PowerPoint slide shows Texas, Texas A&M rivalry pettiness is back

As we know, Texas, along with Oklahoma, officially joins the SEC in 2024.

There are a number of milestone dates across the calendar beyond the July 1 birthdate, culminating with the renewal of the football rivalry with Texas A&M on Nov. 30 but beginning on Tuesday night. 

Texas held a town hall meeting on Tuesday, in which AD Chris Del Conte offered Longhorn Nation updates across a number of initiatives across the athletics department -- including information on a new football practice facility -- ahead of the move. It was the kind of meeting where everyone in attendance went home abundantly clear on when, where and how to send in their season-ticket renewal checks. 

As part of his presentation, Del Conte included a map of the new SEC. Texas will be the SEC fourth multi-school state. For simplicity and diplomatic purposes, the map split Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi evenly down the middle, giving equal space to Bama and Auburn, Tennessee and Vandy, and Ole Miss and State. 

But as one's eye moves to the Southwest corner of the map, one can't help but notice that UT divvied up its own state differently. 

Bear in mind, this was effectively a private meeting, where Texas was speaking exclusively to its own supporters and donors. If Texas wanted to take a public shot at Texas A&M, there are much louder ways to do so.

But of course, that wasn't the point. The best shade -- also the funniest shade, which is also the best shade -- is subtle shade. If that shade is so subtle it's unacknowledged, even better.

Of course, Texas is not the only side of the rivalry to engage in clandestine warfare this month.

"We're the flagship program in this state," new Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko said at his Signing Day press conference last week.

Nov. 30 can't get here soon enough.

As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.