ATHENS — Send them back to the Big 12.
That was the recommendation of U.S. Rep. Mike Collins (R), who used his time on the floor of the nation’s Capitol on Tuesday to advise the Texas Longhorns to head on back to the Big 12 Conference rather than try to make a name for themselves in the rough-and-tumble SEC.
Texas accepted an invitation to join Southeastern Conference membership in 2021 and played their first season in the football-centric league this year. It mostly went well for the Longhorns, except for the two times they ran into “the mean machine in red and black.”
Collins’ Georgia Bulldogs — he represents the 10th Congressional District, which includes Athens and Northeast Georgia — defeated then No. 2-ranked Texas 22-19 in overtime in the SEC Championship game this past Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Forty-nine days earlier, the Longhorns were ranked No. 1 when they fell to Georgia 30-15 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.
“The Dogs have proven without a doubt that Texas just ain’t ready for SEC ball,” said Collins, speaking with an easel holding an enlarged photo of the Bulldogs hosting the championship trophy to his left. “What an incredible win, Mr. Speaker. Not only did the Dogs absolutely smoke Texas in overtime, but they did it with class, style and a backup quarterback.”
The victory gave Georgia, an SEC founding member, its 15th conference championship and earned the Bulldogs a bye into the second round of the College Football Playoff’s first 12-team playoff. However, Texas fell only to No. 3 in the CFP’s final rankings and will play host to No. 12 Clemson as the playoff’s No. 5 seed in the playoff’s opening round.
Immaterial to Collins.
“The Dogs aren’t done yet,” the congressman continued. “They’ve got another national championship to bring back to Athens. Don’t let nothing stop you. Mr. Speaker, ‘Go Dawgs!’ And I yield back.”
Of course, Collins’ remarks were made in jest. The Jackson native and Georgia State graduate is well known for occasionally using Capitol’s lectern to make a frivolous point. It’s usually about his beloved Bulldogs.
His tongue-in-cheek messages about UGA football often unify across party lines.
“OK, on this we can agree. Go Dawgs!” Georgia state Rep. Esther Panitch, D-Sandy Springs, replied to Collins’ video message posted on X.
About the Author
