Amusing Texas/TAMU article from CFN.com

[haven]

http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2002/Ask_CFN/Ask_CFN.htm

Last week you answered the Michigan, MSU, and OSU dilemma (as far as who's Michigan's biggest rival.) This week I was wondering who's Texas' biggest rival is. Is the Thanksgiving weekend rivalry with Texas A&M a bigger game than the Red River Classic with OU? Obviously the OU game is of more importance because it has a bigger roll in the Fiesta Bowl, but the A&M and UT game has us folks in Texas divided in half during the turkey weekend. In your opinion, who is Texas' biggest rival? - Seth

A: Who better to go to than the die-hard fans themselves? I always assumed, if this makes any sense, that A&M is the bigger rival for Texas while Oklahoma is the bigger game. I asked three die-hard Longhorn fans about this and they all said they'd rather beat A&M. From my man Texas Trey over at Fox Sports, he gave this response (keep in mind this isn't from me Aggie and Sooner fans. This is long, but it's an outstanding insight into the mindset of a rivalry)...

From Trey at www.foxsports.com: That's a good question about the rivalries. I think you'd find that different Texas Exes have different opinions. There's a lot of hatred for both the Aggies and the Sooners for different reasons.

Oklahoma has been a been a bigger rival as far as both battling for national titles during the game's history. in the 60's and 70's especially. They've met as No. 1 & No. 2 a couple of times and Texas and OU have also often met when they were both in the Top 10. And of course there are the recent classics.

Plus there's the whole "our state's better than yours" thing going on. (I never understood how anyone who's even been IN Oklahoma could think it's better than any state other than Arkansas). (Fiu Note: You've never driven through South Dakota.) Also, Darrell Royal went to Oklahoma and really wanted to beat them. He and Switzer hated each other... still do!

We can't forget, it's a neutral site game.. so that plays a huge part. The atmosphere in Dallas is amazing. You can't beat the tension at the Fair Grounds on game day as everyone stands in line silently together waiting for turkey legs and corn dogs before kickoff just staring at each other. Just staring! There used to be rallies the night before in downtown Dallas, but when people started getting KILLED, that stopped. If you lose, you better get the heck out of there quickly!

The A&M rivalry is more about social differences. They were farmers who went to a make-believe military school. Texas is more white collar because throughout history, it was clearly the better academic school. A&M basically HAD to let the farm kids in so they had to lower standards (A&M is MUCH better now, but still lags a tad behind). Texas is city kids, A&M is country kids.

Aggies are brainwashed in "fish camp" which is the first thing they do upon setting foot on campus. (and believe me.. it's not just Longhorns that think that) They have "traditions" like - if their mascot reveille jumps onto your bed, you have to sleep on the floor because the top ranking member of the corps gets the bed for the night and that top ranking member is THEIR DOG! (who would put a dog in charge?) You can't walk on the grass on their campus unless you're an Aggie. Things like drawing a sword on a cheerleader that dared to step onto Kyle Field (that was against SMU) it's hard for Longhorns, and anyone who went to any other school in Texas like Tech, Baylor, SMU, Rice or TCU to understand. They all hate Aggies because they're like a cult. Everyone from Texas tells Aggie jokes and most of the best I've heard were from non-Longhorns. The Aggies are also ultra conservative. Austin is a liberal town so it's a total clash of culture and mindsets The Aggies have total envy of Texas' success. Read the words of the Aggies War Hymn. It's all about Texas. Not just in the chorus.

Hullabaloo, Caneck, Caneck
Hullabaloo, Caneck, Caneck
Good bye to Texas university
So long to the orange and the white
Good luck to dear old Texas Aggies
They are the boys who show the real old fight
'the eyes of Texas are upon you'
That is the song they sing so well
Sounds Like Hell
So good bye to Texas university
We're gonna beat you all to Chigaroogarem
Chigaroogarem
Rough, Tough, Real stuff, Texas A&M
Saw varsity's horns off
Saw varsity's horns off
Saw varsity's horns off
Short! A!
Varsity's horns are sawed off
Varsity's horns are sawed off
Varsity's horns are sawed off
Short! A!

Once you get past the non-sensible words, there are some real emotional problems going on there. By the way, "varsity" was the previous name of the UT mascot (it was later changed to Bevo). In the old days the A&M boys stole Varsity and literally sawed his horns off and returned the animal. Texas has dominated the history.. but the 80's and much of the 90's were theirs. Thanksgiving does play into it, but to be honest, not as much as Dallas plays apart of the OU game. Most of all though, we all live in the same state.. so we're around each other more.

One thing that helps Longhorn fans is the games are close to two months apart. OU happening in early October and Aggies on Thanksgiving breaks them up and let's Texas fans focus on each one separately. Personally.. and I'm not alone.. I think Aggies are possessed by the devil and it has somehow made them a lower life-form. That's why I'd say for "most" Longhorns.. the Aggies are the bigger rival.

Is that really their school song? I've never really payed attention when someone was singing it before. If so, someone needs to change the damned thing. That's the biggest public sign of an inferiority complex I've ever seen... :eek:
:eek: :eek:

[Lynus302]

Originally posted by haven
Is that really their school song? I've never really payed attention when someone was singing it before. If so, someone needs to change the damned thing. That's the biggest public sign of an inferiority complex I've ever seen... :eek:
:eek: :eek:
Yup, that's really their school song. Jim Rome had a hilarious bit about A&M and how their whole identity is defined by UT. Someone posted the article awhile back....do a search and it should pop up.

I dated an Aggie or two in my day, so while I'm not an Aggie I'm certainly familiar with them....I'll admit I'm impressed by the traditions of A&M just because I'm like that, but "fanatical" is too kind of a word to describe Texas Aggies. And the fanaticism NEVER stops, no matter how old you are and how long its been since you were in school. One of my profs in college was a Texas native and she never set foot in Austin until she was 30-something because her dad was an Aggie and he hated UT so much. True story.

Longhorns love to hate A&M as well, but they tend to just roll their eyes at A&M over their fanaticism, which just irritates Aggies that much more, which make the whole thing that much funnier.

[giddyup]

I went to A&M for two years out of high school. My dad went to UT but his preference was for A&M. As Lynus said, they have some awesome traditions: Silver Taps for instance.

At Silver Taps they honor current Aggie students or noted alumni who have died recently with a military processional down the center quad of campus at Midnight (?). Kids come spilling out of their dorms to line the center walkway as the Honor Guard marches down that walkway. At the conclusion of the march, Taps is played.

In early October of my freshman year, my Freshman Orientation roomate was killed in an auto accident and was included in one of the Silver Taps observances. Powerful. You'll never forget that feeling.

I have 3 nephews at A&M now. Grandfathers on both sides of their family went to UT, but they have managed to be Aggies.

[haven]

Errr... glad you like tamu so much... but... what's the point :confused: ?

[giddyup]

Originally posted by haven
Errr... glad you like tamu so much... but... what's the point :confused: ?
Isn't this the "All Things TAMU" thread? What's the big deal?

There wasn't much to say otherwise; I'm not going to jump on your bandwagon making fun of A&M.

[arkoe]

I'm going to A&M next year. I don't think I totally understood what I was getting myself into when I made that decision.

[jlaw718]

Like many others, I have alot of friends who went to A&M. Some of my closest law school friends are Aggies.

I considered TAMU after high school, but it just wasn't for me. I grew up in a very conservative household, so I thought I might fit in.

However, my leanings grew progressively more libertarian and I made the decision to go elsewhere. It was a good decision for me.

[guest]

i currently go to UT and have made some observations regarding aggies over the past couple of years. obviously i also have alot of friends who go to A&M. when we all come back into town, without any provocation i start getting asked questions from the A&M friends like "how the hell can you go to where you can be proud of nothing" and " You gotta bunch of hippies runnin around dont you"

i mean out of no where these type of questions are asked. I never provoked any of them. We arent even talking about school. I just kind of ignore the question, and they keep pressing me for an answer. So i give them some half answer like "at least we dont get credit hours for learning to milk a cow" and other b.s.

This past summer taking classes at UH, there are a bunch of UT, A&M taking classes along side each other. We students start talking during break and the conversation gets into where we go to school. I say "I go to UT" and they are automatically like "Oh you bunch of tea sips" Once again without any provocation. Mind you i dont start out by calling them "cow tips" or anything like that. I just kinda ignore it and so do the other Texas students in the class. Later I hear some of the A&M people still making jokes about UT and still obsessing on the fact there are UT people in the class.

But what i dont get is their inherent inferiority complex.It seems as if thats all those people do down there is just talk trash about UT. Whats worse is their team isnt even that good.

Back when I'm at UT i dont hear other students talking about how bad A&M sucks, only except when we are playing them. I've even seen some cars around campus with TAMU stickers on them.

Just my observations.
;)

[Rocketman95]

They were farmers who went to a make-believe military school.

Hilarious.

[Rocket River]

Going to TAMU as a minority is a TOTALLY difference experience.

I've heard the racism at UT is about the same though . . just in a
different form.

Rocket River
:(

[Baqui99]

Very amusing article, which brings us back to this:

Link to funny Aggie pics (http://bbs.clutchcity.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35832)

[junglerules]

When i was REALLY young, i hated both UT and A&M pretty equally. I think it was just because teachers in elementary school or friends or whatever seemed to be pretty obnoxious about professing their faith to their school while denouncing all others. Annoying stuff.

However, by the time I got to my junior and senior year of high school, i realized that UT was the school that was going to align much better with my mindset and just my easy-going, big city enjoying lifestyle. PLUS, i was looking for a school with good football, baseball, and basketball programs, cuz i'm such a sports addict. THough i was admitted to both syracuse and U. of Michigan, the cost was pretty damn outrageous, so i ended up at Texas.

So, now being a UT graduate, I'm glad i made that choice. Most of my aggie friends, or people i know who went to A&M, are pretty fanatical and irrational. Then again, they were on the verge of that in high school anyway, so it's not like A&M totally did that to them. I think staring at too many cows and dictator collies didn't help, though. And as far as sports go? Well, Texas now has one national championship this year with a distinct possibilty for one in football and basketball, too. A&M has.....RC Slocum. Sounds fair to me....:)

OU SUCKS
A&M is a gimme game

[Smokey]

Have you seen those "saw em off" stickers?

I'd never ever put the logo (even if its deformed) of a rival school on my car.

It ranks right up there with Calvin taking a whiz on the steer head.

Only the real old Aggies and real young Aggies hate us. It all revolves around their football team which was no offense to Bear fans, Baylor pathetic during much of the 20th century until the mid 80's. In fact the Bears used to knock the Aggies around similar to what Tech does now. The guys who went to anm in the late 80, early 90's don't hate as much cause the football was pretty dominant in the SWC. The newer Ags hate us again cause their football team is in mediocrity and with Mack Brown in Austin and Bob Stoops in Norman, the Ags will always finish no higher than 3rd in the Big 12 South. Now they just fight with Tech fans to see who is the 3rd best team in Texas.

[Baqui99]

Ripped this one from the hornfans.com classic posts section. Enjoy

Ain't much has changed in Lubbick sense the last time we got dooky stomped by the Red Rayders. Same thang ever time we go out there. The Fighting Texas Aggie Football Team gets a wippin on the field and the 12th Man gets a wippin in the stands. How ever I must say this is the first time The Spider ever done had a goal post rammed up his tailpipe.
I was jess a standin there doin my hand jesters and practicin my post game yells then all the sudden hear come this goal post outta nowheres. Like any good Aggie that sees a long lean objeck comin at um I turned my back and bent over.... Thunk!!!
It was a little more than The Spider could handle. I was a lifted airborn and my legs was a kickin and my arms was a flailin. Don't tell no one but I caught Mr. Mackinny upside the eyeball with my flailin Spider arm. I aint never hit no one so hard in my life, but I aint never been a human mannakin either. It was all adrenalin.

Any ways, I was finnaly lowered enuff and a four or five good Ag fellas grabbed my arms and yanked me from the death rod. It sounded like a cork pulled from a wine bottle and both my sholders was pulled outta socket, but I stayed there and finished my yells before I let um take me to the hospital. The Doc says my shoulders would get better with time, but he says my dooky hole won't never be the same. It just kinda flaps open and shut now soes I decided to name it the Swingin Gate after one a my favert Aggie plays. Spider allways finds the positives in everthang.

And aktually it was kinda good that the 12th Man got our butts kicked cuzz it takes the attention away from our football team gettin there butts kicked. We really caint complane about the offishiatin this year soes its good that Tech gave us sumpin else to complane about.

Beat the hell outta uo!!!

Gig'em


"I know that people will say that we must win a bowl game and I agree. I would also add that we have been close to winning several of those bowls. We have not been as far away as some might think."
RC Slocum

[Rocket River]

Texas A&M Sports
RC SLocum - should have been gone
kept
TONY BARONE around way too long

Rocket River

[DCkid]

Originally posted by arkoe
I'm going to A&M next year. I don't think I totally understood what I was getting myself into when I made that decision.
Don't let reading that stuff fool you. A great portion of it is untrue. Do you really believe kids are "brainwashed"? Do you believe you can't walk on the grass over the entire campus? Do you believe that all A&M students walk around in envy because they want to go to Texas? Or as for the stupidest quote in that article, do you believe that all Aggies are country kids? Its just another article written by a pro-UT person exaggarating certain things about A&M. And a lot of UT people on this board seem to have no problem with stereotyping, so they shouldn't be taken seriously either.

Most of the weird traditions (and their are some weird ones) have to do with the Corps, which is a whole different world than what the typical A&M student goes through. You'll see them around campus, but that's about the biggest effect they'll have on your life.

A&M has a very good engineering school if that's what you're interested in. I think the latest rankings by USNews has A&M as 17th and UT as 12th. Not too bad for a bunch of redneck hillbillies. :rolleyes: As for the A&M business school, they still have a ways to go, but they're making progress.

As for the fight song. I don't like it either.

As for RC Slocum. I've been praying for his removal for a couple of years now.

[Rocket River]

Originally posted by DCkid
As for RC Slocum. I've been praying for his removal for a couple of years now.

*ONLY* a couple of years?

Rocket River

[DCkid]

Originally posted by Rocket River


*ONLY* a couple of years?

Rocket River
Okay, so maybe a decade. The thing is he's a brilliant defensive coordinator, and that's where he should have stayed. He doesn't know the first thing about offense...or head coaching for that matter.

[Isabel]

UT fans may get pumped for the big games, but I don't know that there's any real hatred of Oklahoma or A&M that carries through all year. That's because the UT mentality is: "We're Texas". They have in their mind that "The University" (as if there are no others) is already the best and everyone knows it, so they don't have to worry about anyone. Even if Oklahoma wins the ballgame, Texas students know that it's going to be the high point of the OU students' year, because after that they have to continue their miserable lives in boring Oklahoma. The Aggies... I think they've already been discussed at length. The fight song suggests a serious problem.

Not only do they sell sawed-off-horns stickers, but once when my Dad was visiting me (and had a bunch of stickers on his car, including a Texas longhorn), somebody sawed the horns off the longhorn sticker in the parking lot. There is just a problem with a whole stadium full of people swaying back and forth (and making their upper deck itself sway back and forth) singing passionately about sawing off a steer's horns.

Still, I'm not originally from Texas and I thought all this stuff was ridiculous. Both schools always seemed like large diploma factories without a whole lot to brag about (I went to Rice). We sympathized more with Texas because they were nicer to us (unlike those times in the old days when the Aggies physically attacked our band and mascot). We are still irritated at both schools for breaking up the Southwest Conference. I went to UT for grad school and managed to put one longhorn sticker on my car, have given the hook 'em horns sign a few times, and once or twice sang the actual words to "I've been working on the..." sorry, the Eyes of Texas.

[Smokey]

UT and A&M did not break up the SWC.

TV broke up the SWC. The SWC did not have national appeal...all 8 members were from Texas. In 1995, when new TV deals were being negotiated ABC and the Big 8 approached the SWC to add 4 schools and a championship game ($$$$$). UT and A&M knew it was either this deal or no national TV. I'm sorry we were concerned about our own future rather than Rice's.

The SWC was dead in the late 80's.

You should also be irritated at the 8 members of the WAC who formed the Mountain West...another TV move. You should be upset at TCU who left the WAC for greener pastures in C-USA.

We are better off without the SWC. It's only the schools that got left behind who are upset and living off past glories. Wait till 2006 when you will have no choice but to get demoted to I-AA :D

[Smokey]

Awww....Rice's band and mascot got attacked.

Weren't you the same band that spelled out "GED" at Robertson Stadium in front of thousands of Cougar fans?

Pure class. Absolute class. I guess that's Rice humor :rolleyes:

[Rocketman95]

There's a huge difference in poking fun and physically attacking someone. :rolleyes:

[Smokey]

Originally posted by Rocketman95
There's a huge difference in poking fun and physically attacking someone. :rolleyes:

Poking fun? Go tell that to a UH alum at coogfans :rolleyes:

I don't know what provoked ags to assault the Rice band, and I wouldn't wish that upon anyone, but the Rice band isn't a bunch of innocent kids.

[Isabel]

Originally posted by Smokey
Awww....Rice's band and mascot got attacked.

Weren't you the same band that spelled out "GED" at Robertson Stadium in front of thousands of Cougar fans?


Ah, that one. Maybe if the PA system hadn't mysteriously quit working when we tried to announce our show, people would have been able to take the "GED" in context... also, the fact that the show was about a whole bunch of things, not just UH. With the sound gone, they just saw "GED" and players in red chasing diplomas on strings.

Either way, though - have a sense of humor. We poke fun at ourselves and our own school as well. If you poked fun at us, we... wouldn't care. :) Some people blow things way out of proportion...

(and of course we understand the reasons the big (now-BCS) schools left the SWC. Still, selling out is selling out. We hate the big business that it's become, and what's happened to 80-year-old traditions along the way. The MWC and C-USA schools may think they're better off, but who knows in the long run. They're still not BCS. In effect, a lower division is being created out of Division-IA, so that the physically bigger schools can stick together. Though, if we wanted to be in a lower division, we would follow the examples of schools like Trinity. Sigh.)

[Smokey]

Sorry Isabel, I didn't mean to sound like I was attacking you or anything. Just wanted to make some points.

[Baqui99]

Come on, Smokey. The Rice MOB is pretty innocent. There's nothing wrong with a little good natured ribbing.

Apparently they had to be escorted out of Kyle Field in ambulances or something because the fans were sooo furious at a skit they did. I think it involved a dog pissing on a fire hydrant to "oh where, oh where can my little dog be..."

Back to the orginal topic, the A&M is not a bad school. Academically they are above average. Most recruits are turned off by going to school in a small town, where ultra conservatism, and closed mindedness looms large.

Keep RC!