Tradition is one of the main draws when it comes to college sports. Traditional opponents allow us time to develop a dislike for them which only heightens the build up leading to kickoff. It's traditions like Midnight Yell practice, the Bonfire (which has continued, but isn't school sanctioned anymore), and the Hex Rally that fans before us and after us will enjoy and look forward to.
Those are not just the things that bind us to a school and its football team. They, like the game, bind us to something much more important--each other. They give us a common cause; a purpose for gathering and a reason for getting together with friends both new and old at least once every year.
Because you can't miss the rivalry game.
We'll eventually find something else that will accomplish the same thing. Texas believes it already has with the renewal of an old rivalry with another Texas team, the TCU Horned Frogs. One of the Longhorns, defensive end Alex Okafor, was so confident/arrogant that the Aggies were getting the short end of the stick in the break up that he tweeted the following:
Texas DE Alex Okafor: "I feel sorry for A&M. We still have a big-time game on Thanksgiving. They're missing out."Someone should have warned him about what happens when you talk trash that you can't back up (TCU beat Texas 20-13 on Thanksgiving).
Another Longhorn had her own way of saying see you later. I have to giver her a little credit for her effort. It was creative, used a current hip/trendy song, and overall was not that bad (okay it was good; although they could have done a better job with the sound).
I've yet to hear any similar comments coming from any of the Aggies football players. That could be because they have been pretty busy playing on national television most weekends like when they defeated the No. 1 team in the nation and vaulted their freshman quarterback into the forefront of the Heisman race.
Oh--and the Aggies have inspired people to create as well:
As great as the success has been for the Aggies this season, the loss of the Texas game could cost them (as it could the Longhorns as well).
Voters pay attention to the big games. They want to see who is going to persevere who is going to play like they should, who's going to play better than ever, who's going to come through in the clutch, and also who is going to crash and burn--all things that an intense rivalry like Texas/Texas A&M has always been good for.
Take a look through history and you'll see countless times where the higher ranked team was upset. That of course means that the underdog played above and beyond exoectations--all things that voters love.
At the same time there have been plenty where the higher ranked team won, and effectively became higher ranked.
The point is this: should Texas win (which in this case would be a clear upset) they would have likely jumped into the top 10 and could even go to a BCS bowl (instead they lose and could possibly drop out of the top 25). Should the Aggies win they could climb as high as No. 5 or 6 and virtually lock up a BCS bowl.
A big win like that would also have done wonders for the Heisman campaign of young Johnny Manziel.
But no. The heads of both universities had to screw this one up; well over 100 years of tradition disregarded and disrespected. While I'm all for watching the Aggies beat up Missouri, watching them do the same to the tsips would have been even better.
Oh well; like I side earlier--I'll get over it (as will we all). This weekend though I'm still going to miss it.
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