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Texas A&M Football

Resuming the Rivalry: If Texas wants to play A&M again, money talks

February 26, 2019
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The Bible tells us there is a time for everything. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to weep and a time to laugh.

With that in mind, there may come a time when Texas A&M and Texas resumes its football rivalry. But now definitely is not the time.

Once, the feeling here was Texas A&M should renew the series because it was a statewide tradition and part of our heritage. I was wrong.

Several factors have changed my point of view, from Texas’ shameless campaigning through the media and the revisionist history of Texas fans to the fact that A&M’s schedule annually is already significantly more challenging than the Longhorns’.

Last summer Texas coach Tom Herman called for the series to resume. He said in a radio interview:  “In my perfect world, you would play one big-time Power 5 [non-conference] opponent.”

Fine. A&M plays Clemson. You can’t get more big-time than the national champion. In upcoming seasons A&M will also play Notre Dame and Miami. Big time opponents.

Yet, the media—state and national—reacted with a barrage of articles that seemed intent on pressuring A&M to do what Texas wanted. Sorry. That ship sailed in 2012.
 

Andrew Kilzer, TexAgs
Then-A&M president Bowen Loftin offered to continue the series after A&M joined the SEC, but Texas declined.

Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte could have phoned A&M AD Scott Woodward and asked if a game could be scheduled. If Woodward had said no, Del Conte could call another team to schedule a game.

Instead, Texas responded like some high school kid who got dumped and is asking friends (in Texas’ case the media) to plead his case to be reunited.

Of course, the ironic twist to the story is that Texas ended the series in the first place. Texas and Big 12 apologists like to say A&M ended the series by moving to the Southeastern Conference in 2012. They conveniently omit the rather obvious fact that Florida State plays Florida, South Carolina plays Clemson, Georgia plays Georgia Tech and Kentucky plays Louisville.

Then-A&M president Bowen Loftin was even on record saying A&M was willing to continue the series. However, then-Texas Athletic Director DeLoss Dodds refused to schedule A&M and encouraged other Big 12 teams not to play the Aggies. These are documented facts.

Yet, Texas fans—and some media—make the ludicrous claim that A&M is “afraid” to play Texas. So A&M will play Clemson, which has won two national championships in three years, but is scared of Texas, which in the last three seasons has lost to Maryland (twice), Cal and Kansas?

Longhorns advocates also chide A&M for playing a weak schedule because SEC teams have four non-conference games. One of those often is against an FCS opponent.

Yet, those same critics refuse to look at the totality of the respective schedules. For example, A&M’s 2019 opponents were a combined 93-63 last season. By comparison, Texas’ opponents were a combined 82-71.

Still, Longhorns degrade A&M’s non-conference schedule. While refusing to acknowledge Clemson they mention A&M plays UTSA, Texas State and FCS member Lamar.
 

Texas likes to brag that it’s upgrading its schedule by playing the likes of LSU, Arkansas and Alabama in upcoming years. Yeah … they’re upgrading by playing teams that A&M plays every year.

What they fail to point out is that Texas plays Rice, which last season lost to UTSA. The Longhorns also play Louisiana Tech. True, Texas doesn’t play an FCS team, but the Longhorns do play Kansas, which last season lost to an FCS opponent.

Texas likes to brag that it’s upgrading its schedule by playing the likes of LSU, Arkansas and Alabama in upcoming years. Yeah … they’re upgrading by playing teams that A&M plays every year.

But the sniping could be put aside. An agreement could be reached to resume the rivalry. The timing just has to be right.

And the right time to resume the rivalry is easily ascertained.

The Permanent University Fund is a state-owned multi-billion dollar endowment which annually distributes hundreds of millions in revenue to the University of Texas and Texas A&M.

Texas receives two thirds of the annual pay out. If $900 million is distributed, Texas receives $600 million and A&M receives $300 million.

Texas officials have indicated they would do anything to resume the football series. A&M should take the position that it would agree to resume the rivalry when Texas agrees to evenly split the PUF revenue.

Until that time, A&M shouldn't play Texas.

Discussion from...

Resuming the Rivalry: If Texas wants to play A&M again, money talks

40,341 Views | 60 Replies | Last: 5 yr ago by All_In_Ags
jrwoodchuck
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Quote:

More people need to know the facts.
Then OB needs to rewrite that article because he is fos on a bunch of his "facts".
West Point Aggie
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AG
Fantastic article...f*** the castrated aholes and the many losers who'd willingly go back to interacting with said aholes...Aggie jokes often write themselves!
Let’s Go Brandon!
StickTogetherAgs
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coupland boy
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AG
jrwoodchuck said:

Quote:

More people need to know the facts.
Then OB needs to rewrite that article because he is fos on a bunch of his "facts".



Which ones?
agsuncle
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"Revisionist history?"

"Begging to play A&M?"

Bless his horns-down heart.

"He called Woodward about the opening in in the schedule, trying to a resurrect the historic series last played in 2011, the season before A&M moved to the SEC. Del Conte asked if the Aggies had an opening on the schedule.

"They did not," Del Conte said, noting A&M was playing a home-and-home with Miami (Fla.) those two years. "No sweat off of my back. Fortunately Alabama did have openings in those two years."

Texas AD Chris Del Conte opens up about recent talks between Texas and Texas A&M

"The Aggies have also supposedly been spurned by the Longhorns before Del Conte took over, so this feud has perpetrators on both sides. Will the two schools ever play again? It doesn't look like anything will happen soon."

Saturday Down South

Maybe someday UT and A&M will end up facing each other on the gridiron. Until then, all the best to you and to the board.

coupland boy
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Thanks. All the best to you as well.
OverSeas AG
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AG
Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess
DON'T TREAD ON ME
West Point Aggie
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Wasn't DelConte the AD at tcu when Dodds told him to get on all 4s and spread them as they literally begged to "upgrade" the sippy 10?
Let’s Go Brandon!
jrwoodchuck
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coupland boy said:

jrwoodchuck said:

Quote:

More people need to know the facts.
Then OB needs to rewrite that article because he is fos on a bunch of his "facts".



Which ones?


Quote:

Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte could have phoned A&M AD Scott Woodward and asked if a game could be scheduled. If Woodward had said no, Del Conte could call another team to schedule a game.
CDC did call. Woodward pussed out. Said schedule was full, but you had two open spots. They sceduled Bama and LSU instead.
jrwoodchuck
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jrwoodchuck said:

coupland boy said:

jrwoodchuck said:

Quote:

More people need to know the facts.
Then OB needs to rewrite that article because he is fos on a bunch of his "facts".



Which ones?


Quote:

Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte could have phoned A&M AD Scott Woodward and asked if a game could be scheduled. If Woodward had said no, Del Conte could call another team to schedule a game.
CDC did call. Woodward pussed out. Said schedule was full, but you had two open spots. They sceduled Bama and LSU instead.

Quote:

Then-A&M president Bowen L-oftin was even on record saying A&M was willing to continue the series.
Of course he was, after Dodds told him that if y'all left UT/AM would not play again.

The perception that y'all are afraid to play Texas is out there because you guys keep talking carp about how you're the better team, the sleeping gnat has awakened, you got an NC winning coach, etc. If all that was true you should be chomping at the bit to get ahold of that second-rate program in the State Capital.
RAB83
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AG
Great column OB. And don't forget that Dodds was open to playing us when they were all giddy about moving to the PAC. I can't find the quote, but I remember when A&M was balking about the move west and the sips were still talking it up, Dodds said something about continuing to play A&M like they played OU in the SWC days.

In case anyone wonders why they never made the move west, here's a third party writer on sip disingenuousness...

Larry Scott Killed The Pac-16? I Call Shenanigans on Texas
Aggie 100 - 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, & 2018
OverSeas AG
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Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess
DON'T TREAD ON ME
Grits
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Savior Jimbo said:

@ every current student who wants to play this game again, read the damn article then explain to me why we should renew the series.


Because the rivalry game is part of both university's soul. It's built into our fight song, and many other traditions we hold dear.

You're a dumbass, and a 2%er.

That being said, the rivalry should not continue right now. I fully agree with the OP, when the funding is equal, then we can renew.
-OCHWFLAKASSBRTTEFE-
Maroon Flash
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We are now being perceived as a forward looking 21st century university.

Do we really want to go back to being defined by the saw - em off bumper stickers?

Our football coach should be able to have complete focus on one goal - win the SEC west.

It would be very stupid to add the distraction of playing Texas.
RAB83
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AG
The only thing that's going to make this crap go away is winning two or three natties under Jimbo. If we're competitive in the SEC West and slugging it out with Bama, LSU, etc. every year, no Ag's going to give a chit about the sip.

Besides, what helps us more: playing a top P5 program from across the country (e.g., Clemson, Notre Dame, Miami) or the sips? What gives us better national exposure? What builds the Aggie brand nationally?
Aggie 100 - 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, & 2018
Coward Jimbo
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Snicklepox said:

Savior Jimbo said:

@ every current student who wants to play this game again, read the damn article then explain to me why we should renew the series.


Because the rivalry game is part of both university's soul. It's built into our fight song, and many other traditions we hold dear.

You're a dumbass, and a 2%er.

That being said, the rivalry should not continue right now. I fully agree with the OP, when the funding is equal, then we can renew.
So you decide to belittle me for my opinion, then agree with my opinion the very next sentence? Got it.
dixichkn
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RAB83 said:

Great column OB. And don't forget that Dodds was open to playing us when they were all giddy about moving to the PAC. I can't find the quote, but I remember when A&M was balking about the move west and the sips were still talking it up, Dodds said something about continuing to play A&M like they played OU in the SWC days.

In case anyone wonders why they never made the move west, here's a third party writer on sip disingenuousness...

Larry Scott Killed The Pac-16? I Call Shenanigans on Texas
From a link from that same article........

https://www.burntorangenation.com/2010/6/10/1511759/conference-realignment-will-texas

First time I've ever seen this piece, and it is laugh-out-loud hilarious in how off the mark it is. I hope that puke-orange assclown is still trying to find a job after that train wreck.
92_Ag
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92_Ag
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AG
ChemEAg08
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Matt Mcdowell said:

Middle age losers like this guy are just salty because they have nothing better to do. Any idiot who doesn't see the value in resuming the rivalry is delusional. And as far as the puf, what happens when uh and all the other big public schools want a piece of the pie, it's a separate issue entirely.


Could you explain the value of restarting the games because I guess I'm an idiot.

let's talk value of both options from my perspective:

1. Don't play the game:
- play other P5 opponents and expand A&M's brand
- already have tough enough schedule that will put butts in the seats and give us plenty of respect by the rankings and FPI
- let's the sips drown in mediocrity

2. Play the game
- it makes some people feel good

Did I sum it up correctly? Tangible values vs the feels?
ontheway
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AG
Maybe Germans but a recent internet poll of 1200 Texans revealed 40% wanted to renew the game. 46% said they didn't care
Meximan
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Uncle Jimbo said:

If the PUF is restructured, A&M will get less than we currently do, not more.

That aside, this article is homerish even by the standards of Olin Buchanan, a homer that makes Dave South blush. Yeah, their schedule is more boring than ours, but the ridiculous notion that they need this more than we do is asinine.

A&M does not need the game at all anymore. There is a laundry list of reasons why tu needs the game, and that's what t sip diehards can't stand.
screw-tu
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dixichkn said:

RAB83 said:

Great column OB. And don't forget that Dodds was open to playing us when they were all giddy about moving to the PAC. I can't find the quote, but I remember when A&M was balking about the move west and the sips were still talking it up, Dodds said something about continuing to play A&M like they played OU in the SWC days.

In case anyone wonders why they never made the move west, here's a third party writer on sip disingenuousness...

Larry Scott Killed The Pac-16? I Call Shenanigans on Texas
From a link from that same article........

https://www.burntorangenation.com/2010/6/10/1511759/conference-realignment-will-texas

First time I've ever seen this piece, and it is laugh-out-loud hilarious in how off the mark it is. I hope that puke-orange assclown is still trying to find a job after that train wreck.

This dumbass not gong to put Nostradamus out of business. He's perfect for the Chronicle or DMN.
Krazykat
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AG
Let it die. We stand little to gain. I don't know why everyone is so willing risk getting back under the shadow of "big brother." How easily we forget.
All_In_Ags
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