If you go surfing to TexAgs.com, the favored Texas A&M fandom hub, and peruse the message boards, it gained’t take lengthy to discover a point out of the Aggies’ most-hated rival: Texas.
On TexAgs’ premium board, the place tens of hundreds of paying subscribers congregate to debate Aggies soccer, the longest message board thread with essentially the most replies is entitled “Horn Meltdown Thread.” It’s 326 pages and as of Wednesday had greater than 11,000 posts because the thread started in February. There’s been a Horn Meltdown Thread yearly since 2014.
Sort Orangebloods.com — a prime vacation spot for Longhorns followers since 2001 — into your internet browser and mosey over to its subscription board. There’s a thread devoted to discussing Texas A&M soccer information, the place Longhorns rejoice at any time when the Aggies stumble. The present one began in October 2022, is 871 pages and has greater than 30,000 posts.
Within the case of Texas and Texas A&M, their 13 years aside on the soccer discipline solely fueled the hatred of their 118-year-old rivalry. Why? As a result of the rivalry lived on-line, by means of message boards and social media.
Now, with the Longhorns and Aggies set to satisfy Saturday night time for the primary time since 2011 — and with an SEC Championship Recreation berth at stake — the anticipation and depth are at a fever pitch on Orangebloods, TexAgs and followers’ social media platforms of alternative.
“The rivalry was simply too massive to go away,” mentioned Robert Behrens, a Texas A&M graduate, managing editor of A&M fan web site Good Bull Looking and prolific poster of Aggies statistics. “Folks needed to push their anger someplace.”
Let’s begin with one of many greatest causes the rivalry simmered over time in sure corners of the web: proximity.
Texas and Texas A&M’s campuses are roughly 100 miles aside. They’re the 2 largest universities within the state with the 2 greatest alumni bases. Their graduates share workplace house, fantasy soccer leagues and even dinner tables. The sport won’t have existed after Texas A&M left the Large 12 to affix the SEC in 2012, however the trash speaking by no means actually stopped, on-line or off, within the decade-plus earlier than Texas joined the Aggies within the SEC.
“You’ll be able to’t count on there to not be Aggies and Longhorns in one another’s lives, day by day, at Thanksgiving, within the households, within the office, friendships,” mentioned Billy Liucci, the manager editor of TexAgs.com. “The sport can go away, however there’s nonetheless Longhorns and Aggies who grew up liking one another or loving one another.”
However, Liucci mentioned, “You’ve had two fan bases that, for 13 years, have been praying for the opposite one’s downfall.”
In 2019, Anwar Richardson, who covers Texas for Orangebloods, wrote a column advocating for the Aggies and Longhorns to renew their rivalry recreation. The reception from a lot of those that commented on the story was frosty.
“Like little youngsters, they picked up their ball and ran dwelling. Screw them,” one poster mentioned.
Mentioned one other: “No No No. By no means By no means By no means. Drop it already, Texas ought to by no means play them once more in any sport. They left, and talked s— on the best way out.”
“There have been 14 pages of commentary telling him, ‘You’re an fool, keep in your lane, you don’t know what you’re speaking about,’” mentioned Geoff Ketchum, the writer and proprietor of Orangebloods.
Recruiting has additionally saved issues spicy between the Aggies and Longhorns. Though they haven’t competed on the sphere, the faculties have gone head-to-head for dozens of recruits. The state of Texas is likely one of the most fertile recruiting grounds within the nation, and Texas and Texas A&M often pursue the state’s prime prospects.
Message boards are prime actual property for rumors, particularly in recruiting, the place concrete info on the intentions of highschool soccer stars might be elusive. Orangebloods and TexAgs are floor zero for maintaining with the comings and goings of Texas and Texas A&M recruiting, particularly when the faculties sq. off on the path. And never simply by means of message board rumors; each websites are totally staffed with reporters who cowl the soccer groups and recruiting, dispersing actual info to subscribers.
“That’s positively saved the dialog going,” mentioned Brandon Jones, president and CEO of TexAgs. “That’s the place these small victories would happen: Who’s profitable what recruits?”
The depth of high-profile recruiting battles even as soon as led to a public spat between Liucci and Ketchum. In January 2015, after longtime Texas A&M commit Kyler Murray visited Texas, the 2 bought right into a disagreement on what was then often known as Twitter.
It began with Ketchum inviting Liucci onto his radio present (Liucci declined), then a debate on the possibilities that Murray would flip his dedication to Texas (he didn’t). Then it bought private, full with name-calling, questions of professionalism and thinly veiled threats.
Liucci and Ketchum mentioned they patched issues up after that and get alongside nice. Nevertheless it underscored how intense the rivalry might get on-line.
For these die-hards who aren’t paying a month-to-month payment to publish or learn content material on Orangebloods ($9.99 a month) or TexAgs ($16.99), X has additionally been ripe for back-and-forth.
Kyle Umlang, an information analyst and podcast host, gained reputation in Texas social media circles for his #AggieFactThursday posts, that are random details and statistics about Texas A&M’s futility or Texas’ superiority.
It’s been 30 years since Texas A&M had back-to-back 10-win seasons. #AggieFactThursday
— Kyle Umlang (@kyleumlang) November 21, 2024
10 Win Seasons | Since 2000
19 Oklahoma
11 Texas
1 Texas A&M#AggieFactThursday— Kyle Umlang (@kyleumlang) October 10, 2024
Umlang authored a number of books on this vein. The primary was titled “101 Aggie Details: Issues Each Longhorn Ought to Know.” Three volumes have been revealed. In August, Umlang introduced his newest e book, “The 2024 Aggie Truth Almanac,” which boasts greater than 400 of Umlang’s Aggies details.
Behrens, who started writing for Good Bull Looking in 2013, has additionally gotten into the social media statistical sword battle. On Jan. 1, practically two months after Texas A&M fired Jimbo Fisher however minutes after Washington defeated Texas within the School Soccer Playoff semifinals, Behrens posted a considering emoji with a graphic evaluating Fisher’s first three years at A&M to Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s first three years at Texas.
— Robert Behrens (@rcb05) January 2, 2024
“I’ll throw out a very factual assertion that clearly implies an opinion or the place I’m attempting to steer you, but when somebody tries to name me on it, I can simply say, ‘Nicely, what did I say that was fallacious?’” Behrens mentioned. “I’m not going to say that I’m all the time goal, as a result of I’ve a rooting curiosity and a bias. However I attempt to do it from a spot that everyone can respect.”
Posts from Aggies or Longhorns in regards to the different, nevertheless real or disingenuous, often fire up a response. As a result of — even once they haven’t performed — the rivalry nonetheless issues to each side.
“Both sides will inform you, ‘Oh, we’re of their head rent-free,’” mentioned Amanda Atwell, a 2016 Texas graduate and former sports activities anchor who usually posts in regards to the Longhorns on X. “They usually’re each renting out areas in one another’s heads. I believe we will simply admit that at this level.”
Liucci, Jones mentioned, “likes to combine it up on social media with Texas followers.” Ketchum doesn’t shrink back from it both.
“I jokingly name myself Texas A&M’s No. 1 historian,” Ketchum mentioned. “I’ve seen all of it. It’s a special perspective of their historical past, however for the final 30 years, I do know all of the names, I do know all of the coaches, I’ve seen the place all of the our bodies are buried. So it makes this weekend plenty of enjoyable as a result of I’ve missed it.
“I’ve missed Aggies. I’ve missed the rivalry and simply being in one another’s lives, actually day by day. Life’s higher when these two have one thing cooking towards one another.”
Liucci had blended emotions in regards to the rivalry returning earlier than Texas moved into the SEC, however as soon as the Longhorns did, the return of the sport couldn’t get right here quick sufficient, he mentioned. He’ll relish the prospect to say superiority if the Aggies win on Saturday, however he additionally is aware of what’s ready for him on social media in the event that they lose.
“You speak it, you higher be capable of again it up,” he mentioned. “On Twitter, the receipts are there for everybody to have on each side.
“Everyone simply needs bragging rights.”
(Photograph of Texas A&M’s Ben Malena in 2011: Darren Carroll / Getty Photographs)
