For the past 118 years The University of Texas in Austin and Texas A&M University have carried on the third most played rivalry in college football. It has been a rivalry that has been embedded in Texas culture since 1894. Now it appears that this rivalry has come to an end. Texas A&M has announced their move to the Southeastern Conference and will no longer play The University of Texas on Thanksgiving Day. Texas A&M says this is the right thing for them to do but is it good for the state of Texas and the loyal fans of both teams?
As the two biggest Universities in the state of Texas this tradition and rivalry has been natural. Aggies for yeas have had their signature phrase “Saw Em’ Off” which is popular on not only shirts but around the University. Both schools even reference each other in their fight song and are sang no matter who the opponent is. The Thanksgiving Day game put national attention on the two premier instate Universities, it was and has been great publicity for these two outstanding Texas academic institutions. Some suggest that the Texas Legislature should step in but according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal this is very unlikely. I believe that A&M decision to leave the Big 12 is splitting Texas and the hearts of many. Their choice to leave is separating the competition for two popular schools and in turn could be losing students who have dreamed of being apart of the tradition. Only time will tell if A&M decision is the right one and for now all Texans can do is sit back and watch. The end of this rivalry is more than just the end of a great annual football game; it is the end of Texas and A&M fans poking fun at each other and securing bragging rights for another year. For fans of both teams it is a tradition that has defined the heart and soul of Texas and is sad to see it end. The farmers verses the t-sips is no more.
My classmate Megan Harlow made a very interesting point as she wrote on the topic of A&M leaving the Big 12 to join the SEC(Southeastern Conference). Basically, the Aggies have made the decision to move to the SEC and will no longer be playing their biggest rivalry the Texas Longhorns on thanksgiving day. This has been unfortunate for not only Texas fans, but Aggie fans as well being that these two teams have been rivalries since 1894;that is 118 years! Being a big fan of Texas football myself, I would have to agree on every point Ms. Harlow made. Ms. Harlow pointed out that this decision by the Aggies is separating the hearts of many fans. I believe this is completely true. For a fan, Football is a lot about the competition and loyalty to their team, so when th biggest competition disappears it takes some fun out of the game. A large amount of tradition is being lost, and some students that have waited for the opportunity to participate in that tradition now wont get the chance to do so. I agree with Megan when she states that she is "sad to see it end." Longhorn and Aggie will no longer be rivalries, and I believe this creates a loss of fans. So no, I do not believe it was a smart idea for the Aggies to leave the Big 12 and lose their biggest rivalry. I know that myself, and many other fans looked forward to the day the Longhorns played the Aggies, and now that day may never come again. 118 years of tradition is now lost.
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