Missing the Mark: The truth about Texas A&M 'ducking' Texas Tech

Our relationship was serviceable at best. Actually, it was dysfunctional. At times it even seemed toxic.

She became unreliable. She became psychotic. She was too difficult to deal with.

It was best to move on. She was fine with that. Well, that is until a more desirable partner took her place. Then, her psychosis went into overdrive.

First, she’d taunt me from afar. Eventually, though, she sought to arrange a couple of trysts. You know, just for old time’s sake.

When rejected, she got angry. She screamed loudly. Finally, she just accused me of being too scared to face her.

It’s amazing how much the psycho bi … er, young lady, is similar to the Big 12 Conference.

Perhaps you’ve seen the Texas Monthly article that suggests Texas A&M isn’t appearing in the Texas Bowl because the Aggies are ducking the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Instead, Texas Tech will face LSU.

The article also pointed out that last year A&M did not play in the Texas Bowl, presumably, for fear of facing the Texas Longhorns.

That’s like saying Rosie O’Donnell won’t go to a restaurant for fear of getting fed.

Why would any football team fear Texas Tech or Texas?

The article did give A&M at least a small benefit of the doubt. It suggested sending the Aggies to the Music City Bowl in Nashville was the Southeastern Conference trying to manipulate the bowl schedule to give its teams more favorable matchups.

But then, the SEC can’t decide the strength of the opponents.

The article ignored three key facts:

• LSU wanted to be in the Texas Bowl.
  
• Nashville is a more desirable destination for Aggies.
  
• Louisville may be better than Texas Tech.

If any team was petitioning the SEC for a more advantageous bowl site, it may have been LSU.

Media members I know in Baton Rouge told me two weeks ago that LSU officials desired the Texas Bowl. Houston, the site of the Texas Bowl, is a prime recruiting area for LSU. It’s also an easy trip to a great stadium for LSU fans. Furthermore, LSU played in the Music City Bowl last year.

Everyone that follows college football knows that bowl games try to avoid having the same teams in consecutive years. Therefore, LSU wasn’t a candidate for the Music City Bowl and wanted to play in Houston.

Meanwhile, A&M opened its season against Arizona State at NRG Stadium. The Aggies weren’t thrilled about ending the season there.

True, A&M did play at Vanderbilt last month, so another trip there might not seem prudent. But remember, due to the SEC’s scheduling policy the Aggies won’t return to Vanderbilt for another decade. Meanwhile, Aggies can go to Houston any time.

Besides, A&M ducking Texas Tech would be like a lion ducking a zebra. The Aggies won their last three games against the Red Raiders by an average of 15 points.

Furthermore, A&M’s biggest issue this season has been scoring points. Texas Tech allows an average of 42.6 points per game to rank 125th in the nation in scoring defense. Louisville allows 24.3 points to rank 48th in the nation.

If you’re struggling to score points, which team would you rather face?

Suggesting A&M would duck Tech is as ludicrous as suggesting A&M ducked Texas last year. Remember, the Longhorns managed just 59 yards of total offense in a 31-7 loss to Arkansas, a team that A&M beat.

The psychotic ex was perplexed by facts. The Big 12 apparently is, too.

The fact is both Louisville and Texas Tech are 7-5. However, three of Louisville’s losses are to No. 1 Clemson and No. 18 Houston by three points apiece and to No. 9 Florida State.

Texas Tech lost three of its last five, was blown out in most of its losses and beat just one team with a winning record. That was 7-5 Arkansas, which A&M also beat.

Now, explain again the theory that A&M is ducking Texas Tech.

The reality is that since A&M joined the SEC the Aggies have twice faced Big 12 teams in bowl games. They’ve won both. They destroyed Oklahoma in the 2012 Cotton Bowl and handled West Virginia in last year’s Liberty Bowl.

When I started a new relationship all the previous dysfunction was discarded like garbage and left in the past.

Instead of looking back, I wanted to focus on the new, exciting and different experiences my new relationship offered.

Screaming, whining and delusional accusations from a psycho ex was not going to change that for me.

It won’t change that for Aggies, either.