The stadium itself is older, with only one large video scoreboard. However, the additional scoreboard ribbons compensated by providing more stats than normal, including running totals on rushing and passing yards. I don’t know if I have ever seen that anywhere else. I am told that the restrooms were of the classic nature with the good old trough. I couldn’t say for sure because I did not have to use them. This despite the fact that I had least four beers, a bottled water and then a huge souvenir glass of Coke. That is how hot it was tailgating, I’ve seen less sweat at cut weight day in the wrestling room. I can’t speak for the food at the concession stand because I was not going to risk missing any more game time standing in line. I do know they sell beer, lots of beer.

I can only assume that UT, like a number of programs, generously staffs their stands through a mix of regulars and volunteers trying to raise money for their cause. An admirable initiative, but one that almost guarantees varying levels of service. Unlucky for me, I got in the line with a cashier that was slower than Ryan Lochte. I got so frustrated that I eventually bailed and went to another cashier’s line where I was still served before the poor bastards in my old line. I am not sure why I was in such a hurry because when I went to go to my seat I ran into a wall of hot, sweaty humanity – but more on that later.

I noted that the Longhorn mascot Bevo gets his own air-conditioning. The Longhorn fans have a number of cheers, “FIGHT” “TEXAS” being the most dominant one. They do seem to end a number a number of cheers with “OU SUCKS” so much so that it almost feels if there is a bit of an inferiority complex with the UT fans.

UT is right in the center of downtown Austin. The traffic in Austin was a bit tight and that was at 12:30 for a 6:30 game. I had a parking pass so it was generally easy to get to it. It wasn’t a prime spot next to the stadium, but across the street next to all the RV’s tailgating. For not being in the heart of the action, the atmosphere wasn’t too bad. We tailgated for most of the afternoon and chatted with a few fans. For most of the day, the lot was only half full. It was also relatively un-policed. I have been to stadiums where they check your tags even after you park and then they measure your tent to make sure you aren’t taking up any extra space. There is public tailgating  parking available starting the night before at 6 pm but it is in front of the capital. I got lots of mixed reviews on that experience so I can’t vouch for it. UT is like most big schools, if you want to tailgate in the prime spots you need to be a season ticket holder and a big contributor to the university. I get the feeling that if I had relied on the public lots, my tailgating would have been from weak to non-existent. Serious tailgating just isn’t an option for most visiting fans. You are better off bringing a six pack and a sub and then walking around hoping for the generosity of the locals. Fortunately, the hospitality is often good.

Notre Dame had a quick drive punctuated by 29 yard QB run on the option. I looked at the only slightly concerned UT octogenarian with the Dale Gribble accent next to me and said, “As long as they don’t throw a pick, you’ll be fine”. Sure enough, the next play the Texas QB threw a pick. Three plays later ND was only down three. The Irish defense then stiffened and the offense followed up by another score to go up 35 – 31. The Horns offense then started clicking and did a quick drive to score a touchdown to go up 37 – 35 with only a PAT to kick. And that is when things got wild. For whatever reason, there was confusion with the Texas kicking team before the PAT with players running on and off the field. “Dale Gribble” and I are both yelling “Call timeout.” Alas none was called and the kick was blocked and returned for two points for ND. Unbelievably, the game was now tied with just less than three minutes to go.

This game was the largest ever at UT and it would be fair to say that the folks at the stadium weren’t prepared, Getting into the stadium was easy enough, but once inside, chaos ruled. Lines for the escalators were backed up at every turn, so we decided to take the ramps. Despite a brief shower about a half hour after kickoff, it was still crazy hot. We got to our concourse about 10 minutes right before kickoff and simply stopped. We were at section 109 and trying to get to section 107, but there was no movement. Que and Marquita tried to go ahead while I broke to get some waters and soda. After some terrible service, although not as bad as the disaster I had at Baylor once, I again entered the fray. Most folks were patient but there were a number of young men, from both schools that kept pushing and throwing elbows. It didn’t help that the even the concession guys were trying to push their way through as if the crowd needed more beer.  At one point, a policeman climbed up on one of the beer stands to survey the scene, He was stuck on an island and about as helpful as a knife at a gun fight. Eventually, word came back that a women had passed out and that everyone should go back. I dutifully turned and walked back to the ramps to where to my dismay, I could see but a small triangle of the end zone. I waited about five minutes and walked back the stairs to Section 107, coming right behind the nice ladies I had been behind the whole time. By the time I got to my seat I was soaked through my t-shirt with sweat and had missed the first eight minutes. I asked Que how long they had been there and he said they arrived just before me. Luckily the game was a great one and I left the stadium in a great mood. I did catch a glimpse of the poor women being worked on and it did look serious. Maybe I am being too tough on the police because I didn’t see any punches thrown, although there were some rumors that there was some scrapping.  I guess my concern is that if you are relying on the stadium staff and local authorities to coordinate a well executed evacuation of the stadium, you might be waiting a long time. When you are going to host 100,000+ fans and sell the alcohol in the stadium, you need to be better at handling crowds.

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