Most Powerful Game on Earth

Palestinian Women's Team Video

There are no coincidences. There is no such thing as luck. As dramatic an introduction as the preceding sentences create, the point here is simple: the more you read, travel, listen, and become exposed the more likely life will play out like a scripted movie. One is reminded of this in unbelievable fashion - like when I reencountered a backpacker I initially met in Granada, Nicaragua in the train station in Marseilles, France. Or it can occur in a much more subtle way. For instance, like when I listened to Smetana's The Moldau, a song I had randomly placed on my ipod, for weeks on my Euro trip and then heard it playing through the public speakers at the Prague (the place of his birth) train platform. The one here belongs on the subtle end of the "that's crazy" spectrum. I came across this article/video in the New York Times and got the "thats crazy" feeling. The article and video are powerful because they convey a message of the same quality. It will also serve as the lens by which I will view my trip to Ft. Worth on Friday. There, I will watch my cousin Marisa and her women's soccer team, San Diego State University, take on the home team Texas Christian University. Watch the video here about the Palestinian Women's team.

Victory

It was a victorious weekend in so many ways. I didn't lose my camera, I got some studying done for my midterm, I ate some fried foods, and the Longhorns won the game. Like I said about Mardi Gras last year, I will never miss this weekend again. I hope some readers enjoyed the rated G version of my first Red River Rivalry. It will be the first of many. Oh yeah, and OU Sucks.

Tailgating the Boulevard

I lived 5 minutes from SMU's campus for an entire year and never ventured across the freeway to their infamous tailgating. I think they have a slogan something like "we tailgate harder than you party." (?) Either way, that statement is true. The former president of Ole Miss brought the tradition with him from his previous university when getting hired on at SMU. It is essentially the most well-funded and organized tailgating scene of which I have been a part. On the lower lawn are the alumni and the upper lawn consists of, very well-funded, fraternities and sororities. We hung in the upper end. Food, beer, and eye candy everywhere. Without trying to sound like too much of a single, back in college, male, I do want to offer that if Jessica Simpson is objectively beautiful then SMU has the most beautiful girls I have ever seen on a college campus. But enough of that.

SMU v. Navy

Leaving the Cotton Bowl didn't mark the end of football or debauchery, it was only half the battle as they say. Brian, a graduate of Southern Methodist University, easily convinced us to tailgate and attend the game versus Navy. So in full burnt orange attire we proceeded to cheer for the red and blue Mustangs. SMU's campus, facilities, and stadium are all pristine. Overall it is very impressive and the small school atmosphere was comfortable - alot more like what my undergraduate experience was like. Um, bad football team and all.

Fried Oreos

If there was ever a food that was both disgusting and delicious at the same time it was the fried oreo. Your heart beats a little faster with each extension of the arm to grab another - not out of excitement but more out of worry I think. One of them is worth it, eating all five isn't. It is probably a good thing that the fried butter line was too long for me to justify waiting.

Corn Dog

The corn dog is kind of a big deal around here. I mean truthfully on the totem pole of processed meat corn dogs have to be closer to the bottom. Don't get me wrong, I respect a good mustard soaked fried piece of meat on a stick, but I just don't say prayers to it like some might. Now a turkey leg, that's something worthy of a bow. And another thing, I don't like that they use the word "corney" as opposed to "corn," it just doesn't roll off the tongue. Here is Brian making his second appearance on the big stage aka my blog.

Belly Dancers

BELLY dancers.

Big Tex

Big Tex...

...who, by the way, talks and is very informative and welcoming.

Texas State Fair

So there are some other ongoings that I need to talk about. Life isn't only about football I guess. The Texas State Fair takes place each year as part of the football - or vice versa. The fair is complete with impossible to win games, ferris wheel, food, sideshows, and all kinds of sights. Exhausted from the game we spent minimal time meandering through the throngs of fans. I must admit I was hoping to see some good ol' jeering going on but there was none of that. Turns out we Texans/Oklahomans have a tremendous amount of class and respect for each other. Where were the fights? the thrown beers? the obscenities? I thought this was gonna be the southern version of Yankees-Red Sox. It wasn't.

Face of Defeat

Sad OU cheerleader.

16 - 13

The win wasn't pretty but neither are Oklahoma fans. Something like 8 turnovers between the two teams made for a seat-of-your-chair game. That is, if we even used our seats. We stood for the game's entirety. Today at the law school students could barely talk from cheering and most were still red from the 4 hour tanning session - complete with sunglasses tan lines. Additionally, I think a hangover is a prerequisite to entering the stadium turnstiles. It was a hard fought victory for the teams and fans. I dread to think that one day I might not walk out of that situation victorious. For now, I don't have to do such a thing, as we came out on top and still in the hunt for a national championship, 16 - 13.

T.E.X.A.S.

The field.

Gang Signs

Everyone needs a gang sign. We can detest violent gangs for alot of things, but not for their hand signals. We as Americans are obsessed with them. A&M has its thumbs, Texas Tech has its hand pistols, SMU has its bunny/pony ears, Houston has the double entendre index, middle, and pinky cougar paw, and the University of Texas has the best of them all. It is not the best because we are the better football team, but because we flash it with pride every time and everywhere. Whenever I travel to a new place in the world I always take at least two pictures with the most important landmarks: one normal smiling and one with the horns raised proud. As unorthodox as I am, I am certain this is the norm for many a Texas fan. It is part of us, it is a source of pride, and it is the visual representation of that which we love.

Parting the Red River

In the Bible Moses is said to have parted the Red Sea - you know so he could lead his people across. Well down here in Texas the dividing occurs at the Red River. The river creates the border between Texas and Oklahoma and no one is swimming across it in search of a better football team. For those of you outside the contiguous 48 states, the Bronx, South Boston, or Mars Oklahoma wears red and Texas burnt orange. In the Cotton Bowl, Red separates from Orange, not in cranberry orange juice cocktail kind of way but more in a grocery store apples and oranges fruit section kind of way. In a back and forth game, as this one was, half the stadium will go silent as the other erupts in a raucous. Thankfully, at the final whistle, those of us in orange weren't the ones to go silent. For those in red, it was as if the waters came crashing down.

Hate

I heard the motor overhead as I had just finished reading a few ESPN articles about the BCS standings. I walked out of my apartment on to the balcony and looked up. There flying high, at at an altitude safely out of canon range, was a crop duster type plane circling the UT campus. Trailing behind the tail in a distinct red font were the words "Get over it." Last year, after having beaten Oklahoma in beautiful fashion at the last Red River Rivalry, the computers granted them the opportunity to play against Florida in the BCS national championship. We had the same record as, and had beaten the team that was selected over us to play for the holy grail. Hence: get over it. I swore on that balcony to respectably hate OU for the duration of my ability to distinguish orange from red. I saw these women on the way to the game. They must have seen the plane too.

Getting There

Getting to the game was a journey in itself. Still under the influence of an open-bar party we all rallied by 9:30. We took down some breakfast and headed to the DART - rail system. Turns out OU fans have some foresight and decided to do the same, thereby making it near impossible to catch a train as they were all full to capacity. At our transfer station we exited and caught an unbelievably convenient cab to the stadium instead. We hustled into the fair grounds and then up to the cotton bowl. BUT, not before I spotted the Dean of the University of Texas Law School walking solo. I waltzed up to him and kidded him about being lost. I shook his hand, kissed his ring, handed him my resume, and then ran off.

Red River Party

I have no pictures of the $63 open bar Red River Party at Eddie Dean's Ranch in downtown Dallas so I am just going to put this one of me up. Unofficial dress code: Polo button down oxfords, light blue wranglers, and boots made of a once breathing animal. 4 or 5 or 6 (who's counting?) bars were accessible and a live band did covers of all genres of music. Oh yeah, and there was a mechanical bull - shoutout to Brian. There was an ending to the night I'm told. A search for cabs an an eventual arrival back to SMU. It was well worth the money.

So Cool

I'm not even going to give this post more than the few lines it deserves. Brian is wearing his high school varsity football t-shirt. I look like something that broke out of jail and robbed a UT Co-Op. We appear awful because we were doing something awful at the time. The Corporations midterm on monday doomed me to a few hours of studying at the SMU library before the partying could begin. So there we are, leaving the library. Lame.

Back in Big D

I'm disturbed by how time has been an elusive concept over the last few years - First year of law school can cause it. It wasn't until I saw the Dallas skyline that I could comprehend that I had not been back to the city since I drove the Uhaul to Austin a full year and 2 months ago. My accompanying friend Brian had not been back to Dallas since graduating from college. It was a homecoming for the both of us. But all nostalgic tears aside, this trip was for football, not deep reflection, so personally I consciously kept the memories from being completely exhumed.

Northbound 35

I had to beg and plead, argue and negotiate but I influenced, somewhat, my friends to to leave at a respectable time on Friday morning for the game. I complained of a looming Monday midterm and the prospect of a 3 hour drive evolving into a 6 hour drive due to visiting traffic. Reopening a page from the undergrad book of partying they rallied, with medicine, McDonalds, and Excedrin. On 35 heading North at 9:15 am I was thankful I took it easy on Thursday night.

Sittin' Pretty

"sittin' pretty": Section 19 Row 29 Seat 11 Gate E

My First Time

Everyone remembers their first time. The excitement, the anticipation, and the build-up all add to the experience that will be forever archived in the mind. It is the event that will be continually drawn from the shelves of memory to help ease the torments of aging. The pride will pour out when my grandson asks curiously about where I was, what it was like, and who I was with. In short, it is both a source of present and future joy. On Saturday two sides will collide and I will be a part of it - finally. I have gone 24 years too long. Go hard or go home as they. Even with a Corporations midterm looming at 8am on Monday, I will not be deterred from engaging in the ecstasy that is the Red River Rivalry game. We depart Friday for Dallas, for the Cotton Bowl, for the Texas State Fair, for a Saturday matchup between Texas and Oklahoma(sucks). It is a game I have never witnessed live. However, I will be there Saturday, and outcome permitting, will return to Austin with an extra bounce in my step.