passing many rides and games, and then around the Stadium and up the far side, past the Coliseum, exhibit halls, and continuous concessions.

Many people had their gameday colors on, even though the game wasn’t until tomorrow. Up ahead, a guy in orange raised the “hook ‘em horns” sign, and a man in red, meeting him, countered with the horns turned down. The two glared at each other as they passed. These folks take this serious. Hmmm…

Wandering slowly through the exhibits, he circled the Cotton Bowl and as the afternoon reached its peak, he found himself back at the Main Stage. He bought an ice cream nutty-buddy on a stick and headed for the car. Soon he was back at the Marriott Courtyard.

Countdown to kickoff
After a dip in the pool and a short nap, Cap headed over to Ernie’s, just across the tollway. He sat relaxing in front of the big white piano, while Linda St. Clair tickled the ivories, then he moved on to Arthur’s for dinner, as the sun sank from a clear Dallas sky.  A filet, butter-flied, did the trick, and he headed down Midway to the Hilton on I-635 (LBJ Freeway) for the pre-game party hosted by the OU Club of Dallas.

The place was wired, full of OU fans ready to turn it loose.  The spirit squads led chants and the OU Band, “The Pride of Oklahoma,” pumped the atmosphere in the ballroom with “Boomer Sooner.”  These folks were ready now, but there was still a long night of partying ahead.

Cap picked up directions to another OU party, and took off to check it out. East on LBJ to Highway 75 (Central Expressway), and south to Jack’s Pub at the Yale exit. The place was wild, rowdy, loud, screaming with intensity – perfect for Friday night before OU-Texas.  

With his ears ringing, TC headed out to scope the Texas U party scene. North of downtown, near the Hard Rock Café, a large, outdoor party with kegs and music rocked the night. Everywhere it was the “Hook ‘em Horns” hand sign.  A joyful but intimidating take-no-prisoners confidence permeated throughout. They would win this year– they were Texas, after all.

He headed next to the West End District, downtown.  The crowd was young – mostly students.

“Boomer...Sooner”; “Hook ‘em Horns.” Hand signals: Horns up, Horns down. Young toughs, in each other’s faces, strutting, bragging, taunting, chanting, while rockin’ country music reverberated off the old warehouse walls.

Cap rolled back north up the tollway beneath a dark, starry sky. In addition to the nightlife already in Dallas, there were parties and rallies all over the city, scheduled by fans and groups associated with OU and UT. The city seemed to be one big shindig - humming with anticipation, brimming with excitement. It was music, glitter, dancing - turning it loose, living it up - celebrating being part of a colossal happening.  

Cap parked at the motel and walked across the street to Arthur’s for a nightcap. The dance floor was packed, and Bobby Young and the boys were bringing their “A Game” tonight. Old or new - these guys could play it all.  One more song, an old ‘70s tune, “Listen to the Music,” and he eased out and back to the room.

It was late. He requested a wake-up call and drifted off singing softly, “The Eyes of Texas are upon youuu…" then “Big D, little a, double l-a-s...”

The next thing he knew, the phone was ringing from out of the darkness.  He fumbled for the receiver and the computer voice told him the good news: it was gameday.

Gameday
Trip Captain rolled out early and took a quick jog, hot tub and pool dip, then dressed and headed to Fair Park. East on Beltline, south on Greenville, winding and turning. He parked in the grass lot behind the little elementary school, and walked along the railroad tracks with a steady stream of fans of both teams, to Gate 1.

Cap paused, stepped back and took out his ticket. His game ticket also served as his ticket to the Fair, on this special day. “It’s the toughest and most valuable ticket in the country,” he announced to nobody in particular.  Two bystanders - one in orange, the other in red – looked at him like he had just told them that the sky was blue. Cap had put out his feelers, and had struck it rich. A friend knew a friend, and now, he held - the ultimate “ticket in hand.”

TC surrendered the Fair part of his ticket proudly, and headed down International Blvd.  It was still early, but the area was already crimson and burnt orange, and growing more so as the Faithful from both schools poured through the gates.

ESPN GameDay's Kirk Herbstreit visits with Red River Rivalry fans.

The ESPN College Football GameDay show was set up nearby, with the Texas Hall of State building in the background. When Corso pulled on the Longhorn head, the place turned wild  - Texas fans grinning and taunting; OU fans screaming in protest. Cap chuckled and headed for a Fletcher’s corny dog.

Two of college football’s elite, squaring off with all the marbles hangin’ in the balance. In just his second year at the helm, OU’s Bob Stoops had led the Sooners to their seventh national crown last year, and they had demolished the ‘Horns, 63-14, in the process. Texas head man  Mack Brown and all Texas followers were humiliated, to say the least. They were here for revenge, on the way to the Big 12 title, and maybe more. Autumn Showdown in Big D.

The crowds grew throughout – at the concessions, in front of Big Tex, in the exhibit halls, on the midway, around the Lagoon, near the Garden Railway, at the ESPN Radio GameDay site off Nimitz Dr. And in the Coliseum, the Barnyard – where that undefeated tic-tac-toe playing chicken ruled - around the music  - on the east side of the stadium and the Main Stage near Gate 1, and all around the Cotton Bowl.

Cap moved with the multitude, until he came to the south end of the stadium where a crowd of Texas fans had gathered to welcome the Texas players getting off the bus. They were loud, aggressive and boastful. Oklahoma had won big last year during a national championship run, and UT fans were at first embarrassed, then became incensed. They expected retribution, today.

TC drifted and grazed on whatever food struck his fancy, then checked his watch, and discovered that it was approaching an

Red River Rivalry continued on next page...click here

Previous page    Next page

"I flatly love the Texas-OU game.  If they played it every day, I would watch it.  The Texas-OU game may be the only remaining instance in the world where the forces of good and justice and right and truth (Us) are lined up against all the evils (Them).  It is civilization come to the Visigoths."
    - Mike Kelley, Austin American - Statesman