Published on 07/13/2005

The Red River Shootout is the most exciting rivalry in all of college football. Atomic Sports Media.com's Brad Seal explains why.

“Let the hate flow through you. Now release your anger.” While any Star Wars buff can identify that paraphrase and attach it to Darth Vader or Emperor Palpatine as the two villains try to lure Luke Skywalker to the dark side of the force, it can also be used to describe the Texas and Oklahoma fans before the annual Red River Shootout. You have no control over your feelings on this matter. It’s as if Pavlov has imprinted a reaction on you as soon as you get involved with either of the two schools. Oklahoma fans can’t look at the color of burnt orange without retching and when Texas fans eye the word Oklahoma set in crimson…bad things, man. Last year I had an old college chum visiting me in New York. He’s a great guy except for the fact that he is an OU fan. He took the opportunity to wear a smart-assed OU t-shirt that was only made to piss off Longhorn fans like myself. As we were walking down the street in the West Village, we passed a couple taking an evening stroll. Upon reading my friend’s shirt, the girl called out behind us, “you’re going to hell, pal!” Such is the relationship between Texas fans and Oklahoma fans; the fight continues no matter where you are in the country. College football is full of traditional rivalries that fans circle on their calendar, but for pure football intensity, nothing can top Texas/OU weekend.

It usually begins a few weeks before the actual game. As a fan, you look at the calendar and see that October is fast approaching. During the out of conference games in late September, you may hear fans beginning to chant, “Beat OU!” or “Beat UT!” towards the end of the contest. October hits and on the first week the two teams must focus on opening conference play with a win, not an easy thing to do considering what looms just ahead. Often the first game in October is referred to as a “trap” game because both Texas and OU are caught looking ahead to the next week, failing to focus on the task at hand. Once the final gun sounds on this game, however, the countdown begins. The second week in October: a college football Judgment Day of sorts. The air grows heavier throughout the week, filled with the anticipation for the upcoming battle. All eyes on campus focus on the practice field as fans assess whether the boys have a chance this year. Viewing plans are made because you just can’t watch this match-up on a crusty old 12” television with rabbit ears. You’ll miss too much of the scene. You need a gigantic television, preferably with a sound system that will blow you right out of your chair. Friday hits and the campuses empty out. Friday is travel day for Texas and Oklahoma fans.

Squadrons of cars race south from Norman, OK as though the town has declared war. At the same time, the earth quakes from the mass of automobiles heading north out of Austin. The destination for both groups: Dallas, Texas; a city located smack dab between the two universities. As a child in Dallas, I remember hearing the Texas/OU traffic reports warning citizens who somehow aren’t aware to get home quickly if they don’t want to become part of the giant pre-game rally that spills across the highways of Dallas. Allegiances are displayed on license plates, flags hanging from windows, and writing (often lewd) on the back windshields and side windows. Residents of the Big D, many of whom attended one of the schools, join the fray as bars and restaurants become unofficial headquarters for fans. Parties rage until the wee hours of the night filled with chants, followed by a little hootin’ and hollerin’. There were points in the past when the city fire department would actually have to spray fans off of the street with hoses in order to keep the peace. Generally, however, the mass of humans are well behaved and simply enjoy a little jaw-jackin’ between the rival schools. Only half a day away from what is annually the most important win for each school.

Saturday morning is usually about the tension. OU fans, many of which reside in Texas, don’t want to lose to the Longhorns because it will mean a year listening to barbs aimed at the school, people, and general existence of Oklahoma. UT fans hate losing to Oklahoma because over half of the OU football team is made of Texas born players. For the football team to come into Texas and beat the Longhorns with Lone Star players is an absolute insult and the OU fans and players will let everyone in Texas know. Conversations that take place Saturday morning usually involve statements like: “Man, I really really really don’t want to lose to those jack-asses,” “If they’re up by more than 14 in the 4th quarter, we’re leaving, I don’t want to listen to all those idiot fans chant,” and “I don’t want a close game, I want to beat the life out of those (expletive).” Once the great football round table is finished and the proper paraphernalia is packed, it’s off to the stadium.

The Cotton Bowl plays host to the annual Red River Shootout and the atmosphere both inside and outside of the famous stadium could not be any more exciting or chaotic. Set right in the middle of the Texas State Fair, the Cotton Bowl looms over the carnival ground that is at the height of its busy season. Upon entering the gates to the fair, you are greeted with a big “Howdy Folks!” by the gigantic 52-foot cowboy named Big Tex. You can go anywhere throughout the fair, but most fans tend to go pre-game rallies or simply stand near the stadium eating corny dogs, funnel cakes and trying to stare one another down. It’s as if the pre-game fan stand off will affect the outcome of the actual game. There you are in the middle of the Texas State Fair, but no one is smiling. Generally fans spend about an hour churlishly staring daggers at one another before they enter the stadium. It’s probably not the best use of time at a state fair, but it’s hard to focus on anything else.

Entering a stadium probably sounds pretty banal since every sports fan has done it before, but please understand that the Cotton Bowl really is different. Try to enter at the center in order to get the full effect, as it can actually be bone chilling. As you walk up the entrance ramp you will see one endzone fully bathed in the crimson and cream of OU. This continues right up to the 50 yard line and then, as though someone drew an invisible line across the seats and field, it stops. On the other side of the 50 is the burnt orange and white of UT that continues to the other side of the stadium. There are very few exceptions to this rule and the absoluteness of the color change is jarring.

The next assault on your senses is the entrance of the university bands. There is very little, if any, warning since the bands begin playing while they are still in the tunnel underneath the stadium. You hear the drumline and the whistles that signify the earthquake of sound that will soon wash over you like an atomic blast. If it is timed well, the fans will see the school affiliation of the band just as “Texas Fight” or “Boomer Sooner” explodes from within the tunnel. This burst of sound is followed shortly by the lusty cheers from one half of the stadium and merciless booing from the other half. The other university band follows as the cheers and boos are reversed and the two bands have a little “band off”, playing school fight songs and generally whipping the fans into even more of a frenzy than they are already in.

Finally, it is the pinnacle of the pre-game fan involvement as the two teams make their way to the field. As they leave their locker rooms to go down the same entrance tunnel, the only thing separating the teams from fans is a big chain-link fence. Texas and OU supporters crush up against the poor fence and scream cheers and insults as each set of players huddle together to run onto the field. From a stadium view point, a fan can see the players gather right at the lip of the field entrance and begin revving up for the run onto the gridiron. When it is time, flag bearers sprint out first to signify the entrance of the team and then all hell breaks loose. The team comes charging out to a stadium filled to capacity (and then some) with screaming fans as shotguns and cannons fire off. Ex-Longhorns and Sooners have said this is the most surreal moment of their college football careers. Deafening screams raining down from the heavens, ear splitting explosions, waves of crimson and burnt orange, old ladies giving you the finger just because you have a different jersey on; it’s all part of the scene.

The crowd intensity spills onto the field, as the typical Texas/OU game is a low scoring grudge match filled with titanic hits, key third downs, and goal line stands. The Red River Shootout currently enjoys a national stage, as both participants are perennial top 10 programs. Oklahoma is riding a 5 game winning streak, but Texas will be looking for revenge come next October, with the winner probably enjoying an inside track to a BCS Championship Bowl. Even during down seasons, however, fans can enjoy the annual showdown at the Cotton Bowl that provides an adrenaline rush more powerful than any action movie. Choose your side and prepare to do battle because there are no casual observers during Texas/OU weekend.

Brad Seal is a contributing writer to Atomic Sports Media.com. Brad can be reached at brad.seal@atomicsportsmedia.com.