Even former Texas rival head coaches are pulling for Arch Manning and the Longhorns to beat Ohio State in Week 1 showdown
The entire internet let out a big guffaw Thursday when Oklahoma legend Barry Switzer revealed a recent conversation with Archie Manning. The three-time national champion and Super Bowl champion coach told the grandfather of Texas quarterback Arch Manning “Archie, I never thought there would be a day coming that I would be pulling for the […]
The entire internet let out a big guffaw Thursday when Oklahoma legend Barry Switzer revealed a recent conversation with Archie Manning.
The three-time national champion and Super Bowl champion coach told the grandfather of Texas quarterback Arch Manning “Archie, I never thought there would be a day coming that I would be pulling for the University of Texas!”
The elder Manning replied with “R.C. (Slocum) texted me! So we got an Aggie and a Sooner pulling for Horns. I am honored to have great friends.”
Barry Switzer’s three national titles spanned two decades.
Switzer spent 16 seasons at the helm of the Sooners program before leaving for the NFL to be the Dallas Cowboys head coach. He finished 157-29-4 on the college level – winning 12 Big 8 titles and was the national coach of the year in 1973 and 1974. Oklahoma won national titles in 1974, 1975, and 1985.
But, this text message exchange is so wholesome because of the disdain Switzer had for the University of Texas when he was the head coach at Oklahoma. He would often wear “BEAT TEXAS” apparel in practice and even on the sideline in 1984.
Switzer’s 9-5-2 record against Texas was a huge part of the rivalry as the Sooners dominated 1971-1974 and 1984-1988 right before he left for the Cowboys.
R.C. Slocum spent 14 years on the sidelines for Texas A&M.
Throughout his tenure, the Aggies were incredibly successful – boasting a record of 123-47-2. He won three Southwest Conference titles and one Big 12 title before being relieved of his duties. Slocum was the three-time SWC coach of the year and was initiated into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
This is another one which doesn’t need to be explained. Texas A&M and Texas have a long and intense rivalry, deeply-rooted in hatred for each other.
He landed a position as special adviser to Texas A&M president in 2002 after he quit coaching. Then, 17 years later Slocum was named interim athletic director for Texas A&M after the sudden departure of Scott Woodward to the SEC and LSU. And again, Slocum stepped up as interim AD in 2024 when Ross Bjork left for Ohio State.
R.C. Slocum was 7-7 versus Texas during his career.
He also spoke about the rivalry recently and how despite the two programs and fanbases being at each other’s throats for so long, there’s still a civil aspect of it.
“But I know a whole bunch of people who have been involved in this game and there’s a lot of mutual respect there. Great desire to win. You want to beat them. When you go out on the field you’re going to do everything you can. To me, respect is a much better emotion.”
This exchange between Barry Switzer, R.C. Slocum, and Archie Manning just emphasizes the importance of Saturday’s contest between Texas and Ohio State, but also how college football rivalries can sometimes bring people together.
Regardless of the affiliation, past memories, feuds on and off the field, everyone is seemingly always willing to compromise to cheer against Ohio State.
