Sympathy for the UT Fan

By Guest Writer: Mike Reed

I will say I agree and disagree with your Longhorn Fan analysis. First, I have been a Texas fan since I was old enough to watch TV. Texas Longhorns, like the Dallas Cowboys, were on TV. I had a perception that the Texas Longhorns represented none other than the Great State of Texas. A&M still was a military school with just guys attending. What did A&M stand for anyway????? So, I grew up supporting the Texas Longhorns. Now, I did not attend the school but did attend 50 miles east of the A&M campus, SHSU. Do you expect me to be a Bearkat fan? I
am in their own conference. But, give me a break. I actually pull for TEXAS teams. My favorite is the Longhorns. However, I support the team that needs the win the most to best reflect the winning TEXAS tradition. Example: If the Aggies are going for the Big 12 Title and not Texas, I YELL for the Aggies. If they play a non-Texas (out-of-state) team, go AG's go. I bleed whatever color needs the transfusion. God forbid if Baylor ever won anything.

I can understand the intense hatred for a rival. However, I am an American first and then a Texan. Texas fans or Aggie fans would rather UOR (that is short for University of Russia) or Osama Institute for Terrorism won instead of their archrivals. I find this quite disturbing. It is like politics; we would rather become communist than let those damn Republicans get any credit. Talk about dividing your country. How about dividing your state?

I had to watch the U.T. / A&M game with my father-in-law this past thanksgiving holiday. He went to A&M the same time as my Uncle. I was on my best behavior. My son (who is a diehard Longhorn fan, because he actually wants to play for them someday) and I would at least excuse ourselves to the back room to high-five when Texas would score. I have to give it to the Aggies. They played very well. They gave a much more talented Texas team all they could handle. This is why the game is a tradition. Anyone can win, no matter the records. I think A&M has found their starting quarterback for the next three years. The kid is a stud.

I told my son if Texas A&M shows up on your doorstep with a scholarship, I will be wearing maroon underwear and only drinking Merlot. I might even drive a maroon pickup. Even if Notre Dame shows up on the doorstep offering a scholarship, I would wear….. (I have to draw the line somewhere) Go University of Russia. Later.

Sherrod Shout-Out

During my hair-days in Dallas, there was a sportswriter with the Dallas Morning News, named Blackie Sherrod. He wrote his columns for 60 years. He wasn't much for shades and hues and flowery sports-prose. He was all about capturing big news in short sentences, using small words. The Dallas Observer interviewed him on the occasion of his 2003 retirement. He remarked that the reason he was so succinct was so he could have time to get a beer with the boys. He wrote in bullet-points. I am going to try a little Sherrod-esque scattershooting today. (Boy, we never appreciate what we've got 'til it's gone.)

* Houston Chronicle reports that Major Applewhite is now QB Coach at Syracuse, and is a candidate for vacant Rice Head Coach Job. This kid isn’t even old enough to drink yet, is he? (They also suggest that former Nebraska QB Turner Gill and UM QB Jim Harbaugh are candidates.)

* Major Applewhite was among the top three greatest college QB’s (pound-for-pound)of all-time. Just heart and guts, and a big head, filled with an abundance of game-film.

* If UT could have their big-time NFL QB Chris Simms back for this year’s Big 12 Championship instead of their current QB, I don’t think they’d do it.

* Old friend, Travis Wilson tried to topple me from the peak of the mountain of Macho-Buck-Swishy-Writers yesterday with his use of the word “alacrity”. I take that as a provocation, a remonstrance to my dominion and paramountcy of the realm of the written word. By this slap in the face, he neglected the most important aspect of rightitude, which is the magnification of didactic pontification. I trust he won’t wade into these muddy waters again.

* What a skewed free-agent market it is: The Yankees are offering the walking Mexican pharmacy, Kyle Farnsworth, two to three years at $5 Million a season. Compare that to the $3 mil Brad Lidge will get in arbitration. It’s just not the time to go after pitchers. Prediction: Farnsworth’s joints won’t hold up. Within two years, we’ll see him on ESPN,laying on a mound in agony, having thrown his arm off his body. (Steroids don’t strengthen ligaments.)

* If the Rangers make a move in free-agency, I hope its to get Juan Pierre via the Marlins’ fire sale.

* And back to the Major Domo. When he, the reigning 1999 Big 12 Offensive Player of the year, stepped aside quietly to allow Mack Brown to fulfill the terms of his back-room recruiting deal with Phil Simms, Applewhite sealed his status as member of top ten classiest QB’s in history.

Scattershooting is the best tact for those of us who prefer the art of scatological, random sports-thought profundity. Blackie Sherrod was brief, but eloquent. He once said: “Saying that Wilt Chamberlain is another good, big center is like saying the Grand Canyon is just another ditch.” And, during his 60 years of sports writing, Mr. Sherrod made plenty of time for beer with the boys.