UT vs Arkansas State | Sept 1

31 August 2007 | Chad Hanna

UT vs Arkansas State | Texas Memorial Stadium

Saturday, September 1 | 6pm

Texas Football is about to kick off. Despite summer’s coming end, the heat still persists. But lucky for us, this game starts in the evening. That means you have all day to get totally psyched for the game.

Life doesn’t get any better than this: maniacal binge drinking, body paint, trash-talking, fist fights, irrational mobs, and at the center of all this gleeful violence — the great game of FOOTBALL.

Chad Hanna Texas Memorial Stadium

Brunch at Cisco’s Bakery

Chad Hanna Cisco

Cisco’s Bakery has been an Austin fixture since the early 1950s, serving the likes of Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and many others. It’s the type of establishment that makes Austin the type of city it is. The restaurant was originally started by Rudy “Cisco” Cisneros, a hard working, cigar smoking fellow, and the decor reflects his unique and irreverent sense of humor.

Now that Cisco is gone, his family runs this open-kitchen restaurant and bakery. They have some of the best migas in town — and for dessert, fluffy homemade buttermilk biscuits the size of your hand. If you’d like a Bloody Mary or two, or some mimosas, you can bring your own alcohol and they’ll provide the set-up (they should have their liquor license back in a month or so). The migas with fajita steak should provide even the most insane fan with a solid foundation for the rest of the day’s activities.

Scholz Biergarten

Kannah Inside Scholz

The Texas Legislature describes Scholz Biergarten as “a gathering place for Texans of discernment, taste, culture and erudition, epitomizing the finest traditions of magnificent German heritage in our state.” Opened for operation by August Scholz in 1866 as Scholz Hall, Scholz Garten is the oldest running business in Austin, and one of the oldest in Texas. In 1900 the current building replaced the original hall; the adjacent hall was then added in 1908 by the Austin Saengerrunde, a German culture club. Scholz has been a gathering place for UT sports fans longer than anywhere else in Austin, and it’s within walking distance of the stadium. With plenty of seating inside, a grand biergarten out back, 28 beers on tap, and everything from BBQ to enchiladas — this is a popular place to come before the game, or to stay and watch the game if you aren’t planning on going to the stadium.

Santa Rita No. 1

Chad Hanna Santa Rita No. 1

If you’re on your way to the stadium (coming from MLK Blvd), you should stop and listen to the story of the Santa Rita No. 1. It’s located at Trinity St and MLK Blvd. The Santa Rita No. 1 is an oil well that produced enough oil and made enough money to get the University of Texas school system up and running. There are speakers attached to the well that repeat the history of the well over and over and over 24/7. It’s possibly the most boring story ever, but if you’re a UT student you should put yourself through it at least once. Especially you, freshman.

Tailgating

Tailgating can be an all-day affair. While tailgating takes place all around the stadium in the various parking lots, most of these gatherings are clusters of friends and family who have their own parking permits, grilling equipment, and beer. Despite Texas hospitality, these gatherings are not intended to feed or intoxicate just anyone who happens to be a fan of Texas Football.

There is, however, a tailgate party that is open to absolutely anyone who wants to come. This is the UT Tailgaters’ party. They tailgate at every home game, holding their tailgate party in the large park area at the southeast corner of the Dean Keaton/San Jacinto intersection. They start setting up shop around 7am and will hang out until well after the game is over. They have massive amounts of food, beer, soft drinks, and water. But they encourage anyone who wants to come to feel free and bring anything you’d like to cook yourself, and of course they can always use more beer and water. So while food and drink will be available here, BYOB (and food and water) might be the smartest way to go about the whole thing. If you’re not going into the game, you can watch the game at the site as they will have several televisions — in HD if available.

Since the parking permit system has been rearranged, with the changes going into effect this September 1, you will need a light-blue parking permit if you want to park your car in the spots right against the tailgating site. Otherwise you should park in the neighborhoods north of campus (which can get crowded with people parking for the game); the earlier you get near the stadium, the easier finding a parking spot will be. You can always ride a bike or take the bus, which has many stops only feet from the tailgating site.