Don't kid yourself. If this game was in Austin this year the prices would be out of control as well. It's the combo of rivalry renewal bump (it would be an expensive ticket if both teams were 7-4) combined with play in for the SEC championship game. No doubt plenty of Texas fan demand keeping prices high. Of course it will be cheaper next year because you don't have the 13 year gap novelty.
Had to sign up for 12th man whatever to download my tix for Saturday and just got an email with schedule of events for Friday and Gameday. At the end in all bold/maroon there is a note reminding all fans not to rush the field. FAFO Fuckers. Maybe I should plan on recreating my 15 year old self in 1995 and rushing their field after we beat their ass.
To the extent Quinn's ankle is TBD until kickoff (which I think is likely the case), I don't think Sark's approach this week is that complicated. Quinn has played multiple OU games, @ Bama, Big 12 Championship, UW playoff game and @ Michigan. He has the big game road experience any head coach would value whereas Arch has zero. Of all games I have no doubt Sark really wants Quinn to play this game. Now, if he's completely ineffective because he gets in and can't move/plant and we are struggling, I'll be shocked if he doesn't take him out.
Kentucky was odd but we could run the ball at will as long as we weren't fumbling. He didn't really need Quinn to do anything and I don't think he ever actually thought the game was in question. This week is different.
In sum, I fully expect Quinn to start this game unless he flat out can't go but I also have zero doubt Arch is getting a ton of starter reps this week preparing to play (particularly considering Quinn is probably getting limited work to maximize healing before Saturday).
I think Aggy losing to Auburn dampened prices somewhat for sure regardless of the fact still a conference championship play in. The fear most of that fanbase has of losing this game at home can't be quantified. I have zero doubt there are aggy ticket holders that have decided they would rather sell tickets than enjoy a fantastic football atmosphere but risk hearing "Poooooooooooooooooooooooor Aggiiiies" as we kneel out the clock. Their entire identity depends on winning this game and losing the way they did to Auburn makes them question their odds. So hopefully a bunch of Texas fans buy up the tix as they drop some.
Championship games are 100% money grabs. That is obvious. But if you take away the potential for a bye they are done. An auto bid (without a bye) would mean absolutely nothing in the BIG/SEC as the conference champ is already getting a playoff bid.
The byes are the only thing keeping the conference championship games alive and no doubt you will get continued commentary around cancelling those regardless. I'm coming around to the idea of an expanded 16 team playoff and pod system in SEC/BIG where last 2 weeks of regular season effectively become conference playoff. 4 pod winners advance (other 2 seeds play 2 seeds, etc) and mini 4 team SEC/BIG playoff for seeding where all 4 teams that win their pod are guaranteed a spot. Then your 2 seeds still playing for potential at large spots. Lots of details/logistics to work out with that model but it seems to have potential. As the current conference championship game with unbalanced schedules and crazy tiebreakers (with coaches already publicly questioning whether it's worth it) may not last much longer.
I mean look at PSU. They get another cakewalk this week then get to rest of for a guaranteed home playoff game.
I would be pretty shocked if the committee jumped PSU over Texas after taking a loss in the SEC championship game while PSU sat on their ass at home. If we win Saturday I think either 2 or 6 slot depending on outcome of SEC championship is all but set in stone.
Win Saturday and seems like we are pretty much locked into the 2 seed with an SEC championship win or 6 seed with a loss. Lose Saturday, a lot depends on whether or not any upsets (and how we lose) but we may be fighting TN for that 8/9 slot and a home game. They would have the better win and a worse loss. But we have a ton of common opponents and should win that analysis pretty easily regardless of their outcome with Vandy.
I can't believe they still haven't fixed the portal window nonsense. It's absolutely ridiculous that it coincides with the playoffs (and give me a break about spring semester nonsense, figure it out). It got a lot of publicity last year when Malik felt like he had no choice but to leave before the Sugar Bowl. Wait until this year when it impacts all 12 or at least 8 teams. Just wait until someone playing for the title deals with injuries and is impacted by losing key depth pieces they should have on the roster because the powers that be in college athletics are absolute morons.
I saw he came in when they were up a ton against whatever shit team they played before Auburn and he completely sucked including throwing a bad pick. Unless that was all a ruse seems like he is probably done as 3rd string that came in later looked better apparently. Crazier things have happened in football with backup QB's for sure, but he's been ineffective enough I imagine we could adjust ok on the fly if necessary.
$500 for the absolute shit seats in the zone is still really damn impressive (I sat there in 2011 and won't again). It's a one time auto price bump for renewal of rivalry combined with most meaningful Texas/Aggy game since 1995 so I'm not surprised by pricing. I was going to pay what it took to make the renewal game even if well more than I wanted to pay and I know quite a few other horns that felt the same.
My aggie cousin made the same point that apparently A&M never gets holding calls go against them. Of course, we've seen us get a soft or non-existent holding call damn near every conference game. Something has got to give this week.
Sorry to tell you this but nobody obsesses with you dude. You just have frequently terrible yet extremely confident takes that people react to. Then you get incredibly defensive and verbose, and then it goes on and on. For like a decade or more straight LOL.
I watched the press conference. It was the typical non-chalant non-answer Sark (or any other coach in America) would give to that question. Especially considering they haven't practiced today. There was absolutely nothing to take from it. So of course some idiot $9.95er would try to read something into it.
You are right. A ton of posters quoted it because it was a fair, balanced nuanced take and not typical Derka Derkaing a topic. We're all wrong and you are right. Per usual.
Agree with this. Tech has herd mentality of drunk morons (as does Ohio State) whihc you don't get at A&M. But you are right there are absolutely going to be a handful of die hard Ags that will not be able to mentally handle losing to Texas if it happens and will snap.
Creating big momentum changing defensive plays is how they win the game. I think both sides know it. Will be interesting to see how Sark schemes it. And yes, 3's ankle a huge wildcard. Of all the games I would want a healthy Ewers over Arch it is this one.
I haven't really had too bad of an experience there to date (believe this will be my 8th trip). I'll be tailgating at my aggy cousin's tailgate that will have a decent mix of Texas fans. Have several aggy friends I look forward to seeing. A&M has always been more cordial in my experience compared to Tech for example but maybe just due to mixed friendships/family. I do get the feeling it may get a bit more heated this year. If they beat us they will be absolutely miserable and if they lose probably some drunks that will be best to avoid. I'll be sitting with my wife in an aggy section with no known backup so that will be interesting. I thought about buying a Texas Schloss baseball jersey and wearing it but that might just be asking for trouble LOL.