There are so many great rivalries is college football. You got Army-Navy, Notre Dame-USC, Ohio State-Michigan, The Border Showdown, and no one can ever forget about The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
So, what is so great about the Red River Rivalry. There are many reasons for why this rivalry is so huge, but here are three very BIG reasons.
1. Tradition of Oklahoma/Texas
The tradition of Oklahoma and Texas football is deep and rich. Oklahoma football has seven national championships and also 41 conference championships. OU also has 144 All-Americans and 4 Heisman Trophy winners. The Sooners hold an NCAA record 47-game winning streak and is the No. 1 of No. 1's with 96 weeks on top of the AP poll.
Texas also has a deep tradition in football. Texas has four national championships, 29 conference championships, and two Heisman Trophy winners. Texas also owns the Red River Rivalry series 57-40-5, but have lost 6 games since 2000.
2. Cotton Bowl
The second reason of why this game is so big is the atmosphere at the Cotton Bowl. Many teams have tried neutral field games, but none have topped the OU-Texas game at the Cotton Bowl.
The Cotton Bowl is right in the middle of the Texas State Fair. You have corny dogs, the midway, and all the fried foods that you can eat. When the buses roll in on that fateful Saturday, one side of the street there is OU fans putting the horns down and booing you if you're on the Texas bus.
The other side, Texas fans putting up the horns and booing you if you're on that OU bus. There is no other better feeling in the world as a fan of both teams.
Once you get into the Cotton Bowl stadium, you see what will now be about 92,000 people. One half of the stadium crimson and the other side burnt orange, divided at the 50-yard line.
As a player, it seems like nothing, but as you come out of the tunnel you hear the fans of who ever own that side, be it OU or Texas fans. This kind of atmosphere can send chills down your spines. Nothing is better than the OU-Texas game at the Texas State Fair in the Cotton Bowl.
3. Big 12 and National Race
In recent history, the game has become a race for Big 12 and national contention. The winner of the game, since 1999, has gone to the Big 12 Championship game seven times. The only time that was different was Oklahoma going in 2006 after losing to Texas and Texas going in 2001 after losing to Oklahoma.
The teams have been so dominant in the Big 12 Championship game that OU or Texas have lost only three times. That would be Texas in 1999 to Nebraska, Texas in 2001 to Colorado, and Oklahoma to Kansas State in 2003. Every other champion has been to OU or Texas.
The national race also comes into play when OU and Texas have played. OU or Texas has played in the national championship four times. Those teams being OU in 2000, 2003, and 2004 and also Texas in 2005. Out of those games there has been 2 national championships between them. This year will just be as big since OU will go in ranked No. 1 and Texas will go into the game ranked No. 5.
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3 months ago
Great article. I always love reading about the traditions of other schools in the country. Thanks for teaching me something I didn't know.
3 months ago
Boomer Sooner! Way to inform others why the OU-Texas rivalry is such a big deal.
3 months ago
Wow K what do you have stuck up your ass? Clearly the author was using this as a informational tool for people that don't know why us oklahomans, and texans make such a big deal out of this game. Be glad the OU student that wrote this gave props to UT. I know plenty of guys would woudn't of given texas a second thought. Next time you want to type something, how about you think before you type.
3 months ago
Nice job.
3 months ago
This guy "K" has 1 post. Obviously he was bored with his Ken Doll and decided to troll the site, just here to start trouble. I enjoyed the article, and thanks for informing me a little more about the OU - UT rivalry. I favor the Cotton Bowl by the way. Good job.
3 months ago
Great article Burgess!
For anyone on either side of this rivalry, there is nothing like it. That venue and the (now) 92,000 screaming fans makes it too easy to get caught up in it. To say nothing of the feeling of coming down the tunnel for the respective teams.
It doesn't matter if you're an Oklahoma or a Texas fan, I highly suggest you attend Red River Shootout in the Cotton Bowl in your life. I promise you it is an experience you won't soon forget.
from 3 months ago
I've been lucky to go, I'm actually goin on Saturday. There is nothin like it as a fan.
3 months ago
Great article! I enjoyed it.
Looking forward to this year's game.
Sadly, the TV will have to do. Maybe next year.
Even though I'm currently in Texas, I'm definitely a Sooner!
3 months ago
K,
I bet you were up all night coming up with that stupid bit of nonsense, trying to make yourself look/ sound so damn smart!! First, you state you bet he went to OU? Well he should be proud to attend a great school such as the establishment in Norman. It sure beats the hell out of your school, "watching PBS reruns of Sesame Street and Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood!!" Second, the criteria and prereqs for his journalism major degree would overwhelm such an idiot as yourself who basis his knowledege on childrens' books such as pop books and scratch and sniff!!! Next, I am quite sure I know what a "Seussian-style children's plot" and you comparing his "informed" article to Dr. Seuss truly shows your compacity for the moronic and non educated!!! Your "babble" and "banter" mean absolutely nothing to true scholars within the student body! I am an alum from Texas (with my degree in Radiology Technology) and I believe that he did a very good job with the way he presented the information (in a tasteful, honorable, and knowledgeable manner"!! Lastly, you include the line "Your grammar is slightly above that of a Third Grader and screams GED"; however, you sir clearly haven't even the thought process of a two year old!! I liken you to a "Spongebob Squarepants" no..... maybe "Shaggy" no......... better still a "Goofy"!!! You get the picture K? If you wish to "dog" someone use "informed intellect" rather than "make believe knowledge"!!!
Hook Em Horns!!!!!
J
HA........... "Seussian-style children's plot" ....... Please don't make me laugh.... At you!!!!!
from 3 months ago
haha...burn!
:)
3 months ago
I'm not a fan of either school, but the OU-Texas game is one I look forward to watching every year, regardless of the records. The first one I ever watched was the 1990 game where Texas upset #4 OU on their 'shock the nation' tour.
3 months ago
J. Thank you for that.
Burgess, nice article.
Also, for others who want to know about some of the tradition of the rivalry, Friday night before the game every year, the West End in Dallas is the most ridiculous 5 or 6 blocks of insanity you'll ever see. 30,000 fans of either OU or Texas cram into this small area of restaurants and bars and go crazy at each other, yelling obscenities, chanting for their schools, and basically being the lunatic fan everybody always wants to be. The cheerleaders from both schools come down and lead chants, and the Ruf Neks from OU come down and act up too. It's something that every student should go check out, even if it's only one time for fifteen minutes.
3 months ago
Thanks for taking the timeto write a great article.
One of the best things about B/R is people like you.
3 months ago
I'm just wondering why you had to explain it. For as long as I can remember watching college football, when Okla and Texas met, we were watching (or listening on the radio some time ago). In my family we watched LSU (our state), Tulane (our city), Navy (uncle at the academy), or Notre Dame (Catholic upbringing). But a Okla - Texas game was something special.
It's hard for me to beleive anyone needs to be told about the great football traditions, but I'm glad you did.
For me I can still remember walking out to the middle of Tiger Stadium and standing on the eye of the tiger. It was an empty stadium, but I could feel the roar of the crowd regardless. Never stood center field in the Cotton Bowl, but I am sure it would be much the same. Tradition hangs around well after the teams and the fans have left.
Thanks for the reminder of what College Football is all about.
from 3 months ago
...before they became blinded by the glitz, glamour, and money.
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