A game like no other
First-timers excited for OU-Texas experience
DALLAS — Bryan Clinton has dreamed of being at the Cotton Bowl in October since he was a boy growing up in Sequoyah, just north of Claremore.
He wasn’t willing to put it off anymore. So late Friday night, after Clinton finishes his duties as an assistant coach for Sequoyah-Claremore’s football team, Clinton planned to jump in the car with his wife, Taylor, and drive through the night to reach Dallas around 2 a.m. and be on their way to the State Fair of Texas by 7 a.m. to take in the Red River Showdown between Oklahoma and Texas for the first time (11 a.m., Fox).
While plenty of Sooners fans make the trip to the showdown between OU and Texas an annual trip, there are plenty of fans making their way to the game for the first time.
“It’s something that I’ve always heard about and both teams being ranked and ‘GameDay’ being there — it will be awesome,” the 23-yearold Bryan Clinton said. “I think my wife is probably looking forward to the fair and all the crazy food. I can’t wait.”
Taylor Clinton, 25, wasn’t thrilled about the plan to drive through the night, but the couple decided that if they didn’t do it now, they weren’t sure when they’d ever get the chance.
“This time of the year it’s football on Friday night, Sooners on Saturday, Vikings on Sunday along with film study and game plan for high school, then junior high and JV on Monday,” Bryan Clinton said. “It’s a little hectic, to say the least, but we are excited for sure.”
The couple also celebrated their first anniversary Sept. 24.
“We decided this would be a cool trip to celebrate,” Clinton said Friday as he prepared for the Eagles’ high school game at Berryhill.
While the Clintons were still hours away from beginning their trip, 19-year-old Hailey Sylvester was on her way to the Metroplex.
Like Clinton, Sylvester has wanted to go to the game for years, but sports also kept her away.
Sylvester played basketball at Newcastle and then went to Oklahoma Baptist University.
After injuries ended her playing career and she transferred to OU, Sylvester got some of her friends together to make the trip.
“OU-Texas week is almost a holiday week on campus, and I wanted to be a part of that,” Sylvester said.
Sylvester, Jordan Banfield and Kelcee Banks all decided to experience their first OU-Texas game together.
“The atmosphere on campus and in Norman has been different, so I can’t wait to be down in Dallas,” Sylvester said. “I feel like it will be a whole new world down there.”
Sylvester’s father, Kenny, is an Oklahoma fan who went to the game once himself in the mid90s.
“I believe he’s living vicariously through me this trip,” Hailey Sylvester said. “He’s so excited for me to experience this.”