Longhorns Update: Goodbye, Aggies

There was a college football game yesterday in College Station, one of great social implications if you live in the state of Texas. Actually, there were two games being played. For those who may have missed the excitement, here are the scores of the games:

Texas 27, Texas A&M 25

Big Money In College Football 1, College Football Fans 0

There was plenty of action on the field, as there always is during the Lone Star Showdown. But what is most important in all of this is the latter score: how money won out and a 118 year-old rivalry lost. It is a sad day in college sports – the football fan and the student athlete both lost today.

First of all, the action on the field. Frankly, it was a lousy game. Sure, it had it’s share of drama. The Aggies stormed out to a 13 – 0 lead. At halftime, it was 13 – 7. The Aggie band took to the field and sawed off Bevo’s horns. The Longhorn band thanked A&M for the memories.

Then, the Aggies folded. Again. A 13 point lead went by the wayside. The third quarter was all Texas, with 17 points to make the game 24 – 13. But the fourth quarter was all A&M, with Ryan Tannehill’s pass to Jeff Fuller tying the game with 1:48 to go.

The game was chock-full of penalties (20 for 187 yards), poor coaching decisions, and confusion (Ash or McCoy, Ash or McCoy, someone make the call please). The Longhorn defense was stellar and managed three interceptions, one for a touchdown. The Longhorn offense didn’t exist – 12 first downs to the Aggies’ 22, 237 total yards to the Aggies’ 328 total yards. But even with all of that, it was another epic struggle between schools that are just 105 miles apart.

Then there was The Scramble. Case McCoy, looking much like his older brother, tucked the ball away and ran for 25 yards. With 0:00 on the clock, Justin Tucker put a legendary 40 yard field goal through the uprights, and Texas gained bragging rights for another year. Sorry, make that for eternity. It was hard to believe that with that final kick, the saga of this rivalry was officially over – for now.

Then there was the other game. You know, the one between Big Money In College Football and College Football Fans.

As much as Aggies hate Longhorns, and Longhorns despise Aggies, there is something inherently wrong with a 118 year-old rivalry being sent packing. This is about far more than sentimentality. Having lived in Texas for 21 years, and being able to proudly claim having watched this game each and every one of those years, it is not hard to see that it is about more than just football. It is about more than just high school recruiting, or about fight songs or Bevo or the 12th Man. This game is about Texas culture. It’s not the Alamo by any stretch, but it goes to the core of Texas society and history.

Sadly, the money won out. Between conference re-alignment and the Longhorn Network, there was a lot of money being thrown around, a lot of hurt egos and pride, and too little appreciation of the big picture. There were many groups left behind in the decision. The college football fans that pay a lot of money to go to games like this certainly didn’t have a say in it. The high school player that grows up in West Texas and dreams of a day when he might get to step onto the field to play in this rivalry game didn’t have much of a say in it. “Friday Night Lights” is a reality in this state, not just a movie.

Much as it is in many relationships, the sum total is far bigger than each of the parts on their own.

I am sad to see it all end. I don’t think it is overly dramatic to say that college football may never be the same here. Long live the Lone Star Showdown – we’ll all be sad to see you go.

Photo credits: abesselink