There was quite the mistake made at SEC media days on Tuesday, July 15, as Texas coach Steve Sarkisian took the stage.
Sarkisian was introduced to the podium to the wrong fight song. And it wasn’t just any other fight song, either: It was that of the Longhorns’ fierce in-state rival, Texas A&M.
The fifth-year coach seemed either to not realize that the ‘Aggie War Hymn’ was being played, or at didn’t acknowledge it, since it didn’t spur much reaction as he arrived to give his opening address. The song was, at least, corrected to ‘Texas Fight’ as Sarkisian left the stage after his media availability.
Texas and Texas A&M’s rivalry was renewed in 2024 after the Longhorns’ arrival to the SEC. Texas defeated the Aggies 17-7 on the road in the two programs’ first matchup since 2011, when both teams were members of the Big 12.
The Longhorns and Aggies face again this season on Friday, Nov. 28, in the regular season finale.
The hymn didn’t include the lyrics, of course, though diving into the song reveals Texas A&M’s hatred for Texas. The second verse of the song includes lines, ‘Good-bye to Texas University, so long to the orange and the white’ and ‘So good-bye to Texas University, we’re going to beat you all to Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem, Chig-gar-roo-gar-rem.’
While the move was likely nothing more than a mistake at SEC media days, it still made for quite the comedic entrance for Sarkisian to kick off the 2025 college football season in the conference.
Maybe Texas A&M coach Mike Elko will make it even and enter to ‘Texas Fight’ when he takes the stage on Thursday, July 17, in Atlanta.