'Twas the Night Before Longhorn Football

[TheSingletron]

’Twas the Night Before Longhorn Football

’Twas the night before Longhorn football, and all through the state,
Every Longhorn was restless — tomorrow couldn’t wait.
The burnt orange was hung by the front doors with care,
With hopes that a championship season soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of touchdowns danced in their heads.
And Mom in her Longhorn shirt, Dad in his cap,
Had just settled in for a short pregame nap.

When out near DKR there arose such a roar,
I sprang from my bed and ran for the door.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Threw open the shutters and lifted the sash.

The moon on the Tower gave Austin a glow,
Burnt orange was shining on everything below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a mighty young quarterback commanding his gear.

He stood tall in the pocket, calm, ready and steady,
And I knew in a moment — Arch Manning was ready.

His weapons assembled, his offense in flight,
And Arch called their names through the warm Austin night:

“Now CAM COLEMAN! Now WINGO! Now BISHOP, let’s go!
On MOSLEY! On LOCKETT! It’s time for the show!
Now HOLLYWOOD SMOTHERS! Raleek Brown, hit the lane!
Tomorrow we’re bringing the thunder again!”

They lined up together, a dangerous crew,
With speed on the outside and power breaking through.
Wingo could fly, Coleman climbed for the ball,
And Bishop and Lockett were ready when called.

Mosley stretched defenses from sideline to sideline,
While Hollywood waited for daylight to shine.
Raleek hit the crease with a burst and a blur,
And Arch stood behind them completely assured.

But across from the offense came shadows of dread,
For the Longhorn defense had risen instead.

At the edge stood Colin Simmons, prepared for the fight,
A nightmare for tackles on Saturday night.
He crouched at the line with one thing on his mind:
Find the quarterback — and leave nothing behind.

Then Rasheem Biles came downhill with force,
Reading the backfield and changing its course.
If a runner found daylight and thought he was free,
Biles closed the distance before he reached three.

In the back end stood Jelani McDonald on guard,
Where completing a deep ball would suddenly get hard.
And Grayson Littleton, composed and aware,
Was waiting for anyone testing him there.

The offense had fire.
The defense had might.
And all across Austin, you could feel it that night.

The stadium waited, its seats standing still,
But tomorrow those stands would shake from the thrill.
One hundred thousand voices would rise with a sound
That echoes through Austin and shakes the whole ground.

The Tower would glow and the band would soon play,
And Bevo would lead the Longhorns away.
The eyes of all Texas would turn toward DKR,
For another Longhorn season was ready to start.

Then Arch gathered the team as the hour grew late,
With eleven beside him and millions who wait.

He looked toward the stadium, then gave them a grin,
For tomorrow there'd be only one thing left:

Win.

He stepped to the huddle and called through the night,
As burnt orange disappeared slowly from sight:

“Tomorrow we ride.
Tomorrow we fight.
Hook ’Em, Texas —
and to all a good night.”

[Shmatt]