I found this little jewel deep in the files of the Houston Chronicle. It was written by Richard Farmer, for former sportswriter, who is now out of sports writing probably because of this article. It is dated September, 2011.
Here it is:
Once upon a time, Texas dominated Texas A&M on the football field. Those days are long past, and one of the benefits of the Aggies switching conferences is that the Longhorns have an excuse to drop A&M from the schedule. Believe me, if Baylor or Texas Tech switched conferences, the Longhorns would be more than happy to play them every year.
I'm not saying the Longhorns are afraid to play Texas A&M. That's one possible explanation, but more likely it goes deeper than that. Texas was unable to impose its will on Texas A&M, so Texas A&M is now dead to Texas. I remember a time when my daughters treated one another the same way. They were 9 and 4 at the time and eventually grew out of that kind of stuff. Hang in there, DeLoss. You'll grow up someday.
The Longhorns and Aggies will play for the 118th time this season, but it appears that's where the series will end, at least for now. Texas is noncommittal about continuing the series, but indications are that since the Aggies decided not to follow orders, they're going to be dropped.
That'll be sad, and maybe someday the series will resume. The Aggies have made it clear they'd love to keep the rivalry going even after they enter America's toughest. football conference. Maybe Texas thinks it'll be gassed after the big one against Iowa State.
I hope it's not pure pettiness. OK, so Texas A&M didn't want to go to the Pac 10. Big deal. Get over it, Texas. OK, so Texas A&M felt misled about the little television network. Offer an apology, Longhorns. You don't think me and Berman have had some disagreements through the years? Yes, we have. At the end of the day, though, The General always makes us have a long, slightly uncomfortable hug and remind each other that we really do need one another.
It looks worse because the Longhorns would be refusing to play the Aggies at a time when the Aggies are winning on the field. Texas leads the all-time series 75-37-5, but A&M has won three of the last five. In the last 27 years, A&M has a 15-12 lead, and in the last 36 years, A&M has a 19-17 advantage.
But Texas was a much better team during the Nixon-Ford yearsthat's Otis Nixon and Chris Fordand nothing the Aggies do now can take away a long, long period of Longhorn dominance.
I know this is a sensitive topic among alums of the two schools. The Aggies say Texas is scared plain and simple. The Longhorns say we don't have to play you because we're Texas, and you're not.
I hope Aggies stop the taunting. It's unseemly and does nothing to keep the series going. This is a tough time for the Longhorns. The Longhorn Network has made them the subject of ridicule around the country. The football team isn't very good. The basketball teammen's and women'schoked like dogs last season. And I'm not going to bring up the Texas baseball coach whose name shall never be mentioned in this blog.
Texas won't be hurt in any significant way without an annual game with Texas A&M. It might even be able to hold the Big 12 together. Baylor, Texas Tech, etc., remain happy to jump when they're told to jump. Like they say in Austin, "Hook 'em Horns and beat Air Force!"
On the other hand, what if the next Longhorns-Aggies game is for the national championship?
