Texas Governor Rick Perry Proudly Roots for Texas A&M Against Alabama, Coins Catchphrase ‘Roll, Tears, Roll’

Texas Gov. Rick Perry became a grandfather this summer. By Saturday afternoon, Ella Gray Perry‘s arrival might be supplanted on the list of great things that have happened to Perry in 2013.

“Outside of an Aggie win Saturday, it’s pretty much the biggest thing to happen to me this year,” Perry told Yahoo! Sports.

Perry is a proud Texas A&M alum, and is willing to risk losing a few votes in Alabama in a potential 2016 presidential bid if it means his Aggies get a win over Alabama on Saturday. In an entertaining interview with Yahoo’s Pat Forde, Perry reflected on his time as a former A&M “Yell Leader,” his extensive knowledge of Aggies history and his role in helping the program move to the SEC from its longtime home in the Big 12.

Perry even coined an anti-Bama catchphrase — “Roll, tears, roll” — playing off the Crimson Tide’s signature call of “Roll Tide!” Like everyone else, he is captivated by A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, although Perry has no problem with Manziel’s more controversial episodes.

“I’m glad they didn’t have video cameras when I was 19 years old,” Perry said.

Photo via Facebook/Rick Perry