lone star showdown
Well, today is the big day. The day after Thanksgiving. I’m not talking about the first shopping day of the Christmas season. No, for Texans the day after Thanksgiving means so much more. It’s what’s now known as the State Farm Lone Star Showdown. For those of you who don’t speak corporate sponsor-ese, that’s the Texas vs. Texas A&M game. Football, that is. It’s a sport.
Most people in Texas have solidly chosen one side or the other to root for, but I’m in a peculiar spot. I have degrees from both schools. Yeah I know, how could I do such a thing? Well, if someone had told Texas to reduce their MBA tuition by about $7,000, offer me a Graduate Assistantship, and cut their class sizes in half, I would have gone to Texas. But nobody told them. Or they didn’t listen. And Texas A&M did. So I went there. No big deal. Call me a traitor, or disloyal if you will. But I have a degree with the same three letters on it, plus thousands of dollars more in my pocket. Well okay, student loan debt that’s only up to my ears, not up to my eyeballs (it’s a subtle difference).
I’ll be wearing burnt orange today. After all, I went to Texas first. And for twice as long. And at Texas I actually had time to get into the whole school spirit thing. I cared about the rivalry. I still do, but it’s harder to pick sides now, because I respect both schools. They are both great places to go to school, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. I’m glad I’ve experienced both. So now I root for both schools. I just root for Texas more fervently. I know the players’ names. I tape the game if I can’t be home to watch it. I wish I had season tickets. Texas A&M games I watch if I’m home and it’s on.
So for Texas people I’m a traitor Aggie convert, and for A&M people I’m a Longhorn tea-sip (I’m not sure what this means either). But for one day I’m a winner no matter what.
