Why I love being a Horn Fan...

E

Eric G

Guest
In celebration of E1K (my 1000th post), I offer to you my little missive on why I love being a Longhorn fan:Ever since I can remember being aware of college sports, I've followed the Longhorns. Even before I became a 'real fan' I learned to look through the sports section to find the score of the Longhorns (I have not always lived in Central Texas).One of my earlies sports memories is watching on a tv in Lubbock and hearing Earl say, "Momma, I'm in trouble now." This was shortly after letting out a yell when the guy behind the podium called his name.I cried the night Ricky got his Heisman.I died when Craig Curry fumbled. (Actually, the death came later that night when Nebraska lost the Orange Bowl)But, through it all I've found that the most enjoyable thing is that being a Longhorn fan is something that unites a very diverse group of people in a common love. Moreso than a lot of other schools, we have a broad base the reaches across so many lines its amazing.I love the little things.I love walking down a street in San Francisco and seeing somebody wearing burnt orange and knowing they're a Texas fan. If he's wearing red, he could be a fan of a hundred different schools. Our color is uniqe.I love knowing UT is The University.I love the Hook'em Horns sign. We don't have to be like those nimrods you see on tv goofing for the tv camera with their #1 sign high in the air, despite the fact that their basketball team is 3-17. A Hook'em Horns sign says it all.I love the power and majesty of the Tower on the Austin skyline, particularly when it's lit orange. I doubt I'm the only one who likes to drive the upper deck on I-35 just to get a better look.I love sharing memories of my 1-year incarceration in Jester Center with other Texas Exes, knowing all along that it was really a great time that I wouldn't change for the world.I love Disch-Falk Field and some of the most loyal, knowledgeable college baseball fans you'll find anywhere.I love knowing that we are, so so much more often than not, the team our opponents gun for. It's good to be the king!I love coming from a University that gets respect wherever you go for both its academic and athletic accomplishments.I love Texas/OU Weekend.I love watching the Texas Flag be run at DKR or the Cotton Bowl almost as much as I loved running it when I was a student.I love listening to my two boys (3 years & 20 months) sing The Eyes of Texas.I love watching the LHB march into DKR.I love the legends, both true and undetermined, about our campus - The George Washington statue, the Tower clock, the west upper deck on Belmont, the fact that only the ROTC Building and the Student Health Center have main entrances that face North.I love the Hex Rally, the Torchlight Parade, March 2nd, #60, Old Smokey, Bevo, The Wabash Cannonball, T+1, Texas Fight!, Street to Peschel, Steelers Roll Left and March Grandioso.I love Ricky's run for the Record against the aggies.I love the legend of Freddie Steinmark.I love the contentiousness of the West Mall, the serenity of the East Mall and the classes that meet outside on the Main Mall on a nice Spring Day.I love feeling DKR rock on a big 3rd down.I love seeing the Bevo head on the side of the coolest helmets in the land.I love the way the LBJ fountain looks at night, and the peaceful grove of trees above it where I proposed to my wife.I love the Wild Bunch.I love knowing that I did a significant part of my growing up on the 40 acres.I love knowing that The University brough me together with the love of my life, my beautiful wife.I love that I got to have my wedding reception at the Ex-Student's Center.I love thinking about the possibility of one day sending one or more of my children to The University.I love having a place to hang out and talk with so many other good folks who love the same things about The University of Texas that I do.Hook'em Horns and God Bless.
[This message has been edited by Eric G (edited 07-18-2000).]
 
"Our color is uniqe"(don't worry, this is not about typo's..)I wonder why nobody else uses that color. Oh wait, I know, it's cuz it's BUTT UGLY, that's why!
 
Great 1000th post brother. Some comments:I have always been amazed at what a diverse group of people horn fans can be. At the mass tailgate out around 17th & San Jacinto, once the fights for spots is over, everyone is so nice and accepting. You get all kinds out there and it is a great time. I admit to shedding a few tears for the horns as well. (Not to mention the nervous breakdown I had near Caldwell on the way back from A&M in 1997). Hook'em!boom
[This message has been edited by [email protected] (edited 07-18-2000).]
 
Thanks for the goosebumps.------------------
The weather is here.....wish you were beautiful.
 
JazzAg,You typify the one thing about Aggies that always sets me off, even more than the cute little trick with the backward initials. You really probably do believe that no one (especially your most hated/feared rival ) could feel as deeply about their school as you do, don't you ? Talk about arrogance defined. If anything, Eric G.'s post should simply remind of you of the things that make you proud of your school.
 
Boom, don't worry about the opinion of a pissant farmer. Stooping to his level doesn't accomplish anything. At least we won't delete the post like texags.con. Of course if you go over there, they will swear they don't have any fans like that.
 
Great Post Eric. I printed that out for keeps. My 15 month old can't sing the eyes yet but he can do thge Hook 'Em. He's on the way.
 
EricG,I'm getting all... verklempt. Could somebody pass me my burnt orange bandana?Cakes
 
If I could add one thing:I love being a longhorn because no one lumps me in with that dumb **** Jazzag!!Eric, I love taking the upper deck to get a better view of the Tower and DKR hoping the seats are arranged to show UT.great post and hook'em
 
Thanks, JismAg, for yet another reminder of why I am proud to be a Longhorn fan. FYI, the burnt orange color is a unique color associated with our mascot, the regal beast known all around the world as the Texas Longhorn. When someone sees burnt orange, they think of The University of Texas Longhorns. When someone sees maroon, they may think of Aggies, but then again that color just may remind them of the scab on their knee, Miss St., Huggy Bear's pimp-mobile in that Starsky & Hutch rerun, or that polyester leisure suit they wore to that disco gag party as a jokeg. My guess is, based upon your reaction, is that when you see burnt orange it is a painful reminder of 67-34-5 and the fact that the gap is fixing to grow even wider.
 
Or more likely, that orange reminds the youngsters of Tennessee and for the older folk it reminds of the 60's and 70's, when that color was actually cool.
 
I added a couple of thoughts I left out of the original post.Thanks for the kinds words. To you others (aggies), I don't understand your need to chime in here. But, then again, we've all been told that "From the outside looking in..."
 
Absolutely a stellar post. This is destined to be a Classic Post. I prinited it out and have hung it on my wall here at the office. Thanks for sharing it with us.
 
I am a freshman here at the best university in the state and the best public university in the nation and am just learnig about all of the greatness of the university. Reading this makes me so proud to be a longhorn. It flls me with pride and will all come together this friday at DKR when we beat the aggs. Another thing that I love is finally getting to your seat and taking a flask of Beam out of your boot and having that first sip right after kick off.
 
I read this for the first time right before the aggie game. I made my wife read it. I sat there in quiet amusement happy to know that all is right in the world. She finished and looked at me as I stifled a tear. Damn, I love being a Longhorn.

When an aggie calls me a Teasip, I usually remind them "That's Mr. Teasip to you."
 
Great, great post. I was reading it to my nine year old son. When I got to the part about Freddie Steinmart, my son asked, "Daddy, why are you crying? Enough said.

ImAHorn
 
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