Bill introduced in Texas legislature to make annual Texas-Texas A&M tilt mandatory

General view of the line of scrimmage during a game between the Texas A&M Aggies and Texas Longhorns in the third quarter at Kyle Field. (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)

According to Outkick the Coverage, the Texas state legislature has gotten itself involved in the loss of the Texas-Texas A&M rivalry game.

Played every year since 1914, the Longhorns and Aggies failed to take the field against one another in 2012 after A&M left the Big 12 for the greener pastures of the SEC.

At the time, the Horns believed that losing the rivalry game from the schedule would really hurt A&M because the Aggies were supposed to fail in their new digs. However, a Heisman Trophy and a top five finish later, and the 12th Man is all smiles.

Well, everyone but 12th Man Ryan Guillen. A state representative and an A&M alum, Guillen introduced House Bill 778. The piece of legislation, should it eventually pass all the way to the governor’s office, would actually require Texas and Texas A&M to meet annually for their rivalry game.

“Just filed HB 778; it requires UT and A&M to play each other annually in a nonconference, regular season football game.”

Perhaps Guillen really does miss the game. Perhaps this is just an Aggies fan who is really mad that now that his team is great, they won’t have the chance to beat up on the Longhorns — the bullies of the Big 12.

Whatever his motivations, this is not at all the first time a state governmental body has intervened in such a situation as this. For example, the Alabama-Auburn game, better known as the Iron Bowl, was not played even one time between the years of 1907 and 1948. The two athletic departments could not agree on various trivial matters such as where to bring in the referees from, so they simply stuck their tongues out at each other and scheduled other teams.

Finally, however, the Alabama state government threatened to withhold funds from both schools, proving that yes, money talks when it comes to football in the South. The state government straight up mandated South Carolina vs. Clemson back in the 1950s and while not a law, the Florida-FSU tilt was “greatly encouraged” by lawmakers as well.

So, basically, the South takes its football extremely seriously — so much so that now, if this bill passes and the Horns and Aggies do not meet annually, some people could literally be taken to jail.

That may seem crazy, but not to us. Rather, it simply got us here at Gamedayr wondering: If the Texas legislature is going to govern whether or not the game is going to be played, why not focus on several distinct parts of the annual rivalry matchup while we’re at it?

We figured we’d just go ahead and help out Mr. Guillen and the rest of his buddies over in the capital.

• Pass a law making it legal for Johnny Football to just straight up do whatever he wants, on the football field, at Rockets games, at Halloween parties, whatever and wherever.
• Pass a law forcing Texas A&M to use female cheerleaders — just making the world a better place.
• Make the drinking age 12-and-a-half years old for the tailgating prior to this one — gettin’ these rascals started young!
• Do not allow vegetables anywhere near the tailgating sites — Texas beef only, and for all.
• Pass a law stating that Nike and addidas must compete to design the sweetest alternative jerseys for this game — whomever win laughs all the way to the bank.
• Put up a big sign for Texas Tech in front of the stadium and have fans of both teams point and laugh on their way in.
• Force the game’s cameramen to find as many rival fans sitting next to each other as possible and put them all on the Kiss Cam throughout the game.
• Legalize beer sales in the stadium — need we say more?

No, no we don’t need to say more. Rivalry games are good. Beer is good. Annual rivalry games between Texas and Texas A&M with lots of beer around the stadium (and inside as well, oh pretty please, Texas legislature?) is good. Really good.

If this happens, it would be a ridiculous move on the part of the state government, but it would be really good for the fans.

MORE: We provide some solid suggestions to help Tennessee climb out of its $200 million debt.

What do you think Gamedayrs?