BevoBlake
That Design Guy
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2013
- Messages
- 3,038
Maybe I should use the term "un-affiliated".
I've been at a little bit of a cross-roads as of late with my fan-hood. Like many, I'm not blessed with the amazing "Alumni" status of Texas' great University. I come from a pretty big family and we didn't really have much money. I made the decision to enter the workforce immediately upon graduating from High School. At the time, I felt it was best to eliminate any necessity for my parents (as wonderful and hardworking as they are) to continue supporting me financially. I'd work full time jobs and then after work, I'd work in internship programs. At eighteen I was putting in anywhere from a 60-80 hour work week. It instilled a really great work ethic in me and because of that, I've been able to support my family on a single income and have seen a pretty steady rise in my industry. We're trying to buy a house right now actually.
That said, I still have regrets that I didn't go to college and try to find a work/education balance. It was my dream to attend the University of Texas. At the time, I wanted nothing more than to be a part of Texas' RTF Program. I had aspirations of going into Sports Broadcasting. My dad was always a huge Longhorn fan. Football was one of the things we really bonded over. I remember being inches away from the television for "Roll Left". I remember watching all forty-four of Ricky's carries against A&M, breaking Texas' rushing record. I remember Simms going down against Colorado and Vince exacting our revenge years later. I still think that Derrick Johnson batting the ball out of White's arms is the coolest fumble I've ever seen. I don't know that I'll ever experience another sports moment like 4th and 5 or Tucker sealing A&M's exit. I'll never hear the term "We'll be back" and not think about topping Michigan.
One of my greatest memories was the mind-blowing chance to sit down and talk football with Mack Brown when he was recruiting Snead. I'll always hold Mack in high regard for that. I think I knew then that the ten minute conversation I got to have with him in that High School hallway was the closest I'd get to feeling like a part of UT. But the fact remains, I'm not in any fashion, a member of the University of Texas. It was easier to justify my fan-hood in the closing year's of Mack's tenure and the entire tenure of Strong. We were losing and I still wasn't missing a down. I could tell you the name of every position coach and each recruit we were talking too. I had a subscription with every Texas Football pay-site until HornSports became my home.
But lately I've just been feeling a disconnect. Maybe because I know what is coming. Texas is going to win. They're going to win a lot. I'll go from being one of those non-alumni, defending and watching the ever loving crap out of this program, to one of thousands cheering for a team that I can't claim a legitimized connection too. That is just how sports work. Maybe it's because I've been exploring the opportunity to go to college finally and I'm recognizing that the University won't be Texas. Or maybe as I'm approaching thirty, I'm realizing that there has been a generation of Texas alumni since I graduated. But I've been feeling as if I haven't really "earned" it. I won't get to celebrate in the same fashion as many of the wonderful personalities on this board. Which kind of stinks as I hold the Longhorns as high (if not higher) than my fandom for the Rangers, Cowboys, Mavs and Stars. I guess I'm just curious. What are your thoughts on "t-shirt fans" as A&M and other fan-bases like to call us? What are your thoughts on being a fan of a college in which you didn't attend?
I've been at a little bit of a cross-roads as of late with my fan-hood. Like many, I'm not blessed with the amazing "Alumni" status of Texas' great University. I come from a pretty big family and we didn't really have much money. I made the decision to enter the workforce immediately upon graduating from High School. At the time, I felt it was best to eliminate any necessity for my parents (as wonderful and hardworking as they are) to continue supporting me financially. I'd work full time jobs and then after work, I'd work in internship programs. At eighteen I was putting in anywhere from a 60-80 hour work week. It instilled a really great work ethic in me and because of that, I've been able to support my family on a single income and have seen a pretty steady rise in my industry. We're trying to buy a house right now actually.
That said, I still have regrets that I didn't go to college and try to find a work/education balance. It was my dream to attend the University of Texas. At the time, I wanted nothing more than to be a part of Texas' RTF Program. I had aspirations of going into Sports Broadcasting. My dad was always a huge Longhorn fan. Football was one of the things we really bonded over. I remember being inches away from the television for "Roll Left". I remember watching all forty-four of Ricky's carries against A&M, breaking Texas' rushing record. I remember Simms going down against Colorado and Vince exacting our revenge years later. I still think that Derrick Johnson batting the ball out of White's arms is the coolest fumble I've ever seen. I don't know that I'll ever experience another sports moment like 4th and 5 or Tucker sealing A&M's exit. I'll never hear the term "We'll be back" and not think about topping Michigan.
One of my greatest memories was the mind-blowing chance to sit down and talk football with Mack Brown when he was recruiting Snead. I'll always hold Mack in high regard for that. I think I knew then that the ten minute conversation I got to have with him in that High School hallway was the closest I'd get to feeling like a part of UT. But the fact remains, I'm not in any fashion, a member of the University of Texas. It was easier to justify my fan-hood in the closing year's of Mack's tenure and the entire tenure of Strong. We were losing and I still wasn't missing a down. I could tell you the name of every position coach and each recruit we were talking too. I had a subscription with every Texas Football pay-site until HornSports became my home.
But lately I've just been feeling a disconnect. Maybe because I know what is coming. Texas is going to win. They're going to win a lot. I'll go from being one of those non-alumni, defending and watching the ever loving crap out of this program, to one of thousands cheering for a team that I can't claim a legitimized connection too. That is just how sports work. Maybe it's because I've been exploring the opportunity to go to college finally and I'm recognizing that the University won't be Texas. Or maybe as I'm approaching thirty, I'm realizing that there has been a generation of Texas alumni since I graduated. But I've been feeling as if I haven't really "earned" it. I won't get to celebrate in the same fashion as many of the wonderful personalities on this board. Which kind of stinks as I hold the Longhorns as high (if not higher) than my fandom for the Rangers, Cowboys, Mavs and Stars. I guess I'm just curious. What are your thoughts on "t-shirt fans" as A&M and other fan-bases like to call us? What are your thoughts on being a fan of a college in which you didn't attend?
