NASHVILLE, TN -
Texas A&M coaches and players say they are ready to once again do battle the Texas Longhorns.
Aggie head coach Jimbo Fisher thinks the game next year is going to be "great."
“I think it’s great,” Fisher said. “I think it’s great for college football. I think it’s great for Texas and Texas A&M. Anytime the old rivalries are renewed.
“I’ve been in a lot of rivalries, been fortunate to be in college football for a long time and be in some of the great rivalries in college football, and this one — A&M and Texas — definitely is a great rivalry. I think it’s great for us, it’s great for them and it’s great for college football in general. I’m very excited for it to happen.”
But two of the three A&M players on hand grew up out of state and still haven’t experienced what it’s like when the Longhorns and Aggies go at it.
“I’m not from Texas but I kind of understand the rivalry and the hate that we have for each other,” said senior defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson. “It’s going to be a great game. It’s going to be a surreal moment.”
Fadill Diggs, the junior defensive lineman from East Camden, New Jersey, echoed those thoughts.
“I understand it’s a big deal,” said Diggs. But he doesn’t think it’s going to be any bigger than the other games. “How I look at it, it’s just another game. It’s a game we’re looking forward to winning.”
One Aggie player has seen the rivalry up close and personal.
“I was actually at the last game that they played,” said wide receiver Ainias Smith.
Smith was on hand for the game because his older brother, Maurice Smith, was a coveted recruit at the time.
“It’s still going on today, the Texas versus Texas A&M thing,” Smith said. “So I know it’s going to be huge. So what I have to say about it, a big Horns down.”
But when I asked Smith what he remembered about that game, his recollection of details was a little fuzzy.
“Well, what I remember was A&M won the game,” said Smith.
When I corrected him he just kind of shrugged his shoulders and added, “Oh well.”
Texas A&M coaches and players say they are ready to once again do battle the Texas Longhorns.
Aggie head coach Jimbo Fisher thinks the game next year is going to be "great."
“I think it’s great,” Fisher said. “I think it’s great for college football. I think it’s great for Texas and Texas A&M. Anytime the old rivalries are renewed.
“I’ve been in a lot of rivalries, been fortunate to be in college football for a long time and be in some of the great rivalries in college football, and this one — A&M and Texas — definitely is a great rivalry. I think it’s great for us, it’s great for them and it’s great for college football in general. I’m very excited for it to happen.”
But two of the three A&M players on hand grew up out of state and still haven’t experienced what it’s like when the Longhorns and Aggies go at it.
“I’m not from Texas but I kind of understand the rivalry and the hate that we have for each other,” said senior defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson. “It’s going to be a great game. It’s going to be a surreal moment.”
Fadill Diggs, the junior defensive lineman from East Camden, New Jersey, echoed those thoughts.
“I understand it’s a big deal,” said Diggs. But he doesn’t think it’s going to be any bigger than the other games. “How I look at it, it’s just another game. It’s a game we’re looking forward to winning.”
One Aggie player has seen the rivalry up close and personal.
“I was actually at the last game that they played,” said wide receiver Ainias Smith.
Smith was on hand for the game because his older brother, Maurice Smith, was a coveted recruit at the time.
“It’s still going on today, the Texas versus Texas A&M thing,” Smith said. “So I know it’s going to be huge. So what I have to say about it, a big Horns down.”
But when I asked Smith what he remembered about that game, his recollection of details was a little fuzzy.
“Well, what I remember was A&M won the game,” said Smith.
When I corrected him he just kind of shrugged his shoulders and added, “Oh well.”
