the last rodeo.

Contrary to popular belief {mine}, J loves baseball. And the Sooners.

So, when OU beat Virginia in the super regionals and made it to Omaha for the College World Series for the first time in 15 years, we had to go.

This was our conversation:

J: When's the College World series again?

E: I think it's this weekend. That's what I keep hearing.

J: Are you sure it's this weekend?

E: Well that's what they keep saying.

J: Look it up. Is it really this weekend?

E: Ugh! {looking, looking...} Yes, it starts this weekend.

J: I'm thinking about going.

E: With who?

J: YOU!

After that conversation and some mapquesting, it was a real possibility that we'd be packing up the car and hitting the road for Omaha.

Once we got the tickets and the hotel reservations, it was a done deal. Omaha or bust!

Saturday morning we were off. Our plan was to drive to Topeka and stay the night there and then drive in to Omaha for our 1pm game on Sunday. 

The drive to Topeka was easy and only about 4.5 hours, and even though we had a bit of directions mishap {the upside was getting to see downtown Topeka!}, it was relatively easy to get to and find our hotel. That even we hung out and then had dinner at On the Border. I know, I know...we should have gone somewhere local, but I've been having a bit of a fajita obsession and I had to get my fix. 

We went to bed early on Saturday night because we knew we'd have to hit the road around 7 or 7:30 for the 3 hour drive to Omaha. {We wanted to get there early to pick up our tickets and walk around}

Unfortunately it rained on us the whole way there {an omen for weather to come in Omaha}, but we made it just fine -- and brought the rain with us. 

By game time the rain had mostly stopped, but I guess there was lightening in the area, which means the game was delayed. Around 1:45 or so, they told us that they were going to wait until 3 to make a decision as to when they would start the game. So, to make the most of the delay, J and I left the stadium and wandered to a bar down the street, Starsky's.

It was packed, but we had a blast! We met several people who were native Omahans {is that even right?}. They go to the CWS every year and all of them expressed how sad they were that the NCAA and the city of Omaha were tearing down Rosenblatt and building a newer stadium down the street.

We stayed at Starky's for about 3 or 4 hours and some of our new friends bought us some beer! By around 4:45 or so we'd heard that our guys were warming up and that the first pitch would be thrown at 5:24 {so exact}.

The weather for the next two hours was pretty perfect. Sunny, cool and with a nice breeze. But, then around 7:30 the game was delayed again for more lightening in the area. This delay was not fun. We left the stadium and stood outside and people-watched and then walked around inside and then finally just went to some seats to sit down. The game started again at 9, with only about a third of the spectators. 

Even though we all had a mild heart attack in the last inning, the Sooners won and went home {tired and} victorious! Oh, and whatever lightening it was that caused the first two delays was nothing in comparison to the lightening show we had at the end of the game.

The countryside between central Emporia and Omaha is really pretty. Around Emporia are the flint hills. They span for miles and there are cows of different colors everywhere. And then on the way to Omaha from Topeka there are tons of old abandoned barns and hills and tons of creeks, and streams and rivers. So pretty. I have some pics of barns, but I'll save that for a post of its own.

Bedlam win!

The OU Men's basketball team is {how do I say this nicely?} even worse than our football team.

There were high expectations. About as high as they can be, even after losing the Player of the Year in Blake Griffin, last year. {And, wow, we really miss him...}

We've lost to some not-so-stellar opponents. One game in particular, before Christmas in OKC, we lost to UTEP. Yes, the University of Texas at El Paso. {Which, coincidentally, is where the Sooners won their first bowl game in four years.}

Anyway, we played OSU last night. The mood was pretty grim. Word was that our "leader" Willie Warren was suspended for some unknown violation of team rules. Great. Plus the fact that our coach had kicked the team out of the locker room and prohibited them from wearing any kind of gear with OKLAHOMA on it. Nice. We've got a real nice team, Clark.

Even though the team couldn't hit a free throw to save their life and the refs couldn't see an over-the-back foul {usually on you, 33.} to save their life, we pulled out a win! Granted we had to go to overtime, but wow! No one thought we could win the game! Way to go us.

Maybe, just maybe, this is the beginning of something good for the team. But, I'm not holding my breath.

Game Day

Yesterday was OU v. Baylor in Norman.

My Dad and brother came up on Friday. We ordered {too much} pizza and watched the Yankees beat the Twins in extra innings. Good game, and a nice little walk-off homerun by Teixiera. {Yep, my sports knowledge spans more than just football.}

On Saturday we were a bit discombobulated. J, his dad and brother had a Sigma Chi House Corp. meeting at 10:30 {I know...don't they know gamedays are for gameday activities??}, so my fam and I hit the bookstore on campus.

Rumor had the weather was going to be a little less than favorable, so Jason {the brother} and I found a nice, soft fleece that we tried to push our dad into wearing for the game. {My dad had only brought a pullover and a windbreaker and their seats are in the upper deck. With winds like they were predicting and the possibility that the sunshine wouldn't last, we thought he might need an extra layer}. He insisted that he was "FINE!", but we didn't take no for an answer and purchased the fleece. {He never needed it and Jason ended up carrying it around the entire day...ha!}

We then proceeded to Hideaway {or Hideaways, as my Mom always says...} and met up with my Uncle John.

A couple of hours and a fab enchilada lunch later, we made our way to the stadium. Sam Bradford returned after 4 weeks out with a shoulder injury. It was great to have him back! The weather really held up for the game. I didn't need my 4th layer at all!

By the time we left the stadium, however, the weather had gotten considerably more chilly. But, all in all, we had a great day. A win is still a win, even if we had to settle for 4 field goals and Sammy B only had one TD pass {in the 4th quarter}.

Next weekend is OU/Texas {I'm sure you're ready to stop hearing about it...}. Although I'm not keeping my hopes up for a Sooner win, we'll have a great time with friends we don't get to see often enough! Plus, you can't beat a day at the State Fair with Big Tex welcoming everyone!

I'll have a corny dog and a beer in a wax paper cup for you!

Jason trying to get out of taking a picture with me and my Dad. {There was a better picture, in my opion, but Jason refused to let me post it.}

Me and J at the game {you can't see them, but there were 2 annoying Baylor fans behind us...one of them was wearing an OU shirt under a Baylor pullover and claimed to be a Texas fan...uhhh, what???}

John's parents {John D & Gracie}

Shut-Out

We had a great weekend.

It was OU's second home game {vs. Tulsa} and much more of a challenge for our newly-appointed QB, Landry Jones {who might just have the best mustache in all of college football}.

I was a bit irritated with the bit of rain we had to endure pre-game, but it quickly abated and left us with a pretty nice day. Sunny with a nice breeze. Perfect fall football weather.

The game was pretty fun. It's not everyday you have a shut out and it's definitely not everyday you have a shut out against a team that averages 41 points per game. Yeah! And, it looks like our guy Landry might have another receiver to turn to! We may not have to worry about quadruple coverage afterall!

After the game we hit Campus Corner for a few celebratory beers, queso fries and more football!

Of course I forgot my camera, but just imagine us all in great spirits, celebrating a fabulous OU win and a fabulous USC loss! {I know, I'm not so much as celebrating that USC lost, as I am that we get to move up a little more in the polls.}

After all of OU's preseason misfortune, I'm really doing my best to not be like fans from other schools/conferences. It's not cool to get excitement out of others' misfortune. That's my motto for the '09-'10 football season, people. Maybe you should make it yours, too!

Good luck to our boys on their bye-week and then definitely when they head to South Beach to take on a much-improved/almost-scary Miami team! Boomer!!