Tag: Lone Star Showdown

‘You put a ball down and I’ll play anyone’: Texas A&M HC Mike Elko comments on Longhorns matchup

“Just put a ball down somewhere, and we’ll be there, and we’ll play. You put a ball down, and I’ll play anyone,” Elko said about the idea.

Each year, Thanksgiving is a day that we spend with our loved ones to give thanks, eat good food and watch football.

Traditionally, the November holiday has been dominated by the NFL broadcasting three games throughout the day with two respectively always featuring the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions.

The Lone Star Showdown between Texas A&M and the University of Texas returns later this year. Longhorns athletic director Chris Del Conte recently said he wants the annual football game to be played on Thanksgiving.

Following Del Conte’s comments, Aggies coach Mike Elko was asked about when he’d like to play the rivalry matchup.

“Just put a ball down somewhere, we’ll be there and we’ll play,” Elko said. “You put a ball down and I’ll play anyone. You put a ball down against them and we’ll be there.”

After all the talk-back and forth on social media between fan bases, regardless of when it’s played, the Lone Star Showdown can’t return soon enough.

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Texas AD sparks debate over when Texas A&M game should be played

What day should Texas vs Texas A&M be played?

The Lone Star Showdown is back. The return of the rivalry sparked a debate over what day of Thanksgiving week the game between the Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies should be played.

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte has a day in mind. According to Del Conte, the ideal plan involves the two teams playing on Thanksgiving Day.

The Longhorns and Aggies have played on Thanksgiving before. From 2008 to 2011, the two teams followed the Dallas Cowboys’ annual Thanksgiving afternoon game with a primetime matchup. The custom was to play on Thanksgiving prior to 1994 as well. Even so, there is still some debate as to whether or not the two teams should play then moving forward.

The SEC’s featured Thanksgiving game is the Egg Bowl between Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The two teams were the only college squads to play then last season.

If that is day reserved, the Lone Star Showdown could take place on the Friday after Thanksgiving where the Longhorns have played in recent seasons. For now, they will play on Saturday.

The Longhorns and Aggies will resume their rivalry Saturday, Nov. 30 in College Station at Kyle Field.

Greg McElroy eviscerates Aggies over rivalry feud with Longhorns

Greg McElroy calls out Texas A&M for “inferiority complex” in schedule dispute with Texas.

The rest of the college football world is catching up to Texas A&M’s antics in regard to the Texas Longhorns joining the Southeastern Conference. Several national sports analysts are weighing in on the Aggies’ reluctance to accept their former rivals into the league.

Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy isn’t impressed with Texas A&M’s temperament in its scheduling dispute with Texas. He said the following of the Longhorns’ Lone Star Showdown rivals.

“Stop playing this inferiority complex. Stop. Here’s what I would say if I were Texas A&M: I would say anytime, any place, anywhere we’ll play the Longhorns, we’re just glad to have the rivalry back. And we’ll stomp on them when we get our opportunity.”

For a school that has an entire song dedicated to “sawing varsity’s horns off” one would think they would relish the opportunity to face the Longhorns on the football field.

Given the direction of both programs, it’s doubtful that Texas A&M would “stomp on” Texas with its on-field play. We’ll soon have a better idea of the tone of the rivalry if it renews in the 2024 season.

Paul Finebaum, Billy Liucci discuss reestablished rivalry between Texas A&M and Texas

Paul Finebaum and TexAgs executive editor Billy Liucci made waves this week while discussing the renewal of the Lone Star Showdown in 2024.

The Texas Longhorns that we all love to hate are finally making their way to the SEC alongside Oklahoma in 2024, meaning that the Lone Star Showdown between Texas and Texas A&M is poised to resume for the first time since 2011. Great news all around.

Well, after TexAgs co-owner and executive editor Billy Liucci made his way to the Paul Finebaum show on Wednesday to discuss the reestablished rivalry, the issue regarding who will host the first matchup, which Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork made clear would take place in College Station, took over the conversation from the onset.

“Ross has drawn his line in the sand that the first game is going to be played right here accross the street at Kyle Field. Chris Del Conte acts like he’s not aware of that at all”

Strictly based on what SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey stated during the SEC Spring Meetings last week, the symbolic “line in the sand” that Liucci referenced comes from the top, making Ross Bjork a simple messenger among the chaos. Finebaum later asked if the reason for the decision had to do with Aggie fans’ belief that the rivalry would permanently cease to resume after the 2011 season; Liucci responded,

“It’s almost like, hey, you owe us one after all that. And I dont think the SEC would think of it that way… but it sure seems to me that the A&M Athletic Director (Ross Bjork) has been led to believe, or even told that first game is going to be there”

Think what you’d like about the decision. Still, in the end, this is essentially a “welcome to the NFL” moment for Texas, who, after years of facing porous defenses and losing to Kansas in semi-annual fashion, will now enter an SEC gauntlet that will chew you up and spit you out week to week (See Texas A&M’s 2022 season for reference).

The bottom line, resuming this historic rivalry only makes college football better. Hopefully, a new generation of Aggie and Longhorns fans can experience the joys of watching the Lone Star Showdown live on for years to come.

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The Athletic discusses when Texas and Texas A&M could play next

A&M AD Ross Bjork would like to see the Lone Star Showdown in Week 0.

The Longhorns and Aggies are likely to meet early and often in the new-and-improved SEC conference. Sam Khan of The Athletic discussed when the matchup could next take place. Thanksgiving could come early for Texas fans.

The two teams are likely to participate in a format that gives everyone three annual rivals. If Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork gets his way, the two teams could meet in Week 0 to renew the rivalry.

Bjork had the following to say about playing the Longhorns in Week 0.

Honestly, I mean, that would be a magical weekend to kick it off that way.

While it isn’t the preferred choice of most Texas fans, Bjork is right. Opening the season with all eyes on the Lone Star Showdown could shatter every Week 0 ratings record.

Texas fans have been robbed of the Thanksgiving family feuds that Auburn and Alabama fans enjoy annually. It makes sense to renew the rivalry on Thanksgiving Day. That said, we can all agree we have waited long enough to watch the game.

There are worse ideas than starting the Texas football season a week early and opening with the Aggies. The next matchup cannot come soon enough.

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Texas A&M fans still not happy with Oklahoma, Texas joining the SEC

Despite hauling in the top recruiting class in modern history, the Aggies are uneasy about sharing a conference with Texas.

The Aggies are once again displaying some of their message board genius. One Texas A&M fan has had enough of being in Texas’ shadow and wants no part of the Longhorns in the SEC.

The fan had this to say about the Longhorns’ preferential treatment: “I don’t like where any of this is going, and about had my fill of the SEC treatment of A&M. We really showed DeLoss and TU. Oh wait, now here they come.”

I’m not sure what Tulsa has to do with the Texas and A&M feud, but once again we have a T.U. sighting in an Aggie rant.

The A&M fan continues, “For a nickel I’d call TU and OU and say let’s rethink all this. This tractor pull conference is not who we are. We are never going to be represented in the SEC, and mark my words, when TU joins the conference, it will get worse…”

 

 

 

Despite hauling in eight five-star recruits and the top recruiting class in modern history, the Aggies are still uneasy about sharing a conference with their longtime rival, Texas. They won’t keep the Sooners and Longhorns from the SEC, but you can’t fault them for trying.

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Texas expected to play both Oklahoma and Texas A&M every season in the SEC

According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, Texas will play both Oklahoma and Texas A&M every year. The Sooners and Aggies should go back to facing off annually as well.

If you’ve been taking a 10-year nap, congrats, nothing has changed. To the rest of us, welcome back to the way things are meant to be.

When Texas A&M left for the SEC in 2012, a major void was left on the back end of Texas’ schedule. There was no Thanksgiving Day game, rivalry, or excitement. College football in the state felt different.

With the news of the Longhorns heading to the SEC, it seems as if the annual Lone Star Showdown is going to be back on.

According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, Texas will play both Oklahoma and Texas A&M every year. The Sooners and Aggies should go back to facing off annually as well.

For Texas-Oklahoma, nothing is going to change. The smell of fried food at The State Fair of Texas will surround a Cotton Bowl split 50/50 of burnt orange and crimson. Nothing like it in college football.

As with everything surrounding the in-state rivalry, there should be some argument as to which school gets to host the rebirth. Texas A&M famously hosted the 2011 matchup, sending it into the sunset. Or so we thought.

No matter your opinion of the move to the SEC, Texas and Texas A&M are meant to play each other. Getting them and Oklahoma on the calendar every year is a major scheduling boost for Chris Del Conte.

In-state rivals agree to play on Thanksgiving night

With the Thanksgiving night slot open, another intrastate rivalry has taken precedent. MSU and Ole Miss have agreed to play on Turkey Day.

Outside of turkey, football is the best thing about Thanksgiving. You show up at a relative’s house and make small talk before focusing on the NFL’s three matchups of the day. The Cowboys lose in hideous fashion… it’s a great holiday.

In the state of Texas, a bitter in-state rivalry that split households into two corners once dominated Thanksgiving night before — and after — the NFL added a prime-time game in 2006. Texas and Texas A&M finished their regular seasons with the most anticipated game of the year.

When Texas A&M left for the SEC after the 2011 season (thank you Justin Tucker), Thanksgiving night became boring. Texas has begun to play random opponents on the Friday after, while the Aggies try to force a hatred between them and LSU.

Since then, both schools have struggled on Thanksgiving weekend. Texas has a 3-6 record against various opponents, while Texas A&M is 2-7 vs LSU.

With the time slot open, another heated in-state rivalry has taken center stage.

Mississippi State and Ole Miss compete for the Golden Egg Trophy every season. Outside of the Iron Bowl, the Egg Bowl is the most heated rivalry within the SEC.

On Thursday, the conference announced the annual matchup will once again take place on Thanksgiving night. Mississippi State will host the game this season, while Oxford will get its opportunity in 2021.

The Egg Bowl has taken place on Thanksgiving night 23 times in its history, most recently in 2019. Entertaining would be one way to describe the rivalry, both on and off the field.

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The offseason is fully upon us with spring ball over. Of course, discussion of the Texas vs Texas A&M rivalry is going to come up. Recruiting is where the two schools battle these days, but a return to the football field is needed.

Steve Sarkisian was asked about the Aggies during his introductory press conference back in January.

Chris Del Conte and Ross Bjork: Please cancel your FCS (A&M) and Group of Five matchups. We want our Thanksgiving nights back.

WATCH: Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman claims Texas is their main rival

According to Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman, the Texas Longhorns are their main rival. A team they have played five times since 2000.

Rivalries are one of the biggest draws to the game of college football, and the Texas Longhorns are at the forefront of minds of many.

Schools within the state of Texas look to the Longhorns as their rivals. One of the greatest of those rivalries involved Texas and Texas A&M. However, that fierce hatred died on the football field in 2011. They are still rivals off the field, but it isn’t one that we have seen on the gridiron in a decade.

The Longhorns current most hated rival is the Oklahoma Sooners. They have been in a border war since 1900. They settle it every year in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl on the Texas state fairgrounds. A must-see game each and every year despite how each team is playing. The fans, the teams and the schools have a genuine hatred for each other.

Other schools such as Texas Tech, Texas Christian and Baylor probably feel like the Longhorns are their rivals at times. It boils down to how those fans feel. According to Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman, their fans lead him to believe that Texas is their biggest rivals.

Arkansas joined the Southwest Conference in 1915 and were conference rivals of the Longhorns from 1915-1991. The Razorbacks joined the Southeastern Conference in 1992, they have remained in that conference ever since. These two teams have met just five times since that day. Coach Pittman mentioned Texas ahead of the Aggies, which is quite comical considering they play Texas A&M every year.

It seems that quite a few schools view the Longhorns as their main rivals.

When you have a team in the spotlight every week regardless on if it is deserved, everyone wants to line up and take it from you.

Watch: Texas head coach Tom Herman talks about bringing the A&M game back

Texas Longhorns head coach Tom Herman spoke with Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt about bringing back the Lone Star Showdown with Texas A&M.

Every offseason it seems like the same arguments around the water cooler. Should they bring the Texas-Texas A&M Lone Star Showdown back? Could they bring it back? Well if you ask Texas head coach Tom Herman the answer is really simple. Yes they should bring it back. As a former graduate assistant in 1999-2000, Herman understands the importance of the game. He spoke with Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt about the game.

“I have no idea how closer we are,” Herman continues “I wish were much closer. Again those decisions were made outside of my scope of influence sometimes. It just makes sense to me, you’re right. I have been on record of saying if Clemson and South Carolina can figure it out every year. Georgia-Georgia Tech. Iowa-Iowa State. Florida-Florida State, where do you want me to stop? These in-state rivalries that are hundreds of years old, these schools are in different conferences. That’s okay. Let’s figure it out.”

“I would much rather play Texas A&M, home and home every other year. Have my one non-conference road game be an hour and a half bus trip east rather than getting on a plane and going to Los Angeles. For a night game to play USC or going to Columbus, Ohio or Gainesville, Florida.”

“It just makes too much sense. I hope at some point in the very near future these decision makers can see that, put their egos aside. Bring one of, if not the greatest rivalries in college football back. (Bring it back) to everybody’s living room and more importantly to Austin and College Station.”