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re: OU and TX fans - The real questions
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:04 pm to skrayper
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:04 pm to skrayper
Not a Texas fan by any stretch but there is a beer garden almost in the shadow of DKR that is a blast and the food ain't bad....in fact its pretty damn good for German food. Its been there since 1866 supposedly. Scholz Garden. I have been there on 4 game days, 2 Texas Tech games, one Baylor and one TCU. Not so crowded even leading up to game time that you can't get in. About 4 blocks from one end of the stadium. Always had a big time on game day there.
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Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:07 pm to skrayper
Texas games are closer to NFL gameday experience in my opinion than anything in the SEC. Tailgating seems to be more or less a formal affair with established companies managing it. Even Georgia Tech has a better game day experience. I will own that I have only been when they were playing Texas Tech, Baylor and TCU but it is pretty sterile compared to a UGA/UAB game....
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:14 pm to skrayper
Texas fans, when I have been to UT games, seemed pretty laid back. Admittedly I was there with UGA swag on so I wasn't wearing the other teams colors but the crowd reminded me more of a NFL game than a college football game. Texans tend to be pretty good folks all things considered and I am convinced they drink beer in Church so they ain't all bad. They do tend to have a bunch of thin skinned frickers among them (akin to gang members who can't stand to have anyone see them dissed even if no one is actually dissing them) but generally the game day crowd is pretty good. They are QUITE during the game, even when winning...it is very sterile compared to most SEC games.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:19 pm to AwgustaDawg
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They are QUITE during the game, even when winning
This unfortunately is accurate. Students are not as numerous and football fanatics as other schools. And with the cost of season tickets as much as they are, it almost has a “country club” atmosphere.
This post was edited on 1/17/24 at 3:24 pm
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:23 pm to skrayper
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Texas - your first road game is at Vandy
No one goes to Vandy for the game. It's a good excuse to get to Nashville for the weekend and fun to see how many more fans you have in the stadium than the home team does.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:26 pm to skrayper
Just wanted to clarify I think most OU fans are looking forward to going to all the big stadiums in sec . Some have already been to Bama the last time we played which is why I said LSU being higher on last . I have heard a lot about Ole Miss Aubutn as well . Lots of OU fans loved Knoxville the last time and are looking forward to go back . I reality I don’t see a bad stadium to go to. If we had to pick one it would probably be Missouri just based on playing them the most . Think I might even like to go to Vandy over them.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:28 pm to MOJO_ERASER
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I hope it doesn’t go bad for OU fans at LSU because when they return I will make it a mission to return the favor .
The fans that travel to the away games aren't the ones you'll have problems with at Tiger Stadium.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:28 pm to AwgustaDawg
^ pretty spot on. TX fans go to socialize first, be seen and see their friends which is fine. The game comes second for many but then again the Lil 12 was crap.
TX also has a great area right outside the stadium. Bevo Blvd maybe, a street lined with food trucks & beer vendors. Very convenient. The tailgating is trash.
TX also has a great area right outside the stadium. Bevo Blvd maybe, a street lined with food trucks & beer vendors. Very convenient. The tailgating is trash.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:30 pm to skrayper
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Why do you think it's at the top of the list?
Because he's not an idiot?
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:33 pm to skrayper
My colleagues have already covered the high points, Franklin's BBQ, Terry Black's (my personal choice) but expect lines at both, especially Franklins. There are tons of other great BBQ joints, just ask any local. Also don't underestimate the TexMex. Matt's El Rancho is an old standby and can't go wrong, same with Trudy's but if you want to kill two birds with one stone I highly reccomend Valentina's TexMex BBQ. You can get great BBQ and TexMex at the same place.
As for nightlife, it's second to none in the SEC, just get out and follow the crowds on and around 6th Street and you'll find whatever you're looking for.
Traffic sucks in Austin and will be horrible for the Georgia game with F1 at COTA the same weekend. But even so I've been to worse traffic jams after CFB games other places, ymmv.
Tailgating is no longer the traditional way for the most part (there is still some) but Bevo Blvd close to DKR is kid friendly and fun for all with live music and such.
As for me personally I'm looking forward to the food in Baton Rouge, Nashville can be cool as well, Oxford, Athens and Gainesville at least once. I'm more about the upgrade in opponent and game atmosphere myself, even the Big12 had some surprisingly fun places to travel.
Edit- one last thing about Austin, if you're on a budget you'll have to do some pre-planning (locals can help you more than I can) because Austin is no longer the medium sized city it was in the 90's when I was there, and priced accordingly. You can still get some really good reasonably priced food (it still is a college town after all) but there are also some high end eateries and craft bars that will empty your wallet pretty quickly. Far too many millionaires, Billionaires and Hollywood stars living in the general area to be the laid back, weird bohemian city it once was. It's still a great place and should be on your road trip list though.
As for nightlife, it's second to none in the SEC, just get out and follow the crowds on and around 6th Street and you'll find whatever you're looking for.
Traffic sucks in Austin and will be horrible for the Georgia game with F1 at COTA the same weekend. But even so I've been to worse traffic jams after CFB games other places, ymmv.
Tailgating is no longer the traditional way for the most part (there is still some) but Bevo Blvd close to DKR is kid friendly and fun for all with live music and such.
As for me personally I'm looking forward to the food in Baton Rouge, Nashville can be cool as well, Oxford, Athens and Gainesville at least once. I'm more about the upgrade in opponent and game atmosphere myself, even the Big12 had some surprisingly fun places to travel.
Edit- one last thing about Austin, if you're on a budget you'll have to do some pre-planning (locals can help you more than I can) because Austin is no longer the medium sized city it was in the 90's when I was there, and priced accordingly. You can still get some really good reasonably priced food (it still is a college town after all) but there are also some high end eateries and craft bars that will empty your wallet pretty quickly. Far too many millionaires, Billionaires and Hollywood stars living in the general area to be the laid back, weird bohemian city it once was. It's still a great place and should be on your road trip list though.
This post was edited on 1/17/24 at 3:42 pm
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:50 pm to skrayper
quote:
I hear that. After moving to Virginia, most games are a grind to drive to. Even the game at UK was 6 hours one way. Only Knoxville is less than 6 (still 5, but okay). Knoxville traffic is horrendous though, so it's 5 hours to reach the city and what often feels like another hour or so to reach the stadium.
If the drive is more than 4-5 hours I'll just fly.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 3:55 pm to AwgustaDawg
quote:Scholz Garten. Great scene if you like beer and live music. Also lots of TVs they put up for the games during the day.
Not a Texas fan by any stretch but there is a beer garden almost in the shadow of DKR that is a blast and the food ain't bad....in fact its pretty damn good for German food. Its been there since 1866 supposedly. Scholz Garden. I have been there on 4 game days, 2 Texas Tech games, one Baylor and one TCU. Not so crowded even leading up to game time that you can't get in. About 4 blocks from one end of the stadium. Always had a big time on game day there.
Surprisingly it's an even bigger hit for basketball as it was right down the street from Frank Erwin Center (the basketball arena until the 2022-23 season; the new arena is down the street)
Posted on 1/17/24 at 4:02 pm to PapaDunk
quote:
This unfortunately is accurate. Students are not as numerous and football fanatics as other schools. And with the cost of season tickets as much as they are, it almost has a “country club” atmosphere.
Texas is definitely a "country club" atmosphere for most games.. Need proof? Look at the giant longhorn (in before someone calls it a giant uterus) in the endzone. Those empty seats doesn't mean that the tickets weren't sold. 100% of them are sold out each year. It means the people in those seats are socializing at the bar with access to the suites on the field level. (poor planning)
Now all that being said, the country club atmosphere is quite a bit different for "big" games. The fans are usually much more into the game and it can get quite loud and rowdy at times. It still won't compare to other venues in the SEC.
There is an exception to all of this though, and that is Texas OU. This game is different on all levels. The Texas fans are loud & rowdy from start to finish (unless we lose and then it will empty quickly). No piped in music. No DJ. No country club. This is also why Texas fans consider it as our favorite game each year. This is college football and it doesn't get better than this imo..
This post was edited on 1/17/24 at 4:04 pm
Posted on 1/17/24 at 4:04 pm to MOJO_ERASER
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I think the best and worst place most OU fans wanna go to is LSU. Some do because of the experience but some don’t because of the history of already seeing LSU fans in action before . I will say I hope it doesn’t go bad for OU fans at LSU because when they return I will make it a mission to return the favor .
LSU fans in New Orleans for a BCS or CFP game =\= LSU fans you’d most contact on campus in BR. Plenty of overlap obviously, but New Orleans brings its own level of trash and debauchery.
Campus/Tiger Stadium gets rowdy, but away fans are generally treated to plenty of food and drink and friendly banter.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 4:08 pm to BigBro
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No piped in music. No DJ
This particularly irritated me. Last time I went to games they would have it so damn loud it would literally drown out the fans. Could barely hear the people standing next to you.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 4:09 pm to MOJO_ERASER
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OU tailgating has been held back by the former president for decades . They didn’t want it to take away from the beauty of the campus . They just changed the rules recently allow for closer tailgating to try and get closer to sec tailgating but I think at OUs rate it would take 100 years for that to happen . I would say for sure OU tailgating is below average to average and prob in bottom half of sec tailgating from what I have heard. Campus corner is more like a gameday party rather than tailgating , its were most people go to drink before the game and the marching band goes into the area on game days.
Just to elaborate on Mojo's comments.
OU has places to put tailgating on campus and refuse to. The reason is that they have a large chrysanthemum garden on the site (jokingly referred to as "Mollie's mums" in honor of ex OU president's wife). They are extremely fearful that people would tear up the garden. They spend a fortune on the mums every year.
Secondly, although OU doesn't have a "keep off the grass" policy like A&M... the campus lawns are thick and lush. OU's campus is pretty nice and the lawns are a major reason why. OU doesn't have the large stately trees that SEC campuses have. Just our grass. And the admin is afraid that the grass will get torn up.
As a result, tailgating at OU is just kind of strung along the different campus streets instead of being consolidated like it is in many place (Quad, drill field, Grove).
To be honest, if I were to host someone I'd take them to campus corner for the block party. That has been going on for decades... way before tailgating became a "thing". OU does the block party pretty well. Much better than the tailgating.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 4:56 pm to 1BIGTigerFan
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Because he's not an idiot?
I was referring to my list in the OP. I specifically referenced LSU for the gold standard in food.
Seriously?
Posted on 1/17/24 at 5:05 pm to skrayper
The only thing I know about Oklahoma bbq is the smoked bologna is fantastic. If you've never smoked a bologna (no homo) you're missing out on one of life's delicacies.
Posted on 1/17/24 at 6:48 pm to skrayper
I would recommend allocating more time to visit OKC and less time tailgating.
Don’t get me wrong, Norman is great but might as well see some sites in OKC since Norman is part of OKC metro.
For hotels, I recommend staying in Bricktown (downtown OKC) for the amenities and experience. Plenty of restaurants, the OKC streetcar, OKC Thunder all within walking distance. Try and catch a Thunder game in Oct/Nov.
Check out the world class museums: OKC National Memorial & Museum, the National Cowboy Heritage & Western Museum, the Museum of Osteology, or the First Americans Museum. Plenty of others.
Lots of good restaurants all over. Truly unique to Oklahoma are Cattleman’s Steak House in Stock Yard City (OKC), the Chicken Shack, Chuck House (OKC - Chicken Fried Steak), Kings BBQ, Edge Craft BBQ, Bedlam BBQ, Clark Crew BBQ, or the GOAT (Butchers BBQ Stand in Wellston). Great burger joints and Tex-Mex all over metro. Taramuhara’s is a Norman favorite.
Treat yourself to Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy for dessert. They’re an Oklahoma favorite and all over the metro; best ice cream and Sundaes in the US, the South is missing out.
Drive by the Heisman Park just east of Owen Field. Enjoy!
Don’t get me wrong, Norman is great but might as well see some sites in OKC since Norman is part of OKC metro.
For hotels, I recommend staying in Bricktown (downtown OKC) for the amenities and experience. Plenty of restaurants, the OKC streetcar, OKC Thunder all within walking distance. Try and catch a Thunder game in Oct/Nov.
Check out the world class museums: OKC National Memorial & Museum, the National Cowboy Heritage & Western Museum, the Museum of Osteology, or the First Americans Museum. Plenty of others.
Lots of good restaurants all over. Truly unique to Oklahoma are Cattleman’s Steak House in Stock Yard City (OKC), the Chicken Shack, Chuck House (OKC - Chicken Fried Steak), Kings BBQ, Edge Craft BBQ, Bedlam BBQ, Clark Crew BBQ, or the GOAT (Butchers BBQ Stand in Wellston). Great burger joints and Tex-Mex all over metro. Taramuhara’s is a Norman favorite.
Treat yourself to Braum’s Ice Cream and Dairy for dessert. They’re an Oklahoma favorite and all over the metro; best ice cream and Sundaes in the US, the South is missing out.
Drive by the Heisman Park just east of Owen Field. Enjoy!
Posted on 1/18/24 at 7:13 am to PapaDunk
quote:
This unfortunately is accurate. Students are not as numerous and football fanatics as other schools. And with the cost of season tickets as much as they are, it almost has a “country club” atmosphere.
UGA games used to be very similar. Maybe worse...back in the day it was not uncommon for people to ask people to sit down and be less loud because they were having a hard time discussing the events of the week back in Hahira. This began to change during Mark Richts early years and it is MUCH better today...I suspect it will change at Texas as well when fans get marquee games a couple of times a year in Austin and travel to places like Baton Rouge. The country club atmosphere will start to dwindle....
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