re: How long have aTm fans been waving towels?

I am pretty sure it was '85. I don't recall any really before that. In '85 we lost an early game to Baylor and then went on a big winning streak that culminated in beating Texas for the SWC Championship and then going on to beat Auburn with Bo in the Cotton Bowl. The towels started showing up that year and became a phenomenon.

Here they are in '85:

LINK