In 1931 the Oklahoma governor called out the Oklahoma National Guard and declared martial law over the Red River bridge between the two states when Texas barricaded a new free bridge and forced traffic to take an older toll bridge. The Oklahoma guardsmen took control of the south end of the bridge held by armed Texas Rangers and allowed traffic to pass without forking over any toll money.
A weekend in Dallas after an invasion of Sooners is always a good time. It’s a fine weekend of our Sooner soldiers pillaging the north Texas region that is often called Baja Oklahoma
A weekend in Dallas after an invasion of Sooners is always a good time. It’s a fine weekend of our Sooner soldiers pillaging the north Texas region that is often called Baja Oklahoma
It was Texas’ third defeat in its history. The first being to the Mexicans at the Alamo, then to the U.S. Army during the Civil War, and then to the Oklahoma National Guard.
The Oklahoma-Texas game had been played 25 times before the Red River Bridge War was declared in 1931. Oklahoma had won only eight of them and tied one. Most of the games were close. All were well attended. But only six of the games had been played in Oklahoma.
The Red River Bridge War really stung those Texans. After that the Longhorns refused to cross the bridge. It was too embarrassing of a reminder that their beloved Texas Rangers had been losers yet again. And this time to a bunch of Okies.
And so, the Oklahoma-Texas game has been played in Dallas ever since. It’s the only way the Sooners could get the poor Texans to play ball with them.
And that is why today I and and thousands of other Sooner faithful will cross the Red River that divides the two states so the game can again be played in the Lone Star State for the 104th time.
I’m good with it.
A weekend in Dallas after an invasion of Sooners is always a good time. It’s a fine weekend of our Sooner soldiers pillaging the north Texas region that is often called Baja Oklahoma by many locals there (most of whom, like Brian Bosworth, were either born in Oklahoma or have family from the Sooner state).
It irritates the Longhorn fans that Oklahoma sneaks across the River each year and kidnaps their young and brings them back to play football in Norman. It irritates them to no end.
And it absolutely discombobulates the Longhorns fans when Oklahoma then has some of those same players leading the Sooners to a victory on Cotton Bowl, Texas soil.
And if the Texans could count they would likely be furious that Sooners fans usually outnumber them in the Cotton Bowl stadium.
Winning in Dallas is just lovely.
And crossing that Red River bridge without having to pay any toll whatsoever after a win — thanks to good ol’ Oklahoma Governor “Alfalfa” Bill Murray — is wonderfully sublime.
Boomer Sooner, baby. Beat Texas.
— Mike
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