Red River rivals united by softball
Academy Award winning actor and UT graduate Matthew McConaughey on hand for second year in a row
Taking part in the Red River Celebrity Softball game for the second year in a row was Academy Award winning actor Matthew McConaughey, a 1993 Texas graduate.
Sitting less than 33 miles away, the Cotton Bowl Stadium, since 1929, in Dallas has been home to one of the most intense games in college football: The Red River Showdown. A game between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma is known to attract more than 100,000 people to the game and the annual State Fair.
It’s something you remember for the rest of your life. You remember the good days, you remember the bad days,
— former UT head coach Mack Brown
With kickoff set for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, alumni, current students, and fans will crowd the stadium.
“It’s the game of the year,” former Longhorn head football coach Mack Brown said. “It’s the game of the year in college football. Guys go to Texas and guys go to OU to play this game. It’s something you remember for the rest of your life. You remember the good days, you remember the bad days. Lot of momentum because the crowds split down the middle. Everybody in the country will be turning this game at 11 o’clock on Saturday to watch. It’s just a game that matters.”
However, the rivalry began Thursday with the annual Red River Celebrity Softball Game at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.
Featuring representatives from both universities such as academy award winning actor Matthew McConaughey, country music star Toby Keith, and former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens, the match up was bound to captivate fans from both sides.
Despite the years of rivalry that has been ingrained in the players, Thursday’s softball crowd harnessed their passion for the Longhorns and Sooners for charitable causes.
There is a level of respect that goes amongst each other beyond the game. We are like brothers. When the whistle blows, we compete, afterwards we hug,
— former OU wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias
“After the game you see it. We’re hugging, taking pictures,” former Longhorn football player Quan Cosby said. “We’re competing like crazy when it goes on but both schools are really good schools. So a lot of respect for those guys. It’s a lot of Texas guys too so they’re coming back home after college so we all hang out.”
Benefitting The Toby Keith Foundation, The Roger Clemens Foundation, and J.K. Livin Foundation, the well known hostilities between Sooners and Longhorns is replaced by friendly banter and laughs on this night.
“What we do is not easy,” former OU wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias said. “I’m sure [The UT team] training session was pretty intense, as was ours. There is a level of respect that goes amongst each other beyond the game. We are like brothers. When the whistle blows, we compete, afterwards we hug. It’s a brotherhood.”
McConaughey and his son Levi make their way across the field at Dr Pepper Ballpark. A graduate of the University of Texas, McConaughey is known to be a big fan of the Longhorns.
Fans line up along the field at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018 to get an autograph from former University of Texas head football coach Mack Brown. Brown and other representatives from both Texas and Oklahoma put the Red River rivalry aside to come together for Thursday’s charity softball game.
Former OU pitcher Brad Penny (#31) and another member of the OU Red River Celebrity Softball team make their way through the crowd at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
Members of the OU softball team take part in a media conference before Thursday’s Red River Celebrity Softball game at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
Members of the UT softball team take part in a media conference before Thursday’s Red River Celebrity Softball game at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
Country music star Toby Keith, former Major League Baseball player Roger Clemens, and Academy Award winning actor Matthew McConaughey answer questions at a media conference before Thursday’s Red River Celebrity Softball Game.
Former OU and MLB pitcher Brad Penny on the field at Dr Pepper Ballpark before Thursday’s OU-UT celebrity softball game.
Members of the UT celebrity softball team greet each other on the field at Dr Pepper Ballpark before Thursday’s game benefitting the Toby Keith Foundation, the Roger Clemens Foundation and the Just Keep Livin Foundation.
Proceeds from Thursday’s Red River Celebrity Softball game went to the charities of Toby Keith, Roger Clemens and Matthew McConaughey.
Home to the Frisco Roughriders, the AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers, Dr Pepper Ballpark was home to the Red River Celebrity Softball game on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018.
Kasey is entering her fourth year in Wingspan as a senior. She spends her free time driving to god knows where with her windows down and music blasting...
