Susan Football Journey
It was a cold December Saturday evening in Chicago. I dressed excitedly as I got ready for my Girls’ Night with friends from book club. Sangria and Cuban food at old Chicago favorite Café 28, some Foleys, some fun. I had no idea that a football frenzy lay ahead of me…..
After dinner and a (what, $4?!) vodka soda at karaoke spot Foley’s, the eight of us rushed over to Brownstone on Lincoln for our next stop. We were welcomed not with red and green as many would expect at this time of year, but Burnt Orange, and I mean everywhere. We stood amongst Texas Longhorn fans as they battled out the last few minutes of the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers (love that name!). You could feel the anticipation, the tension, loud and testosterone-filled. After all, they WERE losing….
Texas Longhorn
And then the tides turned. As the bar’s patrons held their hands up in longhorn configuration, the referees reviewed the last play and put a second back on the clock, giving the Longhorns a chance for kicker Hunter Lawrence to drill a 46-yard field goal as the time ran out — and lead the Longhorns to victory. It was like everything was in slow motion. A sea of Texas orange cheering and jumping, tears flowing (I swear) and country music blasting overhead as Longhorn t-shirts were thrown to fans (yes, I smiled and nabbed one!).
Some say the play was bunk and the Longhorns should not be going to the BCS (bowl championship series) national championship game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Maybe that got lucky? After all, as country band Little Texas says, “God Blessed Texas!”
For those of you who watched the game, what do you think?
And for anyone wondering about the burnt in the “Texas burnt orange” color, read the history behind it.
Photo courtesy of eschipul
