Good omen? Texas A&M knocks off Oklahoma State in ‘Rodeo Bowl’ ahead of ‘Texas Bowl’ game

Texas A&M and Oklahoma State are set to square off in the annual Texas Bowl in Houston on Friday. But on Monday, the 2 teams had a first crack at each other—in the rodeo ring, that is.

Each year, the participating teams in the Texas Bowl square off in the Rodeo Bowl, a rodeo-themed night featuring authentic Texas-style BBQ, music, and a set of competitions designed to help the players have some fun before the big game at the end of the week.

This year’s edition went to the Aggies, who posted a few highlights over social media following the event.

Gone Country ?

Aggies. Cowboys. Rodeo Bowl.
Let's ride!#TexasBowl | #GigEm pic.twitter.com/3mFMSJLsPb

— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) December 24, 2019

“I loved it,” Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher said afterwards. “It’s about the game, but having fun and enjoying it and spending that camaraderie (is) originally what bowl games were all about…These kids are having a great time and the bowl game is putting on an excellent show for us, that’s for sure. They’ve given us plenty of things to do and Houston’s fun.”

Was Fisher himself tempted to join in on the activities?

“[I]t ain’t happening,” the West Virginia native said. “I grew up on horses and cows, ain’t no doubt I was barrel racing when I was four or five years old that we started doing that stuff, but it is fun watching those kids doing it.”

With the Rodeo Bowl in the books, preparation shifts to the Texas Bowl at the end of the week. Texas A&M and Oklahoma State are set to kick off of Friday at 6:45 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Sydney Hunte

Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.