It is with some level of trepidation that I post this …
I have not one, but two Aggie children. (We’re in the trust tree right guys?!?)
Daughter graduated from TAMU in 2022 and son will graduate in 25 or 26.
Keep in mind that both of these kids were in burnt orange from the day they were born.
Both applied and were accepted to UT, my daughter got her first choice major (Natural Sciences) but liked the “feel” of the A&M campus more. We had been on the UT campus countless times, for games, while she was growing up but when we were at UT and A&M on consecutive days for campus tours in 2017 there was a pretty stark difference in which seemed more welcoming. I was in disbelief, but it was even apparent to me. I started at UT in 1989 and honestly, A&M now feels a lot more like UT did in the late 80s / early 90s than UT does now in my opinion. Whether that is a good thing or not is probably a matter of personal preference.
Fast forward a few years and when my son was deciding where to go (UT, TAMU, GA, UNC, TN) He was accepted to UT but didn’t get his first choice (McCombs) He was always my sports watching buddy, Horns fan to the core guy. I found myself pulling for TAMU as his school of choice because of what a great experience my daughter had while there and, honestly what a great job they do of creating a community (cult 😨) of the students on campus. My 25-year-old self would never have believed those thoughts would have entered my 50-year-old self’s mind. I still can’t believe it sometimes. He picked TAMU also and has loved it. Low point was as he was packing his stuff to go to college his Freshman year, he brought down a stack of Longhorn hoodies, t-shirts, shorts, etc. and said, “I don’t really know what to do with these.” I died, just a bit at that moment. Ha ha
I still have a 10-year-old at home who is wearing the burnt orange faithfully and even went to Tuscaloosa with me, but if I’m being honest it wouldn’t shock me if he eventually made a different choice when the time is right.
I do agree with those who are saying that generations of Texas kids either not choosing UT for various reasons, or not having UT as an option is going to change the dynamics of campus and ultimately the state over time. Again, whether that is a good thing or not is up for debate.
Good luck to all the Surly kids whatever they may choose.