Stories Inside the Man Cave
Stories Inside the Man Cave
Lets Talk About It: Aggies/Longhorns Rivalry with Tes Sawyer & Scott "Coach" Abernathy
Two sleeps until Texas and Texas A&M collide in Austin, and the air already crackles like a kickoff under the lights. We bring Coach Ab back to the mic alongside Tess to unpack a rivalry that still divides families, dinner tables, and decades of football memory—then we zoom into what actually decides it: tackling, leverage, and composure when the stadium screams otherwise.
We start with the scene-setter: DKR at night, the drone show, and the return of Midnight Yell to the Capitol steps. Then we get clinical. Why did Texas’ defense shift from September dominance to late-season misfires? Coach breaks down the pressure-versus-coverage trade, the cost of adding a fifth rusher, and how missed tackles are more about want-to than highlight hits. Tess counters with what’s fixable—communication, rotations, and gap fits—while calling out the one matchup that scares her most: A&M’s backs against soft boxes.
Quarterbacks and trenches take center stage. Reed’s dual-threat stress versus a plan to set hard edges and funnel help. Manning’s midseason leap—calmer eyes, smarter slides, and quick profit-taking when protections hold. We talk time of possession, field position, and why first-and-10 defense is the real down of the night. Sprinkle in playoff scenarios, bowl projections, and a rapid-fire prediction round, and you’ve got a roadmap for what to watch on every snap.
If you crave more than clichés and want real angles you can use while you watch—run fits, red zone choices, and the hidden yards of special teams—you’re in the right place. Tap play, ride the rivalry with us, and then tell us your score. Subscribe, share with a fellow Longhorn or Aggie, and leave a quick review to help more college football fans find the show.
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SPEAKER_05:Just a couple more sleeps until the 121st Aggie Longhorns Rivalry renewal. Man, it is special. It's the first one, if you have not heard, that will be played here in Austin, Texas since 2010. 15 years without the best rivalry in the state of Texas, and arguably the best rivalry in the country. One thing that is special about this game, it really and truly divides a state, divides families, divides marriages, relationships, friendships for a day or two. And it is so hostile. The energy is electric, it even creates fights before a game.
SPEAKER_03:Moment to go, it got ugly at midfield. This is something that sadly we've seen before in college football. It very nearly happened when Florida State played Miami. Texas AM won that game, I believe, 21 to 10, but I have to give it to Texas on the brawl.
SPEAKER_05:And we are two sleeps, 48 hours away. And in this episode of 497, I have two newer faces. One you may remember. Yes, the first lady of the man cave is back, and a guy we call Coach. So, any opportunity you have a chance to discuss the Aggies and Longhorns playing tackle football, it's always good to talk about. Scott Avernathy, Hard Grove Roofing. Uh Tess, I've got to get your thoughts. Uh I was looking at you in the thumbnail there. I I don't think you were too pleased to see or hear Saul Varsity's horns off. No, I don't like that.
SPEAKER_09:Not one bit. And I'm so glad that uh we do not have to go to college station on Friday. God bless America. We will be in DKR. Thank goodness. Without music being pumped in, by the way.
SPEAKER_05:Oh my god. Hey, but that was a great atmosphere last year. And um, it was electric. I I would anticipate it being electric here, but um, I am Sean Clinch, uh, the host of Stories Inside the Man Cave. And Tess is coming back. Tess is back. We're about to launch our new series. It's no longer gonna be called the former name, it's in the works. We want to keep a little bit of a surprise, but we want to give a shout out to a really special local company that is she is a Texas alum, and this is it spirit dress. She and there's Tess on the left modeling some uh Mercer's clothing line. Right now, um that's not Tess on the right, it's mainly women's clothing, spirit dress, and and Tess, you've got one of the shirts on. I think it's the same one in the photo.
SPEAKER_09:Yes, yes, I coordinated that. So yeah, so it's this is uh this is my best friend that I grew up with and went to high school with, I went to college with. Obviously, we both went to University of Texas, hence the burn orange. Um, and this is her her company that she started on her own, and it's pretty successful. And if you go to any uh college games, not just UT, uh, you will see uh ladies wearing her shirts because she not only does University of Texas, she does all colors. So you don't have to be a UT fan to buy her, to buy her shirt. So I highly recommend uh checking out her her site and getting your game day on because she has everything dresses, shirts, everything.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, spiritdress.com. Visit it. We will soon have a promo code, and we're looking for a nice dress for coach here. Uh or shirt. Yeah, we're good in burn orange.
SPEAKER_06:Something for this region, more so than anything.
SPEAKER_05:Scott Abernathy, we're we're basically become brothers. He and the hardgroves uh have been we become very close. They've been big supporters of this podcast as they have expanded into Texas from Louisiana. Uh, coach runs the Austin office based off of Ashdale Drive in Austin, Texas. Um, and he played football, college football at Louisiana. Tech coached high school football for a long time in the state of Louisiana, was a really highly respected coach there. I'll start with you, coach. Uh, as we allude to this, we want everyone to follow us on each of our social media platforms. And if you subscribe to YouTube, it's great because it's free. Things are tough in our economy now, and free things are wonderful. Um, we'll begin with you, coach. Being a Louisiana guy, uh, the Aggies Horns rivalry. How do you sum that up from an outsider's perspective? You're a Longhorns fan now. You went with me to the game last week.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, and Miss Tess had all of her beautiful uh ensemble on the other night. I I thought that she was the queen of uh UT, the what the way that she was dressed. She she and I'm sure her friend, her friend uh gave her a lot of those stuff. But I've enjoyed, I've enjoyed being a part of this um UT community. And and Hargro Billy, uh, Billy, who uh owns our company, played for me high school football years ago, and years and years ago, he was uh he was a UT fan, and that's why we're uh where we are today, and we're excited. But the rivalry is just one of the top rivalries in the in the nation. You look OU Michigan this week, and you look at LSU Alabama, and you look at all these different uh rivalries that that we're excited about uh watching. This is one of the best. I went to this, I went to this game years ago when uh when I I had a young lady that I was dating from AM, and I went to that game, and then my son uh just went to an AM game and he said, Coach, it's a lot different down there. And I said, Yes, sir, uh uh, but this is this is exciting. I mean, what I mean, what more can you ask for? You got Texas playing at a higher level than they have uh uh in in points during the year, and then everybody has uh not really said that AM's as good as they are, and then you watch them and they're and they're pretty darn good. So this is this is one of the best games of the weekend.
SPEAKER_05:And you can hear it, you can tell that uh coach ab is a former coach, a projection of the voice. Uh Tess can project her voice too, and that's uh I've seen it, I've heard it as a fan. Tess tell me what you anticipate for DKR. I've been telling people I think this may be the most electric DKR will be in maybe two decades. I mean, what do you anticipate?
SPEAKER_09:Yeah, I mean, I think electric sums it up, and I think we have to be because this is this is a huge game. Um, obviously, the it's uh the history of this game being played and for it finally coming back to fruition with you know Longhorns joining the SEC. And this is the first time the Aggies have been in DKR 15 years. Yeah. 2010. So this is, I mean, that's a real that's a really long time. And I mean, obviously uh us going to college station last year, which was uh historic being there, us uh taking the win, which was also wonderful. Um, but I'm really excited for them to come to town. I hope, I hope they have a lot of fans in the stands. I mean, I think it will be primarily Burn Orange, but I think there'll be a lot of people um attending just because of you know how close College Station is to Austin and how many, how many college uh AM fans live in Austin. So I think it's just gonna be amazing. It's a night game, which we all know how night games are at DKR, the lights, the drone show, the music, Django Walker, all these things. So I think it's just gonna be an absolute um just cinema, is what we're all saying. And uh, and I'm so glad I'm gonna be there. I'm a season ticket holder, and I've been looking forward to this game the entire year. So can't wait. I can't wait. Let's just skip Thanksgiving and go to the football game. Yeah, let's do it.
SPEAKER_05:Let's just skip it. So I did a little research, and so Coach Tess and I grew up in Austin, and one thing and and one thing that a lot of people aren't aware of the Capitol City AM Former Students Association um is the largest chapter that they have in the country, and growing up here, it when the game was here before you know AM volted for the SEC out of the Big 12, they had a parade that morning uh with the core cadets and the band. The night before they would have their midnight yell practice on the steps of the Capitol. I did some research, it's happening. Um, tomorrow night they will have I think I guess it's Thanksgiving night, they're gonna have the midnight yell practice again at the state capitol, and then uh Thursday or excuse me, Friday morning have the parade. I may have my days back, but let's talk ball.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, I mean, as a coach, I mean, I I mean, I'd be like, no, sir, that ain't happening on the steps of the Capitol. I know it's Texas, but I mean, we're right by Austin, baby. UT, that ain't happening. Dangerous.
SPEAKER_05:Uh, we may have involved something with throwing eggs one year when I was in high school, but uh, but I'm I'm not gonna not gonna too uh confirm or deny it. Um let's talk ball, let's give our flowers to AM 11 and 0. They beat Notre Dame on the road, but you know, because not every SEC team plays each other, next year they'll go to nine games. If AM loses, let's say they lose to Texas, it's kind of bizarre. They're number three in the CFP, and and and honestly, they could be two or one, depending on whose perspective. But uh Coach Elko, um, the Aggie's head coach in his second year was asked, what happens? What happens if they were to lose?
SPEAKER_00:It's gonna force us to go eight and oh to get to Atlanta, and um, you know, it is what it is, I think. In another year, uh, certainly last year it wouldn't have taken the same.
SPEAKER_05:So if they lose, and let's say Alabama wins and um Ole Miss wins Eggbolt, AM's out. And but that could be a good thing for them, right? Because they don't have to play another week because they're in the CFP for sure. Tess, what's your what's your thought? We'll go around the table top to bottom.
SPEAKER_09:Yeah, I mean, yeah, they're going to the playoff. It doesn't matter if they lose to Texas. I mean, it's uh, I think that's clinched, no pun intended. Uh so uh yeah, so they're going to the C I'll be here till Friday. Um so yeah, they're going to the CFP no matter what. I mean, uh, you know, the best thing I think Texas could do right now is just, you know, live another year in their head, right? So we can we can beat them. Uh we can walk out of this season saying we beat all three of our rivals OU, Arkansas, and AM.
SPEAKER_05:That's a good point.
SPEAKER_09:That's good in my book, right? That's that's a successful season. I mean, however you slice it in dice it. I mean, but uh, and and I think, you know, uh if we beat AM, we'd probably go to a better bowl game. But if Aggies lose to Texas, I don't think I think it's gonna are we we're gonna it's gonna knock him out of the SEC. Unless yeah, and so but I mean that doesn't make a difference in the playoffs, so that's not gonna count. And I mean, all you're gonna do is just get your players dinged up a little bit more, and what really counts is the playoff. I mean, SEC championship is nice, but I would rather I'd rather not go and go to the playoff and go further, but that's my theory.
SPEAKER_05:Coach, your thoughts. I mean, you have you the fact that I think you and I talked at a lunch and then with Stevie Lee, uh, you there's gonna we thought there'd be one or two lost teams in the SEC championship, and AM has to go undefeated.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, the the whole the whole deal with it is it's it's bragging rights right now. This this game's irrelevant, as my 16-year-old would say, 6'7, 6'8. It doesn't matter. I was like, I was gonna joke again if I hear it again. But the but the bottom line is it doesn't really matter. What it is is Michigan and Ohio State. You know, Ohio State won a national championship last year. They can't beat Michigan. No, and this is this is all about bragging rights. And you know, the funny thing about these rivalry games, in my opinion, the the fans, even at the high school level, I mean, they could care less. You could go one and nine and beat, you know, beat the Aggies, or you could go whatever. I mean, now after the after the fact they go, yeah, we did that, but we didn't have, but in that moment, rivalry games are huge, and and really everything's out the door. I mean, you know, it just is it's it's one of them deals that uh, you know, even if a team's not as good or one's one's better, but but you got two quality teams here, but sometimes you have a really quality team and not a quality team, and that and you know, the rivalry is more important.
SPEAKER_05:That's a great point. And when you dig deeper, you mentioned, and this is something I'll just mention briefly, you mentioned Michigan, Ohio State. Uh, where Texas is right now in the CFP rankings, it's not good, it's not good to say they win. What if now what if Michigan beats Ohio State? And you can there's other scenarios. My whole deal this entire season and last year is let every team play their schedule. That's right. Because the college football does a wonderful job with the CFP being released, all it does is create a week-long conversation and viral tweets and heated people making an ass out of themselves on social media. But that's that's the beauty of it. So, test and coach, you it's funny how this season is gone for Texas, the defense just absolutely dominant in the month of September, even at Ohio State. They had a very weak schedule after Ohio State, and then they did a really good job against OU, but then all of a sudden the defense became a little porous, it's not great right now, but then you have a total roll reversal. The offense is better, but the defense is struggling. So, Ethan Burke, um, local guy, senior, he'll be part of senior day for the AM game. He was asked about this, and he essentially said the decline of the Texas defense has nothing to do with who they're playing.
SPEAKER_02:The problems aren't really them beating us, it's us doing it to ourselves a little bit, just communicating and and making sure if we're on the same page, um we're great. And sometimes we just give them freebies, uh, you know. So just I think this week focus on communicating and and dialing that in.
SPEAKER_05:That's interesting. Um we'll start with you, Tess. And I remember when before their freshman year when Ethan reported, we had a group photo, I think, at the RBI now at Bad Dinner, when they were young pups.
SPEAKER_09:Yes, yes. Oh, I love Ethan. I think he's a stellar player and he's he's really fun to watch um make some really explosive plays. So I mean, I I hadn't seen that clip. So I'm wondering, uh, you know, if it is communication, is that like a is that an issue that we missed a game with Taft and now we're we're missing some games with um Anthony Hill. Taft came back, Hill went out. I wonder if there's some sort of if that's what he's uh speaking to. But what I've noticed is I mean, yeah, I mean, if if it's a communication issue, then that's what we're seeing because ever since, well, in Florida, there was a big breakdown. And then um the second half of the Vanderbilt game, it was like we just you know, it got really soft. And and you know, the amount of uh pressure they run up the middle on us has gotten just crazy um with some of these games, you know. And even with with Arkansas, I mean, we we we tend to not be able to stop running backs very well. And if they have really good running backs, it's it's not good for Texas. And that's what actually, you know, personally, I'm not as scared about the passing than I am about the running backs with the Texas AM. They have very good running backs, so um, yeah, I don't know what's going on. I think it it does seem if it is communication, that seems very fixable to me, and hopefully that's been resolved in this last week. But I mean, yeah, you saw it, you saw it against Georgia, you bad. Um, so and it's crazy because they're not looking like the defense that I saw play Ohio State, which seemed just tight and sharp and never missing a beat. But we're it's like we're just zoning out or we're missing, we're missing reads. I don't know what's going on, but yeah, something something stinks in suburbia, and I don't I don't I hope they got to the bottom of it.
SPEAKER_05:Coach, you and I, I love talking to Coach because he hees sees things from a very different perspective from being a coach. You during last week's game that we were talking, and I just love listening to you. We were talking about a lot of the offensive linemen and and and the the procedure of it, the penalties, whatnot. That and that's a whole nother topic. But what did you see? What do you see with this defense? Do you agree with Ethan, or do you you think it's complete opposite? What are you seeing?
SPEAKER_06:It's business decisions. These kids are not tackling is want to. You know, when I was a younger coach, I only saw that position I was coaching, but I watched a lot of times these kids are coming in there and they're not there's not a want. And um that stars and money and NAL doesn't have nothing to do with getting that kid's blood on the damn field. You watch the kid, you watch that kid from um that's with the Eagles that everybody loves, that's Cooper, watch him tackle. You watch him tackle on Sunday night. Watch him tackle somebody. He don't miss tackles because he wants to tackle somebody.
SPEAKER_05:Talk about Cooper Dezine.
SPEAKER_06:Yes, sir. You watch him tackle uh the Cowboys the other night when he's in a one-on-one situation. It's a want to. It's not, it's it's business decisions. They come in, they want the big blow, they want to do this, or they want to tackle somebody up high. When somebody like Cooper Dejean, he's tackling at the thighs and he's putting them cats down. It's not the the big money blow, it's not the you know, the X or Twitter or whatever the hell hit. It is putting somebody on the ground, and that's a want-to, and that's that's just that's what I'm missing. The other thing with UT is they're I I've noticed that they they're they're sending a pressure or something because they're not getting pressure with a four-man front, so they have to add somebody to it, and then they're they're giving up a zone or they're giving up a person. And the other night, you know, Arkansas, even though we played well, you know, offensively and parts of the time defensively, there were a lot of times where somebody was wide open, like nobody on them, and that's because they're adding, they're having to add another person to the pressure, and uh, you know, the defensive line that we paid five million thousand dollars to to get a rush is not is not happening. I mean, watch the Super Bowl last year. Mr. Mahomes is the best of the best, and they rushed four people and owned them the whole game. So, you know, when you can't get pressure, you got to add somebody, which takes somebody off the back end. That's a tough, you know, that's tough. And then when you can't add pressure, you add another one. You got to get to him fast enough to where they can't. So I know that.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, that's a good point. And and and you mentally you got to be bought in. Uh, and I will say they did put in one of the freshman DBs, I think, at corner, and I thought he did well.
SPEAKER_06:Um, made a big tackle, big tackle, like on a on like look a little quick route, and he came up and made a a great tackle, but you know, it goes back to are you willing to buy into that? That it's not about anything else but getting that dude on the ground. It does not have to mean it doesn't have to look great, you just gotta tackle people.
SPEAKER_05:That's as simple as that. So we go from the defensive part that it's it's just amazes me how the uh the this season has evolved from all defense to now the offense is becoming maybe the stronger suit, but I think we all know that if Anthony Hill plays, you got Kylin Simmons on the other end, and that D-line just plays at least average in the they this may be the game that brings the switch back, but you know both staffs are going to try to win the chess match. Um the one key, and I think this is a very Tess, you and I have talked about this. I think you texted me the matchup. So Marcel Reid as a freshman had a decent freshman year last year, and Texas humbled him. And Manning had a really slow start to the season because of the O-line was not good. Now it's average to good. Um, and if you put their stats, this is what's mind-blowing to me. I put up a post on the podcast TikTok. There is a debate, a lot of hatred spewed, saying that Manning put up big numbers against bullshit competition. And well, what did AM do? They played uh Samford, and uh the seven their seven what SEC games were bottom feeders. Yeah, um, but I'm not in that debate. I think AM's a good program. But if you look at their numbers, Reed and Manning, very similar. What's your take on this? I mean very because he's a Heisman candidate, too.
SPEAKER_09:Right. I mean, I also think you have to look at who, I mean, I think what just like what you said, you have to look at who you're playing, numbers against who or whom. So, I mean, there's that. And then also, I mean, I guess the difference between um, I know they're gonna say they're kind of going head to head, but I actually see them as very different players. Very much. Very different. And um, and one thing I think that could benefit uh Texas on Friday night is that I feel like Reed is very rattle. We can rattle him. And if the defense does what they're supposed to do, won it, like coach just said, and come in there and disrupt, I think we can I think we can eat Reed alive. But if we don't, he he's gonna he's gonna be able to pass and run because he can run the ball and he's a great quarterback. But that's the difference between I've seen Manning grow this year, is um we can pressure him, but he's he's slippery, he can slip around places and get around things. So I think it's gonna be more difficult for the defense on AM if our defense plays like they have in some other games and shows up. So um I think that will be key. I mean, I think the strongest thing with AM is not gonna be Marcel Reed. I think it's probably gonna be their running backs or the biggest challenge for us.
SPEAKER_05:That's what I agree with that, coach South Carolina put on tape how to get after Marcel Reed and AM's offense that first half, but then the second half, that was a clinic by the Texas AM offense. The Aggies couldn't they were they steamrolled those cocks. Um they're the game cocks, by the way. If people are not sure what the uh mascot of is South Carolina, but uh do what is your what do you see in this guy, uh Marcel Reid? I think he's a good young quarterback. And tell the folks what you told me about Arch when when we were leaving the state.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, I mean that the whole thing with Arch, I mean, I I thought he was going to be great. I saw him in high school, played, you know, comp competition against him from Louisiana and all that kind of stuff. You know, he had all the he had all the tools that, you know, obviously, you know, from his lineage, but what I saw the first of the year was just simply, you know, if you watch his, if you watch his mannerisms now, his head was uh always all over the place the first couple weeks because he was worried about, you know, he's worried about the pressure. You watch him, you watch him, you break down. I you and I saw three or four different plays where he just stepped up in the pocket, he moved around, he's got great, he's an athlete too. This is a basketball, you know, this was a basketball kid that was, you know, this isn't this isn't, you know, Peyton Manning. This is Manning part two. His dad was a wide receiver. This is an athletic kid, and uh, I'm just super excited. I hope he, I hope he doesn't go to the NFL. I hope he comes back and and he really uh you know makes uh you know makes an effort. Now, Reed, going back to Reed, it you know, they're they're in a beautiful spot. They have an amazing offensive line. They have made it it's basically going back to Arkansas Wildcat with a with a guy that can run. You're adding another running back into the backfield. So you run, you can do all kinds of stuff. It's very similar to a very good version of Georgia Tech and Haynes King, a kid that's a running back, but Reed can throw it too. So you have all the all the counter game, all the athletic offensive linemen, you got all those running backs, and then you got him out the back door. It's it's a challenge. Um, when you play a guy like that with running backs like that, you have to commit to the run and not be worried about the pass and make him beat you throwing the football. Because if you don't stop the run, he's gonna, as one of my former coaches used to say, he's gonna boat race you.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:And it's gonna be it's gonna be a problem. And those running backs with him and the tight ends and the old line, they got five or six, seven offensive linemen. Got wide receivers. I mean, they're loaded, but you can, like Tess said. I truly believe when you have a kid like him that is more of an athlete slasher kind of thing, his his head and his mannerisms will start getting wobbly if you if you contain him because he's gonna want to run. Arch stepped up the other night and you watched him. I mean, there were a hundred times the first three weeks of the season, and his head was on a swivel. The other night it was just boom boom boom downfield, boom, boom, boom, slide. I mean, it's uh he's gonna be special, he's gonna be special for you know the rest of the year and hopefully years to come. And in the NFL, he's he's a good one.
SPEAKER_05:Uh, it's it's I've never seen a quarterback in a long time uh make this much progression within a season, and that's that's that's what I love to see. And I have to say this though, that Arkansas offensive line it was massive, and I think that's advantageous for Texas, the defense having faced a big physical offensive line like that before they play AM. Um, but I I hey again, I'll give the flowers to AM. Their running game is is legit. I think they've got a great scheme going on, and I I love love watching Marcel Reed.
SPEAKER_06:LSU still has uh uh flashbacks from last year with Reed starting his first game. I mean, they're having uh they're taking anti-anxiety medicine from him uh running all over them last year. I can promise you uh that was that was impressive.
SPEAKER_05:There's a little Vince Young in Vince Reed. Uh just God, he's he's that good. But to test and coach your point, it's just you pressure him from the outside and then funnel him to the middle. I think that's what Texas defense is probably going to have.
SPEAKER_06:As long as somebody's in the middle.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, who's gonna be in the middle?
SPEAKER_09:Just roll out the red carpet, Tesla.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, here out to the end zone 60 yards that way. Um, since it's Thanksgiving, um I you know, I you know me, my humor, I it wouldn't be right if I didn't have my type of humor. Um, before I ask y'all what type of meat or protein you like, there's always that question dark or white?
SPEAKER_01:You prefer the dark meat as well? I have always preferred dark meat, but um, if things don't work out this Thanksgiving, I think I'm gonna switch and start going after the white meat expensive. I mean that sincerely. Um, by the way, if you want to chime in.
SPEAKER_06:Pour a little gravy out of it, it'll be fine.
SPEAKER_01:I'm gonna work with it. You just have an email. I think I can work with the white meat. I do.
SPEAKER_05:That is horrible. It was so are we? Are we even gonna go to white or dark meat, or are we just gonna go straight to dishes?
SPEAKER_06:Uh I like a little bit of both. Fried fried turkey. Hey, good job, Seth. That was that was preceded. Well done.
SPEAKER_09:I keep my options open.
SPEAKER_05:So at the dinner table.
SPEAKER_06:That's why I uh that's why I tan, Miss Tess. There you go. You don't know what you're gonna get.
SPEAKER_05:Hey, I'm I'm very vanilla. I do love a good green bean casserole. Criticize me, hate on me. There's a lot of green bean casserole haters out there, and I don't understand it. I don't get it.
SPEAKER_09:Yeah, I'm not a big fan of the green bean casserole, but my mom makes just for me every year. In fact, she already told me that she's already made them because she's got to make them ahead of time so they really marinate. She makes her southern green beans. This is just good old southern green beans, and it's my favorite thing. And um, I get in trouble for doing drive-bys on at the pot, all kinds of things because I love these things. I don't know why they're so good. So, yeah, that's my that's definitely my favorite dish. So, shout out to Mama Lori if you're listening.
SPEAKER_06:Well, my my mother uh is uh uh from the Midwest, so everything was on broil, and uh everything was and you would think that I would be thinner um based on uh my mom's uh my mother's cooking. I mean, we had uh stovetop stuffing and burnt rolls and really horrible green bean casserole and turkey that you would need to uh hydrate before you ate it. So um I have kind of moved towards more of my in-laws food, you know, going back and uh it doesn't really matter. It's all good after being a child of um stovetop and very dry uh turkey and pumpkin pie that was just uh horrific. So um yeah, I don't really care. Uh weak fried turkeys now and you know, with the Cajun injection, they're all really good, but it's just it's just more loving on each other and uh finding a time for a cocktail and watching some football.
SPEAKER_05:Little hot tottdy and some injection into some uh darker white meat. Correct. That is, you know, it's it's fantastic. And you know, the key to happiness is a good fine giblet gravy.
SPEAKER_06:My dad, my dad would put the cranberry, I was like, man, he always mixed foods too, you know, like jelly, like jello next to mash, and I'd be like, ugh.
SPEAKER_09:Yeah, I'm not a food mixer either.
SPEAKER_06:Food separator, yeah, maybe some corn into some mashed potatoes, but like if if it doesn't, if it shouldn't be next to one another, like I when I was in became an adult, I always bought those China plates that had the separators so that nothing touched.
SPEAKER_09:Well, I don't like sweet with my meat, so don't put cranberry with meat, they don't they don't go.
SPEAKER_05:See, I disagree on pork loin, it tastes good.
SPEAKER_09:Oh no, I I can't those people that eat jelly on meat. I'm out of pineapple on pizza, no pizza, pineapple on pizza.
SPEAKER_08:No way, no way.
SPEAKER_05:Oh my god, that's that's a great, that's the best conversation ever. Um but so we gotta end it with a punch. Okay, we're gonna do predictions. Gig 'em or hook them and the score. Should I go first? You go first.
SPEAKER_09:Yes.
SPEAKER_05:I was I was going to pick AM, and then I just had this epiphany. I had I had a vision last night in my dreams. And I saw a defense contain their running game to 130 yards or less. I I saw two interceptions. But in the end, I saw offense actually win the time of possession for Texas. 29-27, hook 'em.
SPEAKER_09:Okay. Okay. Is it my turn or are you letting cover? Okay. Um, yes, I feel I feel it will also be a uh, you know, scoring offense um pretty equally and be a close game. So I'm gonna go with 34-31 uh Texas hook 'em.
SPEAKER_06:Yeah, I think you, I mean, there's a lot of things involved in a game like this as far as as you deal with passion between two people, your your holiday weekend, and and you're at home. I mean, you're at home. That's an advantage. You just played an amazing game. Um, is the was the talent as equal? It doesn't really matter. You feel pretty good about where you are. So um you're bringing a rival rivalry game, you're bringing back this Thanksgiving thought process. I think it is gonna be a close game, and and I think that there might be some points scored, but I think it's gonna be a tit for tat kind of thing, and I think it's gonna be close to what uh what she said about a 35-31-30 kind of game, and and uh I like the horns. I really do. It's uh it's an opportunity to, you know, it happens every year this time of year that somebody, you know, has what they call an upset game. I don't really think this is an upset. I told you the other night, I said nine and three beating AM and and playing the way they would, there's a there's a chance. I mean, they have a chance to still get into this thing. And like Tess said, the other thing is worst case scenario, you're in a better, you're better, you're in a better bowl game. You don't want to be at the Idaho potato bowl and boise. Uh that shit is not fun. I mean, you'll go so that you can get a t-shirt and a bad ring, but the bottom line is you would much rather be somewhere that they're gonna take care of you uh in in in January.
SPEAKER_05:So you definitely don't want them to fall down the rings at eight and four and end up in Houston at the Texas Bowl where they played a two or three times. I will say the Texas Bowl gave us media gifts. Uh, most bowls did.
SPEAKER_06:They're good.
SPEAKER_05:My favorite one wasn't uh uh Academy gift card for a decent number.
SPEAKER_06:Now we didn't get in 1990 when you played in the Shreveport. Now there's been 400 and different names for the Independence Bowl. Yeah, it's been the polling weed eater bowl, it's been the uh hell, I don't even know all the bowls. It's been I don't even know what it is, Radiance Technology Bowl now. But the bottom line is we didn't have no gifts, we just we were lucky to play and get a meal, but now the expectations are for Xboxes and all kinds of but the the Texas Bowl is done. Lshu's played there before and played, you know, and they've gotten some really nice stuff. Yeah, and now the you know the Nike and all that throws a bunch of money at the bowl games, and those kids end up, those kids end up with 10 sweatsuits when it's over with, and you know, the coaches get a couple extra bucks. It's it's a good it's a good time, but but I I wouldn't want to go anywhere that's cold.
SPEAKER_05:No, no, no, let's stay away from that. I don't want to end up at the pinstripe bowl in Yankee Stadium. Hey, the good thing, Tess, Tess and I made this uh we went to the Alamo Bowl one year, and but thank goodness uh the Alamo Bowl does not have a tie-in to the SEC, so there will not be a trip to the Alamo Bowl. It may be worse to Houston.
SPEAKER_09:If that's supposed to be well, yeah, I'm Alamo bowled out, so I'll take I'll I'll go to I'm I'm cool with that. I feel like I feel like we've been exiled to the Alamo Bowl too many times.
SPEAKER_06:So I tell you, with a win, the peach bowl has some teeth to it, and that's a heck of a bowl. And now in Atlanta, you know. Yeah, they're there that's a that's a that's a fun event, and that that arena's awesome, and um Atlanta's a cool spot too. There's a gazillion of them now, so I can't keep up with them and what goes to what.
SPEAKER_05:But I I think if Texas loses to AM, they're gonna end up in uh Tampa or Orlando, one of those bowl games. Um, but I'm not saying Texas deserves to be in the CFP with three losses, but there is that chance, and everything just is this is the beauty of college football. Everything could fall into place. You've got to play all the games, and we still won't know until after next weekend when the conference championship games after they're done. So who knows? A week from Sunday, Texas may be in the CFP, but first things first, you gotta beat those Aggies in Austin. Got to, yes, man. I'm excited to have you back. We're about to have our regular show back on the rotation. Coach, much love, happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, brother. Uh I reach out.
SPEAKER_06:I enjoy, you know. I I don't I love talking ball, no matter what it is.
SPEAKER_05:You like talking shit too.
SPEAKER_06:Hey, I have a face for radio, so maybe we need a radio show instead of this uh podcast.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, Tess, much love, happy Thanksgiving.
SPEAKER_09:Much love, happy Thanksgiving, Sean and Coach.
SPEAKER_05:Oh my goodness, and thank you to honest plumbing and air, where a handshake still means something, and hardgrove roofing. Um how do you say it? Stevie does it best. How do you do it, coach? The slogan, know who's on your roof. Give coach a shout. It's me. Stevie Lee gets really, really loud and gets looks with intention when he's know who's on your roof. Yeah.
SPEAKER_06:I got in trouble for talking to my son this morning because I was too loud. So I'm I'm loud just talking normal. So uh if I start screaming, y'all won't be able to uh y'all had to put earplugs in.
SPEAKER_05:That's real nice, Clark. Happy Thanksgiving to you guys. I hope you get a food coma, both of you tomorrow. And for Tess and Coach Ab, and for everybody out there, happy Thanksgiving. And just in case you were not aware, just in case, um, whenever you get a chance to talk about the Aggies, the Longhorns, great college football rivalries, you know what? It's always good to talk about it.