WHAT A GREAT TIME!

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!!

Great to be home

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.

Finally Home

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.

On the road again

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.]

Heading Home

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!

Players after the game

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.

Cotton Bowl Pictures

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.

What a Game!

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.

GO TIGERS!!!

More tips on Dallas fun

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..

Enjoying Dallas

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..

Cheering on the team

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.

Let's Celebrate Together!

Post your thoughts about the game and the season in the comments section of the Countdown to the Cotton Bowl blog.

The rush is on...

For t-shirts!!!

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Mizzou wins!

Protecting the posts

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.

It's a record

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.

Wow.

Arkansas fans flee Cotton Bowl

- Jonathan Coffman

http://jonathancoffman.com/


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The dividing line

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.