8:59 AM: This is happening. I’m setup in the pressbox at McLane
Staduim. I’m not going to lie to
you. I was scared shitless today. I have no idea what I’m doing and frankly don’t
belong here. I found the media parking
lot this morning and sat in my car for a while texting Ashely for a confidence
booster. After following a bunch of
people from the media parking lot to the stadium, I found my way to the press
box and, completely intimidated, hightailed it to the ladies room so I could
look like I had a purpose. I ventured out of the bathroom and noticed
a seating chart….this was helpful. I
wandered to the rows of pressbox seating and found my designated seat.
9:11 AM:
Uh oh, an actual media person that legitimately belongs here has taken the seat
next to me. I don’t know what TWC Sports
is….but they seem legit.
9:12 AM: I busy myself looking at the stat sheet
provided to me by Baylor.
9:13 AM: Did I mention that this stadium is
beautiful? The band is playing Dr. Who just
outside the gates with the sun shining off the river in the distance. Not too shabby bears. Still, it feels so small after being in the
monster that is DKR. Or maybe objects
are smaller than they appear through these pressbox windows.
9:26 AM: Okay, I think I’m set up for a running diary
of sorts, going between word, where I can timestamp and posting to AOFBG. A little more difficult than I thought it
would be with only one screen and without looking like a total spaz.
9:26 AM: I heard they have all the kinds of Dr. Pepper
here. I’m going to try to find that
room. And talk to other people so they
don’t think I’m a total freakshow.
9:27 AM: Side note, some other out of place looking
person is also taking pictures. SO there’s
that. He probably knows how to
tweet. I bet he’s tweeting. I should figure out tweeting.
9:29 AM:
They’ve starting playing champagne rap really loud in here. It’s surreal.
I’m bobbing to the rhythm “welcome to our house, you’re in my house”. I am now a mysterious press personality in a
furry vest.
9:35 AM: I walked around for about three minutes. There are approximately 3 other women here,
one of which works here. Everyone seems
to know each other so I scuttled back up to my seat.
9:39 AM: The line for food is getting significantly
shorter.
9:43 AM: I can look busy for 2 hours and 17 minutes….
10:14 AM: I’ve returned to my perch from the dining
area. Literally everybody knows each
other in media, I guess. The Longhorns
are out warming up on the field. They
do not look like they’re having a very good time.
10:15 AM: Looks like they open up the windows here in
the press box, so we’ve got a nice fall breeze coming in through the
booth. Smells like football up in here.
10:16 AM: I met a nice guy while eating tiny sausage biscuits. He, who I will call “Not Quite Medium-Rare”
Or NQMR from this point out, had the unfortunate experience of biting into a complimentary
burger and finding it to be terribly under cooked. Because NQMR works for ESPN, I, fortunately
will not have to witness what happens when the food poisoning sets in.
10:18 AM:
Two points of note about that following entry.
1) The sausage biscuits are about the size of a clementine orange and
wrapped in “Baylor Athletics” themed paper.
In case you forget where you are.
2) NQMR has my dream job. He does
sport related statistics and research for a living FOR THE LONGHORNS. I’m so incredibly jealous. I love statistics and research. And football.
And Texas. I've heard they can do face transplants now. I'm sure no one would notice if I replaced him.
10:22 AM:
The Baylor helmets are so shiny. I am
now blind.
10:30 AM:
The feedback (or echo, I guess) from the field announcer into the booth is
incredible. I feel like a cartoon where
the character is drunk and God is talking to him and it’s all echo-ey.
10:31 AM: I’d like to point out that until I walked out
of the elevator here at McLane Stadium, I honestly expected my press pass to be
revoked on several occasions. Certainly
they vet the people they let in? I mean…I’ve
written a lot of less than flattering pieces about Baylor and Coach Briles in
particular.
10:33 AM: 27 minutes.
Looks like we’ve got a pregame show about to start. The Longhorns are running off the field to a
visiting section comprised of, I would guess, almost exclusively players parents
and the band. Lots of orange up here in
the box, though.
10:36 AM: Just got directions to the visiting team
postgame interviews, which will require me walking across the field, which I find
very exciting. I feel this will be quite
a haul, to make it in 10 minutes. We
will see.
10:38 AM: Texas Fight.
It’s hard not to reflexively react to that.
10:39 AM: Wait? Is the Baylor Alma Matter “In The Good Old
Summertime”? Asking for a friend.
10:46 AM: “…and McLane Stadium said ‘Amen.’” I did not know pre-game prayer was a thing.
10:47 AM: More “In the Good Old Summertime.”
10:50 AM: I spy pyrotechnics.
11:02 AM: Hmmm….did not know Bob Stoops was at this
game.
11:03 AM: I think our sad, sad season has mentally
prepared me for watching a football game in a completely outwardly emotionless
state.
11:06 AM: Did we really just get the ball back on
downs??
11:07 AM: Chris Warren.
Hello.
11:08 AM: Scratch that outwardly emotionless crap. I just whisper yelled “Oh My God” when we
broke the plane for a touchdown.
11:13 AM: Okay, I’ve got my professional face back
on. I’d like to note that after every
play a female voice announces the statistics in the press box. Like a robot voice. Siri is here.
11:15 AM:
PUNT FORMATION. Careful Horns, it might
be a trap.
11:16 AM:
Alright. Let’s try for another.
11:18 AM: Please don’t misunderstand what I’m about to
say as complaining, because it IS NOT.
But I’m surprised the layout of this pressbox isn’t more accommodating for
a lap top, for being as new as it is.
The tables/counters are pretty high, like my elbows are up pretty high
just to type and you can’t see over a standard laptop to the field. So I am
really fidgety. There is a TV like,
literally right up in front of me. Maybe
I’m supposed to be watching that. But it’s
about 20 seconds delayed. L
11:21 AM: First Down! What game am I watching???? Long pass to Johnson came up short. BUT I WANTED IT.
11:21 AM: First Down! What game am I watching???? Long pass to Johnson came up short. BUT I WANTED IT.
11:22 AM: DAJE! I’m
so happy you learned how to read!!!!
11:23 AM: Chris Warren is looking a lot like
Ricky. Let’s talk Yards after
contact. Seriously. I need NQMR to look up the stat.
11:24 AM:
SWOOOOOOOOOOPES. Nice shifty moves back
there buddy. You’ve got a good sized
orange crowd SWOOOOOOPING for you.
11:25 AM:
OMG I’m so glad that Baylor guy dropped that Ish.
11:25 AM: I think the older man next to me in the booth thinks people are BOOOOOOIng Swoopes. He keeps saying “that’s not right.” Either that or he doesn’t think it’s right that Baylor only has 64 yards halfway through the quarter and is down 10-0 in the first quarter.
11:25 AM: I think the older man next to me in the booth thinks people are BOOOOOOIng Swoopes. He keeps saying “that’s not right.” Either that or he doesn’t think it’s right that Baylor only has 64 yards halfway through the quarter and is down 10-0 in the first quarter.
11:32 AM: What’s that flag? Oh, holding??
No first down for you!!!
11:34 AM: The bass from
their “timeout music” is rocking this press box like an earthquake.
11:35 AM:
Holy 4th down, Baylor. Pull
it together.
11:36 AM: TRAVELLING!!!!
11:36 AM: Okay, we’ve
got the ball back. I like that we’re not
taking FOREVER to snap the ball, but – Wait, why is Heard in? Are we trying to kill him?
11:39 AM: Our first non-scoring drive. Why did we take out Swoopes? I'm legitimately asking.
11:40 AM: GET OFF THE FIELD, BRILES!
11:41 AM:
Possible turnover and that was a big hit.
Looked clean. SHUT UP TEXAS FANS,
THEY’VE GOT A MAN DOWN.
11:42 AM: Turnover.
Under review. The Baylor kid got
up, he’s alive, that’s a plus.
11:42 AM: What quarterback am I about to see? I hope it starts with a SW and ends with an
OOOPES.
11:44 AM: Baylor fans are absolutely losing their SHIT
over the unsportsmanlike conduct call and it’s highly amusing.
11:44 AM: HOLY CRAP TOUCHDOWN!
11:44 AM: SWOOOOOOOOOOPES
11:45 AM:
Back to my point about the Baylor fans, we can hear them very clearly though
the window, and they do not have good Baptist mouths. A cop just went and leaned out the window and
looked at them.
11:46 AM: If you’re just joining me, the score is 17-0
Texas. That’s not a typo. Texas has 137 yards total offense as compared to Baylor’s
79.
11:48 AM:
Baylor fans are Boooing the hell out of these refs. How quickly they turn on their biggest fans.
11:52 AM: WE GOT THE BALL!!!
11:49 AM:
OMG. I’ve never, never seen anything
like this bench clearing brawl. WHAT IS HAPPENING???
11:50 AM:
While watching this melee, I said out loud “This is awesome” and the two real
media people next to me just turned and looked at me then started laughing. At this point about seven Baylor employees
started running full sprint across the box to the elevator, and when I turned
to watch them I realized there’s a full on COP standing literally right behind
me. He’s probably reading this as I
type. Like 24 inches from me, directly
behind me.
11:54 AM: Okay, new quarter.
11:59 AM: I had to pee.
But it sounds like we had to punt.
Which is what we have been doing with Heard at the wheel. We need more wheels. Like 18 of them. Like Swoopes.
Get it?
12:00 PM: Why by the way is this bathroom so huge?
12:01 PM: Traveling, Baylor. 2nd down.
12:01 PM: Hi Policeman!! I’m guessing you’re reading this?
12:03 PM: That’s right, Baylor. Punt it.
12:03 PM:
Delay of game. Baylor is a mess today.
12:04 PM: That was the scariest punt recovery I’ve ever
seen.
12:05 PM: Okay, look, I’m going to get real with
you. Live blogging is hard. You’ve gotta do all this time-stamping and
try to keep up with the game while being all witty and stuff. Plus my arms hurt from this high as hell
countertop. It’s a lot to keep up
with. Much respect to the running diary
writers of the world.
12:06 PM: Swoopes
is back. No gain Warren. Everyone keeps expectantly watching the
sidelines as if we’re going to have a brawl any moment.
12:08 PM: Looks like we’re going to punt. Score is still 17-0 Texas, with 11:00 minutes
left in the 2nd quarter.
Baylor has two turnovers (one fumble, on Interception), and is squaring
up with Texas on total offense, Texas 143 – Baylor 124, though the score has
not quite synced up.
12:11 PM: One stat of note, penalty wise: Texas 1-15 (the unsportsmanlike Texas earned
even though the entire Baylor bench looked ready to rumble) and Baylor is
7-50. Guess they don’t get the “one true
champion penalty discount” anymore.
12:14 PM: INTERCEPTION!!!!!!
12:14 PM:
Flags and fighting. Oh geeesh. What’s it going to be. Helmets are off.
12:15 PM:
Holding on the return team. I’ll take
it.
12:15 PM: So, let’s make that 3 turnovers.
12:15 PM: So, let’s make that 3 turnovers.
12:16 PM: Short pass, nowhere to go. 3rd and three. Come on, guys.
12:17 PM:
Swoopes throws short again, kicking team
is out on the field. The Baylor PA is cranking out some KRUNK music
right now. Come on Highland Park, it’s
senior day. Short. But Rose made the tackle. Somewhat satisfying.
12:20 PM: This game is getting pretty touchy. Last I heard, Baylor didn’t give a crap about
Texas because we were so terrible. Not sure
why they’re getting so rilled up now. I
guess it’s tough to be losing to the team who beat (one of the) teams that
stole your playoff dreams.
12:25 PM: Almost interception.
12:25 PM: I have no idea what is going through the mind
of either of these teams or their coaches.
I know that a two and a half quarters is a lot of football to play, but
it has to be exciting for those longhorn storm troopers out there to be putting
up these kinds of numbers on a team that they had only a 7.5% chance of beating
(according to a stat I read just prior to kickoff). It makes me think of how we felt going into
the OU game. Optimistic and underdogs.
12:27 PM:
Attempted Baylor field goal. No good.
12:28 PM: Big gain by Chris Warren. Siri just announced it was 26 yards.
12:29 PM:
Chris Warren just pushed through about 6 guys for a gain of 8 and a first
down. I hate to say it again, but he
looked like Ricky dragging those defenders along with him.
12:30 PM: I’m so distracted by these shiny as hell helmets
12:31 PM: Well, that drive was as good as dead. Thanks for the extra down, Baylor.
12:32 PM: Except that we did nothing with it. Time to kick.
12:33 PM:
Holy crap, field goal.
12:39 PM: Ok. 35
seconds. Can we keep this streak
alive. It would be nice to go into the
tunnel with a half-time shutout.
12:41 PM: May I ask what Coach Strong is wearing? He seems awfully causal today.
12:42 PM:
Block that kick! Block that kick! Block that kick! Block that kick! Block that
kick!
12:43 PM: We did.
12:44 PM: Victory formation. Or is it….hahahhaha you got us Coach
Kingsbury.
12:45 PM: Oooooooh. Cookies.
12:54 PM: We’re into halftime. Texas band just played a strange tribute to
Back to the Future. Why they didn’t do
this during the K-Sstate game, you know….at home…..in October…….I do not
know.
12:59 PM: I also don’t know what Texas does after this. Do they go back out and just eat as much
clock as they possibly can and play defense like their lives depend on it? Just keep it protected and muscle it
out? Or do they have enough momentum to
make it really gaudy?? I kind of don’t
even want to think about it.
1:03 PM: The Baylor media team just passed out 1st
half play by play and stats. I wonder if
a robot, much like their Siri color commentator is on staff. That’s pretty efficient. Or maybe they just yoink it off of ESPN.com
and drop it into their letterhead. This seems
more likely than them being self-aware.
1:03 PM: I don't want to retype any of this, so here's what we're looking at:
1:04 PM:
In the cookie line I asked NQMR to look into some Ricky Williams/Chris Warren
yards after contact statistics for me in their freshman years. NQMR was kind of like….yeah, if I have some
downtime, you freak. I’m just saying, if
they put that stat up on ESPN, it’s totally because I planted that seed.
When I last left you, I was leaving the box to find the Texas interview room, where I was possibly going to ask Coach Strong if he had a tattoo that said "Murder" across his chest. After climbing down about 8,000 stairs a few of us made our way down to the field (YES!) and ended up on the sidelines for the last few minutes of the game - in fact, just as Poona Ford forced the fumble. It was exhilarating and frightening. The whole time, as I huddled as close as I could to a wall to avoid being crushed or worse, caught on TV looking like an idiot. My Mom's advice "not to get trampled", along with my friend Jeff's premonition that I would tear another ligament, rattled around my brain, and my main goal was to get to the interview room.....intact.
While in the tunnel on the way to the interview room, you could hear bits of player conversation and celebration on the way to the locker room. My favorite quip: "I-35 Bowl Champions!!"
The Texas interview room was tiny and had some kind of acoustical issue, like a white noise filter that was out of wack, making it pretty tough to hear. It was actually pretty cool being in there just prior to the interviews, because you could hear faint celebration, coming from the locker room two rooms over. I suspect this is part of the reason for the white noise.
I didn't ask about the murder tattoo. In fact, I remained mute and just observed. Quite a feat for me, but I gleaned a lot of information. For one, Coach Strong answered every question asked. I don't think Coach is particularly pleased with the season, in fact he flat out said as much. He shut down controversy regarding the quarterbacks immediately by addressing the dual QB system as planned and a look on his face that said he didn't want to talk about it any further.
When asked about the brawl in the first quarter, Coach Strong commented that the Baylor players had been "chirping at" the Longhorns all day, and that he was glad his team didn't back down. I reviewed the brawl and didn't note any punches thrown or particularly overt violence, so I think I can get on board with his endorsement.
Coach Strong talked about how important his next recruiting class was and how it's difficult to be too excited about a win after the season we had. Several times he mentioned how important it is to keep building on this momentum.
He also has mad love for Duke Thomas, who he mentioned several times and could not say enough good things about. Four (mentions) for you Duke Thomas...you go Duke Thomas.
Tyrone Swoopes came in for a bit and answered questions directly and concisely, in a soft voice barely audible about the white noise of the tiny visitors press room. A journalist in the front row who doesn't know the difference between defensive player Kevin Vaccaro and quarterback Tyrone Swoopes asked Swoopes if he intentionally stepped on the QB on the sidelines and felt he deserved the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. To which Swoopes responded "you'll need to ask that #18, it was a different #18, I was on the bench with the headset on." Oooops. Swoopes also did refuse to comment to a question on Heard's medical status, which, was a dumb question to begin with.
At that point the room became a little split up interview room which I wanted exit as quickly as possible because it was crowded and a bit chaotic. That did not stop me from giving Nick Rose a "Highland Park Forever" fist bump. And by the way, his hair is possibly even more amazing up close.
The experience was awesome for a little blogger like the Football Girl. I learned so much - though I'm not sure if I'll ever have a chance to practically apply my new knowledge and appear a seasoned journalist.
Until then, Hook Em, Goodbye & Good Luck.
I-35 Bowl Champions Forever!!!
Football Girl
1:07 PM: Three and out. That’s a bit of a letdown after
halftime. I want to take more time off
the clock and …. Now I’m totally distracted.
They’re doing this bit on the Jumbo Tron where they ask Baylor athletes
to identify songs. One after another,
they fail to recognize “Good Vibrations” and keep calling it “old school”. Which makes me sad, because we’re not talking
about the Beach Boys. We’re talking
about Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. I
guess I’m old.
1:13 PM: Baylor came out to play. In possibly their longest drive of the day, they’ve
strung together several first downs and are in the red zone. Though, they’re 0-2 in the red zone today, so
maybe we’ll be ok.
1:14 PM: Baylor breaks through for a touchdown and the
Baylor fans go wild. Like they’ve just
won the SuperBowl. I know how they feel,
but I will still mock them. It’s 20-7,
Texas.
1:17 PM: Fans are doing some Baylor version of “Texas!
Fight!” and totally screaming over the presentation of the senior spirit squad members.
1:18 PM: More “In the Good Old Summertime.”
1:20 PM: I’m unfit for the pressbox. While yes, I am toned down like 108% of my normal
game watching personal, I have not been able to control spastic arm movements
when something exciting is happening on the field.
1:22 PM: Like just now when Swoopes broke out for a
gain of six on third down.
1:22 PM: But back to what I was saying. I think I’m going to have a fake conversation
so the people next to me can somehow how overhear me talking about my crippling
affliction, Turrets. Then, it’s not that I’m unprofessional.
1:25 PM: Baylor’s “Jumbotron Singalong” is to “Bad
Blood” by Taylor Swift, which I think is a really odd choice. I mean, what?
Point of note. As the camera pans
the stands, we see hundreds of “Horns Down”.
1:28 PM: Now Texas is doing what Texas does during the
third quarter. Which is a big stack of
nothing. Baylor appears to be putting
together another good drive. I wish NQMR
was here to talk to me about Texas’ third quarter stats. I know they’re not good and I don’t have the
resources right here to do the research.
I just want a big stop here at 3rd and 2.
1:32 PM: Seriously.
Helmets. So Shiny.
1:37 PM: Yup, this is happening. Flags everywhere. 3rd and 3 on the 14. Offsides, First down. Just give it to them,
Longhorns.
1:38 PM: Big stop in the redzone. 2nd and 9 on the 9.
1:39 PM: And another.
I thought Hawthorne was a gonner.
1:39 PM:
And another.
1:40 PM: Baylor Field Goal 20-10, Texas. The good news is, the 3rd quarter
is almost over. So we can get back to
playing.
1:41 PM: He’s baaaa-aaaack. Hi Policeman!!!
1:42 PM:
Kickoff return that went well for us.
Daje on the carry putting us at
midfield. 52 yards, let’s take this
home, Horns.
1:44 PM: Another note on the stadium design. The big picture windows in the press box are
two panels tall. The metal dividing the
two panels runs, when seated in the 3rd row, as I am, exactly along
the line that obstructs the view of A) the banner scoreboard that runs between
the upper and lower deck, where scores, time, and stats are displayed, and 2)
the lower portion of the scoreboard that displays downs, time, yardage,
etc. It’s such a perfect obstruction
that it almost seems by design. Everyone
in my row is constantly gophering up and down to read these stats.
1:48 PM: We’re going for it on 4th down and
it’s close but I think no. If we can
just hold Baylor to a field goal or less on this drive, that would be excellent……or
we can just let them get a first down right here. That’s cool too.
1:52 PM: And another one. I mean, only if they’d like.
1:53 PM: Ok, that was one of the sketchier touchdowns
I’ve ever seen, but whatever. The score
is 20-17, Texas. We are about to receive
the ball and it’s time to make some defense and some scoring happen. We need to score again. Like now.
2:02 PM: By now, I mean right now immediately. Oh how the turntables have turned.
2:03 PM: First down.
Let’s just keep doing this for the next 7 minutes.
2:03 PM: I’m getting excited about the Coach Strong
presser after the game. I estimate I have
10 minutes to get there, and I’m keeping a pretty close eyeball on John Bianco
to see when he’s heading that way.
2:04 PM: “In the good old summertiiiiiime.”
2:04 PM: Chis Warren finds a little hole. Third Down.
2:04 PM:
So, back to the presser. A friend of mine asked me if I was going to
ask a question as I notoriously do – PASS COMPLETE TO BECK, FIRST DOWN – during
Dan Dan conventions. He asked if I was
going to ask Coach Strong about his MURDER TATTOO. For those of you who don’t know, I’m
convinced that Coach Strong has a large tattoo across his upper chest/neck that
says “MURDER.” I want it to be true so
badly.
********Totally leaving now for the presser. Bianco just jetted out and so is everyone
else.********
When I last left you, I was leaving the box to find the Texas interview room, where I was possibly going to ask Coach Strong if he had a tattoo that said "Murder" across his chest. After climbing down about 8,000 stairs a few of us made our way down to the field (YES!) and ended up on the sidelines for the last few minutes of the game - in fact, just as Poona Ford forced the fumble. It was exhilarating and frightening. The whole time, as I huddled as close as I could to a wall to avoid being crushed or worse, caught on TV looking like an idiot. My Mom's advice "not to get trampled", along with my friend Jeff's premonition that I would tear another ligament, rattled around my brain, and my main goal was to get to the interview room.....intact.
While in the tunnel on the way to the interview room, you could hear bits of player conversation and celebration on the way to the locker room. My favorite quip: "I-35 Bowl Champions!!"
The Texas interview room was tiny and had some kind of acoustical issue, like a white noise filter that was out of wack, making it pretty tough to hear. It was actually pretty cool being in there just prior to the interviews, because you could hear faint celebration, coming from the locker room two rooms over. I suspect this is part of the reason for the white noise.
I didn't ask about the murder tattoo. In fact, I remained mute and just observed. Quite a feat for me, but I gleaned a lot of information. For one, Coach Strong answered every question asked. I don't think Coach is particularly pleased with the season, in fact he flat out said as much. He shut down controversy regarding the quarterbacks immediately by addressing the dual QB system as planned and a look on his face that said he didn't want to talk about it any further.
When asked about the brawl in the first quarter, Coach Strong commented that the Baylor players had been "chirping at" the Longhorns all day, and that he was glad his team didn't back down. I reviewed the brawl and didn't note any punches thrown or particularly overt violence, so I think I can get on board with his endorsement.
Coach Strong talked about how important his next recruiting class was and how it's difficult to be too excited about a win after the season we had. Several times he mentioned how important it is to keep building on this momentum.
He also has mad love for Duke Thomas, who he mentioned several times and could not say enough good things about. Four (mentions) for you Duke Thomas...you go Duke Thomas.
Tyrone Swoopes came in for a bit and answered questions directly and concisely, in a soft voice barely audible about the white noise of the tiny visitors press room. A journalist in the front row who doesn't know the difference between defensive player Kevin Vaccaro and quarterback Tyrone Swoopes asked Swoopes if he intentionally stepped on the QB on the sidelines and felt he deserved the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. To which Swoopes responded "you'll need to ask that #18, it was a different #18, I was on the bench with the headset on." Oooops. Swoopes also did refuse to comment to a question on Heard's medical status, which, was a dumb question to begin with.
At that point the room became a little split up interview room which I wanted exit as quickly as possible because it was crowded and a bit chaotic. That did not stop me from giving Nick Rose a "Highland Park Forever" fist bump. And by the way, his hair is possibly even more amazing up close.
The experience was awesome for a little blogger like the Football Girl. I learned so much - though I'm not sure if I'll ever have a chance to practically apply my new knowledge and appear a seasoned journalist.
Until then, Hook Em, Goodbye & Good Luck.
I-35 Bowl Champions Forever!!!
Football Girl
