Fiesta!

Since I've been back from Phoenix, I've made the following statement more than once: "The Longhorns should provide each graduate with a lifetime supply of heart medication." Yep, they did it again...another bowl, another down to the wire WIN for the team. The Longhorns didn't consistently bring their A game, but they played a tough Ohio State team and made big plays when it counted...so WOO HOO! Go Horns! [pics here]

Me and Bjorn flew in Monday morning and headed to the hotel to check in and drop off our stuff...we then went on a hunt of In-N-Out Burger and my iPhone, for perhaps only the 2nd time since I've owned it, failed me. It took me to a random street where there was no In-N-Out and I was sad! We decided to meander out to Glendale where we stumbled on a new local sports bar and had a good lunch...while we were there, some people stole the bar's 30-ft. Fiesta Bowl banner...sometimes I wish I had those kind of cajones!

Upon arrival at the stadium, we had some good CARma when we found $20 covered parking at a hotel garage, right next to the Glendale version of the Denver Pavilions where we stumbled upon quite a nice little party! We couldn't get tickets to the "official" tailgate (nor did we try when we got there) so this was a nice find. They had a pretty decent bar band from Ohio on stage when we got there, followed by the Sloopy Ohio State Band...then came a Texas band followed by...LONGHORN BAND! I love Longhorn Band...if I could do my life all over again I would have probably stayed in band in high school so I could have been in Longhorn Band (that, or I would have tried out to be the mascot Hook 'em). We had front row (literally) seats for a nice little pep rally.

We got to the stadium right when the gates opened, bought some souveniers and headed up to higher altitudes (we're from Colorado afterall) to take our seats...complete with free Tostitos and salsa! We were on the end though, in a nice pocket of Longhorn fans, and the view was pretty good actually. Pre-game was fun...Ohio State fans were seriously intimidated by the size of Longhorn Band (see picture for reference of how many of them there are). There was a huge american flag, a bald eagle, and bevo's grand arrival...

Longhorn Band...taking over the field.

I'll leave the game analysis to ESPN...but it was good times. Some highlights were obviously the winning touchdown and when Jordan Shipley fell on his tush on a kickoff return...perhaps he was distracted by how many times I yelled "I love you Jordan Shipley!"



After the game, the crowd was showing some serious Gator love for the national championship game that will be played tomorrow...we, especially this year, don't subscribe to that whole "Go Big 12" BS...GO GATORS! OU SUCKS!

Post-game...lookin' a little surprised that we WON!

Good times for sure. Can't wait until September when I can see my Horns again, live and in person, when they take on the Wyoming Cowboys in Laramie. Here's to Livin' Large in Texas...Hook 'em Horns...and I still love you Jordan Shipley!