November 25, 2011
Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggie's Epic Rivalry
Texas A&M is a 7 point favorite on the spread for this last epic game against the Texas Longhorns. It will mark the end of a century long rivalry and evidence the importance of the financial aspect in a league that still considers itself amateur. .
By Stephen Lars
Football in the state of Texas is a little more than just a game played by young men on Saturdays and Sundays. It's part of what makes Texas such an unique state. Be it with schools across the border or schools from the same state, it's rivalries are epic. And few rivalries are as meaningful and as old as the one the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies hold against each others. For 117 years, this two schools have played each other in football. For the better part of the history of the sport, this rivalry has not only stand but has also witnessed how the game has evolved and work its pathway to become the most popular sports in the USA.
But just the story has been filled with pages and pages of tradition and victories and upsets, so has the this wonderful rivalry come to an end.
But just the story has been filled with pages and pages of tradition and victories and upsets, so has the this wonderful rivalry come to an end. When the Aggies and the Longhorns jump out to the field on Thanksgiving day, and play the beautiful game of football, one team will lose and one team will win: but fans across the nation will also experience how such a brilliant rivalry comes to an end. For more than a century, both schools have known that this yearly game is just more than just a game. It's in the spirit of the alma matter: Longhorns will be Longhorn; Aggies will be Aggies but the tradition keeps it hold. Now it has all come down to a decision, a business decision that is taking the place of tradition and as the Texas A&M Aggies move to the Southeastern Conference at the end of this season, we come to see the end of this 117 year-old tradition.
Many will argue that they can come together again, that this is not the death of the Rivalry. Some may compare it to a divorce, which certainly is far less definitive than death. Then again, should they comeback, should the future put them together in the same conference (and considering the overall turmoil that has been generated this season with the realignment of major programs, this possibility shouldn't be overruled) it's not going to be the same. Something of the spell, of the integrity of the Rivalry would be broken. The Aggies and the Longhorns have been playing since the game was split in two separate 35-minute halves. The Aggies and the Longhorns have been playing since the field goal was worth 5-points and long before the NCAA was ever conceived. That's what's been mess around with.
At the end of the road, the Longhorns kept on bringing each and every coin of gold to itself. It was not only a bigger, older brother, it was a mean brother too. The Aggies left because they wanted to secure their financial success at a conference where they had the respect and the camaraderie that the Longhorns usurped at the Big 12. At the end, and because neither side was willing to back up an inch from where they stand, a Rivalry has been torn. Try not to miss this game. It should live up to the 117 years of football it recalls.
Stephen Lars is a prominent sports blogger and currently covers the Sports news, previews and handicaps for the BetIAS Sportsbook. You may reprint this article in its full content, please note no modifications to it are accepted.