Going into college, there was nothing I was more excited about than Texas football. Growing up in a small, "Friday Night Lights"-esque town had prepared me for the moment I would set foot into my first college football game. All those years I was laying on the couch watching Texas football, basketball, and even baseball were over because now I was a student and I could BE THERE.
While tailgating has been fun, I was utterly disappointed in the spirit at the football game. I was surprised to find that people ACTUALLY SAT DOWN in between plays or on defense. People were leaving to go get food during key drives on offense. The only time people yelled was when the band played or the cheerleaders held up signs that said, "Texas! Fight!" The most shocking thing was the fact people didn't mind being late to the games or leaving early. The motto is supposed to be, "Come Early. Be Loud. Stay Late. Wear Orange." Not "Come whenever. Yell with the band. Stay until you're tired. Wear clothing."
My fellow Texas fans, this is your wake-up call.
I get it, our football team hasn't been in contention for a national title since 2009. The baseball team has been going to the College World Series but also hasn't made a serious run since 2009. The basketball team wasn't as good this year as it was last year. Make up all these excuses, but at the end of the day when a new recruit comes to town to see our team play, he's not just looking at the team, he's also looking at the crowd, the atmosphere, the support.
Texas A&M, a school with a long history of mediocre football, has all the spirit in the world. Even before they left for the SEC, A&M's crowd was swaying the entire stadium and making weird noises for their less-than-impressive football team. Their "12th Man" has only become more powerful after their recent, ever-so-slight success. I hate to compliment the Aggies, but when the recruits look at a crowd like that, it's hard to say no. It's not only important from a recruit's standpoint, but also important from an opponent's standpoint. Playing at Kyle Field, like at all other SEC stadiums, is difficult.
It doesn't HAVE to be hard at JUST SEC schools. When I was younger, I went to a Texas Tech football game. Before Michael Crabtree and Graham Harrell rose to stardom, the crowd was doing "the wave" back and forth throughout the game to distract their opponent, then-lowly Baylor. Fast, slow, reverse... How did the crowd know how to do this SO well?
Baylor has the Baylor line, a large group of students who wear matching gold jerseys and march through tailgates and parades the stadium to welcome their team. West Virginia also has one of the loudest, craziest crowds in college football. They even have a team walk called the "Mountaineer Mantrip" that starts 2 hours and 20 minutes before the football game, where a large group of fans cheer on the team and coaches as they make their way to the field, passing by a 350-pound block of coal. West Virginia doesn't have the heat like Texas, but their fans come in the snow.
We should consider ourselves lucky to be going to games in the heat instead of snow. The University of Michigan doesn't let the weather or status of the team keep them from having the record-breaking, largest crowd in college football history. On September 7, 2013, 115,109 people attended the game at the Big House against Norte Dame. I guess that's why it's called "the Big House." Last time I checked, Michigan was also NOT an SEC team.
My fellow Texas students, while we laugh at the failed "Turn Up DKR" or "Texas Homecoming" attempts and complain about how our teams "suck," the recruits and opponents are laughing at US. Recruits come to EVERY home game, and if they're not impressed, they won't come back. We can no longer blame Mack's decisions or the quarterback; WE have to take the blame. We need to show everyone that this is Texas Football, the home of Vince Young, Colt McCoy, Ricky Williams, Major Applewhite, Roy Williams, Cedric Benson, Bobby Layne, Earl Campbell, and even more legendary players.
Take the summer to reassess your strategy. Re-stock your closet with burnt-orange and re-energize, because when football season rolls around, every team starts with the same record: 0-0. If we're there early yelling, "Give 'em hell, give 'em hell, make 'em eat sh*t," then maybe the dynasty that is Texas football will rise again.
If it doesn't now, it will later, because there is no such thing as having too much Texas Pride.
