre-dated the SEC) was formed in February 1921. This would probably be reason enough for a team that had beaten "Centre" (the Power from Kentucky) enough credit to expand its bragging rights beyond the borders of the SWC and claim to be "Champions of the South!"
Actually, one could argue that beating Centre in 1921 would give you the distinction of "National Champion," however, A&M's overall record in 1921 could have been a little better.
Truth-be-told, I think the name on the pennant is really just more evidence that the idea of bright-line championship boundaries that we are so use to in today's sports world were very blurry in the 1920's and before.
Because it is not apparenlty obvious by simply looking at the pennant I will go ahead an point out the obvious. This pennant is for the 1921 season. However, ask any Aggie the date of the "Dixie Classic" and they will tell you it was Jan. 2, 1922! So, "obviously" the 1921 season ended on Jan. 2, 1922 with the Aggies facing Centre College (and Charlie Moran) in the famed Dixie Classic. It was in this game that Coach Dana X. Bible called E. King Gill from the stands in order to "suit-up" and be ready to play, thus creating the 12th Man Tradition that lives on at Texas A&M today!