Tex-cess

[Ginofan]

One of my cousins sent this to me today, I thought it was pretty funny...but true.

http://www.dallasobserver.com/Issues...ews/whitt.html

Tex-cess
Everything's bigger in our state, especially the fan fakery
By Richie Whitt
Published: Thursday, January 19, 2006

How 'bout them Dallas Longhorns!
What a great story. Vince Young, raised on the tough streets of Oak Cliff, survives to star at Carter High School and eventually matures into the leader of the nation's No. 1 college football team. Wow! And it all happened here in our own backyard.

Right?

It must've. Why else would The Dallas Morning News produce a special section on the Longhorns' Rose Bowl victory and a full-page color poster of Young? Why else would the racks of Longhorns Rose Bowl T-shirts at the Kroger near The Village be empty the day after the game when the day before they were almost full? Why else would shameless family restaurants like Beef O' Brady's in McKinney ins ute a cover charge during the national championship game? Why else would a local Ford dealership run radio ads congratulating "our national champs"? And why else would Dallas' No. 1 sports radio station, 1310 AM The Ticket, carry Young's press conferences live?

Because the Longhorns are our team? Uh, nope. Because in Dallas, we lead the nation in bandwagoning.

As former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman said back in 1991, "This isn't a football town, it's a winners town."

Never has that been more apparent than in 2006, when Dallas' fake frenzy over the University of Texas' national championship almost made us forget that Austin is a good 200 miles south, that our city is home to a compe ive Division I school called SMU and that our skyline's most unique building is bathed in argon green not burnt orange. Unless UT's Dallas-based enrollment/alumni has suddenly ed to around, oh, say 1.2 million, I'm guessing a lot of you have enjoyed a happy new year hijacking a successful athletic team for the purpose of selfish emotional fulfillment.

"It's not right at all, but it's easy to explain," said Ticket co-host Greg Williams. "UT is the face of college football in this state. I don't care if you're from Texas A&M or Sul Ross or are just a marginal fan with no affiliation, it's easy to get your arms around Texas winning the championship."

At 24 Hour Fitness there are more Texas T-shirts than resolutions and beads of sweat combined. In the express aisle at Tom Thumb there are MILFs checkin' out more magazine covers featuring Mack Brown and his trophy than Angelina Jolie and her belly. And at Bob Thomas Ford, they're awfully proud of their latest commercial:

"The Longhorns' championship makes you proud to be a Texan, no matter where you went to school."

It does? I don't want to piss on our parade but, pssst, it's not our parade!

I'm not sure whether I need to be embarrassed or I want to be evicted. Talk about pride all you want, but know this: When the University of Southern California won the le last season, the folks up the coast in San Francisco were way too proud to go dancin' in the streets or go slappin' full-page posters of Matt Leinart in their major-market newspaper.

San Francisco: "Damn, I can't wait for the day when our team wins."

Dallas: "Yee-haw! At least they're from Texas!"

And your local paper served as choreographer to the whole coattail caravan, all but screaming "We Win!" On Monday, a full 13 days after Texas' 41-38 victory over USC, the DMN was still running photos of Young on page 1A. On its Web site, the paper continues to offer a special section dedicated to the Longhorns, including Texas-themed desktop wallpaper.

Indeed, all my excess lives in Texas.

This from a paper that lives down the street from SMU, 30 miles from a TCU team that finished 11-1 and in a city that is home to neither Texas nor any member of the Big 12 Conference. Makes you wonder who runs the rag these days, Belo or Bevo?

"There's a lot of UT alumni here, sure, but there are a lot from OU, too, and they didn't get the same treatment when they won the le," Williams said. "And I don't think I recall any Pony Express posters when SMU flirted with the championship back in the '80s. How they covered UT like it was Dallas' team was more than a little strange."

Here's betting that 35 years from now, when SMU wins its next championship, the Austin American-Statesman doesn't borrow the DMN's headline: "No. 1, Y'all!"

Truth is, ours is a pride of convenience. It's evident on St. Patrick's Day, when everybody turns Irish long enough to pinch butts and get drunk. But somehow "Don't Mess With Texas" vanishes when it's time to flick a lit cigarette out of your Lexus.

If we're truly bound by everything Texas, why isn't Glory Road "our" movie? Why doesn't the DMN print posters of Tim Duncan when the Spurs win another NBA championship? And why was popular President Bush a "true Texan," while unpopular President Bush is a "staunch Republican"?

It's because, God bless us, we're more fake than Milli Vanilli serenading a topless Pamela Anderson. The same Orangebloods that tried to bury Brown and founded www.firegregdavis.com ("site currently unavailable") now want to erect statues of the coach and offensive coordinator inside our state Capitol's rotunda.

"For two years, UT fans called our show complaining that Mack can't win the big game," Williams said. "Now they're comparing him to Darrell Royal."

While a lot fraudulent and a little creepy, Dallas' faux fanaticism toward Austin is harmless, maybe even healthy. All we want to do is bask in some glory, even if we have to rub imaginary shoulders with Young, Brown, Roger Clemens, Lance Armstrong and Matthew McConaughey on our own Sixth Street. Party planner: Compared to Austin's, ours, just south of the Trinity River, is 1/10th as fun and 10 times as dangerous.

There is one group in town with a legitimate right to rejoice over the 'Horns. At the University of Texas at Dallas, they share a direct affiliation and, surely, some giddiness. And the Richardson campus is in fact buzzing about recently released rankings. In Discover magazine's list of 2005's important science discoveries, UTD produced Nos. 8 (development of carbon nanotube sheets) and 70 (discovery of a mysterious new subatomic particle). And, somehow, they did it without even having a football team.

Hook 'em horn-rimmed glasses!

From freaks to Frogs to techies and Techies, Dallas is seeing 2006 through the Eyes of Texas.

"The Cowboys didn't make the playoffs," said Williams, "so all these front-runners had to find a winner somewhere."

Everything truly is bigger in Texas.

Especially the bandwagon.

[Horry For 3!]

hahaha I guess they want to be Longhorn fans because they won the National Championship and are from Texas

My friend from Maryland said he bought a Texas cap because he likes Vince Young a lot so that could be another reason Texas attracts fans but Vince will be gone so it will be interesting.

As I will always be a Longhorns fan no matter what I have rooted for them and been to the games since I was young. Plus all my cousins and my uncle/aunts from my dad's side went to UT. My cousin used to be a cheerleader for UT. Go Longhorns

[KewlKat00]

yeah, i didn't like how this turned into a texas vs. california thing. usc doesn't even represent california (just ask a cal or ucla person). i am still a texan even though i went to usc. i am just as likely to carry a texas flag as a ut person. and right beside that i would have a usc flag.

when i was driving to the rose bowl a group of texas fans started honking at my car (which has texas plates and a "don't mess with texas" sticker). they were quite surprised when they looked in the car and saw 5 people in only cardinal and gold. not to mention that out of the 5 people in the car only one was from california (bay area) and the rest were from san antonio, houston, chicago, and cleveland.

[samikeyp]

I guess by his definition I am a bandwagoner. I have always rooted for UT as my first choice but I root for any Texas team against a non-Texas team. Even when the Aggies go to bowl games I root for them. When they made the NIT last year, I pulled for them as well. Personally I see no problem with that. IMO, I am a Texan first...UT fan 2nd.

just my .02

[KewlKat00]

well i don't mean that people who root for texas teams are bandwagon fans at all. i just mean that this wasn't some mighty texas vs. california showdown as some made it out to be. i don't know how many times i heard something along the lines of "let's beat california. it's just full of fruits and nuts." of course, when i responded with "oh, i'm a texan." they didn't know what to say.

[AlamoSpursFan]

compe ive Division I school called SMU

Ummm, define "compe ive".

[samikeyp]

well i don't mean that people who root for texas teams are bandwagon fans at all. i just mean that this wasn't some mighty texas vs. california showdown as some made it out to be. i don't know how many times i heard something along the lines of "let's beat california. it's just full of fruits and nuts." of course, when i responded with "oh, i'm a texan." they didn't know what to say.

its all good Kat...I was referring to the guy who wrote the article. He seems to think its a bad thing. not you bro.

[KewlKat00]

its all good Kat...I was referring to the guy who wrote the article. He seems to think its a bad thing. not you bro.

that's cool, i realized that.

i think part of the article was a bit much, but some of it was right.

i just think that lots of other people jumped on the bandwagon because it was the cool thing to go against california (even though there are just as many liberals/fruits/nuts/whatever in tx as in ca, just as there are as many hicks in ca as tx). just because you root for other texas teams over non texas teams doesn't mean you are a bandwagon fan of that team. you're just picking someone you would rather win that game. and that team is the one from texas because you like texas. it's not like you would pick that team over your team if they went head to head. that's perfectly fine because everyone usually has a favorite to win in most games for whatever reason...

but I think one of the main points, in my opinion, was... say texas a&m had been playing for the national championship, you rooted for them over usc because they're from texas, they won... would you then go out and buy a tshirt/magazine/hat/whatever else? probably not... but there are alot of people (like the writer suggested) who did.

[Mr Dio]

The Horns haters are still having a problem dealing with it?

I love it, it just goes to show how miserable this team made some people.

I guess they have personal or mental issues that they can't deal with.

[KewlKat00]

there are more hicks in TX than CA

have you been to central california?

[spurs=bling]

that our city is home to a compe ive Division I school called SMU and that our skyline's most unique building is bathed in argon green not burnt orange. Unless UT's Dallas-based enrollment/alumni has suddenly ed to around, oh, say 1.2 million, I'm guessing a lot of you have enjoyed a happy new year hijacking a successful athletic team for the purpose of selfish emotional fulfillment.

[samikeyp]

.. say texas a&m had been playing for the national championship, you rooted for them over usc because they're from texas, they won... would you then go out and buy a tshirt/magazine/hat/whatever else? probably not... but there are alot of people (like the writer suggested) who did.

Valid point....I personally would not but there would be a lot who would just like the UT stuff.

[hussker]

Valid point....I personally would not but there would be a lot who would just like the UT stuff.

Yeah...
Burnt Orange...
B.O.
Perfect for Texans...

By the way, I did root for Texas in the NC; I rooted for them in the ROse Bowl last year..I DID NOT root for them much during the regular season either year...but again, I cannot be a bandwagoner when I actually GRADUATED from a school that has a tradition. Most of the Bandwagoners and those who claim to be Fans have never even been close to the Austin Campus, let alone matriculated anywhere.

Most people in Texas do not like the AGGIES for whatever reason, but those who do...not typically bandwagoners. elpimpo is just in saying he roots for anyone Texas. I doubt most of you would ADMIT that, but you probably still would.

On the other hand, DALLAS has ALWAYS bandwagoned. I think that the folks there believe that the Silly little Red River Shootout makes the Longhorns their team. Where were the DALLAS fans in the very LEAN late 80's for the Cowboys? Absent.

I think SA has bandwagoners, but so what, it is right down the road from Austin and does have affiliation with UTSA. Once the roadrunners get a team, might be a different story.

If Dallas was a TRUE TEXAS TOWN, then the Spurs would be revered...but, alas, they have the Dallas My Little Ponies. Enough said.

Here in College Station, most of what we see in the B.O. are ne'er do wells from Bryan who sneak across University Drive to the (S)Mall or to get a 99 cent taco at Taco Cabana. I think the do it for Spite...like who really cares.

More power to all who will do what they will, and Don't mess with Texas, MoFo!!

[chode_regulator]

ive noticed alot more people wearing ut apparel and alot more of it in stores. and im in nc. makes me wonder where all these people were when i used to be the only one walking around a mall in burnt orange?????
oh well at least we won. i can understand being proud of your state for winning something but it does seem as if everyone is going a little overboard.

[hussker]

ive noticed alot more people wearing ut apparel and alot more of it in stores. and im in nc. makes me wonder where all these people were when i used to be the only one walking around a mall in burnt orange?????
oh well at least we won. i can understand being proud of your state for winning something but it does seem as if everyone is going a little overboard.

Definitely CHODE that Must be REGULATED CR! Good Call

[mookie2001]

its pretty easy to buy a tshirt and like vince young
the difficult things in the current millenium (in no particular order) are shuting down OU and getting shut out yourself, having to stick up for chris simms, losing to colorado, losing to washington state, watching lsu win the le the year after Texas stomped them in the cotton bowl, watching dozens of first round talent leave without accomplishing anything, having your season end before the bowl game, getting upset by tech, watching matt jones run wild at DKR, having to stick up for mack brown as more than a recruiter, losing to OU five years in a row and wondering how its plausable to play so ty, the "superman" roy williams play, watching OU lose to kstate and getting ed again, the losing ryan perriloux, hear bull all season long by TEXANS who arent aggies or red raiders and just hate ut to hate them
but its much much sweeter when you went through all that bull and you finally beat the annointed greatest team of all time to go

UNDISPUTED.
OUTRIGHT.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Y'all are so stupid. USC is the greatest team of all time...I'm ordering 2 shirts in cardinal and gold that say

"USC 2005-2006: The Greatest Team of All Time"

Because they are. The backs, the qb, the tight end, the receiveR, and their defense that haters hailed as greater than anything texas had ever seen.
USC was without a doubt the greatest team college football has ever witnessed.





















The only thing I'm confused over is what we're supposed to call Texas.

[gtownspur]

THe greatest upset of all time.

[chode_regulator]

Y'all are so stupid. USC is the greatest team of all time...I'm ordering 2 shirts in cardinal and gold that say

"USC 2005-2006: The Greatest Team of All Time"

Because they are. The backs, the qb, the tight end, the receiveR, and their defense that haters hailed as greater than anything texas had ever seen.
USC was without a doubt the greatest team college football has ever witnessed.





















The only thing I'm confused over is what we're supposed to call Texas.

funny. im confusede over the exact same thing. i guess we'll have to come up with a word that means better than the best ever. hmmm...what shall it be.

[hussker]

funny. im confusede over the exact same thing. i guess we'll have to come up with a word that means better than the best ever. hmmm...what shall it be.

I have it... 95 Nebraska...

[scott]

I think in College Sports the whole "root for them because they are in the state you just happen to be born in/live in" is pretty lame... but - that's just me. Root for the school you attended. If you didn't attend one, don't pretend like you are part of the alumni association.

[samikeyp]

I think there is a difference though, between acting like you went somewhere you didn't and just rooting for a team. Its not like you can't root for a school you didn't attend. Just my .02 though, much like Scott I am not saying that is what others should do.

[Mr Dio]

I think there is a difference though, between acting like you went somewhere you didn't and just rooting for a team. Its not like you can't root for a school you didn't attend. Just my .02 though, much like Scott I am not saying that is what others should do.

Obviously some people think all Kentucky basketball fans went to UK. Or that all Ohio State football fans went to OSU. Seems hard to understand, but they didn't.
Seems sad that the only time you're a fan is when you're at a school. If that is the case, where was that person's loyalty BEFORE they went to that school??? An acceptance letter means you're a true fan?

Common sense isn't as common as most mght think.