Tag Archives: tailgate

Catching a Break

19 Feb

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Texas 22, Kansas State 17

November 26, 2021 • DKR

Finally, finally, finally our losing streak came to a halt. Our guys managed a win over the K State Wildcats. Because of our 5-7 record, there was no bowl game for us, so this had to count for a momentum builder heading into 2022. And it was wonderful to send these seniors out with a win after such a disappointing season. 

Ronnie, our tailgate trailer maestro, moved out of state, and after the Kansas game, he took his trailer home with him for the off-season. He was with family for Thanksgiving, so our other tailgate gurus put together a smaller operation so we could still hang out pregame.

After the game, we took our traditional end-of-season photo. Until next season, HOOK ’EM!

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Doubled Up the Double-T

19 Feb

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Texas 70, Texas Tech 35

September 25, 2021 • DKR

Our guys made it look easy, running all over the Red Raiders. It gave us hope for conference play, even if it turned out to be false hope.

It was an all-around glorious day, with plenty of sunshine to light up Bevo Blvd. and Smokey’s Midway.

On the field, the Horns were rollin’, and Texas Mariachi and Ray Benson were rockin’!

And the pièce de résistance: Southwest Airlines fixed the errant apostrophe that was buggin’ the crap out of me!

So all in all, a great day!

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A Sweet Treat

19 Feb

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Texas 58, Rice 0

September 18, 2021 • DKR

That’s more like it! JFK famously once asked, “Why does Rice play Texas?” Well, I know why Texas plays Rice! 

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Back in Bevo Business

19 Feb

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Texas 38, Louisiana 18

September 4, 2021 • DKR

Hey, it’s good to be back home again! As the PR materials proclaimed, “Home is where the Horns are.”

After the weird 2020 season, it was great to get back to tailgating and Bevo Blvd., back to having a full stadium, back to seeing the Longhorn Band at the game. Everybody was in a great mood to be getting back to business, and more than a couple of times, I had to wipe away a tear or two, just so grateful to have this Longhorn family reunion after a year away.

Because of construction on the new Moody Center directly across from our old tailgate, our guys had to find a new hangout. Athletic Director Chris Del Conte himself suggested this patch of grass just north of Bevo Blvd., and it worked out beautifully! It’s super close to Hook ‘Em’s Hangout where all the food trucks are parked, so everyone can grab whatever they want to eat. It’s not far from the alumni center, either, so a restroom is nearby. 

New coach Steve Sarkisian knew this was a must-win, and win he did! It took both Hudson Card and Casey Thompson to take Sam Ehlinger’s place, but they threw for three combined touchdowns, and Bijan Robinson again rushed for 100+ yards.

The 2021 season brought us the chance to get back to our old ways while embracing the new.After spending last season in a nearly empty DKR, it was a blast to have seats full again. Speaking of seats, this season took us away from our Section 1 spot near the exit on row 52. With the exception of the COVID year, we had been there since 2002, but the new south endzone made our old seats too close to the edge and Godzillatron. The new standing-room terraces also blocked the view of the scoreboard. John T. asked and received a better place for us, and we ended up on a lower row in Section 2, just a tiny bit to the north but low enough that we could still get an unobstructed view of the screen. Steve and Brian, the father-son pair who had sat beside us for those 18 years on row 52, made the move, too! In our new location, we made new friends of the guys who sat in front of us, and they soon became tailgate regulars. 

The Sunday after the game, Dede and I got to see our volleyball team beat Stanford in Gregory Gym. We have seen volleyball play TCU in Fort Worth bunches of times, but it was a thrill to see them in the rockin’ Greg, their home court.

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Tech-nically Back

18 Feb

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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!

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Catching Up with the ’Cats

14 Aug

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Texas 27, Kansas State 24

November 9, 2019 • DKR

It was up to Dicker the Kicker yet again, but the Horns pulled out the win in the closing seconds. It was exciting and a big relief, since we were down 14-0 early.

After our excitement, we rushed back to the tailgate to tune into the ou-Iowa State game for their close call. The sooners managed to win by 1, but we all enjoyed the schaudenfreude as our Okie friends sweated that one out.

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Not-So-Jolly Ranchers

14 Aug

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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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Mike Madness

14 Aug

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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.

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

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Bulldog Bullies

13 Aug

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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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Miner Problem

27 Jun

texas_utep16Texas 41, UTEP 7

Sept. 10, 2016 • DKR
 

In June 2016 I spent a week on the UT El Paso campus for a humanities institute. The school’s use of the Miner motif was everywhere, from the miner hat pendant lights in the food court to the giant pick at the campus entrance. When the Miners arrived on MY turf, their rallying cry, “pick ’em,” came to mind. That’s why this week we spelled Texas with toothpicks!

Coming off the Horns’ huge win over Notre Dame in our opener, we were on top of the world. Texas football was BACK, baby! Early in the first quarter of this one, though, which was supposed to be a gimme, we got that sinking feeling. Uh-oh.

Leading by “only” 20-7 at halftime, the Horns went on to outscore the Miners 21-0 in the second half. But even then, we knew: In spite of the previous week’s high, this season was on its way to some lows.

 DKR highlights:

  • Skydivers!
  • Tribute to the “Precursors,” the first group of African-American undergrads at UT 60 years ago
  • Young Texas Exes honorees, including NBA superstar Kevin Durant