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.