Coaches want Texas-Texas A&M rivalry back

The annual rivalry game between the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies came to a halt in 2011 after being played for more than 100 years, but head coaches Kevin Sumlin and Charlie Strong say that it is time to bring back the in-state rivalry.

The annual in-state rivalry game between the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies dates back over a century. Unfortunately, the yearly Thanksgiving Day tradition came to an end when the Aggies bolted to the SEC in 2012.

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While the battle for the state of Texas has not exactly been a fair fight, the Longhorns lead the series 76-37-5, it has been the biggest college football rivalry in the state for a long time, and that still continues today.

Texas A&M’s decision to leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference was largely due to bitter feelings that arose from the Longhorns receiving their own television network. The SEC was looking to expand their conference to 14 teams, and Texas A&M provided a huge audience and dedicated fan base that the newly created SEC Network needed.

The tables have turned on the two teams since the discontinuation of the annual matchup between them. The yearly powerhouse Texas Longhorns have been in disarray in recent years. Things have become so bad in Austin, TX that they essentially forced longtime coach Mack Brown out the door last offseason. Brown’s replacement, Charlie Strong, had a rough first season, but he does provide a positive outlook for the future.

The Aggies have been surprisingly successful on the other hand, being led by Kevin Sumlin’s high-powered offense. In 2012, Johnny Manziel brought the first Heisman Trophy to Texas A&M since 1957, and the team’s current signal caller Kyle Allen is a promising young player himself.

The head coaches of both teams may be on opposite sides of the rivalry, but they do agree on one thing; it is time to put away the harsh feelings and bring back the annual rivalry game.

"“Can you imagine Florida not playing Florida State or South Carolina not playing Clemson?” Strong told ESPN. “We all love to see those games. Within the state, it would have such a buildup. It’s a game that needs to be played.”"

Sumlin shared similar sentiments, blaming scheduling difficulties as a big reason behind the discontinuation of the annual rivalry game. He also clarified comments he made shortly after he took the Texas A&M job in December of 2011, in which he made it clear that he could not care less about the University of Texas. While Sumlin still may not care about the Longhorns, he believes giving the fans what they want should dictate any future plans of renewing the rivalry

"“It’s not about, ‘Is it important to me?'” Sumlin told ESPN. “It becomes, ‘What’s important to fans and former students and alums of Texas A&M and the University of Texas?’ That’s what matters.”"

Sumlin’s quote perfectly sums up why the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry needs to be brought back. Regardless of any hurt feelings, scheduling conflicts or bureaucratic obstacles, the state of Texas and fans of both universities deserve to witness the return of this historic rivalry.

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