Opinion Piece Leads

Compare and Contrast

Since 1894, Texas A&M University and The University of Texas’ football teams have played in a long storied rivalry. Each year they both fight to represent Texas as the state’s flagship university. It is a common fact that UT and TAMU have one of the biggest rivalries in college sports. Texas says goodbye to A&M in “Texas Fight” while A&M spends the majority of “Aggie War Hymn” insulting Texas  and chanting how they will “saw Varsity’s horns off”.  Needless to say, there are years of tradition that have gone into the “Lone Star Showdown”, as it has now been called. However, the 117 years that have gone into this tradition could be in serious jeopardy if UT and TAMU are separated due to TAMU moving to the SEC. Texas A&M is not helping themselves by moving to the Southeastern Conference.

Startling Information

Five- that is the number of years in a row the Southeastern Conference has been the football BCS National Champions. From 2006-2011, they have been the best, and they are looking for another championship this year. 1939- that was the last, and only time Texas A&M has been named football national champions. Three- that is the number of total football championships the Big 12 conference has ever won. Texas A&M is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, but their only conference champion title came in 1998, and their only Big 12 South titles came in 1997 and 1998. Texas A&M is about to join the best conference in college football. However, how can they compete against the the likes of Florida, Alabama, Auburn, or LSU, when they can’t even compete in their own conference? Texas A&M is not helping themselves by moving to the Southeastern Conference.

Direct Question

If you have any knowledge about the Big 12 Conference, you know that there are currently four school from the state of Texas that are members. The University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University,and Baylor University all fight the other six teams in the the Big 12 to be the champion and to represent Texas. If you know anything about college sports, you know that UT  and TAMU are the best teams out of all of them, with 48 total national team championships for Texas, and 14 for TAMU. Baylor and Texas Tech are alright with being against UT because unlike them, Baylor only has two national team championships, while Tech only has one. The fact that they get to play such good teams is a plus for their sports programs. However, as you probably know, the doom of the Big 12 separating is a big fear for the smaller schools, because there is the chance that they will not get picked up by another conference. These smaller teams are angry about TAMU leaving the Big 12, to join the SEC. TAMU is risking their relations with other schools by joining the SEC. TAMU is not helping themselves by moving to the SEC.

By Taco (Myka Rodriguez)