Drop Your Buffs

Texas 55, Colorado 23

December 29, 2020 • Valero Alamo Bowl, San Antonio

As a fan of the TV show Survivor, I have a couple of Buffs, the bandana-like head coverings contestants wear. Since our Horns were playing the Buffaloes, a.k.a. the “Buffs,” I couldn’t resist the chance to merge my two fandoms.

It was great to be back in San Antonio for yet another Alamo Bowl, but this one was unlike any other. The typically packed stairs and corridors were empty. In the seating bowl, every other row was roped off, and large numbers of seats were zip-tied closed. All spread out, we ended up kinda lonely in the upper deck, but hey, we were there! 

And even though we couldn’t go inside, we still made our required family stop by the Alamo.

 

The other tradition we made sure to follow: Winning our bowl game! This one was never in doubt, and it was fun to kiss this strange season goodbye with a victory. And even though he only played in the first half before Casey Thompson took over, it was nice to see Sam Ehlinger end his Longhorn career with a W.

The next day we celebrated with lunch at Mi Tierra’s, the renowned San Antonio institution that we had never managed to visit previously. We also went to the botanical garden so Katie could see the cool terraces that were used in the 1980s movie Cloak and Dagger.

Whew! It was a wild, weird season, but as always, I never took attending these games for granted. Especially in stadiums that were only a quarter full, it was a privilege to be there to cheer for my team in person!

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Windblown

Iowa State 23, Texas 20

November 27, 2020 • DKR

We came close, but a last-second field goal sailed wide left, and the Horns lost this heartbreak to the Cyclones, led by future NFL QB Brock Purdy.

With that loss, the weirdest home season ever came to a close. 

Since Dede and John T. were out of pocket, Katie went with me to this day-after-Thanksgiving game. Afterwards, we feasted at Kerbey and then spent some quarters at Pinballz Arcade. The next morning, we got some Christmas shopping done at A-Town, a new favorite ATX store.

Texas Sports recap

Texas Sports box score

Letting the Chips Fall

Texas 38, Utah 10

December 31, 2019 • Alamodome, San Antonio

No secret that I love bowl games! I love the travel, I love the hoopla, I love the let’s-get-one-more-chance-to-see-our-team-play of it all. And when we win? It’s the best!

Ryan, Katie, and I headed to the Alamo City the day before the game, just in time to visit Fiesta Texas. The next morning, we were up early to tour Mission San Jose, taking lots of photos for Ryan, our Texas history teacher. Then we made it to the Riverwalk where we feasted on the traditional pregame meal at Casa Rio and did the river taxi tour.

And then gametime! We had great seats in the lower bowl, so we got some great views of Sam’s touchdowns. Our defense really put this one away, though, holding the favored Utes, ranked #11 at the time, to just 10 points.

And that’s a wrap on the 2019 season! As we looked forward to seeing our Horns back in DKR the next fall, we had no idea how different games would be in a pandemic. But we knew no matter what, we’d be there!

The day before the game, stopped at Buc-ee’s on our way, naturally. At Fiesta Texas we took in the Holiday in the Park decorations, and we got to ride the new Wonder Woman coaster. With its single-rail construction, it makes you feel like you’re really flying!

The morning of the game, we headed out to the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park. This time we visited Mission San Jose. Out of all the times we had been to San Antonio, this was our first trip to one of the famous missions (besides Mission San Antonio de Valero, a.k.a. the Alamo). 

From there we went downtown to park for the Riverwalk, Alamo, Tower of the Americas, and the game, of course. For lunch we ate at Casa Rio, and when I recognized the brick wall next to our table, I got Ryan and Katie to recreate their pose from 2006.

Thanks to an Alamo Bowl hashtag, we also got this pic on the big screen at the game!

We also did the river cruise, visited the Alamo (it’s a law), and went up to the Tower of the Americas observation deck. Did I mention how much I enjoy being a tourist on these bowl trips? After all that exploring, we were ready to settle in for the game.

Texas Sports recap

Texas Sports box score

Tech-nically Back

Texas 49, Texas Tech 24

November 29, 2019 • DKR

Sam had 432 yards of offense, and Roschon Johnson scored THREE touchdowns. Now THAT’S worthy of some tossed tortillas!

Dede couldn’t make it to this one, so Katie accompanied me. Before the game, we had fun along Bevo Blvd. and stopped by the tailgate for a bit.

The weather was dreary, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying this last go-’round in DKR for the season. We said goodbye to our seatmates and met Section 1 legend Larry, the guy who all season long would yell through every single defensive play. We didn’t know it then, but that turned out to be our last game in Section 1. Row 52 had been our home for 14 years, but COVID would make us change our seats in 2020, and the stadium expansion pushed us into Section 2 starting in 2021. Inspirational! 

And what a fun game! It was great to let the Raiders get out to a 14-0 lead before coming back to crush them.

After the game, Katie and I walked over to the Tower and then to the Co-op to see the annual McConaughtree. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!

Texas Sports recap

Texas Sports box score

Texas Bowl, Our Texas Bowl

Texas 33, Missouri 16 

Dec. 27, 2017 • Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl, NRG Stadium, Houston

It’s not every game that the MVP award goes to the punter, but man, did Michael Dickson deserve it! Ten of his 11 punts pinned Mizzou inside their own 15, and the Horns made the most of that. Our D score 9 points and forced four turnovers in this big win, which we hoped would send us into 2018 with big MO on our side.

It was great to get back to our bowl game ways, and beating Mizzou? That was SWEET.

Even sweeter? Getting to spend time with our Houston family while we were there.

On the road for Houston

Playing dominoes with Aunt Berniece and cousin Susan

So good to finally meet sweet Baby Benjamin!

Not bad seats

Always good to have a view of this guy (the four-legged one)

Horns score!

Selfie snap with my girl

Fight!

Raise that trophy!

He IS the GOAT! Dickson was a most-deserving MVP.

Another selfie snap

My babies at bowl games: Alamo Bowl 2006 and Texas Bowl 2017

Hey! We’re famous!

Hook ’em!

Texas Sports recap

Raided

 

Texas Tech 27, Texas 23 

Nov. 24, 2017 • DKR

Ugh. Another Black Friday game. Another rotten loss. Another home season over. Not sure which was the biggest bummer.

Lunch at Buzzard Billy’s on the Brazos in Waco

Awkward tailgate selfie

Had to stop in Waco to see a win

Hook ’em, volleyball!

Hook ’em!

Texas Sports recap

 

 

 

Double the Fun

Texas 40, Kansas State 34 (2OT) 

Oct. 7, 2017 • DKR

In just his third start of his college career, true freshman Sam Ehlinger came through in a big way, leading our guys to this big double-overtime win under the lights at DKR.

Both teams scored in the first OT, but in the second, K State kept moving backwards thanks to holding penalties. Then their field goal attempt clunked off the upright, opening the door for the Horns.

Our young QB was a beast in this game, but the game-winning TD was a team effort. Chris Warren took the ball and looked like he was stopped 3 yards short of the goal, but our big ol’ O got behind him and pushed him across the line and into the win column.

Making this double OT doubly fun? Katie came home from Lubbock so she could accompany me to Austin, where we met up with Ryan for the game. In his time at Texas, Ryan saw enough bad games, and even when we played well, too often we would lose the close ones. It was fantastic that in his senior year, he could see the Horns FINISH.

This was a first for us: enjoying UT’s mariachi band pregame!

Love, love, love when I get to spend time with BOTH of my babies!

Obligatory stadium selfie

Great day for football

TOUCHDOWN, TEXAS!

Under the lights

❤ Austin

Celebratory Eyes

Thrill of victory

Isn’t she lovely?

Magical fun at the Griz house

Charlie loves Katie

Texas Sports recap

Frog-tied

TCU 31, Texas 9

Nov. 25, 2016 • DKR

I had the cutest little gummy frogs for this TEXAS, and I was optimistic that our team would really show up for Coach Strong.

But instead, our team was shown up. The gummies were extra-chewy, too.

 

Gummy frogs for the Horned Frogs

Waiting for the team in the rain

Love Hook ’Em’s coach attire

Still waiting for the team

Nice hats

Bevo’s 100th anniversary card

The front of Bevo’s card

The back of Bevo’s card

LOTS of well wishes…

…including one from me!

Longhorn legends

And the legend whose name is on the stadium

LHB

Bertha

TCU band

We’ll miss you!

SWOOOOOOOPES!

Hi, Matthew

LHB’s Bevo

I spy my signature!

Mighty Fine comfort food (while mourning Florence Henderson)

So that’s all she wrote on the Strong era, D’Onta’s Heisman that could’ve been, the loss of all that promise we felt on opening night after beating Notre Dame.

Here’s to fresh starts, stud recruits, and WINS.

Hook ’em.

Wrecked

Texas Tech 48, Texas 45 

Nov. 26, 2015 • DKR

 

 

Just as it’s hard to get away from Rice Krispie treats when we play Rice, it’s apparently impossible for me to avoid the tortillas when we face Tech.

Tech fans have been known to throw tortillas when their team scores. I wondered if this tradition was a thing of the past, but at this Thanksgiving night game, I got to see first-hand that obnoxious, danger-loving Raiders are still wont to toss the ’Wretillas. Speaking of obnoxious fans, Katie and I encountered some doozies. The phrase “act like you’ve been there” came to mind, but then again, I had to remember that this was the first time Tech had beaten us in Austin since 1997.

Give me just one of our injured defensive players (preferably Malik Jefferson) and we win this game. Give me just one of our terrible play calls (that 4th down lob to Daje, maybe?) and we pull it out. But isn’t that how this season went? Moments of greatness (Chris Warren’s breakout performance, our unlikely win over ou) tarnished by confounding ineptitude.

Photos have gotten fewer, and blog posts are shorter and have come later than ever. It’s hard to get fired up to recap these crappy ones. Losing sucks. But I insist on documenting these lame games because when we get back to where we’re supposed to be, I want to look back and see how far we’ve come.

In spite of the outcome, Katie and I managed to have some fun. After sharing Thanksgiving dinner with our family, we hit the road for Austin. We poncho-ed up for the misty/drizzly evening and made the most of this last 2015 home game.

Highlights of our trip: Jimmie Vaughn’s halftime performance with the Longhorn Band and a fun day of Black Friday shopping the next morning.

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