Published: October 05, 2006 11:41 pm         

OU-Texas: A rivalry like no other

It’s that time again, when Oklahoma football fans can stop sticking the needle into their friends who are Oklahoma State fans, and stop sticking pins into referee voodoo dolls, and focus their energies on their fiercest enemies ’ the Texas Longhorns.

Saturday’s game will be the 101st version of this storied rivalry, which will be played for much more this year than state pride.

Both teams are once-beaten and need a victory to remain on track for the Big 12 South title and a shot at a berth in the Bowl Championship Series.

But beyond that, let’s face it, the two schools simply don’t like each other. Even if both teams were winless and battling only for the Big 12 South cellar, this game would be a classic.

The game is annually the source of many friendly, and some not so friendly, barbs exchanged between OU and Texas fans.

’How do you get a Texas graduate off your porch? Pay him for the pizza.’ And that’s one of the kinder ones.

’How do you keep a Texas football player busy for a month? Give him a package of M&M’s and tell him to alphabetize them.’

Texans tell jokes about OU, too, but we’ll ignore those.

The game will not be ignored, however. The Cotton Bowl will be filled to capacity with fans decked out in crimson and cream, as well as burnt orange. Tickets are being sold on the Internet for as much as $733.20 a pair on one ticket Web site.

OU will be seeking to avenge last year’s 45-12 loss, while the Longhorns’ will be trying to add to their series-leading 56 wins.

In the meantime the jokes, and the friendly insults, will continue.

Two Texas football players were walking down the street whooping and hollering. Somebody asked them what they were celebrating. ’We just put together a jigsaw puzzle in just over a month,’ said. The bystander said, ’So what?’ The other player said, ’Well, the box said 2-4 years on the side.’

Let the game begin.



Mullin is the News & Eagle senior writer.