Steve Patterson on Playing Football in Mexico City and Adding the Aggies to the Schedule

Texas Athletics Director Steve Patterson met with several reporters Sunday at the AP Sports Editors Southwest Regional meeting and touched on several topics of interest.

On playing a football game in Mexico: Patterson said it "could happen by 2020." He indicated that Pac 12 teams were at the top of the list for potential opponents, but that working out the logistics of such a game takes time. He also made it clear that he considers Mexico a prime venue to expand the Texas brand.

"If we don't leverage it, someone else will," Patterson said. "We shouldn't give up that natural advantage we have."

The Texas basketball team will open their first season under Shaka Smart in China, playing Washington there on Nov. 14^th. UT's volleyball team hosted a an elite squad from China last fall, and former football coach Mack Brown headed up a delegation to Dubai to help establish relationships with alumni groups in that part of the world.

On Playing A&M in the Future:  Don't hold your breath.  Patterson stated succinctly "We're booked through '27. My phone's not ringing every day."

Future of baseball coach Augie Garrido: The Horns finished the regular season 26-25 and head into the Big 12 Baseball Tournament this week as the #5 seed. Patterson seemed to indicate that a change may not be forthcoming. "We've spoken some. ... Reality is a lot of key injuries that's hurt the team."

Patterson also mentioned that a new basketball arena was "at least 6 to 8 years away."