The Eyes Of Texas Are Upon Us

Texas vs. Florida meeting on the field of competition again for just the third time.

Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (photo - Wikipedia)

I knew it was coming. But I guess until I saw it right there in print, I couldn’t grasp the concept that this was really happening.

Not only was CFB finally expanding to a 12-team playoff in the fall and the SEC adding two storied sports programs in 2024, but one of the most iconic football schools in history was already on the Gators’ fall schedule:

“The Florida Gators will travel to Texas in 2024 during the Longhorns' first season in the SEC,”

the conference announced Wednesday evening. “It will be their first meeting since 1940.” 

Was I dreaming this or what? Surely this was going to be a good thing — if not great — for the greatest game: Texas vs. Florida meeting on the field of competition again for just the third time.

I have a confession to make. I guess I have always been sort of a closet Texas admirer. It started when I heard the Longhorns coach, Darrell Royal,  speaking at a seminar in Gainesville when I was a sports writing puppy.

Just out of high school and college and only a few years removed from the athletic fields myself, I got so fired up hearing the stories about his 1963 national championship team that I’d have given anything to have found a year or two of eligibility to walk on and play for him.

Then he proceeded to win another natty in 1969.

The following spring I was invited to take part in an NCAA media seminar in Austin. And while I was disappointed not to have seen or talked to Coach Royal, I did in fact win a media ping-pong tournament and was awarded a burnt orange, Texas golf shirt, which I probably wore until it fell apart.

In between I covered a couple of significant games involving the Longhorns — the biggest being their 1965 Orange Bowl classic meeting vs. Alabama and Joe Namath, a game that sent about 18 players to the NFL. 

The game ended when LB Tommy Nobis stopped a gimpy Namath at the goal line.

Seemed the Texas Longhorns were destiny’s darlings back in those days, always around glory.

So while I could never call myself a Texas fan, I was certainly an admirer.

On subsequent trips there, I found Austin to be a very desirable city, with excellent Tex-Mex food, a sophisticated blend of American music and colorful eccentric characters among the intelligentsia.

I  now have many friends from Texas, including my longtime talk show colleague and iconoclastic Denver pal Joe “The Hitman” Williams, who shamelessly refers to all things from Texas as superior and perhaps even divinely intervened. He loves the hype about Texas quarterbacks being the most gifted in the universe. So naturally he couldn’t’ wait to gig me about the Gators landing 5-star prospect DJ Lagway from Willis.

“I see y’all finally got a Texas quarterback,” Joe said a few months ago. “Well now maybe you’ve got a chance to win.”

I am sure between now and Nov. 9 when The Mighty Gators cross Austin City Limits that Joe and I will have many conversations about the outcome of this future epic maiden voyage.

Of course Joe has the advantage with the Longhorns having gotten their act together under Steve Sarkisian, while the Gators still haven’t learned how to get the proper number of men on the field under Billy Napier.

There is still time to sort that stuff out, however, and being a believer that you play up to your level of competition, it gives me hope there are better days ahead.

So no “Horns Down” from this correspondent.

And get our seats warm in the press box at Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium. We’re coming.