They say everything is bigger in Texas. Whether it’s the trucks, food portions or gas stations (looking at you Buc-ee’s), that statement is typically true. This is also the case when it comes to rivalries.
The rivalry between Texas and Texas A&M is not just the best in the lone star state but perhaps in the entire country. It’s a shame that we didn’t get to see these two schools take it out on each other during football season over the last ten-plus years, but we have gotten to get a little taste of it on the baseball diamond every year since Texas A&M went to the SEC.
But no matter what sport, these two schools hate each other, and things have only heated up after Tuesday’s news. Less than 24 hours after coaching Texas A&M in the national championship game, head coach Jim Schlossnagle is leaving College Station and is heading to Austin to be the skipper of the Longhorns. This, of course, comes after Texas decided to part ways with head coach David Pierce on Monday.
Immediately after A&M’s loss to Tennessee on Monday night, Schlossnagle was asked about being the frontrunner for the Texas job, and said, “I think it’s pretty selfish of you to ask me that question, to be honest with you. He added, “I left my family to be the coach at Texas A&M. I took the job at Texas A&M to never take another job again. That hasn’t changed in my mind. That’s unfair to talk about something like that. That’d be like you asking Montgomery if he’s going to sign in the draft, but I understand you gotta ask the question. I gave up a big part of my life to come take this job, and I’ve poured every ounce of my soul into this job. I’ve given this job every single ounce I could possibly give it. Write that.”
Why Leave?
Now why would he leave after saying all this? Of course, there is the money, but if we are being honest, Texas A&M has just as deep pockets as Texas does. So, if it isn’t money, what is it?
It probably has to do with the fact that Texas is the premier job in all of college baseball. No program in the country has more College World Series appearances than Texas (38) and only two programs have more national titles (6). Plus, it gives him a chance to work with athletic director Chris Del Conte whom he had worked with at TCU.
It’s been nearly 20 years since the last dogpile in Omaha for the Longhorns and hiring a guy like Jim Schlossnagle is a big step in the right direction. This is a man who turned TCU into a college baseball powerhouse and got Texas A&M into the title game in less than three years on the job. To put it simply, it was almost inevitable that he was going to end up wearing the burnt orange one day. And who knows, maybe Texas was his dream job after all, or maybe he just wasn’t into the Texas A&M cult.
It truly is a shame that these two schools aren’t in the Big 12 anymore. I would have loved to see this rivalry in the conference, but money and greed got in the way. It was awesome to have this rivalry here but now they will finally get to go at each other in every sport in the SEC. The summers may be hot down here in Texas, but nothing is going to compare to the heat of this rivalry. All this move did was pour gasoline on a fire and it’s only getting started.
