Growing up in Texas, it was a part of your Thanksgiving tradition.
You woke up in the morning, watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ate a hearty meal with family, watched the Cowboys play the Redskins and that night watch Texas against Texas A&M.
That’s how it was done. But, it hasn’t been done since 2011.
From 1915 to 2011 the Texas versus Texas A&M was a yearly tradition, the Longhorns winning the final meeting 27-24, improving their record to 76-37-5 all-time against the Aggies. It was a tradition.
Since exiting the Big 12 Conference for new prospects in the SEC, the long-standing rivalry between the Aggies and Longhorns died with the departure for what Texas A&M considered greener pastures.
But now could the rivalry be renewed in a non-conference meeting?
According to many reports this past week, Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin and Texas head coach Charlie Strong are interested in renewing that rivalry. Both have publicly stated that they would like to see it renewed down the road.
The head coaches want it, but the Athletic Directors sing a different tune. Texas Athletic Director Steve Patterson has said it is not on the top of his to-do list, no word from the Aggies side though.
If the coaches want it, then why not?
It is time to throw out all the political nonsense and hurt feelings from the Aggies exit from the Big 12 and get back to playing football. Yes, it hurt, everyone was angry with Texas A&M for dashing for the SEC. Most conference members disowned the Aggies once the move was made.
But it has been four years and realistically most non-conference schedules have been set through the 2021 seasons. So unless Texas and Texas A&M drop a non-conference game along the way it could be more than 10 years before we see that game again. Let’s hope it is way before then that we get to see the Aggies and Longhorns battle again.
Set the date. Both schools have new head coaches, new-look programs and all the talk has been SEC vs. Big 12. Which conference is the best? Why not settle that debate with a historic rivalry like Texas against Texas A&M?
Every season college football fans get Michigan and Ohio State, Auburn and Alabama and Florida and Florida State, to list some of the best rivalry games. It is about time we rectify the wrong of ending the Texas and Texas A&M rivalry.
It is time the Longhorns and Aggies put aside their conference differences and just play. Television ratings would be through the roof, ticket sales would be amazing. This is a game that Jerry Jones would live for and would want to be a premiere game at AT&T Stadium, and no doubt he could fill every seat with a game like this.
For schools that talk about each other in their respective fight songs, the Longhorns and Aggies need to battle again and make it a yearly game. I can see the shirts now, “Sumlin vs Strong”, “Stronger than Sumlin”, “Beat Texas and SEC On”. The list goes on and on, the marketing possibilities are endless.
Make the game happen again, whatever it takes. It will be nationally televised, both coaches can recruit to it, and really who doesn’t want to see the Aggies and Longhorns play again, except maybe Patterson.
It’s time to reestablish our Thanksgiving tradition in Texas. Let’s have our side of Texas versus Texas A&M with our turkey and dressing again. It’s a Texas tradition, it’s a football tradition.
**If you want a chance to win FREE Big 12 gear from your favorite team, be sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter! Only email subscribers will be allowed a chance to win!**
