We constantly hear the BS about new playmates in the SEC, that Aggy has moved past Texas and has bigger fish to fry etc. It all sounds great and quotable, but we all know that true rivalry (and hatred) run far deeper.
Case in point: Last week work took me to the frozen wasteland of Yellowknife (way north Canada). I was hiding from the cold in a pub and a guy in an A&M jacket sat down near me at the bar. I couldn't help but say something, so I casually asked him "didn't you guys give up 50 points to a basketball school in your bowl game this year?".
The guy looks me over to figure out if I'm an ignorant local, or if I'm insulting him. I had no Texas gear on. I smirked a little bit and he instantly went into a Texas bashing rage calling out our record, how badly we lost our games this year and even lamented having traveled 2500 miles to wind up sitting across from a f*^king "tea sipper" - all before I even uttered the word "Texas" - but he knew... and it certainly never crossed his mind that I was from LSU.
Following about 10 minutes of heated debate the bartender moved us to opposite ends of the bar so everyone could get back to watching the hockey game!
Good fun, but the point is that rivalries can't be removed and recreated by the stroke of a pen, or through the insistence of school officials.
Case in point: Last week work took me to the frozen wasteland of Yellowknife (way north Canada). I was hiding from the cold in a pub and a guy in an A&M jacket sat down near me at the bar. I couldn't help but say something, so I casually asked him "didn't you guys give up 50 points to a basketball school in your bowl game this year?".
The guy looks me over to figure out if I'm an ignorant local, or if I'm insulting him. I had no Texas gear on. I smirked a little bit and he instantly went into a Texas bashing rage calling out our record, how badly we lost our games this year and even lamented having traveled 2500 miles to wind up sitting across from a f*^king "tea sipper" - all before I even uttered the word "Texas" - but he knew... and it certainly never crossed his mind that I was from LSU.
Following about 10 minutes of heated debate the bartender moved us to opposite ends of the bar so everyone could get back to watching the hockey game!
Good fun, but the point is that rivalries can't be removed and recreated by the stroke of a pen, or through the insistence of school officials.