'12THMAN' license plate up for auction

One lucky Texas A&M fan will soon be the envy of every tailgate.

The rights to sport the official Texas license plate "12THMAN" on your vehicle — which would almost have to be maroon — will be up for bid Aug. 12-Sept. 12.

The online auction is being conducted by myplates.com with proceeds benefitting both the Texas General Revenue Fund and Texas A&M.

Knowing the devotion of Texas A&M fans, the bidding could top the current record of $25,000 someone paid for the rights to the "HOUSTON" Texas license plate.

An NBA fan paid $16,500 for the "ROCKETS" plate in January, in the same auction that saw the "HOUSTON" plate sold. Two years ago, "FERRARI" went for $15,000 in the first-ever Texas license plate auction. (The $15,000 was a record until the January auction.)

The deep-pocketed fan who wins "12THMAN" will have it for a 10-year term, with the first right of renewal. So this could be the last time "12THMAN" is available.

The rights to the plate are fully transferable, meaning the winning bidder can switch the "12THMAN" plate to another vehicle, pass it down to another family member or sell it to someone else.

However, the plate is not guaranteed to get a certain quarterback out of a parking ticket in College Station.