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October 15, 2009

Sooners cross the Red River for heated rivalry

By Julianna Parker Jones

Sooner fans from Norman will head south this weekend to take part in the revelry that is the Red River Rivalry.

The University of Oklahoma vs. University of Texas football game Saturday will draw thousands to the Cotton Bowl at the Texas State Fair.

For many local fans, this weekend represents more than just a game. It's an opportunity to see old friends, an exciting weekend away and a chance to let the Sooner spirit reach a fever pitch.

Dena Drabek, OU alumna and Oklahoma City resident, said she loves going to Dallas for the game because she always runs into people she knows.

"I think it's the one event of the year that you never know who you're gonna see," she said.

The OU vs. UT game also is more exciting than others, Drabek said, which is why she's tried to attend it about every other year. No matter what each team is ranked, it's anybody's guess who will win.

"I always say, all bets are off at OU-Texas," Drabek said.

That leads many OU fans to hope that, while Texas is ranked higher than Oklahoma this year, the Sooners will still pull off a win.

Justin Moore, a junior at OU, said he hopes OU will win in the first OU-Texas game he's going to attend. Moore, like many students, will carpool down to Dallas this weekend with friends to experience the excitement that can only be found at an OU vs. UT game.

"I'm most excited just for the pomp," he said.

Moore will join thousands of other Oklahoma residents heading down to and back from Dallas this weekend for the game.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation this week announced several construction projects that drivers should be aware of when heading south.

U.S. Highway 69 southbound is narrowed to one lane from Calera (south of Durant) to the Texas state line for reconstruction. Northbound 69 is narrowed to one lane from just south of Eufaula north two miles.

Interstate 35 is narrowed to one lane in each direction between Braman and Blackwell in Kay County for reconstruction. It also is narrowed to one lane in each direction north of U.S. Highway 64 (north of Perry) in Noble County for cable barrier installation.

There are many ways for Sooners to avoid the traffic within Dallas that is a guaranteed result of everyone heading to and from Fair Park at the same time.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit has opened up a new train directly to Fair Park this year for the game. DART's green line train will drop visitors off for the game at either the Fair Park or Martin Luther King Jr. stops.

Special trains on the red and blue lines also will depart from Parker Road Station and the Downtown Garland Station Saturday only.

Julianna Parker Jones 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com

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