Pumpkin Power Down

TCU 37, Texas 27 

October 26, 2019 • Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas

Years ago my mom surprised Dede and me at a football game with some mallowcreme pumpkins. She called them “pumpkin power” and credited them with our Horns’ success that day. Since then, Dede and I pack some pumpkin power for random October games.

Alas, even the pumpkins couldn’t save our team from losing to the Horned Frogs. Our offense racked up a ton of yards, but four turnovers? Yikes.

Breakfast at Snooze in Fort Worth

Yummy!

Back at Frog Alley! I remember our first Frog Alley visit when I wished we could have something similar at DKR. We get TCU’s AD, and now we DO have our own Bevo Blvd. Thanks, CDC!

Great to see two of my besties together again, first time since a kid’s birthday party years ago.

Postgame solace.

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Unfocused

ou 34, Texas 27 

Oct. 12, 2019 • Cotton Bowl, Dallas

Our guys came back from a couple of 10-point deficits, but Jalen Hurts lived up to his name and kept pushing the sooners ahead.  

It’s a shame, too, because except for the game’s outcome, it was a pretty epic day! We had our requisite Fletcher’s corny dogs, saw the State Fair butter sculptures, and had our usual pregame gathering and toast in the food court.

These 11 a.m. kicks make it difficult to see much of the State Fair before the game, but Ryan and I still managed to visit the Hall of State. That’s where we found a cool exhibit featuring films that had been filmed in Texas. We saw movie posters, props, and photo opps from some of our favorites, from Cloak & Dagger to Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure. We also made it to the Creative Arts Pavilion to check out this year’s butter sculptures and shoe contest winners. I LOVE this stuff! Please, oh please, Powers That Be, NEVER EVER move Texas-ou away from the State Fair!

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Not-So-Jolly Ranchers

Texas 36, Oklahoma State 30

September 21, 2019 • DKR

Oklahoma State’s mascot may be the Cowboy, but we sent those ranchers home a little less jolly. This was a close one, but the Horns pulled off the win in an electric DKR as Sam Ehlinger led the team and MOC Matthew McConaughey led the cheers.

A week after our reunion with our friend in Houston, we had the pleasure of sharing gameday with our friend from New Jersey! Greg just happens to have earned his undergrad degree from Okie State, so we had to make sure he wasn’t wearing any traffic-cone orange under his Longhorn attire. Just kidding. We know Greg bleeds burnt orange!

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Happy Houston Reunion

Texas 48, Rice 13

Sept. 14, 2019 • NRG Stadium, Houston

Now THAT’S more like it. The Horns handled the Owls, making Rice as malleable and the Krispie Treats.

The win was great, but the camaraderie was even better. We got to attend the game with our dear friend Wallis, a favorite Houstonian who doesn’t make it to Austin nearly enough. 

Great friends + great seats + a W = a great day!

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Mike Madness

LSU 45, Texas 38

Sept. 7, 2019 • DKR

Woulda, coulda, shoulda. This is the one that got away. We were oh-so-close to pulling off this upset over the eventual 2019 national champs. Only Auburn and Bama played them closer. Not that it matters. We had College Gameday on the Forty, and DKR was rockin’, but this loss really stung.

Maybe that’s why I lost the “E” and “A” of the TEXAS I so dutifully spelled with Mike & Ike candy. The Mike & Ikes were in tribute to Mike the Tiger, the handsome fella Katie and I had met in Baton Rouge while on our epic Sugar Bowl road trip.

If only the “E” and “A” were all we lost that day!

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Bulldog Bullies

Texas 45, Louisiana Tech 14

Aug. 31, 2019 • DKR

After the huge New Year’s Day victory in the Sugar Bowl, we had a looooooong wait until we could see our Horns back in action. When we finally made it to the 2019 season opener, we spelled TEXAS with dog treats, but Longhorn fans were the ones who feasted.

Bevo Blvd. was a blast, as was the tailgate filled with friends old and new. We did have one particularly special pause in the levity, however, when we honored our dear friend Travis who had passed away over the summer. Travis, John T.’s dad, was a tailgate staple for many years, and we miss him dearly. One of his T-shirts held his spot at the tailgate on that special Saturday. Hook ’em forever, Travis.

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Sweet Victory

Texas 28, Georgia 21

Jan. 1, 2019 • All-State Sugar Bowl • Superdome, New Orleans

How sweet it is! I’ve always heard that you can’t spell “SUGAR” without UGA, but our Horns showed that they belong among the nation’s elite.

From ESPN: “Sam Ehlinger ran for three touchdowns, the Texas defense largely held Georgia’s offense in check, and the Longhorns earned their first 10-win season since 2009 by beating the Bulldogs 28-21 in the Sugar Bowl.”

The win put a gorgeous burnt-orange bow on what was already a fantastic mother-daughter road trip. And then the post-game festivities on Bourbon Street made this gameday one of the best ever.

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Clipped

ou 39, Texas 27

Dec. 1, 2018 • Big 12 Championship • AT&T Stadium, Arlington

Great tailgate. Amazing seats. Fun atmosphere. Lousy outcome.

Defensive star Breckyn Hager said he wouldn’t cut his hair until the Horns won the Big 12, and we were hopeful that boy could get a trim. Alas, the cut had to wait. 

But hey, we got to meet Mr. Peanut.

 

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Winds of Change

Texas 24, Iowa State 10

Nov. 17, 2018 • DKR

The Cyclones blew into town, but the Horns, still sailing on the strong West Texas win from the previous week, withstood the storm. Our guys never trailed in this one, and with a win, came to within one win from clinching a spot in the Big 12 championship game.

The win (and fireworks!) capped off a fantastic day. My niece’s family joined us at Bevo Blvd. and the tailgate, and because this was our home finale, we relished our time with our football family, too.

The last home game is always sad, but it’s a good time to recognize how lucky we are to have shared those special moments on the Forty. 

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The Hat at Home

Texas 23, Baylor 17

Oct. 13, 2018 • DKR

After the previous week’s big win over our biggest rival, Bevo Blvd. was rockin’! Ryan and Katie were with me to see Bevo’s grand entrance, and then we got to pose with the star of the moment, the Golden Hat trophy. 

Later, I ran into an old friend from church, and then we caught wind that online quiz show host Scott Rogowsky, the HQ-tie himself, was at the Chase booth, we managed to find him in the crowd for selfies.

In the game, QB Shane Buechele came up big, helping us get a good lead at the half that Baylor couldn’t quite overcome.

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