Living Outside The Lines: “Cowboys & Tigers & Bears, Oh My!”

I still have a glass Coke bottle from when Clemson took the National Championship in 1981, a fact that I manage to work into numerous conversations.

By, Becky J Miller

Football Season; college and professional is an exciting time for fans and players alike. Athletes take it to the gridiron for the chance to prove they are the best. Existing records are broken, new records are set; some dreams are realized while others are squashed. Personally, my loyalties are sometimes divided, especially during bowl and playoff season where two teams that I like equally well, or not at all may face off. In those times, how does one choose a side?

Would you believe me if I said there is a scientific method for choosing a favorite team? No? Well, there is a method, at least for me anyhow. Now, whether that method proves to be scientific or not, is still under further review.

Just about every state has a college rivalry: University of Texas vs. Texas A&M, Florida State vs. Florida, Boise State vs. Idaho and so on. Growing up in South Carolina the big rivalry was between Clemson and the University of South Carolina. The pros have their rivalries too; Cowboys vs. Redskins, Packers vs. Vikings and Broncos vs. Patriots, just to name a few.

Though I’m unsure how it happened, I ended up a Clemson Tiger fan, which is interesting considering that most of my high school friends from South Carolina are Gamecock fans. Perhaps it was the week I spent on the Clemson campus one summer? I still have a glass Coke bottle from when Clemson took the National Championship in 1981, a fact that I manage to work into numerous conversations. And now that Clemson has clinched yet another National Championship, well, I may never be silent again.

I’ve been a Dallas Cowboys fan since 1979. I was 12 years old and in 7th grade when Dallas faced Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XIII. The Cowboys were the underdogs and they lost 35 – 31, but I didn’t care then and I don’t care now. All the boys in my class wanted Pittsburgh to win. I vividly recall sitting in the classroom surrounded by all the Steeler talk, and deciding I would cheer for the Cowboys.

My loyalty to the Cowboys led me to set an alarm clock for 2 a.m. so I could watch them play Super Bowl XXVIII in ’93, wearing sunglasses. We lived in Italy at the time, and that was the only way to watch the game live. The bright light from the television hurt my eyes, so I donned my shades. Now that’s a true fan!

My husband is very much a Texas A&M fan. Interestingly enough, when we first married I liked the Longhorns. What can I say? I was 18, and didn’t know any better, but I came over to the dark side many years ago. Before the Aggies moved to the SEC, they played against Clemson in 2004 & 2005, and boy were those games hard to watch.

In addition to being a Clemson Tiger and Texas Aggie fan, I am also a Baylor Bear fan. Since my daughter is an alumna, I have to cheer for them, in spite of all the drama surrounding the team this season. These first three picks would make sense right; loyalty to my home state, loyalty to my adopted state and loyalty to my daughter’s school, but what about the rest of the time? Here is where it gets interesting, and my children just shake their heads at my logic.

If my family is watching a game that I might not really care about, I’ll ask who they are cheering for, then I decide whether to beat them or join them based on two things:  1) Is the team from the South? 2) Do I like their jerseys? Number one is the reason I cheer for Alabama, of course that was before they beat Clemson in the 2015 National Championship, Ole’ Miss, and LSU. If neither team playing is from the South then I choose based on who has the best jerseys. As you can imagine, this logic does have its flaws, but it’s my logic and it works for me.

Sadly, the Packers knocked off my Cowboys this playoff season, leaving only two teams in the running for the Super Bowl that I could possibly cheer for; Atlanta and Kansas City. Obviously Atlanta is a Southern team, but I’ve no idea why Kansas City?? Probably the least of the evils among all remaining teams; Patriots are from the North (ick), Pittsburg is the arch-rival of the Cowboys, at least in my school girl eyes, and the rest, well blah!

Reading this column may bring a tear or two to your eyes because sadly, it means that football season is almost over; a new National Champion has been named, yay Clemson! And hopefully Atlanta wins the Super Bowl this Sunday resulting in a football #SouthernSweep.

Here’s to gridiron rivalries, scientific methods and extraordinary jerseys!

Until Next Time,

Becky ~ Warrior Princess 

Becky J Miller is a contributor and is exclusive to SM Corridor News. You can read more of Becky’s columns in Lifestyle.