Legendary coach Gene Stallings coached and played at Texas A&M and also led the Alabama Crimson Tide to the 1992 national championship as a coach.

Based on that, you’d think his presence in College Station for this weekend’s Alabama-A&M game would be a certainty.

However, that’s apparently not the case, as the legendary coach will attend the Red River Rivalry game between Texas and Oklahoma instead. During a radio appearance on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 this week (via AL.com):

“I’ve never been to it,” Stallings said. “I was scheduled to go to the A&M-Alabama game, but my preacher is a big, big Oklahoma fan. I mean he is a giant Oklahoma fan. He couldn’t get tickets.

“I got him tickets to that game. I told him I’d go with him, not knowing it’s the same date as Alabama playing A&M. That’s the game I wanted to see, but I’m going to the Oklahoma-Texas game.”

So, there you have it. At least Stallings’ heart will be in College Station on Saturday afternoon.