On the Horns of Superstition
by whills on Jan 6, 2010 7:12 PM CST
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PrintSo much for gratitude. Everyone seems to be up to their eyeballs in anticipation and no small amount of anxiety. And rightfully so, this is as big as it gets in the world of college football and if your sphincter isn't puckering, maybe you aren't that heavily invested.
But this isn't about the one-upmanship of fandom, this is about the other side of rationality, about the superstitions that surround the sport and exactly what you'll be doing tomorrow to entice good luck and overcome the dark side.
Here on this site there is a somewhat unwritten ethic during live-blogging a game about those knock-on-wood moments when someone inadvertently calls on the forces of evil instead of light. Just like on the field and in the dugout of a baseball game, what is and isn't allowed isn't stated, but any transgression is quickly addressed. And sometimes you can't correct those words that slip out into the ether; once loosened, they roll on their own, so beware.
Irrationality always has a certain role, one many may want to ignore or diminish it but you can't, because both the world and the human mind, a non-local entity, are quite mysterious places where a single act can instantly change our very conception of what is.This is about our visceral reaction to this world and to this game in particular.
So, what's your personal range of quirky superstitions in preparing for the game? Is it clothing and pre-game rituals, or how you deal with bad times within the game or incantations for changing the flow of luck? How do you make that blue lightning jump from horn-to-horn and start a stampede in the right direction? Just how crazy do you get? You're not alone, you know.
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Announcers tend to play the superstition card at key times.
When they say QB Joe Blow has 423 passes without an interception, you know that QB Joe is about to bite it. The crews at Monday Night Football used have this down to an art but baseball announcers are really masters of the medium.
I saw in another comment where you were in the LHB
Boy, you trumpet players can flat put out the sound but you have the spirit to match it.
I get a lot of noise complaints from neighbors.
See my most recent FanShot.
by ElMariachiLoco on Jan 6, 2010 9:27 PM CST up reply actions
i do the same thing!
"We'll be baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!"
by greenspointexas on Jan 7, 2010 9:11 AM CST up reply actions
Pre-game day shirt
And a day game shirt.
My new one is a bottles worth of tums, I think that’s more nerves than a superstition.
"I live in the tower with Coach Brown." -Bevo
I always say or text hookem horns to my Son, a recent UT graduate
…and I always wear my Orange UT shirts….and I got a blowup boxing punching bag that looks like a football player that stands on the floor ,,,,when things dont go our way, I beat the heck on that thing taking out my frustration…
Hooking em to a Another National Championship.
See, I have a bit of a dilemma...
I was supposed to drive to Arlington for a funeral but the weather may prevent that. If i go to Arlington, I will watch the game with my brother-in-law. If I dont go (which wont be decided until early Thursday morning)….Do I…
a) go to a friend’s house that I was invited to but declined due to the funeral ,
b) Call up all the fellas and have a big UT bash at my house like I do when I can’t be a the game. Mind you, most of my buddies are already invited to my buddies house but I have more room and it tends to get a little more wild at my place…..
c) Watch it at home with my family (leaning towards this because I dont want to disrespect the deceased)….. What do you think?
I twirl a bobby pin between my thumb and forefinger
If things start going south, a grab a new bobby pin.
I also throw savage hook ‘ems in the geographical direction of the game, unless I’m actually at the game.
Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis.
also a halftime call to my dad, good or bad
and a call to or from a particular friend of mine always turns the tide.
Disciplina Praesidium Civitatis.
Something like that Champs Sports commercial...
Black Horns hat – check
Retro sport Horns shirt – check
If I am in public, I contain myself as much as possible.
If I am in my home…everyone get the hell out, for there will be antics.
I have a friend who always bets on the opposition at the local sports book…claims he is always wrong with betting. I figure it may soften the blow for him if the Horns lose and Bama covers the 4. BTW, I like the under in this game and that info is for entertainment purposes only.
Is this a team of destiny? Perhaps…Just think, the Horns could be out there defending what could have been and should have been rightfully theirs LAST season.
How thankful I am to be a Longhorn. Football, Basketball, Baseball…it is clicking ladies and gentlemen. Hook Em!!!
"Stats are for losers. I like winning games." - Will Muschamp
"Somebody will always break your records. It is how you live that counts." - Earl Campbell
Hook 'em Mulliganville.
With the Horns winning 25 of 26, your friend hasn’t been too lucky, although I don’t know what their record against the spread is the last two years.
I prefer to be at home, where I can rant and respond out loud. That’s a little strong for public consumption.
Same thing for every important thing in my life (exams, games, etc...)
Over my specified pair of boxer-briefs, I wear my tattered and shredded Star Wars boxers that I’ve had forever.
I must wear a brand new pair of socks.
I throw on my specially designated pair of shorts and lucky “Texas Tradition” shirt.
About an hour before the game I go and get a triple cheeseburger from Whataburger or Wendy’s and pick up more fast food at halftime if things aren’t going well.
Not much else during the game.
I recovered my old burnt orange polo shirt...
It’s well over 10, maybe 15 years old. It is a bit faded and has something of a white bleach spot on it. Every time I wear it my wife gives me crap. I got a new polo for Christmas, and the old one went into the rag pile in the garage. Except yesterday, my wife said “you know, you’ve worn that old shirt for 17 straight wins.” You gotta’ respect the streak ! This morning I went into the garage and retrieved it. Hook ’em !
I posted this in the "what would you give up" thread:
In 2005, my first daughter was born. I held her and rubbed her belly for good luck every time UT got in trouble, and she bailed ‘em out every time. Vince helped, of course. In fact, from the day we found out my wife was pregnant with her (right after the 12-0 loss to OU), I rubbed either pregnant wife’s belly or the baby’s belly every time UT was in trouble, and they didn’t lose again until 2006 vs. Ohio State. We are armed with my new infant daughter, who is about the same age the first one was when UT beat USC, and UT hasn’t lost a game since we found out the wife was pregnant with her, right after the Tech loss.
Anyway, the parallels pile up. I wouldn’t sacrifice my child, but my daughters are still ominously helpful for the UT football program. The new one even has burnt orange hair, for what it’s worth.
Kurt Vonnegut would ridicule such coincidences, but I will not. So we’ve invited over three sets of friends, all of whom are expecting, to watch the game, so…
That’s right: in superstitious anticipation of the game, wifey and I cranked out a baby with orange hair and another lucky belly. To further increase the chances of baby luck, we invited three couples who are all expecting as well.
I should mention that two of these three pregnant girls sat on either side of me right as Colt lofted the ball out of bounds against Nebraska. I rubbed their bellies, since my baby was back in Maryland, and Hunter Lawrence hit the big kick. Wifey immediately invited them to a previously-undiscussed bowl party at our house.
by burntorangehorn on Jan 6, 2010 10:16 PM CST reply actions
This is the most fun superstition of the bunch.
Making burnt orange hair is so fine, my friend.
2005 t-shirt
I’m not really superstitious, but it seems like a good time to wear my National Championship t-shirt.
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.
I am doing the same...
Haven’t worn my VY Rose Bowl T-shirt jersey since the last Rose Bowl, damn it looks nice.
I thought of watching the SC game last night.
But I thought, no, this is now, we go with what has built up. I am wearing a simple, unadorned burnt orange t-shirt today and will change to something more auspicious if necessary at half. My leather Longhorn flipflops are for dire circumstances…they saved the game against Nebraska when Jamaal went wild, seconds after I put them on the first time.
Beyond that, not much.
I pour myself a rum and coke...
in my 32 oz Texas mug that’s put in the freezer the day before. And I keep refilling it whenever it empties. Makes for interesting stories my wife tells me the following day (and the following week, year, etc.) about what I did.
That’s every other time. Not this year. No alcohol allowed in Afghanistan, but I will be watching the game live on Friday morning, drinking from my Texas coffee mug.
Hook 'em Horns
Oh man, that's rough
I remember watching Longhorns games as the sun came up some mornings in Iraq. An artillery battalion that let us crash in their warehouse had AFN, and I got to see a few games that year, which was the one when Vince and Chance Mock were taking turns. Wifey sent me a bottle of whiskey or vodka in the mail from time to time, though, which was great.
by burntorangehorn on Jan 7, 2010 6:22 AM CST up reply actions
Wearing the same shirt as for 2005 NC
2005 RB, 2009 FB, etc. I wear it most games, although I was at a party last year for Tech and did not wear it (sorry Tech loss is on me).
Longhorn sweatshirt
with my longhorns hat, blanket (it’s a 5 degree high in Missouri today), cup full of my favorite beverage (sometimes orange soda for big games)
Coincedence? Texas basketball beats an SEC team to go 14-0? Hmmmm……
Orange Soda
Coincidentally, after Texas stuttered in a few of the opening games, I started buying a Sunkist in a glass bottle from a nearby gas station just for nostalgic reasons (There was an old time store in Texas when I lived there that sold sodas and candy that I would frequent as a kid called Shoemaker and Hardt) and the offense picked up considerably. I’ve missed getting one for two games which were the Oklahoma game and Nebraska game, so I’ll be picking up 4 to be sure against Alabama.
What do we do if somehow Colt McCoy ends up on an NFL team starting against Vince Young?
Nice
Glad to know I am not the only one. Have one for our first drive, I really don’t want to see a screen on the first play from scrimmage.
by Longhorn in MO on Jan 7, 2010 10:43 AM CST up reply actions
I remember the Sunkist sodas. Use to down an orange occassionally myself.
Well, I need to see if I can find one herebouts; that sounds good.
The day before I get fairly trashed.
I wake up at 6am and go to the gym, proceed to vomit everything so I then feel refreshed for the game.
Pregame: ESPNEWS/SportsCenter is on all day. I go to the store and stock up on snack foods for the game. After that, I head to Specs and stock up on Texas-made beer and liquor.
Gametime: I have 5 shirts, 5 caps that I wear based on how well they work out. Its very much like the Champs sports commercial. In fact my girlfriend was the first to watch it and she exclaimed that my life was being filmed for a commercial ala the Truman Show. Poor Rebelette, she doesn’t know what REAL fans are like. I gulp for every 1st down/good defensive play and chug for every score/turnover. Safeties are double chug. During the rest of the game I stand up and pace in front of the TV, while twirling a pen between my thumb and middle finger (its a debate thing).
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
Damn, that makes the game a long haul, kriess. I'm impressed.
I’m predicting two safeties, by the way.
I requested Jan 4-9th off from work around December 6th
So its been a month long preparation for me.
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
Its a compulsive thing
I do it so much I have no idea that I’m doing it.
Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.
The throwing of the Son
Yes, I threw our, then 7 year old son, into the air during the kick of the 2004 Rose Bowl win over Michigan and caught him as the ball split the uprights, , , , as the ball was hiked to Vince in ’05- he went up again, catching him and screaming as Vince crossed the goal line. Now he is 12 . . . and a 100 lbs . . . maybe my husband can help??, , , or we may have to move on to his little brother . . . it works! HOOK ’EM
Love all you Horns out there!!
by ORANGE92 on Jan 7, 2010 10:45 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Stick with the older son
for this game and then move to the youger son next year. Passing of the torch from McCoy to GG
by Longhorn in MO on Jan 7, 2010 11:00 AM CST up reply actions
While I have tried like hell to break all superstitions...
every year…but I tend to end up with some by the end of the season. This year it is the same underwear thing, nothing spectacular (but they do get washed…I’m not that nasty). I’ll start with the Texas baseball jersey I have worn for most of the games I remember. If it is close in the 4th and we are down, I will bust out the signed Earl jersey. Did the trick in last time in Pasadena. Game Eve rituals went out the door last night when the power went out here in OKC (ou was really suckin to the south and caused high wind gust).
For tonight…I have my signed picture of Vince scoring the wining TD in the MNC hung to the left of my TV with a signed picture of Earl to the right. Hoping for goodness of them to flow through the TV. I have not drank since ou (needed to against Neb) but Beer will be ice cold for after the game in hopes of celebration. Thank the Lord I can work from home tomorrow.
We're Texas...and you're NOT
Signed Earl jersey. Signed VY Rose Bowl TD. I'm seriously jealous.
You’ve created your own shrine. Cool.
Drake, my burnt orange dog
I have the most wonderful dog. He’s burnt orange and white. He gets lots of love with every game. If we’re actually going to the game, Drake gets extra kisses before we leave. For most games, seen here on TV, his burnt orange back gets extra attention when the games get rough.
Probably a nervous habit that comforts me more than anything else. : )
Watch out, I bite.
by EddieTheAlbinoSquirrel on Jan 7, 2010 12:10 PM CST reply actions
Superstitions vs Confessions
Great post ! for some great laughs go to Roll Bama Roll and check out what some Tide fans are confessing in hopes of finding favor with the football gods for the game. We Bama fans aren’t all that crazy, Well yes we really are! Roll Tide forever!
Superstitions and rituals
1. Don’t shave the day of game (unless I have to work)
2. Lucky boxers (nuff said)
3. Wear the generic Texas t-shirt I got freshman year. It must be touching skin to work. For example, I wore a thermal shirt under it for the Tech game last year because it was cold outside. We lost, so now I will only wear the t-shirt, no matter the weather.
3. Wear my lucky SF Giants cap that I’ve worn almost everyday since I was 15. (Actually, I have a 2005 National Champion cap that I’m breaking in because the Giants cap is ratty, dirty and all-around disgusting at this point.) Yes, I know it’s a different team, but it means a lot. I wore it to a friend’s house for the 2005 Ohio State game. I started a rally cap thing with everyone there while we were losing and some jackass wanted to fight me because I was doing a rally cap for a football game, let alone a different team. I say, if it’s lucky, its luck will transfer to anything. It’s the intention that counts.
4. While watching on tv, you can’t leave the game. You got to pee? Hold it til halftime.
5. If i’m watching the game alone in my room and we’re losing, I turn on my computer and play some music from Austin-area bands.
6. While watching on tv, do everything I would do as if I was actually at the game (fight song at the top of my voice, March Grandioso, Eyes of Texas, Horns Up on 3rd downs, kickoffs, mock the opposing coach, etc…)
7. Pray to God and make promises I have no intention of keeping.
Yes, I’m a nut, though I contribute it to youth and passion. Now Hook ’em Horns!!!
Every time I feel down and depressed, I think of seven simple words by a true wise man, Matt Leinart: "I still think we're the better team" and I usually end up hurting myself by laughing so hard.
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