“To a man, every one of my compadres hates the 11 a.m. kickoff. Travel down: about the same. Thursday night or Friday morning. Travel back: Instead of staying throughout the weekend, we’re heading back after the game this year. 11 a.m. kickoffs allow for that. The Fair: DEFINITELY see less of the Fair and spend less money there. Hotel: because we can drive home after the game, we don’t need the hotel room. This year is a perfect example. I canceled my hotel room once we decided to drive back. Travel to Fair Park: freaking awful. When you condense down the window of travel to the Fair, it increases the density. DART is a joke at that point in time, unless you get on the train somewhere around Sanger. Partying: go to bed earlier on Friday night; way less likely to hit the middle-aged bar scene. Leaving Saturday after the game. Dining: fewer meals out.”

PHIL KERBO, Edmond

“Change isn't always easy, but it’s even more difficult when it changes ‘traditions.’ I am 54 years, been attending OU/Texas games since I was 16. Our ‘traditional’ routine was to head down in the excitement/frustration of I-35 traffic on Friday, shop, enjoy dinner Friday night at a restaurant we do not have in the OKC area. Then in the old days we would take a drive through Commerce Street, just to check it out, then head to the hotel, get some rest. Next morning after breakfast head to the Fairgrounds, have a little fun on I-35/I-30 to Fair Park with the Crimson & Cream and burnt Orange fans headed that way. Upon arrival, spend a few hours at the Fair before heading into the Cotton Bowl to watch the pre-game festivities. Afterwards, we would hang around at the Fair; whether we won or lost sometimes depended on how long we stayed. We either spent the rest of any unused food coupons or found a family in line with children that looked like they could use coupons and would give our unused coupons to them. Then we would head back to the hotel. After cleaning up and resting a bit, we would usually do dinner again that night. Head back towards home on Sunday. The ‘new way’: still head down on Friday, the wives might shop a bit and we all do dinner, then just relax a bit at the hotel, because it’s rise-and-shine early the next morning. Traffic is worse than ever because everyone is getting there at the same time now. Later kickoffs, it was a bit more spread out. Doesn't leave much time at all to hang out at the Fair before heading into the Cotton Bowl. After the game, we hang for a bit, our son is now a member of the Pride, so we will visit with him, then it’s head to the car and head back to the great state of Oklahoma.”

SCOTT MILBURN, Tulsa