Texas vs North Texas Sept 2, 2006

Arriving at 8 pm into Austin, Texas on the evening before the opening of college football at the University of Texas can be somewhat anti-climatic unless you are headed to the home of Evan and Annalee McCord. It also helps to have your trusty GPS unit sitting next to you as you watch the change in elevation from Houston to the almost 1000 foot elevation in parts of Austin. The game is scheduled for 11:00 am so Evan and I decided the best time to leave would be about 9:30. We left on time and with Evan driving like a maniac...made it to the 10 dollar lot with 10 cars to spare.

To really see the stadium for the first time since I left campus in 1982 was really fun. The music, people and the numbers of "happenings" in and around the stadium make it more of total experience than just another football game. I was appropriately attired so the orange shirt that used to be an occasional wear, was everwhere, so I fit in...for once.

The newly installed big screen is called the "godzillatron" and very appropriately named as well. It was like watching your TV at home from your stadium bench. Another thing that really stuck out was how college football within the stadium has become so much more commercialized since '82. Everwhere you look is an advertisement...even the tickettakers were sponsored by someone.

The Horns won 56-7 on Saturday and left the impression to the national sportswriters that even though Vince Young is gone, we are still going to be a good team this year. We play Ohio State next Saturday and the oddsmakers have made us a 2.5 point favorite. Just the heat alone will give us some kind of advantage. It was hot in the stands and my favorite daughter-in-law decided game one would be the best game to check out the first aid station just in case her father-in-law would ever need to check it out himself. Her stay was short and after a quick cooldown she was able to return to active duty.

We headed out at halftime leading 28-0 and drove over to a place near the homestead and had some good food and libations. It was a great day in Austin and the Horns smashed some real mouth on the field.

Sunday night found my brother, his wife and me watching a great entertainer at Gruene Hall...Charlie Robison. He puts on quite a show. See you next year Tom and Tracy.

Stay tuned to this blog for updates during the season. Buckeyes are going down!