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State Lawmaker Files Bill to Bring Back A&M-UT Football Game

Posted: 6:30 PM Jan 28, 2013
Reporter: Stephanie Ando, Cody Lillich, KLTV

6PM UPDATE: State Lawmaker Files Bill to Bring Back A&M-UT Football Game
State Lawmaker Files Bill to Bring Back A&M-UT Football Game

AUSTIN, TX - A Texas lawmaker is trying to bring back the football rivalry between Texas A&M University and The University of Texas.

Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City) filed House Bill 778 in Austin on Monday to bring back a football game between the two programs.

"I think the people of Texas want a game, and we're trying to get them one,” said Rep. Guillen in a press release. “The purpose of this bill is to put the “eyes of Texas upon” our two greatest state universities to restore this sacred Texas tradition.”

The bill would require the two schools "to play each other annually in a non-conference, regular season football game."

The rivalry dated back to 1894 and was the third most played rivalry in Division I College Football.

The post-Thanksgiving Texas football rivalry came to an end when the Aggies decided to leave the Big XII Conference for the Southeastern Conference.

The last game between the two football programs was played in November 2011. Texas held the advantage in the series with a (76-37-5) record.

Guillen and his wife both graduated from Texas A&M University.

Today Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin commented on the bill via Twitter saying, "We remain hopeful that the game may continue one day through the normal scheduling process. Having said that, we, of course, will follow any specific direction from the Legislature."