By Janet Gregg
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

In Texas, there’s nothing bigger than football. And when it comes to football, there’s nothing bigger than the annual Texas/OU game, unless of course, it’s a national championship game. (The Longhorns won their fourth in 2005.)

This year’s 103rd annual matchup between the University of Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma University Sooners at the Cotton Bowl was, as always, highly anticipated. After all, OU was ranked first in the nation. Texas was ranked fifth.

Parties were held at locations across both states, including at Highland Springs.

Two dozen avid fans filled the Highland Springs living room and sat glued to the big-screen TV, cheering for their favorite team and munching on typical tailgating fare of hotdogs and snacks.

Some fans donned shirts to drum up team spirit. Sooner red and Longhorn orange dominated the room as fans rooted for their favorite team in the 103rd Red River Rivalry. Each play drew cheers and sighs, as anticipation of the outcome mounted.

Texas trailed at the half, to the delight of Sooner fans. But the Longhorns came back in the second half to win 45-35. As a result, both the AP and USA Today football polls changed the ranking. Texas jumped to number one in the nation. Oklahoma fell to sixth place.

Sooner fans went home disappointed, vowing their team would come back and win it next year. Longhorn fans celebrated their win graciously and tried to comfort their friends on the other side with a little humor. After all, everyone planned to come back and do it all over again in 2009.