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Jackie Sherrill wants you to know he has many Texas friends, Longhorn legends Darrell Royal and Mack Brown among them. Perhaps the most colorful figure in Texas A&M history when it comes to the historic rivalry renewal with Texas this week wants that clear.
But Sherrill also can’t help being just a bit subversive. That’s part of who he is. Whether it was leading the Aggies or crossing swords with the NCAA, it was always something. Sherrill, who turned 81 on Thanksgiving, spent only seven years as A&M’s coach in the 1980s, but his spice looms over the restart of a powerful rivalry this week in the Lone Star State.
“Horn chips for ball markers,” Sherrill said in the lead-up to Saturday’s first Texas game in 13 years. “They were a big hit.”
He is referring to a recent golf tournament in Houston between 50 former Longhorns and 50 former Aggies. Sherrill knew a cattle rancher who would shave off bits of horn from his livestock. Those bits were refined into rivalry reminders to mark putts.
“Texas guys [would] ask what it is,” Sherrill said.
They didn’t wonder long.
When the group was told, the rivalry, once again, was on. These teams started playing in 1894. What began as a mighty state school vs. a small all-male military school has long since evolved into one of the most intense traditional games in the sport.
We just haven’t seen that tradition in 13 years. That adds to this perhaps being the biggest of all the 119 meetings.
“Yes,” Sherrill confirmed. “It’s important to both teams, but you can say the pressure is on Texas because of where they are.”
Saturday’s winner goes to the conference championship game. But it’s bigger than that. Both teams are also in playoff contention and richer than ever. Texas has been dominant in this…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/jackie-sherrill-the-maverick-who-still-stirs-the-texas-vs-texas-a-m-rivalry/
Author : Dennis Dodd
Publish date : 2024-11-29 15:31:00
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