Stories Inside the Man Cave
Stories Inside the Man Cave
Ep 430: Lets Talk About It with Mike Hardge; Reigniting the Texas Longhorns vs. Texas A&M Aggies Rivalry: A Thanksgiving Football Tradition
Join us for a nostalgic journey into the heart of Texas football rivalries as we reignite the fierce competition between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies. Thanksgiving traditions come alive as we recount personal memories and insights from players, fans, and our enthusiastic guest, Hardball Hards. Coach Sark shares his unique journey from California to falling in love with Texas football through this iconic matchup. Feel the energy and anticipation as both teams vie for a coveted spot in the SEC Championship, promising an unforgettable atmosphere at the legendary Kyle Field.
Explore the riveting dynamics of Texas football rivalries with us, where friendships and families are often divided by team loyalties during game week. With Hardball Hards bringing his lively insights and commentary, we discuss the electric atmosphere that defines this classic showdown. From the legendary roar of Kyle Field to the humorous banter between Longhorns and Aggies supporters, this episode is a true celebration of what makes Texas football so special. Tune in and connect with us on social media for the latest updates and insights on the most anticipated rivalry in Texas football history.
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Honest is a strong word and we all need honesty when it comes to plumbing and HVAC needs, somebody who will take care of the repairs efficiently and with quality. Honest Plumbing and Air is who I trust, and they take pride in that word. Honest Plumbing and Air, where a handshake still means something.
Speaker 2:But we know as a fan standpoint it means a lot to them and things like that. But we can't get too ahead of the moment. It's just a game At the end of the day. We've got to control what we can control. We can't control the outside noise it being this a big game, a big rivalry and things like that. At the end of the day you just have to go out there and play football.
Speaker 3:Play football in perhaps the best in-state rivalry in the great state of Texas, which we've gone well over a decade here in this state Not seeing the Longhorns and Aggies today. Barron, that's the best DB in the entire country. He's headed toward that Thorpe, in my opinion. But I've got one of the man Cave OGs. You probably know him, you probably recognize him, you probably shook his hand somewhere. He's everywhere Longhorns and Aggies. It's finally back. Let's talk about it. My car, that is a beautiful let's get this thing rolling kind of tempo song and it is beautiful. Whatever your presence is back in the man cave. It's been a while, my brother what is wrong with you, man?
Speaker 4:what is wrong with you, right, man, what is wrong with you? But? But hey, man, your graphics and everything that you do, that's pretty top of the line man. So always appreciate the work that you do and thanks for having me, and yes, I am an OG kind of changed a little bit for both of us. We still have real jobs and running around in the healthcare world and, just like the Aggies and the Texas Longhorns, we are reunited once again.
Speaker 3:Peaches and herb. That's right, right now, reunited and it feels so good. Man, you can rock the spectacles like nobody else. I just want to tell you.
Speaker 4:Appreciate that man.
Speaker 3:I've got a large face and a very large dome. It doesn't work for me.
Speaker 4:That's a whole other story, right, it's a whole other hour-long episode.
Speaker 3:Hey, I wanted to let you guys know episode 430 is brought to you let's Talk About. It is brought to you by the fine logos. It represents honest plumbing and air. Much love and happy Thanksgiving to each of our sponsors and partners and to the Harge family as well. Harge as we move forward and everybody's on our social media liking following, sharing whatever you like to do during this holiday situation. One thing that I think is funny about this game this is a whole new generation that knows nothing about this game. They've heard about it and before we play some what some of the longhorns said about that. Did we take it for granted or is it still kind of a shock to the system that this game that you and I since we were this tall and I haven't gotten much taller since then that was a part of our annual thanksgiving routine yeah, and I was talking about it on the show this week and just thinking about growing up on this game and every Thanksgiving you knew what was going to happen.
Speaker 4:You were going to watch the Cowboys and the Commanders I'm using that name now and you, of course, you were going to be watching the Lions, but you were always going to be watching the Texas Longhorns take on the Aggies of Texas A&M, and that's just kind of how life went during that time. You knew it was going to be on, you knew it was going to be part of the fabric of a Thursday Thanksgiving. And now you know for what. Since 2011, it's been gone and it's back now and that's why the excitement, the energy and guess what? They're playing for a chance to get to the SEC championship game. So that's why game day is going to be there. That's why the ticket is so high. Those are the reasons why you love this game and you love this rivalry.
Speaker 3:Turkey dressing, longhorns, aggies, cranberries, that uncle who is very vocal and a comedian, overserved, overserved. A good hot toddy is always good right before the kickoff. Yeah, man, it's funny listening to some of the Longhorns that are current Longhorns talk about it that the rivalry is back. Of course, that's a shot on the line of scrimmage, I believe, from 2011. But let's hear from some of these Longhorns. It's just I understand, and it's not us being Gen X.
Speaker 2:Nah, I was too young. I just heard about all the legendary players that have come through and done amazing things in these types of meetings.
Speaker 3:This isn't an ordinary week. This is Texas versus Texas A&M first time in 13 years, and so, coach Stark, the leaders on the team, we'll make sure that everybody's ready going into golf field.
Speaker 5:The guys before me that I knew they were never a part of a game like this, but I get to be a part of that, so it's pretty special.
Speaker 3:Pretty special indeed, and before we get more insightful knowledge from the hardball hearts I thought it was you know. You and I both know and you're you more so than me now have realized that Sark isn't just a head football coach. This guy is a fan of college football, and I was shocked to learn that a Cali boy grew up watching this game. I mean, look at the expression on his face when he's talking about it.
Speaker 5:You got to remember as a kid, growing up, I watched this game on Thanksgiving. I mean, it was like that's how I fell in love with Texas, from the very beginning. You know, it was the uniforms, the helmets. And then I knew that the rivalry was what it was. You know, because what did you do as a kid? You watched football, you know, and that's what I did. And then, getting here and knowing the rivalry and what it was about and it getting presented and some of the really cool recruiting battles we've been in with them, and you win some, you lose, lose some, and so we know a lot of their players pretty well. They know a lot of our players pretty well. Um, that, uh, you quickly find out households are divided and the state's divided, and but that's the fun part, that's what that's what this last game of the regular season is supposed to feel like.
Speaker 3:So I know we took it for granted because we never thought this rivalry would never end, or take a pause, so to speak. But you're hearing things like divided homes again, knowing what this means to people across the state, would you venture to say that quietly? Texas Tech alums, tcu, alums, baylor, alums, rice, houston, stephen F, sam, smu they care about this game too.
Speaker 4:Absolutely. And not only do they care about it, they've got friends on both sides of it. You know it is in the fabric of the state of Texas, of the state of Texas. If you grew up in this state, you knew that when the Longhorns and when the Aggies got ready to play each other, it was going to be a bloodbath. It's a Hatfield and McCoys. Whatever the phrase of what you want to have, that is what it's about. You love your brothers because you work with them. Your kids go to school together, but this is the week where none of that matters. They're not talking to you. You're not talking to them. They've been salivating for this game because they thought that they had the upper hand, so to speak.
Speaker 4:Texas was going through that long and A&M was the top. Oh, look at what the Aggies are doing. They're playing such great football. They got a Heisman Trophy winner in Johnny Manziel. They have so much that was going in their favor that they were waiting for Texas to get in, because they knew Well, texas upgraded, Texas did some things different. Texas got big on the offensive line. Texas went out and started getting those five-star players. Texas had success in the transfer portal. So now everybody is truly thinking oh hell, we're about to play Texas, but I think we got them. I think we got them when before it was like oh, I hope I can't wait for Texas to get into this thing. And now both of these teams are getting a chance to play for a chance to represent the SEC and the state of Texas in the SEC championship.
Speaker 3:SEC and the state of Texas in the SEC championship. It's beautiful because even you and I talked about it before the year started and even with Stevie Lee a bunch of times dating back to July and August, that we thought this game would mean something more than just renewing the rivalry. And it is. It is, it is Transpired this way. It's beautiful, it's only fitting. But the one thing about this game and it's not a shot at DKR Memorial Stadium the Kyle Field factor and for those who have never been to a game, this is a little tease of what's to come. And I'm just a nerd about college football stadiums. You've been there, you've seen this. This is just what you're about to see. It's going to be a thousand times that Saturday night.
Speaker 5:Kyle Field being one of the better environments in college football. What do you expect? The best environment in college football? There you go. What are you expecting it to be like on Saturday night? Considering the stakes on the opponent? The best it's ever been.
Speaker 3:All right, harts, can they not raise his?
Speaker 4:microphone up where he doesn't have to lean over to say anything. Give him one that he can hold.
Speaker 3:Just do like. Who was it? It was LeBron and Dirk Nowitzki who always grabbed the mic. Yeah yeah, yeah, ice cream's going over here.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I'll say this, and I would love for you to play off this To this day even before the renovation, when they added the end zones, that's the loudest venue, loudest venue I have ever been to and I'm pretty sure it still is, or even more oh, yes, I mean.
Speaker 4:That's why they built it the way that it did. They had to make it bigger than Texas so you can get 110,000 people in there. It's going to be rowdy, it's going to be loud. It's going to be one of those true, true testaments to what they wanted to build and I have no doubt that they are going to bring the noise. They're going to be excited. It is going to be one of the loudest spectacles that we've ever seen. But you still have to go out there and play.
Speaker 4:They talked about bringing in speakers. What bringing in speakers? You can't play the speakers loud while the play is getting ready to go, so that that is dumb. But you start to look at it and say, okay, what is your true essence of being able to make that happen? That's not a home field advantage. The crowd is the home field advantage. Bringing artificial intelligence in is not good. So, uh, I don't know how that's even been able to be passed through the sec. I'm sure that cdc, I'm sure that sark and I'm sure that the officials have known, have been notified about those quote-unquote speakers that they said are for the band, said are for the band. That's BS.
Speaker 3:Exactly, it's not for the band. It's not for the band. How about lower your PA system? Lower the volume, let the band play.
Speaker 4:Exactly. There's other ways to do this right.
Speaker 3:What did Sark say? He said well, yeah, we better. You might want to notify the people there.
Speaker 4:Exactly. You can't do that you dumb, dumbs, idiots.
Speaker 3:Hey, trey's not thirst in hell, but trey's in the 30s and aggie old lineman. I didn't know how to take this sound bite. He was asked about the environment he expects and I don't know, man, I didn't. I didn't quite understand his response to this.
Speaker 5:It's going to be the most amazing atmosphere that I've ever experienced, so I can't wait for that and I feel bad for Texas having to play in that. So looking forward to it.
Speaker 3:Feel bad for Texas. Why? What is he trying to say?
Speaker 4:Yeah, like what do you mean? Feel bad for Texas? You're playing in that environment too weirdo. So, like, what are you talking about, man? Oh, I feel bad for Texas to have to play. Oh, you're so used to it, you're so used to it that it's not going to bother you. That environment, like what are you talking about? Are you threatening Texas for some kind of way? I mean, dude, just come down here and play the game. That's what it's always about. What are you going to do in between the lines, other than that we are not involved?
Speaker 3:The 12th man. It is the loudest venue, One of the best in college football, I have to admit it. But I don't understand it as a player Feeling sorry for your hated opponent, the one you left the SEC to get away from.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 3:Now you're playing a game in which you mentioned we'll play Georgia. The winner of this game will play Georgia. The tiebreaker system. It has been crazy. This has been a fun first year. I know this isn't what this episode's about, but I'm tired of all the talk about the strength of schedule. Lance Gunn said it best. Well, you talk about all the lack of strength of schedule while you're losing to those bottom feeding teams in the SEC.
Speaker 4:But it's the funny part about it, though, sean, is, when the season schedule came out, everybody was looking at Texas as a team that wasn't ready for the SEC. Now they're coming through the SEC. They're on the verge of possibly playing For an SEC championship In their first year, yet you're blaming them and saying, oh well, your schedule was weaker, you didn't play this. They played seven teams that are bowl eligible. When they played X team, they were ranked in the top 25. So we can't have it both ways.
Speaker 4:But here's one of the biggest things that I continue to say if this is going to be the criteria, and you're going to talk about ranked teams versus non-ranked teams, how about let's not have pre-season rankings? How about, yes, we don't do any of that until you get a chance to evaluate all the players, all the teams that were played this year, and then, by this week or the last three weeks that we got to where people started really putting in their rankings, we go from there. Quit giving us preseason rankings, because they have no merit. You've just told us that. Given us preseason rankings because they have no merit. You've just told us that. So why is it that you're looking at x team and saying, well, they're number 10, they're this, but then they don't have the best season. And now, all of a sudden, you penalizing the team that is having a great season before beating them.
Speaker 3:It makes zero sense to me it makes absolutely no sense, because those same teams, before they play Texas or after, are beating those said contending teams Right While Texas beat them, even though I guarantee you that OU's win over Alabama helps Texas. Oh, it should.
Speaker 4:It should, I mean it should, but everybody's looking at it and saying, nope, they're not a really good football team. Oh, so Alabama's not either, then Hello.
Speaker 3:Pot, I'm Kettle, you're Black, awesome.
Speaker 4:Oh, that's a little too awesome. I mean, that's a little too obvious here bro.
Speaker 3:So we talked about all the elements in this great game. We've talked about all of the nonstop chatter about the schedule. But when you look at this game you can't go match up, match up. It's not what this is about. For at least a quarter it's all, from my opinion, from our childhood growing up. It's about feeling each other out. It's kind of like Texas OU. There's some random big plays. Sarco more than likely open up his playbook. Let's get Hargers thoughts of how does Texas leave Kyle Field with the win well, they do the same thing that they've been doing.
Speaker 4:They've been able to run the football effectively. I know a lot of people are talking about well Quinn's not throwing the ball downfield, the miscommunication on the deep passes. Well, last week there should have been the miscommunication on the deep passes. Well, last week there should have been three pass interferences on those deep balls, and that might have changed some things though, but the fact of the matter is this Texas football team has been able to run the ball to close out the last two ballgames. The last two ballgames, texas was able to take a knee and be in victory formation. Two ballgames, texas was able to take a knee and be in victory formation, and those are the types of moments that I think are program changing, effort changing, but, most importantly, you are knocking the wheel out of somebody's meanings of being out there. They have been able to do that the last three weeks. Yeah, that the last three weeks. Yeah, that last three weeks, and been doing it in an impressive fashion, in a physical way.
Speaker 3:In a physical way, harv, promote what's coming up for you on your show and where will you be on Saturday evening.
Speaker 4:We will definitely be at the Thompson Hotel downtown off of Natchez, right across Caddy Corner from Eddie D's downtown. We're doing it from the rooftop. We'll be doing a pregame show. We'll be sticking around to watch the game there on their huge big screen TV. So that's where we will be Longhorn game day with myself, the world's strongest man, wwe Hall of Famer, the Mark Henry, and of course we'll have Cam Parker directing the ship. But every day, monday through Friday, 7 to 9 am, you can find me at am 1300, the Zone. If you're driving around, you can listen to me in your car. You can always download the iHeartRadio app and tune in. It's myself, mark Henry and our producer, khalil Randall. We have a great, great time, and what's better than waking up with me every single morning and having a good time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah it's like hey good burning Good burning.
Speaker 3:Good burning yeah.
Speaker 1:Man.
Speaker 3:Brother, you work with the dream team. I will admit that's a good, solid group there. Mark Henry, never know what he's going to say, but you're better. Ever, Ever Love it. Kind of like me, kind of like our boy, mike Murphy.
Speaker 4:at Last Stand Hats Murphy at last, and half Unfiltered, exactly, exactly, definitely unfiltered.
Speaker 3:Hey, my brother Can't wait and I'm so happy for people like you and I that this is back, because this was a major part of our lives, this game, and I appreciate you, man. It's always good to chop it up and talk about anything, but even more so this rivalry.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I appreciate you, Sean, as always. Keep up the great work and keep doing you, man, because that's the only person who can do. It is you.
Speaker 3:Hey, no doubt, man, it's the same way for you. Much love to you and your family. I hope you, man, get as full as a tick Thursday. The leftovers are always better on Friday, that's all.
Speaker 1:I have to say oh for sure, For sure. That's all I had to say.
Speaker 3:Oh, for sure, For sure. So, man, anytime you get an opportunity to hang out with our guy here, the Hardball Hards. By the way, follow him on Twitter. He's on all the socials. There's so many to keep up with. And it's even better. Whenever you get a chance to talk with Hards about Texas A&M and Texas man, I'll tell you what it's always good to talk about it. Thanks for watching guys.