So I wasn't able to blog via cell phone like I had originally hoped but I am able to recap my entire trip now!
The drive down was going pretty smoothly until we ran out of gas in a dead part of Oklahoma. Some Arkansas fans saw us walking and offered to give us a ride to a gas station. We were very grateful and were able to get back on the road without losing too much time. we made it to Dallas around 6 PM but were disappointed to find that most places were closed for the holiday. We were able to find a nice little place for dinner and I'm so happy my friend, Michael, didn't embarrass me by telling them it was my birthday!
The morning of the game, we got caught in some pretty ugly traffic but finally made it into the stadium to catch the tigers first touchdown. What a rush! My section was heavily populated with hog fans even though it was on the Big 12 side so it was definitely a great time seeing them squirm with every point Mizzou gained! I've got to say, all the fumbles really made it an interesting game!
I got called a traitor for bringing an Arkansas fan with me to the game but he was a pretty good sport about all the trouble our fans were giving him. I think deep down, he's a true tiger fan! He we are enjoying the half-time performance.
I'd like to congratulate Tony Temple for breaking the Cotton Bowl record for rushing yards, and of course Chase Daniel and the entire football team for such a great win over fellow Heisman candidate Darren McFadden and his Razorbacks. What a great year to be a Tiger Fan! Only 241 days until they're back in action against Illinois, and I can not wait! GO TIGERS!!
I drove through most of the day with a steady stream of tiger-tail vehicles. I tried to wave to as many people as possible. There was a really cool sense of friendship along the highway. At one point, I looked over to my husband and said I wished I had a big sign to invited everyone along the road to eat lunch together. That would have been fun.
After such an exciting week in Dallas, it's awesome to come home, hug the kids and sit in my favorite chair. I have piles of souvenirs to put together some kind of shadow box or display in the house. Our son is SUPER excited about the game and really happy to have a new t-shirt and hat.
I wanted to thank all of the online viewers who chatted with me during this trip and especially during the Cotton Bowl. It has been fun to share the Dallas experience to all who visited. I also wanted to thank each person who contributed to the blog so everyone who read this could see the many different perspectives of this exciting event.
Tiger fans were classy before, during and after the game. I was proud to be a part of this experience on every level. Congrats Tigers! I am already excited about the next football season.
There is nothing like being able to take your shows on the road... nothing. The adrenaline rush you get is unlike anything you feel behind the desk tucked safely away in the studio.
We met such amazing people in Texas, and were able to tell some pretty incredible stories. The main goal behind these trips is to give our viewers, who were unable to attend the game, a taste of what its like. I think we accomplished that... and then some.
And then, to cap all of our hard work off with a Tigers win... sounds like a fairytale come true!
There is nothing like being able to take your shows on the road... but there's really nothing like coming home.
A lot of fans left Dallas after the big game. I'm guessing the rest are like us: flying or driving home today. I have a copy of the Dallas newspaper. The front picture is Chase Daniel holding the Cotton Bowl trophy with a big smile. Its a fun time to be a Tiger fan.
[Update: We're on Highway 69 in Oklahoma and we can see all kinds of Missouri plates. Everyone looks very, very determined to get home. Most cars and vans are packed with people. Most have at least one child passed out asleep in the back.]
We left for Columbia straight from the game so I didn’t have access to the internet until now. Nonetheless, I thought I’d put in my two cents (even if it’s a little late). Since I’m a senior, this was the perfect game to see and remember as my last Mizzou football game to attend as a student. What a great season it has been! If someone told me that we would be ranked the #1 team in the nation at one point during the season and that I’d go to Dallas to watch us play in the Cotton Bowl I’d have laughed at him or her! It has been surreal and wonderful to witness this successful season and I can’t wait to watch us next year! The score of the game definitely made spending over 40 hours in the car worth it but I’m sure every Mizzou fan, whether you traveled to Dallas or watched the game from home, would agree: it was a great and memorable game.
Our trip will come to an end tomorrow once we get to Chicago. As of now (in Columbia) we have traveled over 1900 miles and still have at least 400 to go!
After the game, I spent some time with the crowd as they watched the team get ready to leave the Cotton Bowl. There were fans seeking autographs and there were a lot of moms, dads, siblings, other family members and friends.
Photographer Lauren Palandro took pictures of the Cotton Bowl from the perspective of a fan in the stands. There were all kinds of emotion and excitement.
I am now 2-0 on Missouri bowl games. I went to the Independence Bowl and watched the Missouri Tigers come back from a huge deficit and beat the Gamecocks. Today's Cotton Bowl was equally amazing. I was extremely impressed with the Tiger defense and then, of course, Tony Temple--what a way to end his career at Missouri.
I can't wait to hear what the BCS officials are saying now. I'm going to watch the other games at a sports bar, so I'll upload pictures and video later tonight.
A very upscale place that I try and go to every time I'm here is The Ghost Bar in the W Hotel...located right across from Victory Park and the American Airlines Center. It's beautiful to go to at night... The Mavericks are always on hand and the balcony overlooks downtown.
For those true cowboys at heart... head west to Cow-town aka Ft. Worth and check out the stockyards..
Now...coming off an amazing victory over Arkansas calls for celebration!!! For those who will be hanging around Dallas a little longer can check out a multitude of places to suit them.
Being a Dallas native I have enjoyed this city inside and out and still look foward to coming home and going to all my favorite spots and trying some new ones along the way.For immediate celebration, try going to to the West End, Deep Elum and lower Greenville Avenue. All are party spots with plenty of venues, music and booze galore! You will have plenty of places to choose from in these areas.
For the ladies, Sam Moon Trading Company off of Northwest Hwy is a gold mine!! It has tons of goodies that for a great price....jewelry of all kinds, purses, wallets, belts, scarfs...everything girly!! You will go bankrupt in this place, but it is a must to go to if you like that type of thing.
For some of the best beef fajitas in Texas go to Uncle Julio's off of 75 (Central Expressway) on Lemmon Avenue. The infamous Mexican restaurant is truly authentic and serves some of the best margaritas around!Stay tuned for more..
There are a ton of people gathered outside the team buses to celbrate the win. Kids are asking for autographs and parents are hugging their players. All kinds of smiles.
A group of security personelle just started standing in the end zones to protect the field goals on each side of the field. I guess they think Mizzou fans want to take those posts down.
Tony Temple has now set a Cotton Bowl record for most rushing touchdowns (four of them). The team carried him off the field in celebration. He's also the leading rusher in the history of the Cotton Bowl with 281 yards. He's also rushed more than 1,000 yards this season.
Here's what I was talking about. You can actually see the division between the Arkansas and the Missouri fans.
Here's something you probably couldn't see on the television. The field is painted... Even the grass is painted. Now that paint is showing up on player and referee shoes. There's one ref who you can see green shoes AND socks. That can't be fun.
I've had some pretty nice conversations with online viewers. I plan to stay online for as long as possible to chat. So if you're interested, just type over to that little gray box on the right side.
That's how many people attended the game today. It is pretty full. You can see people on the very top of the bleachers... Most of those people are standing up to catch all of the action.
And they were able to see William Moore return an interception for a touchdown. Wow. It's REALLY hard to not show my team colors in the press area. As I've said in previous blogs, Tiger football may be one of the few topics where I'm openly biased. I'm a Tiger fan through and through. This game is a fun one.
By the way, Moore broke a Mizzou record for eight interceptions in a single season when he helped take Mizzou's score to 28-0.
We're in the second quarter of the game... here are some stats so far:
Missouri has had seven first downs, Arkansas has had none. Tony Temple has rushed 52 yards while Darren McFadden has rushed 25. Chase Daniel has 74 yards.
Just a couple of tidbits for you!
I'n still online at the game until I run out of battery power. I'm happy to chat with you.
The game just got started and I'm about to run to the stadium to watch the game. Once I get there, I'm planning to get online and chat with anyone who wants to talk about the game... Just type in that little gray box on the right.
It's been a busy morning to say the least at the Cotton Bowl. A great morning show already in the books and our KOMU crew is working hard to bring you an in-depth 90 minute preview show beginning at 9:00. This game is the biggest for any Missouri football team since the 1970 Orange Bowl and with a win, this team would solidify themselves among the best teams in Tiger history. To do so, they'll have to stop Arkansas' two headed monster of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones. The two have combined for nearly 2900 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns. Wow! But the Tigers have plenty of playmakers of their own in Chase Daniel and consensus All-Americans Martin Rucker and Jeremy Maclin. The Cotton Bowl couldn't have asked for a better matchup...one in which I think slightly favors the Tigers. We'll find out soon enough!
My dad and I just woke up and are currently getting ready for the day. Our bus leaves at 8:15 for some tailgating fun and then the Cotton Bowl. It's going to be cold out there, but I know the only thing I'll be thinking about is the Tigers on the football field.
As Tiger fans, I hope we show more class and have more fun today. Don't boo the band...they're job is to harmlessly pump up their fans, so be classy and enjoy the music.
I really don't know what the score is going to be, but I do know that it is going to be a great game. It's the only game to feature two Heisman finalists and it'll be up to each team's defenses to stop them.
Who will prevail: Arkansas' Darren McFadden or Missouri's Chase Daniel?
I went to bed early, I was tired from all the fun I've had the last few days in Dallas and I hope you've enjoyed experiencing some of it with me. As my first post of the new year I want to wish all you Tiger Fans a happy new year.
Now those Arkansas fans, well they're not awake and getting ready to tailgate yet... In fact they were up until 3am this morning SUEEYing up and down the hallways in the hotel I'm staying at. Mizzou fans threw around a couple MIZ-ZOU's around midnight just to get a word in, but then they headed to their rooms.
It wasn't a pleasant experience for anyone involved I'd say. So to all you Tiger fans out there who took it easy on New Years Eve in respect for your team, lets show those Razorbacks how to cheer and be respectful at the same time!
For a little bit of fun before you go, be sure to watch a couple of Peyton Manning's Peptalks I know it's advertising, but it's good clean fun.
Our morning show is up and running. There a few people wandering around who clearly have not gone to bed yet. I'm working on uploading some pictures of yesterday's big parade.
I've been awake for an hour... We're heading out of the hotel to get to our live location at the stadium. A long but fun day. I'm hoping to stay online during the game... Feel free to chat with me in that =little box on the right. It gives you the chance to instant message me live.
Happy New Year everyone! I can't believe 2007 is over. Time flies by when your team goes 11-2, is #1 in the nation at one point, and the only team to beat the Jayhawks...Go Tigers!
It's been a long, but fun day. So the party at the hotel didn't have 400-500 fans, more like 40-50...but no matter, we Tiger fans know how to have a good time. I spent the night with my dad and his friends (all alum). You know you're with the ol' Missouri alum...when the hot topic of conversation is none other than who's had the best colonoscopy. Oh boy.
At some point a couple Razorback fans decided it'd be cool to crash the Black and Gold party to play some pool. So Jim the Engineer challenges them to a little friendly competition.
We'll be heading out at 8 in the morning for some tailgating fun and then what we've all been waiting for...
It's been a great experience so far and being able to see so many Missouri fans and KOMU staffers down here in Dallas is really something special. I've thoroughly enjoyed my time at all of the Cotton Bowl activities and want to wish all of the Countdown to the Cotton Bowl blog readers a very happy New Year.
I hope you've enjoyed all of the posts by KOMU personalities and behind the scenes folks, they really do give an inside look into what it takes to put on such a huge production for everyone back in Missouri. There are dedicated KOMU people who are running on only a couple hours of sleep down here in Dallas, and more people back in Missouri making sure all of the content being beamed back is coming through in a clear and informative manner.
I won't be awake to ring in the new year but I will be up bright and early to try to bring some of the pre-game tailgate (it'll be the earliest tailgate I've ever been to with a 10:30 game start!) to you. I'll also be at the game bringing you more pictures and audio as events unfold. If you'll be away from the computer or TV screen during the game, or even if you won't be, you are welcome to 'follow' me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jdcoffman it's a free service that will text-message your cellphone when someone you 'follow' updates. You can also view the feed on the Internet at that address. Tomorrow morning I'll be updating my Twitter account with score and play information whenever possible.
If you have comments or questions for us don't hesitate to post them in the comments section on any of the posts on the blog.
Here's a little slideshow of the photos I've taken so far in Dallas, TX for the Cotton Bowl.
From the corner of Corbin and Market KOMU is live at five right now and I'm watching! I joined around 10 other KOMU folks to help/watch the live newscast from Dallas. There were only a few of 'those guys' who insist on yelling and walking through the shot in the background. Why does there always have to be "that guy"? My family was also on-set and enjoyed watching a newscast being produced by the seat of everyone's pants (well ok, it was all written, but no computers really makes people nervous!)
I just had someone ask me over the instant message box over there on the right side how many people we have here in Dallas. In total, we have 22 people in front of the camera and behind the scenes. It's quite a production. Check out some of the slideshows on here or go to KOMU's Flickr page to see some of the people working here. It's a blast. We're all exhausted, but enjoying it all.
Well the parade has ended and Mizzou fans are a lot classier than several of the Razorback fans. The Suey chanting and some rude comments were being thrown our way, but Mizzou fans remained calm and polite to our competitors.
As my closing parade picture I present you with the Golden Girls! If they havent posted yet you'll soon see two audio posts as Marching Mizzou passed by my section of the parade route.
Pardon if its a little loud and crazy I know several of the band members and also was juggling picture taking with recording the Utter.
Have a wonderful afternoon and I'll post again later this evening. I dont have a ticket to the Mizzou new years eve bash so unfortunately I won't be blogging from there.
Listen to this short clip as Marching Mizzou passed by my position on the parade route this afternoon in Dallas. I was fortunate to be standing in an area strife with lots of Mizzou fans cheering on their beloved Tigers. Some of the audio may be loud and distorted as I was right there on top of the band as they walked by.
Listen to this short clip as Mizzou fans in Dallas cheer on the Tigers as Chancellor Deaton and his wife, the Truman the tiger, the Mizzou Spirit Squads, and Marching Mizzou approach an area of the parade route with hundreds of crazed Mizzou fans!
