Do I have the most unique perspective on the House Divided rivalry? Maybe not. But it is a weird one. When Geoff Ketchum and I talked about me coming to Orangebloods Live and doing a show with him, I told him he is the only person running a Texas insider site that would dare hire an Aggie, and I am the only Aggie that would dare say yes. But, then again, I am the weirdest Aggie you know…
And holy hell what a matchup. I could have never hoped the stakes would be THIS high when they got back together.
And it will be historic. They have never played in College Station with Texas ranked in the top 3 and the Aggies ranked 20-25. Ever. The last time the Aggies hosted this game having already won 8 games? 1997. I was there. Am I the only Aggie that calls that game “Ricky in the rain”? He was something that day. If he stays healthy for 4 quarters, UT probably wins it. But Texas was not great in '97.
Get this one. A 10-win Texas team has never faced an 8-win A&M team in College Station. Ever. And the winner is gonna go to Atlanta and represent the SEC in its title game. Think about the implications. We all remember 2011 right? Think about how Longhorn fans love to remind Aggies about Tucker’s kick and 27-25. And both of those teams were…um…not memorable. It was just another thing you could hold over Aggies’ heads. And you love that right? It's part of what makes Longhorn fans Longhorn fans. Now, imagine you win the game this year… and get to hold it over the Aggies’ heads forever… that you made it to Atlanta in your first year of SEC play. And they still have never been. And, of course, if they beat you…umm…you’ll hear about it.
This rivalry never died. It just had too much distance. There are UT fans reading this that haven’t been to Kyle Field since 2011. Aggies haven’t been to DKR since 2010? A shame. But it all changes Saturday. The last time this game was played, a little over 88,000 were there. Saturday? I’m expecting that number to go over 110,000. It’s. Gonna. Shake. The coin flip will be electric. And we all might not be ready for that energy right before kick. I could feel it coming at the A&M/Mizzou game in October. I have never had that feeling before about a future game. Somebody send word to Anwar. That press box is on the same side as the students. Hang on tight.
I’m gonna tailgate with my parents, my niece, her fiancé, and a guy that will be in the wedding. We’re all rooting for A&M.
I’ve got a bet with a friend of mine who went to UT. We do it in honor of my grandfather, who had a bet with his doctor on the game every year. They bet $.25. We bet $1.25 back in the day. Starting Saturday, it’s $5.00. It just means more. Greg is rooting for Texas as always.
No matter who wins, Ketch says he wants me to join the OB Live post-game show. That should be fun. GK, Suchomel, Anwar, and every last person on the chat are rooting for Texas.
You know who else might root for Texas? My wife. That’s right. An SFA girl that lives in Elgin and is married to me. All these years of me covering Texas has had an effect. She can root for the Aggies. Just maybe not in this one. She says she may literally need to see the game start before she knows who she’s rooting for. And y’all thought I was weird. We’ll get through it. I’m a Cowboys fan. She loves the Steelers. We’re already a house divided. And that’s what it’s about. Family. Friends. And the state of Texas in all its burnt orange, maroon, Hook ‘Em, Gig ’Em glory.
Some of my favorite people in the world are on one side of this game or the other. I am so happy for all of us that it is back. And to have it back at this level is awesome.
Saturday night kick, 6:30, ABC, and Gameday is in town. Pick your side, pick your colors, and say hello to a long-lost brother.
- I don’t do horns down, or say “t-sips” or “tu”
- I am the Aggie who impersonated a UT band member to attend his first TX/OU game (’94. Hello Stoney Clark)
- I am the Aggie who had season tickets at DKR for Ricky’s Sr year.
- I am the Aggie who Jody Conradt sent a hand-written thank you card to for calling games in '02-'03 for the Final Four team.
- I am the Aggie who co-hosted the local post-game show on The Longhorn Flagship station the night VY and his teammates won the NC.
- I am the Aggie who has pictures of that lit UT tower from 2006 in my house to this day. And my father still talks to me.
- And I am the only Aggie who would have followed up a 25-year radio career (all but one in Austin) with a job at Orangebloods.
And holy hell what a matchup. I could have never hoped the stakes would be THIS high when they got back together.
And it will be historic. They have never played in College Station with Texas ranked in the top 3 and the Aggies ranked 20-25. Ever. The last time the Aggies hosted this game having already won 8 games? 1997. I was there. Am I the only Aggie that calls that game “Ricky in the rain”? He was something that day. If he stays healthy for 4 quarters, UT probably wins it. But Texas was not great in '97.
Get this one. A 10-win Texas team has never faced an 8-win A&M team in College Station. Ever. And the winner is gonna go to Atlanta and represent the SEC in its title game. Think about the implications. We all remember 2011 right? Think about how Longhorn fans love to remind Aggies about Tucker’s kick and 27-25. And both of those teams were…um…not memorable. It was just another thing you could hold over Aggies’ heads. And you love that right? It's part of what makes Longhorn fans Longhorn fans. Now, imagine you win the game this year… and get to hold it over the Aggies’ heads forever… that you made it to Atlanta in your first year of SEC play. And they still have never been. And, of course, if they beat you…umm…you’ll hear about it.
This rivalry never died. It just had too much distance. There are UT fans reading this that haven’t been to Kyle Field since 2011. Aggies haven’t been to DKR since 2010? A shame. But it all changes Saturday. The last time this game was played, a little over 88,000 were there. Saturday? I’m expecting that number to go over 110,000. It’s. Gonna. Shake. The coin flip will be electric. And we all might not be ready for that energy right before kick. I could feel it coming at the A&M/Mizzou game in October. I have never had that feeling before about a future game. Somebody send word to Anwar. That press box is on the same side as the students. Hang on tight.
I’m gonna tailgate with my parents, my niece, her fiancé, and a guy that will be in the wedding. We’re all rooting for A&M.
I’ve got a bet with a friend of mine who went to UT. We do it in honor of my grandfather, who had a bet with his doctor on the game every year. They bet $.25. We bet $1.25 back in the day. Starting Saturday, it’s $5.00. It just means more. Greg is rooting for Texas as always.
No matter who wins, Ketch says he wants me to join the OB Live post-game show. That should be fun. GK, Suchomel, Anwar, and every last person on the chat are rooting for Texas.
You know who else might root for Texas? My wife. That’s right. An SFA girl that lives in Elgin and is married to me. All these years of me covering Texas has had an effect. She can root for the Aggies. Just maybe not in this one. She says she may literally need to see the game start before she knows who she’s rooting for. And y’all thought I was weird. We’ll get through it. I’m a Cowboys fan. She loves the Steelers. We’re already a house divided. And that’s what it’s about. Family. Friends. And the state of Texas in all its burnt orange, maroon, Hook ‘Em, Gig ’Em glory.
Some of my favorite people in the world are on one side of this game or the other. I am so happy for all of us that it is back. And to have it back at this level is awesome.
Saturday night kick, 6:30, ABC, and Gameday is in town. Pick your side, pick your colors, and say hello to a long-lost brother.
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