honolulu horn
250+ posts
10/04/06 09:21 PM
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Till Gabriel blows his horn
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This post may not belong On the Field, but I'd like to respectfully request the mods to keep it here for a while if possible. If not, that's cool.
A recent thread got me thinking about this and it felt like the right time to post. I started thinking about my memories of Longhorn football throughout my life, and who has been the most responsible for instilling them there. Like many of us at Hornfans, I was literally weaned on UT football. I have early memories of being at Memorial Stadium before the name change. I heard my dad passionately about the 53-Veer, Street to Peschel, the Wishbone, Tommy Nobis, and Bobby Layne. About '63, '69, and '70. We had gameday parties at our house at Lake Travis, crammed with tvs and extension cords and beer and homemade brisket. We went to as many games as we could, even though we never had season tickets. I saw Earl run while sitting in my dad's lap. We sat next to each other in amazement watching Eric Metcalf. We yelled in the rain while Ricky ran over Mizzou defenders in the deluge. He wanted Applewhite. I wanted Simms. But it was cool. I was always just psyched to be there with my dad, side by side.
Watching games at home meant hearing my dad yell, at the top of his lungs, "Get 'em HORNS! Hit that dude!" It didn't matter when, what game, what the score was, or who was in the house. Always the same. I have crystal-clear memories of VY throwing the game winner at Kansas in 2004 and my dad hoisting up a snifter of brandy, yelling "Get 'em HORNS! Hit that dude!" even though it didn't make any sense. It DID make a lot of sense when we played A&M later that year--sorry Reggie.
That was the last game I ever watched with my Dad. He died of lung cancer on Christmas Day of 2004, one day after his 77th birthday. That last day was grueling and excrutiating, and I won't go into the details, but I can tell you with absolute seriousness that when we finally turned the sound up on the tv--college football bowl season--his body and soul were comforted. The family was there, the smell of barbeque was in the air, football was on, and he was ready to move on.
I don't have to tell you how many mixed emotions were going through me during the 2005 Rose Bowl (vs Michigan). Or how bittersweet the 2005 regular season was. I thought about my dad during every single quarter of every single game. I thought about how much he would love to finally see a championship team again, after waiting 35 long years. I thought about how much he would enjoy watching Vince as a mature quarterback, Jamaal as a future star, our defense as a unit to be feared. I thought about what his reaction would have been to the game in the Shoe. At night. But mostly I thought about what it would be like to sit with him and watch those games together.
I went to the 2006 Rose Bowl (vs USC) with a friend and, naturally, had the time of my life. Anyone who was there knows what I mean. It was an unbelievable highlight of my life. But it would have been a million times sweeter if I had been able to sit there with my dad.
Thing is, I know he was there. I felt him. I know he was watching from the best seat in the house. I know he was watching me and my friend go nuts. I know he was watching my sister go crazy back in Austin, and his sister go crazy in East Texas. I know he saw the tower go orange, and all of the people hugging and laughing and celebrating. His eyes of Texas are upon us.
Look, we all have traditions and foundations unique to our familes and friends. Ours was football. For some of you, it's also probably football. But whatever it is, if you are fortunate and blessed enough to enjoy it with your lifelong family and friends, savor it. Don't shrug it off. Embrace it. Till Gabriel blows his horn.
Hook 'em
8 to 10 foot waves, glassy, light off shore winds...paradise.
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veggieboy
1000+ posts
05/28/06 09:06 AM
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Very nice post.
I knew I was in trouble when I read about you watching Earl run while sitting in your dad's lap.
Here's a  for your dad...
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Mojomarvels
1000+ posts
05/28/06 09:30 AM
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What great memories..and they will always be there, like your Dad. No doubt he's there with you every game. A great tribute from a son who was lucky...his dad made sure he was a part of the tradition
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tillgabriel
< 25 posts
05/28/06 09:54 AM
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Obligatory post.
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VYFan
500+ posts
05/28/06 10:08 AM
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Let's aim to leave our kids with as much.
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TilGabrielBlowsHisHorn
25+ posts
05/28/06 10:22 AM
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My obligatory post, too.
Here's to your dad and mine, who was buried in a burnt orange jacket and UT tie. My mom and I stuck a Longhorn decal on one end of his casket. We decided that since every other vehicle he'd ever owned had a Longhorn on it, his last one ought to, too.
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Hpslugga
5000+ posts
05/28/06 11:55 AM
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In reply to:
46-Veer, Street to Peschel
53 Veer 
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Bierman
2500+ posts
05/28/06 12:03 PM
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Hookem Pops
"It's kind of girlish to have one guy tackle me."
Earl Campbell
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Texanne
5000+ posts
05/28/06 12:36 PM
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It was my father, too, who instilled in me the love for Longhorn sports that keeps me going every day. I was born in 1957, Darrell Royal's first season, and I was at his first game, although I have no recollection because I was 7 months old. But I grew up on Longhorn football, attending just about every home game and most of the road games. In fact, my dad got a pilot's license and a plane to make it easier for us to go to games.
When we bought it, the plane was green and bronze -- looked like a Baylor fan had flown it. Dad had it totally repainted: orange and white, and even had orange-and-white seatcovers installed!
My mother was as avid a Longhorn fan as my dad, too. One year, all our fall flowers at our home were orange varieties.
My parents died in 1983, just weeks before the Horns won the College World Series. I thought about them throughout the playoff run that year, as I think of them every year. I know they felt all the heartache of the dark years, even though Heaven is supposed to be a place only for happy thoughts. And when the Longhorns won the national championship this year, I know my parents were finally at true peace.
"These are just simple Farmers. People of the land. The common clay of the new west. You know ... morons."
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honolulu horn
250+ posts
05/28/06 04:48 PM
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Thanks for the responses. It's good to hear from everyone. But please remember that as important as it is to write and think about this stuff, my dad would laugh it off and ask us for God's sake to figure out how Roy Miller is going to work into the rotation this fall. You know, the REALLY important stuff. 
8 to 10 foot waves, glassy, light off shore winds...paradise.
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rickysrun
250+ posts
05/28/06 05:20 PM
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My fondest memories as a child was going to Memorial with my dad. He would always get us gen. admission seats, back in the day I think they were $10. But the best part of the game was going onto the field and throwing the ball with my dad, and getting tons of autographs and wristbands from the players. That is one thing I wish they would still allow.
Thanks for the post, it brought back a lot of memories, and reminds me of the job we all have as fathers to our sons, teach them to Love the Lord and Love the Horns.
to your dad for giving you lifetime memories.
As we said Keith, you can have the perfect defense called, you can force him out of the pocket, but you're not going to beat 'em. IN-VINCE-ABLE! -Dan Fouts following VY's winning TD to win NC.
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Horns83
250+ posts
05/28/06 05:47 PM
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ttt
One of the best posts I've read in a long time.
Snead to Sweed! Touchdown Texas!
"It's coming. It's right around the corner. Keep your eyes open because the state of Texas and the Longhorns are on the warpath and we're making our way to a national championship."
-- Cory Redding
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PSoonerG
1000+ posts
05/28/06 06:25 PM
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honolulu horn,
Great story. You & your dad are what makes college football so grand.
For your dad.
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gobears92
5000+ posts
05/28/06 06:40 PM
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In reply to:
"Get 'em HORNS! Hit that dude!"
.....
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plvhorn
25+ posts
05/28/06 07:59 PM
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ok i'm kinda young around here, but the best memory of my dad and UT football is the '96 big 12 championship. we're sitting at our house and my dad was laying on his usual couch. on the 4th and 1 play, we hit the pass and my dad is jumping up and down on the couch yelling at the top of his lungs. he's a big guy and i swear that couch should have ended up in pieces.
we didnt live close to austin but every other year we saw them in lubbock. he colored blinded me as a child and now i proudly am in my third year at UT. i'm his connection for tickets now. he would tell you i came out of my mom doing the hook'em sign. sorry about your lose honolulu but at least you will always to remember your dad.
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watashi
< 25 posts
05/28/06 08:20 PM
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Great post
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Orangeblood
5000+ posts
05/28/06 08:37 PM
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Statalyzer
10,000+ posts
05/28/06 10:23 PM
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In reply to:
But the best part of the game was going onto the field and throwing the ball with my dad, and getting tons of autographs and wristbands from the players. That is one thing I wish they would still allow.
Same here. Will fans being on it for 15-20 minutes tear it up more than players with cleats for 4 hours?
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LoqHorns
< 25 posts
05/28/06 11:03 PM
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I, too, was raised on football, attended my first game at 18 months and have been going or watching ever since. Many of the key moments in your memory are in mine as well.
Till Gabiriel....
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tubaboy
100+ posts
05/28/06 11:25 PM
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http://www.twoguysbackfromtherosebowl.com/epilogue.htm
I, too had to experience this past season without my father. He and I went to the 05 Rose Bowl together... he passed away a few months later. Going back in 06 was very emotional... considering that my dad was a USC alum but a converted Texas fan.
Two months ago while cleaning out my parent's house, I found a handwritten note in my dad's office where he had written that going to football games with my brother and I as some of his best moments in life.... it was like hearing him speak to me from beyond.
TwoGuysBackFromTheRoseBowl.com
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