Where to Watch

Do you have a favorite place to watch your team’s weekly games? Are you a fan of throwing parties at your house? Or going to a sports bar to join other fans? Or are you one who likes to watch alone at home, so you can yell at the screen and no one thinks you are crazy?

When I lived in Texas, I loved getting together with friends at my house or their house to watch a game. Everyone brings a snack to share. You can yell at the TV if needed. It’s cozy with everyone gathered around the television in the living room. If it’s a big football day, you bring a second (or third) TV into the living room. Now that I live in Nashville, I don’t really have a group of friends who are Texas fans, so I’ve watched numerous games on my own at home. Not nearly has much fun.

A few weeks ago, some friends invited me out to watch football with them at the Crow’s Nest. It was the week of the Texas @ Texas Tech game, which was game of the week on ABC. However, I live in the land of the SEC, so the game that got the big screen…and sound…at Crow’s Nest was Georgia @ Arkansas. The other big game that Saturday was Auburn @ West Virginia. The Crow’s Nest had a great atmosphere - it was packed with people sporting their beloved team’s colors. There’s something so much fun about watching several games at the same time with so many people, cheering for their teams. I’d be focused on the Horns, and a cheer would go up from somewhere in the restaurant (often from the Georgia fan sitting at my table), and I’d look to watch the replay. However, it was hard to watch the Horns with no sound. I got easily distracted – by the other games and by the great new friends I met. Meeting new people is always more fun to me than watching a football game. We did have some great conversations sitting around the table, particularly about the unofficial Texas vs. Tennessee rivalry. We also talked some about all the great players that come out of Texas, such as Matt Stafford & Greg McElroy. There were a few moments, though, when I was so focused on the Horns’ game that I completely zoned out of chatting. (I did apologize for that later, and they were very understanding.)

The following week, for the Texas vs. UTEP game, I went to Judge Bean’s BBQ in Brentwood. It’s a Texas BBQ joint & the owner is a hardcore Longhorns fan. I found out when I got there that it’s the official watching spot of the Texas Exes. I met new people just because I was wearing burnt orange, which happens here a lot. Anytime someone sees me wearing burnt orange, or vice versa, there’s almost always a conversation to be had. By the time the game was over, I had met everyone in the room. It was fun to watch with a bunch of Longhorn fans and to have sound. However, I found that most of the people there only cared about the Longhorns. They were not interested in any of the other games, even though four of the top 10 teams were losing or had already lost.

What are your thoughts? Where’s your favorite place to watch a game?

College GameDay

In honor of College GameDay being in Austin today, I thought I would share my GameDay story…and my television debut.

Vanderbilt started their 2008 season with one of the best starts in history – undefeated after four weeks. No one really expected that out of Vandy, and ESPN deemed Vandy worthy of a GameDay visit in week five…Auburn at Vanderbilt. No question in my mind, I was going to GameDay, decked out in my burnt orange.

Previous to August 2008, I lived in Arlington, Texas. College GameDay has made many visits to Dallas for the Texas-OU game. So why did I not ever go there? Well, Texas-OU weekend has a history of being pretty rough, and at times, violent. As much as I wanted to experience GameDay, I honestly didn’t really want to deal with the craziness. There’s also something really fun about going to GameDay when your home team isn’t the host.

The morning of October 4, 2008, I woke up at 5:30a…yes, 5:30a on a Saturday! I couldn’t sleep. I was just so excited. I’ve watched season after season of College GameDay, and now I get to go! I donned my burnt orange Texas t-shirt and headed out. I found parking at Vandy and joined the line of people waiting to clear security and gather in the courtyard. People watching at it’s best. Students wearing in black & gold, wrapped up in the early morning chill. The occasional group of Auburn fans being taunted by Vandy fans. Local dads bringing their sons (and a few daughters) to experience college football at it’s best. High schoolers just hoping to be on TV. Fans, much like me, wearing their favorite school colors and soaking it all up.

Inside the gate, I was searching for the best place to stand. I wanted to be able to see everything going on, but I also wanted a place to possibly be on TV. I’ve never been on TV before and thought College GameDay would be the perfect debut. I wasn’t planning on doing anything stupid or crazy to get on. Just wanted to create the opportunity. My eyes landed on some crimson and cream…OU fans. The next weekend was the Texas-OU game, so I knew standing with them would probably be wise, especially since GameDay would be in Dallas for the game. These Sooners were standing pretty close to the front, along one of the Home Depot barriers. I slid up next to them and sarcastically asked “Is it okay if I stand here? We don’t have to talk or anything.” They laughed and said “Of course. We’ll definitely get on TV this way!”

People crowded into the courtyard, proudly showing off their homemade signs. (Some of my favorites are pictured below.) Word spread throughout the crowd – no one was to wear the Home Depot hard hats because they are the orange of Tennessee and Auburn. (Worked out well for me. I got a hard hat & was able to get some autographs after the show.) Cameramen scanned the crowd, looking for fans to highlight. The GameDay cast – Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, andKirk Herbstreet – arrived on set, testing mics, touching up their make-up, and interacting with the crowd.

The show starts, and the place goes crazy! All the signs are up, the cheerleaders are leading the chant “Who you with? VU!,” hands everywhere are displaying the VU sign (thumb & first two fingers up). Even some of the marching band came out and are playing the fight song. This is the passion of college football at its best.

One of the highlights of the morning came for me about an hour into the show. Before they broke for a set of commercials, Fowler teased on a story about Colt McCoy and the Longhorns. I threw up the Hook ‘em hand sign, started screaming and jumping. When I stopped, a cameraman (who I did not realize was so close at that time) said to me “Sweetie, don’t move. I’m coming back to you.” A little bit later, during the piece Texas, he came over and put the camera right in my face. Said he would give me a sign for when I needed to start cheering. You can see just how excited I was in this video…my television debut. (My dad sent me this video he took with his phone.)

The other highlight of the day came a little bit later. I stuck around after the show, really to see if any of the cast would come out to sign autographs. I must be honest and confess that I have a huge crush on Kirk Herbstreet. I really didn’t care about the others, just Kirk. Chris Fowler came over, Kenny Chesney came over (he was the guest host for the pics that day). Even Desmond Howard was out signing autographs. Then I saw him. Kirk was headed my way! I was excited and nervous all in the same moment. What was I going to say? I didn’t want to look like a complete idiot. As he signed my hard hat, we made eye contact, and I told him that I watch GameDay every week and am a huge fan. He said thanks and that he was impressed I watch every week. My day was now officially complete…College GameDay, being on TV, and meeting Kirk Herbstreet. I was a happy girl. (I know, I know, you are laughing at me, but I don’t care. I met Kirk.)

Oh, and by the way, Vanderbilt went on to win the game against Auburn, 14-13, continuing their winning streak.

Are You Ready???

Busting out the team colors (or buying new to replace what is worn out from so much wear). Reading every SI, ESPN mag, and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football you can get your hands on. Prepping for the 6-hour tailgate. Putting the flags, magnets, and window stickers on the car. Gassing up the car for the road trip (be it five minutes or five hours).

It’s time. College football is here. Life is good again. (Not that it was really bad in spring practice or recruiting season, just much better now.) Grills are fired up. Boys & their dads are playing catch on the grass, while little girls practice their tumbling routines. Cornhole, washers, and ladder ball are set up next to flat screens, satellites, and radios. College GameDay is back with Corso, Herbstreet & Fowler making their picks. Everyone’s talking. “Is our QB any good this year?” “What’s the new coach going to do with the defense?” “Who is going to pick up where so & so left off?” “What are we going to do now that he’s hurt?” So many questions. So much football to be played. Life is good again.

The season can change at any given moment. A hurt shoulder, a missed block, a wide right field goal attempt, a dropped pass, an interception. A single moment can change the entire season. One play. That’s all it takes. Appalachian State beats Michigan in the Big House. Texas Tech beats Texas at the last second. (This literally made me cry.) William & Mary beats Virginia. (Who knew William & Mary even had a football team?) Houston upsets Oklahoma State. That’s the greatness of college football.

I am a football fan - yes, one who roots for the ‘Horns, but a football fan. I want to take in the passion of the teams, the loyalty of the fans, the tailgating, the traditions around the country. I’ve heard (and yelled) the chants of “Texas! Fight!” in Austin, and I’ve watched “the most exciting 25 seconds of college football” in Clemson. But I want more. I want to see the big games and the upsets. I want to go to a Bowl game on New Year’s Day and to the Rose Bowl. I want to dot the ‘i" at the Horseshoe, tailgate in Oxford, hear the roar of Rocky Top in Neyland Stadium, Gator Chomp in the Swamp. I want to be kissed at Midnight Yell, salute the cadets & midshipmen marching into the Army-Navy game, dance The Haka in Hawaii, take my picture with Uga at Georgia. I want to cheer at the Tiger Walk in Auburn, watch the Tunnel Walk in Nebraska, and take in a Big 10 rivalry game. And yes, I even want to see Traveler at USC. I’d also love to take in a game from the sidelines in Austin, hanging out with Matthew McConaughey. (After all, I am still a girl.)

So here begins the telling of my football story…through the Eyes of Texas.