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Texas A&M Football

Hot Air, Pests and Fatigue: 10 Reasons Texas A&M doesn't need to play Texas

May 12, 2020
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Once again that time has arrived when hot air gusts, annoying pests emerge and fatigue quickly sets in.

We are, of course, referring to the Texas Longhorns’ annual summer attempt to pressure Texas A&M into renewing the football series that ended in 2012 — at the Longhorns’ behest.

This year, the hot air and pests came early in the form of self-serving, sophomoric and contradictory statements from Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte on the tired, old subject of renewing the Texas A&M-Texas football series. He referenced several college football rivalries and said not playing those games makes no sense.

Makes no sense? Kind of like one college football program starting its own television network or demanding conference-generated revenue should not be evenly distributed among teams in that conference?

That makes about as much sense as a 10-team conference calling itself the Big 12.

Further, Del Conte said: “My goal is to play anyone that’s won a national championship in the modern era as part of our non-conference schedule.”

Texas is like that psychotic significant other from a past toxic relationship. You put up with their high-maintenance, selfish drama for way too long and then finally leave.

That was interpreted nationally as a shot at A&M, which we all know has not won a national title since 1939.

That’s fine. A&M continues to focus on the future rather than the past.

But if Del Conte is taking shots at A&M through the media, why is he also whining about A&M’s disinterest in playing Texas?

Texas is like that unbalanced significant other from a past toxic relationship. You put up with their high-maintenance, selfish drama for way too long and then finally leave.

The psycho ex eventually begs you to come back. But you realize it’s not hard to make a list of at least 10 reasons not to go back.

10) Texas ended the series: When A&M moved to the Southeastern Conference in 2012, then-Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said: “They left. They’re the ones that decided not to play us.” That’s simply not true. A&M wanted the series to continue. That would’ve been possible, too. Florida faces Florida State. Georgia faces Georgia Tech. Kentucky faces Louisville. South Carolina faces Clemson. The series could’ve continued despite A&M’s move; Texas didn’t want to play the Aggies.

9) Don’t let Texas set terms: Dodds also went on to say: “We get to decide when we’ll play again.” Why? Why would Texas think it gets to decide? That demonstrated Texas felt it still had the ability to assert control over A&M. No thanks.

8) Texas encouraged Big 12 teams not to schedule A&M: Following A&M’s move, DeLoss reportedly encouraged other Big 12 athletic programs not to schedule Texas A&M in any sport. That in itself is sufficient reason not to schedule Texas.

7) Don’t be manipulated: Unaccustomed to not getting what it wants, Texas has attempted to pressure A&M through media. That includes many reporters with ties to Texas, Texas officials, fans and other media accusing A&M of “ducking” Texas while conveniently overlooking the fact that A&M has scheduled much more successful programs like Clemson and Notre Dame. A&M should not bow to Texas’ strong-arm tactics.

6) A&M should set its own scheduling philosophy: A&M’s policy is to schedule one Power 5 opponent every season. That’s quite common. Every team in the SEC West Division has the same approach. In fact, that’s what Texas does. True, A&M plays four non-conference games, but A&M shouldn’t be expected to change its philosophy to satisfy Texas.

Lia Musgrave, TexAgs
Scheduling different opponents allows Aggies to travel. Texas A&M made the trip to Clemson just last year.

5) Better road trips: Except for the traffic and vagrants, Austin is a fun city. Aggies can go there any time they want. Scheduling different Power 5 opponents allows Aggies to visit other towns and stadiums. A&M has played at Clemson and UCLA. In upcoming seasons, A&M will travel to Colorado, Miami, Notre Dame and Arizona State. Here’s hoping teams like Wisconsin, Penn State and Washington appear on A&M’s future schedules. Maryland would be good, too. Even Texas fans would agree Maryland is a tough opponent.

4) Better opponents: Frankly, A&M is scheduling better Power 5 opponents than Texas. Since 2012 when A&M left for the SEC, the majority of A&M’s Power 5 non-conference opponents are more successful than Texas.

The Longhorns are 58-45 since 2012 (a 56.3 win percentage). In the same span, Clemson is 101-12 (89.3 percent), Notre Dame is 76-27 (73.7 percent), Miami is 62-40 (60.7 percent), Arizona State is 61-43 (58.6 percent). Even UCLA (54-48, 52.9 percent) is at least comparable.

That proves the “A&M is ducking Texas” narrative is completely asinine.

3) National brand: A&M is looking to expand its national brand. Therefore, scheduling nationwide makes perfect sense. It seems to be helping in recruiting. A&M’s 2020 recruiting class had 14 players from out of state. The Aggies already have four out of state commitments in their 2021 class.

2) A&M doesn’t need to play Texas: A&M plays LSU, Alabama and Auburn every year. In some seasons they play the likes of Georgia, Florida and Tennessee from the SEC East. Unlike Texas, whose schedule as it stands typically features one marquee home game every other year since the OU game is in Dallas, there is no shortage of marquee games on A&M’s schedule or high-profile opponents coming to Kyle Field.

1) Texas wants it so bad: No more explanation is necessary.

Discussion from...

Hot Air, Pests and Fatigue: 10 Reasons Texas A&M doesn't need to play Texas

21,865 Views | 40 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by TyperWoods
inch05
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YES!
agent-maroon
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10 reasons? That's a good start. Great article!
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
sodycracker
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Dilley dilley
KerrvilleAg
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Yup
mrtapeguy
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As a Longhorn who lives and works in College Station and has many friends from both camps, this is my take:

I was in school during the years of the intense rivalry. I think you're putting way too much thought into the "why" of this. Of course A&M doesn't NEED to play Texas.

The people who would like to see it renewed simply think it would be fun and maybe profitable. All the other reasons for doing it or not doing it because of "need" are secondary. No one "needs" anything related to this rivalry for either of these programs to be successful.

Having spent many years in both communities, my observation is this: most Longhorns don't spend a lot of time thinking about "down with A&M." They have pride in UT, strongly dislike OU and everything else is way down the list. The A&M community, on the other hand, still seems to view UT not just as a collegiate rival but with a great deal of disdain to this day, even long after the direct competition has ended. That is just my observation.

I think that's unfortunate - we're all (mostly) Texans and would be better served channeling our energy toward OU, LSU, Bama and other out-of-state rivals. I wouldn't root for A&M to beat Texas in a direct battle but I love to see the Aggies beat other SEC opponents and just about anyone else. We have two great schools and it would be nice if we all had pride in both of them.
West Point Aggie
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Solid top 10...could easily be a top 25 list!

The fact that the sippies want it, is THE only reason A&M should have not to enter into a contract with that bunch!
West Point Aggie
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mrtapeguy said:


Having spent many years in both communities, my observation is this: most Longhorns don't spend a lot of time thinking about "down with A&M." They have pride in UT, strongly dislike OU and everything else is way down the list. The A&M community, on the other hand, still seems to view UT not just as a collegiate rival but with a great deal of disdain to this day, even long after the direct competition has ended. That is just my observation.

**YOUR ADs NEAR OBSESSION SAYS OTHERWISE**

I think that's unfortunate - we're all (mostly) Texans and would be better served channeling our energy toward OU, LSU, Bama and other out-of-state rivals.

**LSU / BAMA AND THE REST OF THE SEC ARE NOT YOUR RIVALS...they're OURS**

**OU IS NOT OUR RIVAL...It is YOURS**

I wouldn't root for A&M to beat Texas in a direct battle but I love to see the Aggies beat other SEC opponents and just about anyone else. We have two great schools and it would be nice if we all had pride in both of them.

**NO REASON FOR ME TO HAVE PRIDE IN YOUR SCHOOL...I root against your school in every possible event...I root for bayLOL and tech against you and I can't stand those two awful places!!**

**Maybe by the 2040s or later...


Moon Shadow
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Playing tu would IMHO would be a lose-lose proposition.
1.) Aggies beat the whorns badly and it a win that is relatively worthless in strength of schedule evaluation.
2.) "Barely sneak by" (a less than 14 point win) and it would be seen as a "moral victory". It would beused by tu coach(es) and whorn leaning state media sources to influence HS football players to look at tu.
3.) Any loss (by any amount) would impact recruiting for at least one if not two cycles.

No game we do NOT need tu on our schedule!
AND what if (after Nick Saban retires as he's dead set against it) the SEC goes to a nine game conference schedule.
Aggie
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And yet A&M media keeps writing articles about it.

Want it to really go away... don't write about it
AgDotCom
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mrtapeguy said:

Having spent many years in both communities, my observation is this: most Longhorns don't spend a lot of time thinking about "down with A&M." They have pride in UT, strongly dislike OU and everything else is way down the list.
Not sure how old you are, but I'm 60 and have lots of friends, family and inlaws who went to both schools. My life experience has been completely opposite of your statement.

The OU vs. A&M dislike meter doesn't fly with me, either. Here's a Longhorn message board screenshot taken the week of their game with OU in 2006. Ate up with A&M the week they play their "biggest rival". Basketball season was no different, as the second pic suggests.



TAMU74
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CONCUR
West Point Aggie
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Aggie said:

And yet A&M media keeps writing articles about it.

Want it to really go away... don't write about it


Sorry but utter BS on this comment...a simple google search on "Texas A&M Texas rivalry" will yield but a single article...the rest come from the sycophantic tea sip media and sippy sites...period
Slamn Sharpe
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AgDotCom with a head shot
cowboychemist
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Great article, Olin.
lagoag
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I agree 100% with your 10 reasons OB. Never ever play tu again.
Meximan
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McDadeTXAggie said:

AgDotCom with a head shot

What else can you expect from an OG Texagger?
bangbang
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There's a 100% chance that whatever comes out a sip's mouth is a lie. That includes sip AD's, sip coaches, and
sip journalists. Liars.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Smoke em if you got em.
BQDrummer85
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West Point Aggie
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bangbang said:

There's a 100% chance that whatever comes out a sip's mouth is a lie. That includes sip AD's, sip coaches, and
sip journalists. Liars.


You forgot sip graduates and sip tee shirts
NumberEinAg
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They made their ARROGANT bed, let'em lie in it (a little double meaning with the word - lie!!). We have nothing to gain by playing those arrogant A-Holes. Let'em rot in their 2nd rate conference. And I hope OU, Baylor and TCU kick their asses every year. That's how I really feel.
"They who would give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Benjamin Franklin
Speckled Trout
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11. Opposing teams rarely get fair shake from the referees when they play Texas.
West Point Aggie
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Bohls of the stateman already suggested we play the sips TWICE this year...you know because the state needs money and all...so effin predictable.

The second a pair is state schools decide to do this this year, that's when the next barrage of articles will come!

This has become as predictable as sunrise
zephyr88
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"Ten Reasons" sounds more like "Ten Excuses".

PLAY THE GAME.
West Point Aggie
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12. It pisses off and upsets the Stockholm Syndrome crowd...and that's its own kind of acrid bit of joy!
up-n-aTm
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zephyr88 said:

"Ten Reasons" sounds more like "Ten Excuses".

PLAY THE GAME.
**** off!
zephyr88
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up-n-aTm said:

zephyr88 said:

"Ten Reasons" sounds more like "Ten Excuses".

PLAY THE GAME.
**** off!
You must've been in College Station during the Franchione years
Jarrin' Jay
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zephyr88 said:

"Ten Reasons" sounds more like "Ten Excuses".

PLAY THE GAME.

Get your co-dependence and self-affirmation fix elsewhere.

We only need one reason, but the Top 10 list is excellent.

Our answer should always be one word, which also happens to be a complete sentence. No.
Charlie 31
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J Early Wentzell
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This article IS a tad whiny. I grew up enjoying the Texas and A&M game on Thanksgiving Day, with all of my father's extended family. My dad was an Aggie, his cousin was a "teasip". Remember, A&M was ALL MALE! He, like most of his Class of 42, mustered into the Army in his senior year, returned after WWII to complete hia last semester, while my mother (who was also an Army Officer and who he met at Camp polk and married the December of 45) worked at St Josephs Hospital in Bryan and took a class at A&M also. I, too, am an Aggie (72); but, many of you will not realize that in 1968, being a female, I could not attend A&M, like my dad's cousin in 1938. I enrolled at UT (Austin, the largest student body on a single campus at tbat time) and completed 2 years there, then transferred to A&M for my last 2 years.Those 4 years, I went to football games for both schools, including the bowl games.

Times change. The premier State of Texas game no longer played on Thanksgiving Day and, eventually, no longer played at all. I find this very sad. Nothing like a good friendly rivalry to enjoy trading good-natured barbs over. But, I miss the old Conference, too.

I have never supported derogatory comments about either school as I happen to believe they are both kutstanding schools, though VERY different. It is unnecessary to put down any institution or individual and does no favor to those who engage in that behavior. It would better serve A&M to be supportive of other Texas Universities, work together and be friendly, than to throw rotten apples and put-downs at others. Does not help A&M any at all. And, I assure you, UT alumni have many things on their minds other than A&M.
West Point Aggie
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J Early Wentzell said:

This article IS a tad whiny. I grew up enjoying the Texas and A&M game on Thanksgiving Day, with all of my father's extended family. My dad was an Aggie, his cousin was a "teasip". Remember, A&M was ALL MALE! He, like most of his Class of 42, mustered into the Army in his senior year, returned after WWII to complete hia last semester, while my mother (who was also an Army Officer and who he met at Camp polk and married the December of 45) worked at St Josephs Hospital in Bryan and took a class at A&M also. I, too, am an Aggie (72); but, many of you will not realize that in 1968, being a female, I could not attend A&M, like my dad's cousin in 1938. I enrolled at UT (Austin, the largest student body on a single campus at tbat time) and completed 2 years there, then transferred to A&M for my last 2 years.Those 4 years, I went to football games for both schools, including the bowl games.

Times change. The premier State of Texas game no longer played on Thanksgiving Day and, eventually, no longer played at all. I find this very sad. Nothing like a good friendly rivalry to enjoy trading good-natured barbs over. But, I miss the old Conference, too.

I have never supported derogatory comments about either school as I happen to believe they are both kutstanding schools, though VERY different. It is unnecessary to put down any institution or individual and does no favor to those who engage in that behavior. It would better serve A&M to be supportive of other Texas Universities, work together and be friendly, than to throw rotten apples and put-downs at others. Does not help A&M any at all. And, I assure you, UT alumni have many things on their minds other than A&M.


Do you need a tissue? We don't need to be supportive of a bunch of ass wipes in Austin with a clear history of not being what YOU purport WE should be. Sorry you wasted your first ever post!
Slamn Sharpe
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J Early Wentzell said:

This article IS a tad whiny. I grew up enjoying the Texas and A&M game on Thanksgiving Day, with all of my father's extended family. My dad was an Aggie, his cousin was a "teasip". Remember, A&M was ALL MALE! He, like most of his Class of 42, mustered into the Army in his senior year, returned after WWII to complete hia last semester, while my mother (who was also an Army Officer and who he met at Camp polk and married the December of 45) worked at St Josephs Hospital in Bryan and took a class at A&M also. I, too, am an Aggie (72); but, many of you will not realize that in 1968, being a female, I could not attend A&M, like my dad's cousin in 1938. I enrolled at UT (Austin, the largest student body on a single campus at tbat time) and completed 2 years there, then transferred to A&M for my last 2 years.Those 4 years, I went to football games for both schools, including the bowl games.

Times change. The premier State of Texas game no longer played on Thanksgiving Day and, eventually, no longer played at all. I find this very sad. Nothing like a good friendly rivalry to enjoy trading good-natured barbs over. But, I miss the old Conference, too.

I have never supported derogatory comments about either school as I happen to believe they are both kutstanding schools, though VERY different. It is unnecessary to put down any institution or individual and does no favor to those who engage in that behavior. It would better serve A&M to be supportive of other Texas Universities, work together and be friendly, than to throw rotten apples and put-downs at others. Does not help A&M any at all. And, I assure you, UT alumni have many things on their minds other than A&M.


No one in their right mind believes this. NO ONE
West Point Aggie
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McDadeTXAggie said:

J Early Wentzell said:

This article IS a tad whiny. I grew up enjoying the Texas and A&M game on Thanksgiving Day, with all of my father's extended family. My dad was an Aggie, his cousin was a "teasip". Remember, A&M was ALL MALE! He, like most of his Class of 42, mustered into the Army in his senior year, returned after WWII to complete hia last semester, while my mother (who was also an Army Officer and who he met at Camp polk and married the December of 45) worked at St Josephs Hospital in Bryan and took a class at A&M also. I, too, am an Aggie (72); but, many of you will not realize that in 1968, being a female, I could not attend A&M, like my dad's cousin in 1938. I enrolled at UT (Austin, the largest student body on a single campus at tbat time) and completed 2 years there, then transferred to A&M for my last 2 years.Those 4 years, I went to football games for both schools, including the bowl games.

Times change. The premier State of Texas game no longer played on Thanksgiving Day and, eventually, no longer played at all. I find this very sad. Nothing like a good friendly rivalry to enjoy trading good-natured barbs over. But, I miss the old Conference, too.

I have never supported derogatory comments about either school as I happen to believe they are both kutstanding schools, though VERY different. It is unnecessary to put down any institution or individual and does no favor to those who engage in that behavior. It would better serve A&M to be supportive of other Texas Universities, work together and be friendly, than to throw rotten apples and put-downs at others. Does not help A&M any at all. And, I assure you, UT alumni have many things on their minds other than A&M.


No one in their right mind believes this. NO ONE

For emphasis: ABSOLUTELY AND WITHOUT A DOUBT NO ONE DOES!!
rrtodds
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@Moonshadow, @AgDotCom, @WestPoint Aggie, @MrTapeGuy, and @OlinBuchanan ...

MoonShadow ... I like your handle. Yours, too ... AgDotCom

AgDotCom ... thanks for the old lh message board posts. The second pic has a post referencing Kirk Bohls of the AustinnStatesman "Poor... Aggies...", which leads me to MTG.

MrTapeGuy ... tu's apparent preferred victory celebration is the one thing I would use to explain to you why I have such despise for all things, anything ... burnt orange or ut. I have celebrated independence and separation from ut every moment since our SECcession from the B12 and association with ut. Please, read on.

My first four seasons as an Aggie'71- '74 were miserable football losses to the horns and of the three I attended included the ut fans starting, ... long before the game was over, the mourning chant of "Poor Aggies, poor Aggies" ... over and over and over. It didn't matter home or away. I had never felt hatred boil before, and the result was/is a lifetime of despise. Then of all places, we lived 30 years behind the "orange curtain" ... at least it was the very conservative Williamson County. We came to accept and even love some of the Sinners, but always continued to hate The Sin.

So, Westpoint Aggie ... 20 years is 10 years too soon for me. Make it 30. I'm 67 and in thirty years, I'm either in heaven or too old to give a rip!

OB, I always enjoy your well thought and written articles. I'm continually amazed that you made the transition from Austin resident and sports writer to your current position with the mighty TexAgs.

When are you gonna enroll, get yourself at least a grad degree and an Aggie Ring. You quack like a duck ... become one! S'75
Ex-liberalag12
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He is right. TU fans hate OU more than A&M.

Who cares.... Seriously, why do we care who TU hates the most? We have lapped them in the last few years. Just look in the the rear view mirror and SMILE
Gig'em
okieAg94
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Just play the game. Who cares how wants it the most? It is a great rivalry. Just do it either the 2nd game or last game of the year.
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