Hi, I’m Jack. I’ve been a Texas Longhorn fan since 2022. My partner and her family are diehard UT fans and have been forever. But, I’m British. College ball is, as Aladdin said, a whole new world. I don’t know shit!
Time for some context. For the record, I’m Irish-British. I was born and grew up in Ely, England, this is where I still live and watch most of my football from. But Irish blood courses through my veins, something I wear as a badge of honour. I went to a state school and captained the school rugby team as well as playing for Ely Tigers RUFC. I also never gave a f*ck about soccer, which still bites me in the ass when I hang out with my friends in the pub who’d all bleed out for their respective teams. Whenever I talk pass rush, routes, or QB draws I’m met with more glazed looks than a dozen Dunkin’s.
I’m also a Philadelphia Eagles fan (casually since 2012, all-in since 2016 — Go Birds!), and been an arms-length observer and enjoyer of US culture for as long as I can remember. My Dad has partnered with the local USAF bases near my hometown since I was a pre-teen. Summers spent on base hanging out with Air Force commanders, walking around the wings of F-15’s between rounds of golf at the on-base muni were the norm. Drinking Gatorade out of those ‘04 bottles and consuming enough Taco Bell to level a small country was a flex when it was inaccessible to all of my friends.
And yet, college football has eluded me until my 30’s. I couldn’t tell you who the most prolific college QB’s of all time are — I don’t know who the greatest coaches are, or were. With maybe the exception of Nick Saban. As far as I can tell, like it or not, the man is the GOAT. And good riddance that we won’t have to face him as members of the SEC this year.
As a UT fan living in the UK, watching football proves a bit of a challenge. Especially live. We get reasonably good coverage of the NFL from our cable providers now, you can watch Redzone every Sunday night for example, which is a wonderful way to end your weekend. But, when it comes to sweating it out on a Saturday (figuratively, it’s not a billion degrees here like it is in Austin) it’s because you’re hoping your VPN is resolute. It’s also because unless the CFB schedule Gods are kind to us UK mortals, it’ll be 4am by the time you’re in bed. And if the Horns lose, that’s just a real bad way to start your Sunday.
Which is why today brings me joy — game time windows have gone live. With the exception of the UTSA, ULM, and “flex” games, I’m confident I can go to bed at a reasonable hour this season, and hopefully with a smile on my face.
I do appreciate however that playing at DKR in the midday-late afternoon sun is probably as pleasant as being sucker-punched by a primetime Muhammad Ali. Are the SEC and college football overlords throwing the bird at us? I don’t know. But this UK resident is happy and excited to be able to shout loud and proud at unreasonable decibels at a reasonable hour this year.
Hook ‘em.
Hooked: UT Football through a UK lens. 
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