Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp would like to renew UT-A&M rivalry

[Harrison Wier]

Could this be a step towards renewing the Long Star Showdown? Maybe. After Sharp stated several years back that the Aggies had "new friends" in the SEC and weren't worried about playing Texas in the future, he appears to have had a change of heart. In an interview with Texas Monthly, Sharp mentioned the desire to renew one of college football's oldest rivalries. His reasoning? A&M needs a break during the year from a brutal SEC West division. Oh, and the money won't hurt, either. "Can you imagine how much money we could make off that game?" Sharp said in the interview.

Although the rivalry has been gone since 2011, the tensions between players has not subsided. Players from both schools have gotten into spats over the past couple of years, and more often than not, recruits from each school go at each other as well. Tom Herman recently stated at Big 12 Media Days that he saw "no reason why" Texas should not face Texas A&M each and every year. When rivalries are so vital and are something that makes college football so unique, it's hard to disagree with that type of sentiment. 

If both sides of the negotiating table want to renew the rivalry as well as the governor of Texas (someone who could expedite the process of a series renewal), is the rebirth of the Lone Star Showdown coming sooner rather than later? Maybe. There are still plenty of logistics to be worked out - especially scheduling. Both teams have non-conference games scheduled up until as late as 2024. However, those deals can always be moved to later dates or terminated for a certain price. 

The Lone Star Showdown is one step closer to coming back to the state of Texas. It won't happen today or tomorrow, but in my mind, it's coming. And I can't wait. 

 

[doc longhorn]

Playing aggy is all win/win for them and all lose/lose for us.

 

[Harrison Wier]

Playing aggy is all win/win for them and all lose/lose for us.

How so? Not saying you're incorrect, just curious.

 

[texbound]

"His reasoning? A&M needs a break during the year from a brutal SEC West division"

Well that's not even a backhanded compliment. That's just straight up a slap in the face. They need a break so playing UT would be it. The hell with them.

 

[Harrison Wier]

"His reasoning? A&M needs a break during the year from a brutal SEC West division"

Well that's not even a backhanded compliment. That's just straight up a slap in the face. They need a break so playing UT would be it. The hell with them.

I noticed that too. But if I were Herman, that just lights the fire even more. I know he would love to put a beat down on them every year.

 

[Bogey]

Playing Texas every year would definitely upgrade the Aggy SOS. No way would it constitute a break, but rather add a bitter OOC rivalry game to their "brutal" $EC schedule. A rivalry game they can count on losing at least two-thirds of the time based on past performance.

 

[texbound]

I noticed that too. But if I were Herman, that just lights the fire even more. I know he would love to put a beat down on them every year.

Agree that Herman would love giving them a beat down, but I think they have everything to gain and nothing to lose. If UT wins games to go along with their recruiting then UT and Herman will own the state of Texas. ATM will be consistantly in the middle of the pack and have nothing going for them. Sharp sees this and thats why he is open to playing UT again because if they can somehow beat UT then that gives them recruiting points. I just dont see the benefit for UT in this..at least right now. Let them wallow in the depths of mediocrity for awhile then we can throw them a bone.

 

[Harrison Wier]

Agree that Herman would love giving them a beat down, but I think they have everything to gain and nothing to lose. If UT wins games to go along with their recruiting then UT and Herman will own the state of Texas. ATM will be consistantly in the middle of the pack and have nothing going for them. Sharp sees this and thats why he is open to playing UT again because if they can somehow beat UT then that gives them recruiting points. I just dont see the benefit for UT in this..at least right now. Let them wallow in the depths of mediocrity for awhile then we can throw them a bone.

Fair point. It won't happen for a while. But if the money is there, the process can certainly be expedited. These are the 2 richest programs in the country. Money talks. 

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

F@$# aggy

 

[Bear19]

We should simply ignore them now and forever more.

 

[tejasrulz]

How many times do I have to say this, they left so bye. Screw em!

 

[Harrison Wier]

I understand any Texas fans that feel like most of you do. I just would love to see the rivalry rekindled. Growing up, there was no one my parents despised more than Aggies. No one. There was nothing like going to a Lone Star Showdown. It was better than TX-OU, imo. So wanting the rivalry renewed is a bit of a personal bias for me, but I like seeing the other side. I posted this so that I could get Texas fans opinions, so keep 'em coming. Even if you disagree with me. 

 

[primal defense]

It's coming sooner or later. There's too much money not too and that's what college football is really about. It will be interesting to see Tom Herman coach against Chad Morris.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

I understand any Texas fans that feel like most of you do. I just would love to see the rivalry rekindled. Growing up, there was no one my parents despised more than Aggies. No one. There was nothing like going to a Lone Star Showdown. It was better than TX-OU, imo. So wanting the rivalry renewed is a bit of a personal bias for me, but I like seeing the other side. I posted this so that I could get Texas fans opinions, so keep 'em coming. Even if you disagree with me. 

I'm against bringing it back as long as aggy has 4 OOC games to fill versus our 3. We already play enough meaningful games against TX opponents. Why throw aggy a life preserver before their ship sinks?

I'm also against playing them while the mouthy, Chancellor not-so-Sharp is running A&M.

 

[CharcoalPuppy]

This game is going to come back, sooner or later........... A game I would really love to come back every year is the Arkansas game.

 

[oldhorn2]

I understand any Texas fans that feel like most of you do. I just would love to see the rivalry rekindled. Growing up, there was no one my parents despised more than Aggies. No one. There was nothing like going to a Lone Star Showdown. It was better than TX-OU, imo. So wanting the rivalry renewed is a bit of a personal bias for me, but I like seeing the other side. I posted this so that I could get Texas fans opinions, so keep 'em coming. Even if you disagree with me. 

This is just wrong. How anyone could ever think playing aTm was equal or better than the RRS? The game generally meant nothing.The only reason there was any interest in that game at all was to see if Texas lost. If Texas won (which almost always happened) nobody cared. When Texas played OU, titles and championships were on the line. Even the Arkansas game had more importance. Besides....maybe aTm needs the money, Texas doesnt.

 

[Embrey]

From a Texas perspective, if I were to agree to schedule Aggie I would have an ironclad contract that would call for the teams to play annually for 100 straight years. If the Aggos attempt to break the contract after they win one (which is exactly what I think they want to do) it would cost them $25,000,000/year for every year they don't honor their side of the bargain.

I wonder if people actually realize how upset they are that they lost the final game (as favorites) in this series?

 

[Harrison Wier]

This game is going to come back, sooner or later........... A game I would really love to come back every year is the Arkansas game.

That's interesting as well. I wasn't old enough to watch the SWC, but I'm sure some Texas fans would be all for that. 

 

[Harrison Wier]

This is just wrong. How anyone could ever think playing aTm was equal or better than the RRS? The game generally meant nothing.The only reason there was any interest in that game at all was to see if Texas lost. If Texas won (which almost always happened) nobody cared. When Texas played OU, titles and championships were on the line. Even the Arkansas game had more importance. Besides....maybe aTm needs the money, Texas doesnt.

A&M is currently the most profitable athletic department in the country. Beat Texas out for the No. 1 spot. Again on the LSS, that is just a personal preference. I loved going to the RRS. I never missed a game as an undergrad. That's certainly one game I'm going to miss being able to go to.