No. 195 - Poor Man’s Game Notes IX: UGA vs. Texas, 11/15/25
I spend a lot of time on the University of Texas campus. When I’m not meeting with technologists, or swimming my morning laps at Barton Springs, I’m hitting honky-tonks with Dr. Lemon, a writer and former UT professor. We’ve been known to close out The Continental, Broken Spoke, and Donn’s Depot – in the same week.
The good doctor has schooled me on all things Texas, including football. For starters, plenty of Lone Star boys play what’s called six-man ball.
Never heard of it? Neither had I. In parts of rural Texas, they can only field six players on a team, with most of the boys playing both sides of the ball.
I met one of them bussing tables in a Hill Country diner. He played five positions on offense, three on defense, and was tougher than pig iron. He answered every question with “Yes, sir” or “No, sir” and carried the unshakable pride of a Texan (they ALL do).
His dream was to be a Longhorn, though he knew he lacked Division I size. What he didn’t lack was heart. Talking to a high school kid with manners and a work ethic was refreshing – and in Texas, it’s not unusual. As I left, he shook my hand with the confidence of a big-buckled oilman and said, “I hope to see you again, Mr. Evans.”
That, to me, is Texas – an earned ruggedness that I respect. But UT’s season has taken its toll. Austin is oddly quiet. The bravado that usually hangs over campus had thinned – like a bull rider tossed after barely a second in the chute.
We are clearly fielding a superior team, with a tougher quarterback, and everyone in Austin knows it (including two recent members of Augusta National).
Let’s hope our second half momentum lasts through our last SEC opponent, who, undoubtedly, knows there is no finer feather in your cap than defeating a powerhouse in their stadium.
If all goes well, we’ll cruise into Atlanta with a 10-1 record and a cushy playoff berth. Wouldn’t it be nice if our Chief Muckety Muck had to slap another flag on his merch?
Give ’em hell, Kirby!
