Texas AD Chris Del Conte swipes at Florida-Georgia and Alabama-Auburn football rivalries
Without a doubt, the Southeastern Conference is the premier conference of NCAA football. Year in and year out, the SEC has the most cutthroat competition, the most championship trophies, and the most players drafted to the NFL.
Changes are coming to the SEC this year with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma, who are leaving the Big 12, and everyone is talking about how the teams will fare in the SEC. Are they prepared for the gauntlet of competition? Can they take the heat thrown out in the SEC?
No matter what you think, both teams are determined to make sure everyone knows that they are more than ready for their new conference. Earlier this week, Texas athletics director Chris Del Conte appeared on the Paul Finebaum show to let everyone know that no SEC rivalry game compares to the Red River Rivalry, the contest between Oklahoma and Texas.
“Have you been to the Red River Rivalry yet?” Del Conte asked Finebaum, per Saturday Down South. “It’s ridiculous. It’s the greatest thing ever. You may talk about the Cocktail Party, the Iron Bowl, it’s nothing like this game. At the state fair. Because you have 300,000 people, 300,000 people outside. The Iron Bowl is awesome, don’t get me wrong. At night, it’s great. Same with the Cocktail Party. But this game is nuts, too.”
Naturally, Finebaum pointed out the shade the Texas AD was directing at storied SEC rivalries, and Del Conte quickly attempted to walk back his comments.
“When your callers come in losing their mind, I was not throwing shade,” Del Conte clarified. “What I was saying was that it’s an unbelievable environment. So you’re already throwing a little sauce on it for no reason. All I was saying was that it’s an awesome game.”
Sure the Red River Rivalry is great, but is the last matchup of the season every year, one that could decide which team goes to the conference championship? The rivalry between Alabama and Auburn football is unmatched, unlike any other rivalry. Maybe it's "nothing like" the Red River Rivalry, but that's likely because the Iron Bowl stands in a category of its own.