re: Texas fans- I have a question about rivalries

quote:

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Beating OU is better than beating A&M. Losing to A&M is worse than losing to OU.

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I agree w/ this.

OU is the biggest Rival. No question in my mind. Both games were big, important, and very different. The Cotton Bowl setting >> home and home series.

1974 was my, and Earl's, first Texas-OU game. Camping out days before the drawing for student tickets and the mass migration to Dallas, 190 miles from each campus.

Dallas used to close Commerce Street downtown on Friday Night, w/ 1,000's of fans making a big circle, 12-15 blocks long, walking on the barricaded sidewalks with the streets full of police. Though Dallas County was dry, they allowed open containers for this (jails weren't big enough?). No Guns. No weapons. No fatalities. Endless smack talk, inevitable skirmishes, 100's of people arrested every year.

The feeling walking into the Cotton Bowl was unlike anything I have ever experienced. Chills down my back, hair standing up on the back of my neck. Incredibly loud, every play, all game long. Steeped in tradition and athletic pedigree. Physically exhausted after watching the games.

You never ever forget that. Makes you a college football fan for life.

As a student, I saw 18 All-Americans play for OU (Texas had 11), winning the MNC in '74 & '75, w/ Billy Sims winning the Heisman Trophy the year after Earl. OU had earned my respect well before then.

Playing A&M was not like that. Home and Home, 90 miles away. Always a day trip. CS in the 70's was butt ugly, Soviet motif, no trees, the Dixie Chicken and boys, boys, boys & boys. Very few girls, and ... ugh!!! Never considered staying overnight.

OU consumed the entire week; winning meant a huge party in Austin, losing meant a long arse drive back home.

A&M was always a part of a Thanksgiving tradition, or T+1, with family & friends. A big game, yes. But not like OU.