Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies: The End of an Era

Yesterday marked the end of an era.

With a 2-1 victory over the Aggies in baseball followed afterwards by a 4-3 win over the Texas A&M softball team, the University of Texas for the final time closed out its last team events in the Lone Star Showdown rivalry series against Texas A&M.

The interstate rivalry between two schools separated by only 100 miles began in 1894 with a 38-0 Texas victory over the Aggies in football.  

Since that date, the Longhorns and the Aggies have met on the gridiron 118 times and have played countless other games in their numerous varsity sports.  Such a rivalry seemed like one that would never end.  

But to all good things must come to an end, and with today's final meetings between these two schools the rivalry, at least on an annual basis, is over.  Next season, the Aggies will leave the Big XII for the supposedly greener pastures of the SEC, putting an end to an in-state rivalry that sat deep in the heart of a multitude of true Texans.

The rivalry between Texas and Texas A&M was more than just a series of athletic competitions between the two schools.  With such a short proximity between the two schools, fans and alumni of the respective programs live and work together across the state.  When it came to a Lone Star Showdown event, especially in football, bragging rights meant everything.

From personal experience, I felt rewarded, proud and even a little rude toward my Aggie friends after Texas shut down the Aggies a sporting event.  When the Longhorns lost, I received the same friendly smack-talk back.

It may have been a rivalry, and there certainly may have been a fair share of animosity, but all-in-all it was something that the state of Texas as a whole, cherished.  

I am proud to call myself a Longhorn, and while I understand the necessity for this rivalry to come to an end, it brings a tear to my eye when I think back on all of the great memories fostered by the "rivalry" between these these two historic schools.