College Football: Geoff Folsom's Texas Tech-Oklahoma updates from Norman

>> 10:55 p.m. update: I know that you had plenty of options to get useless opinions on this game. Thank you for getting it here.

>> 10:46 p.m. update: At least Texas Tech didn't miss an extra point tonight!

>> 10:35 p.m. update: So I guess the big question that still remains is how will I drive home tomorrow? I'm thinking I'll try taking Highway 380, a road I haven't driven down since college. It might be nice to see Aspermont again. I will try to avoid Seymour. I couldn't believe all the road construction there. 

Pat Forde of espn.com just left his computer on with his story open while he goes down to the press room. I think I'll go put how he likes to mix Twix bars and peanut butter in the story.

>> 10:27 p.m. update: A new stadium attendance record of 85,646 and most of them haven't left.

>> 10:06 p.m. update: I don't think Tech's ever lost this much in a game. Obviously, there's the chance at a national title and a Heisman and even the Big 12 South title seems remote. And, most importantly, my shot at a 40-1 bet if Tech won the BCS title is gone. $800 out the window.

>> 10 p.m. update: So where does this rate among th all-time Texas Tech completely lay an egg in a potentially program-changing game? 

Of course, there's the 1995 Cotton Bowl disaster against USC. Several games at Texas. I believe they lost 58-7 there during the 1995 season. And right here in Norman, Tech was anniliated in 2002 a week after beating Texas. 

Anybody remember any others?

>> 9:45 p.m. update: The Tech fans didn't even cheer on that touchdown

>> 9:38 p.m. update: Let's just be thankful that gas prices have gone down so that I only wasted $50 driving to this game instead of $150.

>> 9:22 p.m. update: My first memory of the Sooner Schooner as a kid was seeing it overturn during some highlights. That might at least make this game a bit more entertaining.

At least Batch got to pad his stats. 

>> 9:21 p.m. update: The bad news for District 3-5A products. Bront Bird has dropped to third on Tech in tackles with 6. The good news: Baron Batch leads in receptions with 4 and rushing yards with 35.

The really good news? We should get to see plenty of former Abilene quarterback Taylor Potts in the second half.

>> 8:55 p.m. update: It doesn't seem to matter what Tech does. They can't stop anything.

God bless anyone still reading this.

>> 8:38 p.m. update: Well, 28-7 is better than 28-0 to play Obvious Man. Now if Tech could find some defense.

>> 8:37 p.m. update: Excuse me if the game isn't keeping my interest. I could have gone to the Arizona-Oregon State game. This is almost as long of a drive.

>> 8:30 p.m. update: Does anyone remember the Road Rules episode where one of the guys drove the RV from Oklahoma City to Norman and then made a big deal about how tired and hungry he was from driving all day?

I mean, it's 20 miles. If you can't handle that you probably shouldn't be on a show about a nationwide road trip.

>> 8:15 p.m. update: That's a case where not having a field goal kicker really hurt. Tech needed to get on the board.

Oklahoma's defense has been bend but don't break, which may be all it needs.

>> 8:08 p.m.: We'll see how good Leach is at making adjustments because whatever strategy he brought in isn't working.

After the first, Bront Bird has 6 tackles, twice as many as any other Red Raider.

>> 7:58 p.m. update: If Oklahoma can keep getting to Harrell, it could be a long night.

>> 7:21 p.m. update: Bront Bird get's Tech's first decent defensive play. But then has to run down the field because of his teammates failure.

>> 7:06 p.m. update: Looks like Mr. Sapulpa is a no show. Guess I won't find out where that is. Amother guy has taken his seat.

Just about kickoff time.

>> 6:38 p.m. update: I just saw Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance. He clearly didn't remember me from our great interview at the Laura Bush Women's Health Institute. 

Oh well, at least Tech brought a pep band to the game. It's nice to spare a little money for the biggest game in school history.

>> 6:09 p.m. update: I could unfortunately hear the OU band play what will likely be countless renditions of "Bommer Sooner." So sadly, the press box doesn't appear sound proof. 

The stadium has a really nice high def video screen that is as wide as the field. It has some nice bits like "Oblivious Cam" where it times how long it takes people to realize they're on TV. One Alan Thicke lookalike took one minute, 14 seconds. 

The board did display a trivia game that turned out to be inaccurate. It asked which legendary country singer graduated from Tech, with the answer being John Denver. I'm fairly sure that he attended Tech, but didn't graduate. Of course, I may be thinking of John Hinckley. 

The teams are warming up. One hour to go. 

>> 5:51 p.m. update: The guy that's supposed to sit next to me from the Sapulpa Herald hasn't arrived yet. I need to find out what a Sapulpa is.

I suppose now would be a good time to discuss my trip up here. I stopped to eat in Wichita Falls. This book my father gave me called Texas Landmark Cafes recommended a place there called Bar L Drive Inn. I stopped there and sat next to a man at the bar who was keeled over, still complaining about getting thrown out last night. It was barely noon and he was already starting to get his drink on for Saturday. He told a friend on the phone "I'm not a drunk, I just drink a lot (isn't it great we now have hoboes with cell phones)."

Aside from the smoke, my odd fellow customers and the annoying jukebox music ranging from Pink to some Latin music I didn't recognize, the place had the longest wait I've ever had for barbecue. It took 50 minutes to get my ribs, not good when in a hurry. Still, when they came out, they were very tasty. Not too greasy and a very nice choice of spices.

Since I'm staying tonight in Wichita Falls, I decided to go ahead and check in to my motel, seeing as how I probably won't be back until 2 a.m. I used GPS to take me to the Best Western Northside. Once I got within site of the Best Western sign, i turned the GPS off and pulled in. Well, I gave the clerk my name and told her I had a reservation. She said she didn't have a room for me and asked if I was at the hotel across the street. Evidently, I was at the Best Western Northern Inn. The Best Western Northside Inn was literally 50 feet away. Gotta love Wichita Falls.

>> 5:11 p.m. update: I had to do two double takes after hearing recognizable voices. First was OA cops reporter Doug Carman and then I heard legendary sportscaster Brent Musberger. The person I thought was Doug turned out to be someone else but Brent was the real deal. He was holding court watching Syracuse's upset of Notre Dame. If only Jimmy the Greek were here.

Looks like they opened up the OU student section. They're rushing for seats. Just two hours to gametime!

>> 4:45 p.m. update: I made an error in my last posting. The gift bags are for the Orange Bowl reps. That makes sense because the Orange Bowl hosts the BCS Championship Game. Plus I doubt OU wants to go to the desert again after the way it played there the last two years.

>> 4:27 p.m. update: I just arrived at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. I thought I'd look odd "texting" in the press box, but I just saw Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle doing the same thing. 

The seats next to me are reserved for Fiesta Bowl reps. They have nice gift bags reserved for them. 

Former Auburn coach Terry Bowden is holding court a few seats away. Appearantly he wants another job. Somebody asked him why he'd get back into this mess and he said "I gotta go do it." 

Well, enough name dropping. I need to find a refridgerator that's not locked.

They just announced that rooting or cheering is absolutely prohibited. Uh oh.