Mike Elko states it is 'very clear' what Texas A&M fans think of Texas
The Texas vs. Texas A&M rivalry was one of the best in college football before the Aggies left for the SEC after the 2011 season. The two teams have not played since, but that will change this year with the Longhorns joining the SEC. Aggies coach Mike Elko was asked at SEC Media Days for his thoughts about the rivalry with Texas.
Elko previously spent four years at Texas A&M, and even though his squad wasn’t facing the Longhorns at the time, he is still well aware of how important the rivalry is.
“I was here for four years and we didn’t play Texas at all. And it was very clear to me what our fans and our alumni thought of the University,” Mike Elko said. “Now that we’re playing and we’re in the same conference again, that’s something that means an awful lot to Texas A&M people. So it means a lot to our program.”
Elko was asked if he has ever been a part of a rivalry like the Longhorns vs. Aggies one, dating back to his days growing up in South Brunswick, New Jersey.
He was a part of the Duke vs. North Carolina rivalry each of the past two seasons but is well aware that this one will be a little different.
“It would be hard to equate something that happened in South Brunswick, New Jersey to this rivalry,” Mike Elko said. “I mean obviously the Duke-Carolina rivalry is a fairly big one, and being a part of that the last two years I think certainly gives you a taste of what it’s like.”
Quinn Ewers expresses excitement for renewal of Texas A&M rivalry, where his father ranks it
Mike Elko isn’t the only person fired up for the return of Texas vs. Texas A&M.
Heading into Year 3 as the Texas quarterback, Quinn Ewers made the quick trip to Dallas for SEC Media Days, the first edition featuring the Longhorns and Oklahoma.
For Texas, one huge benefit of joining the SEC is getting to rekindle its rivalry with in-state foe Texas A&M. The Aggies and ‘Horns faced off every single season from 1915 through 2011, but haven’t played each other since Texas barely edged A&M 27-25 back in ’11. Now, in their first year in the SEC, the powers that be made no hesitation in matching up Texas and Texas A&M, as they’ll play in the final game of the regular season.
So, when Quinn Ewers stopped by to chat with Andy Staples for a video on the On3 YouTube channel, Staples brought up that A&M-Texas game and asked what it means for Ewers to get to play in the first matchup in 13 seasons.
“As a native Texan, what’s it like to be able to be a part of that game?” asked Staples, to which Ewers came up with a pretty spicy response.
“I mean, I’m excited for it. I was super young when it went away,” he said. “But you know, hearing family members, especially my dad, talk about it, he actually said that, him growing up, that the A&M vs. Texas game was bigger than the Red River Rivalry.”