First off Tide, in my defense, I've been under a rock at work, we're going through a merger.
Lurking here today, I just realized you are going to Austin to play Utex (as you all tend to refer to them). This should be quite interesting.
This Aggie's two cents. My "bold prediction," I actually won't be surprised if they treat you fairly well this year. You see, they tend to have this mass amnesia toward the last, say, 30-40 years of football. They will automatically count themselves on par with Alabama, yet in a great cognitive dissonance, have some memory they lost to Kansas, at home, last year. So they will likely be gracious hosts. I sense this will be a "program do or die game" and honestly think they may hang pretty well, at first. Similar to when we thought LSU was just going to mud-hole stomp them a couple years ago. Mind you, I don't think they win or that it will ever really be in jeopardy. But they may at least keep it "respectable" since it may be literally the most important game they play for at least a couple years (and I mean that in all sincerity, even more important than their rivalry game with OU - it will say something about their entry into the SEC in a few years). And many or even most of you may leave that weekend wondering what all the fuss is, why everyone hates visiting Austin. Again, their ego and cognitive dissonance may actually keep them in check with Bama because their psyche won't allow them to see the college football landscape outside the prism of over 40 years ago.
If I am wrong and you completely annihilate them, well... I still don't think you'll witness the antics we have had to endure in Austin (win or lose), at least this year. But you will get a sense for how fickle their fans are. After they're in the SEC, if they turn their program around, you will witness better what others talk about.
Of course, I could be completely wrong and you may get a front and center seat to the bovine aura. If I am completely wrong, get ready for them to pull out the "all time record against Bama" left and right, as if it has any relevance today.
The above aside, if you have never been, I honestly recommend you going to Austin for the game. It will be a different experience than when we host you in College Station. Those of you that are into bar scenes and live music over more traditional college football scenes and tailgating will have a good time. While I like our Northgate scene (entertainment district), Austin does really have a lot more to offer in the bar scene department with "6th Street" (including adjacent streets). I personally like our tailgating scene much better, more of an "SEC feel" than what you'll experience in Austin. The overall vibes of game day will be extremely different. Texas A&M being more of the traditional "former military college" and "students and graduates" feel, and Utex being urban and more "random fans" feel with a better bar and live music scene.
Shamefully, I haven't been able to make the trek to Tuscaloosa yet. Hope to finally make it in 2024 before realignment messes up our annual match up.
Lurking here today, I just realized you are going to Austin to play Utex (as you all tend to refer to them). This should be quite interesting.
This Aggie's two cents. My "bold prediction," I actually won't be surprised if they treat you fairly well this year. You see, they tend to have this mass amnesia toward the last, say, 30-40 years of football. They will automatically count themselves on par with Alabama, yet in a great cognitive dissonance, have some memory they lost to Kansas, at home, last year. So they will likely be gracious hosts. I sense this will be a "program do or die game" and honestly think they may hang pretty well, at first. Similar to when we thought LSU was just going to mud-hole stomp them a couple years ago. Mind you, I don't think they win or that it will ever really be in jeopardy. But they may at least keep it "respectable" since it may be literally the most important game they play for at least a couple years (and I mean that in all sincerity, even more important than their rivalry game with OU - it will say something about their entry into the SEC in a few years). And many or even most of you may leave that weekend wondering what all the fuss is, why everyone hates visiting Austin. Again, their ego and cognitive dissonance may actually keep them in check with Bama because their psyche won't allow them to see the college football landscape outside the prism of over 40 years ago.
If I am wrong and you completely annihilate them, well... I still don't think you'll witness the antics we have had to endure in Austin (win or lose), at least this year. But you will get a sense for how fickle their fans are. After they're in the SEC, if they turn their program around, you will witness better what others talk about.
Of course, I could be completely wrong and you may get a front and center seat to the bovine aura. If I am completely wrong, get ready for them to pull out the "all time record against Bama" left and right, as if it has any relevance today.
The above aside, if you have never been, I honestly recommend you going to Austin for the game. It will be a different experience than when we host you in College Station. Those of you that are into bar scenes and live music over more traditional college football scenes and tailgating will have a good time. While I like our Northgate scene (entertainment district), Austin does really have a lot more to offer in the bar scene department with "6th Street" (including adjacent streets). I personally like our tailgating scene much better, more of an "SEC feel" than what you'll experience in Austin. The overall vibes of game day will be extremely different. Texas A&M being more of the traditional "former military college" and "students and graduates" feel, and Utex being urban and more "random fans" feel with a better bar and live music scene.
Shamefully, I haven't been able to make the trek to Tuscaloosa yet. Hope to finally make it in 2024 before realignment messes up our annual match up.
After beating Alabama last season and having another recruiting class bonanza, the Texas A&M Aggies are given a 1.4% chance to make the Playoffs. Coming off horrible seasons, ESPN gives LSU (2.8%) and Auburn (2.7%) better chances to make the Playoffs than the Aggies.
