A Texas state lawmaker filed a bill this week that would require an annual football game between UT and A&M on the fourth Thursday, Friday or Saturday of November. Rep. Lyle Larson, a Republican from San Antonio, said he hopes to restore “one of the greatest rivalries in the history of college football.”
In a series of tweets, Larson reminisced on the old days when the Longhorns and the Aggies would battle it out on the football field.
After another Thanksgiving void of one of the most historic collegiate football rivalries, we filed House Bill 412 to start the negotiating process between Texas A&M and University of Texas to bring back the fabled football game. pic.twitter.com/G365pCTWbS
— Lyle Larson (@RepLyleLarson) November 27, 2018
“Growing up the biggest day of the year at our house was an awesome Turkey and dressing my mom cooked and the build up to the A&M-UT football game. Egos on both sides need to deflate and stop the nonsense on the SEC and Longhorn network and play the game! Gig’em and Hook’em pic.twitter.com/WzZJpex2Yv
— Lyle Larson (@RepLyleLarson) November 22, 2018
Larson said he wants graduating classes to be able to “experience the home and away game that [his class] did.”
This isn’t the first time there's been a push to reinstate the game. In 2013, state Rep. Ryan Guillen filed House Bill 778, a similar bill that went no where but would have required the two schools to participate in the rivalry game, or athletes would be docked from receiving athletic scholarships.
Guillen’s 2013 bill stated, “If the University of Texas at Austin or Texas A&M University refuses to play the football game required by Subsection (a) in a year, the university may not award to any student for the following academic year an athletic scholarship, grant or similar financial assistance funded with state money…."
This recent bill has sparked some talk on Twitter as people wonder if these laws are the best way for lawmakers to spend their time.
Because there aren't bigger issues in Texas to pay attention to….this is seriously so stupid. I love college football but a law? Come on now. Let's focus on the real issues that our state needs help with!
— (@AmberLMAguilera) November 28, 2018
Such awesome work our lawmakers do for Texas. So much more important than homelessness, veterans, transportation, etc. I’m so glad that is being taken care of so these other lesser matters can be attended to now.
— odessan (@bttrfly76) November 28, 2018
Instead of the state mandating two schools play a football game and threatening to withhold funding, how about the #txlege tackles property tax reform or other things that matter? So much for that whole "limited government" thing the @GOP likes to preach.
— Benjamin Pollock (@benjaminpollock) November 28, 2018
Despite all the controversy this bill has brought to Twitter, some fans said they would want to see this game happen. Larson tweeted a statement from A&M’s coach Jimbo Fisher.
Game time used to be 7:30 Coaches and players are ready to renew the rivalry.
” If ACC and SEC schools can make it work in multiple cases, so could an SEC and a Big 12 school. Herman said.
Fisher said. “If there's something there that benefits Texas A&M, then that's what we do.” pic.twitter.com/B9Ie7Lk7V3— Lyle Larson (@RepLyleLarson) November 23, 2018
