Win.

What an end to an exciting week! Texas won in a good game, watched with the greatest friends. Thanks, guys.

current music: nothing

Chinks in the armor

The only Ohio State fan I know has been backpedaling in recent hours. One direct quote spilling from her lips was, "Either way, I win." Apparently it's time for OSU fans to hedge their bets. Most of the media and fans' focus has not been how good the Buckeyes are, but on how hard it will be to play in their stadium. The line favors Ohio State -1.5. Hardly the accepted home field advantage of -3.0.

People need to help me count how many times during the game she says, "Texas is going to look up and realize they're playing Ohio State." I can't fathom a total less than 122 times. That's twice a minute, plus two for halftime.

Trivia: Texas A&M is the Longhorns arch rival, not Oklahoma.

I know. It's a weak post. I'm unimaginative by and large. I ran out of things to make up last night! Hook 'em Horns!

20 hours 9 minutes until game time.

current music: The Police: Walking on the Moon

How do I get a marijuana leaf sticker for MY helmet???

I was told by a buckeye that a buckeye is a "hairy nut." You have the opportunity to ask the same friend that question. Tell me if you get a different answer. A buckeye is really a butterfly! I'm intimidated.


The legendary Woody Hayes came up with an ingenious way to recognize his players for outstanding plays. Equipment managers would put a decal of a marijuana leaf on the helmet for every outstanding play. Accompanying this decal would be a quarter bag of pot. What a great recruiting tool! With this positive feedback system, Coach Hayes dealed Ohio State to three national championships. Talk about putting the "high" in Ohio!

The last strangeness from between Cleveland and Cincinnati is something called "dotting the i." From what I've heard, no lie, this is some kind of activity for behind closed doors. When used in public day to day, it's simply an expression of emphasis. Less often in less public, it really marks an occasion--with excitement, tremendous energy release, and some kind of kick. If Ohio State can score on the Longhorn defense, you're bound to see the latter.
(The Buckeye leaves and "dotting the i" are actually pretty cool traditions)

Today's trivia: The Hook 'em hand signal is the most recognizable body activity in sports.

1 day 21 hours and 11 minutes until kickoff.

current music: Elvin Bishop: Fooled Around and Fell In Love

Halftime will really pack a punch!

Did y'all hear that legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes will be honored at halftime of the Texas-OSU game? On the sidelines after the play, Coach Hayes punched Clemson defensive back Charlie Bauman after he intercepted an Art Schlichter (Whoa! That's another story!!!) pass. The interception had sealed the Buckeye's defeat in the 1978 Gator Bowl. "Woody Hayes's punch was the most shocking episode of a coach or manager attacking a player in American sports history," according to the New York Times.

I think he knocked his block off!


We might have to honor the moment here as well.

Today's trivia: The 'Horns are the only Big XII team to have a winning record against every other team in the conference.

2 days 21 hours 16 minutes to go!

current music: Siouxsie & the Banshees: This Wheel's On Fire

Wheeeeeeere's the beef? In Austin, not Columbus!

I noticed today (Dallas Morning News) that Ohio State's athletic budget is $91 million and Texas's is $83 million. Overlooking that either way it's a downright obscene amount of money, who's is better spent?

The Ohio State propaganda site boasts that the Buckeye and Buckette teams have won a combined 53 titles in an array of sports. That's all nice and sweet...until you notice that 24 of the 26 women's titles are in the long-loved and celebrated true American sport: synchronized swimming. *schwiiiiing* I wouldn't have normally stooped to bring this up, but did BECAUSE at the bottom of this section, in parentheses, it states "Not an NCAA Sport." Wait! Now that I continue to look, the other two women's titles are in "Pistol," also "Not an NCAA sport." Just what are they trying to pull off? If only the Soviet Union had been so artful in their lies! The women have won exactly jack shit. Nada. Coincidentally...that's about what the Buckeye men have done lately. OK, they won a football title in 2002 and gymnastics in '01 and '96, but then we swoon back to 1985 to find the next most recent winner. That leaves 24 of the university's 27 legitimate titles over 20 years old.

Of course, I already blogged on the fecundity of Austin's soil in growing champions. Ask any young swimmer where a lot of our American Olympic swimming and diving medalists are from. I'll give you the fact that we haven't won a football title since 1970, in fairness. But, our true 45 firsts are near and far in age, broad across the scope of sports, and well...true!

It seems like Texans are getting more out of their athletic budget. More bang for our buck, if you will.

:O)

Plus, Man of the House was about hot UT Cheerleaders. The movie was a true tour de force.

Today's trivia: Texas has the third most all time victories and third most all time bowl appearances. (behind Michigan, Notre Dame and then Alabama, Tennessee respectively)

T-minus four days and counting.

current music: U2: Shadows and Tall Trees

Big TEN? big whoop!

Taking a page from myself, I'm posting a giddy countdown to a major life event. Taking a page from my friend Jorin, the countdown will contain trivia. What we're counting down to is the impending woodshed beating of Ohio State by the 'Horns. An unnamed horsey female suggested that our beloved Longhorns would be awed by the football atmosphere in Columbus. She brayed, "They'll see what a 'real' big horseshoe is!" Um...it's certainly got to be harder to play before College Station's asylumees for Thanksgiving. I've seen more than my share of Big Ten crowds on TV, thanks to ESPN Gameplan. *yawn* They aren't loud. Also, I don't ever think that we've ever referred to DKR-Memorial Stadium as a horseshoe. And even on top of that, didn't they close in Ohio Stadium and ruin the horseshoe shape? It sure looks like it on the boob tube.

Now for today's edification: Texas is 9-6 against the Big Ten Conference.

Five days and counting...

current musci: FSU war chant