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Comeback fans sport ‘Hook ‘em Horns’
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Posted on Jan 05 2006
The majority of college football fans who packed into AJ’s Restaurant to watch the 2006 Rose Bowl left in shock yesterday, as quarterback Vince Young led the University of Texas to an unlikely victory over the USC Trojans when he ran for the game’s final score with 19 seconds remaining in the game.
Young’s late-game heroics soured what was supposed to be a night of celebration for a crowd of Southern California alums, and the mass of red and gold-clad grads could do nothing but hope that Matt Leinart’s desperation pass as time expired would result in a touchdown.
The air left their sails when the ball sailed harmlessly out of bounds as the time clock showed a pair of zeros, and left the Longhorns with a 41-38 lead for eternity. Texas fans exploded with cheers and gave their “Hook ‘em Horns” salute to the sky and in the faces of their friends and coworkers as politely as possible.
The popular Susupe locale was filled with fans of both schools and the game itself, and was the only place to be for football aficionados who were able to take a midweek day off of work.
The pack of fans got their fill as AJ’s provided all the food and Asahi beer courtesy of Carmen’s Safeway they could handle for $20, and by game’s end, few had space available for return trips to the bar or buffet.
After racking up a pair of NCAA titles in the past two years, the Trojans’ quest for history as the first three-peat team was derailed. USC played the part of Goliath with the last two Heisman Trophy winners on their roster, but even Leinart and Reggie Bush couldn’t stem the tide of Texas pride.
Young did some damage through the air by totaling 267 passing yards, but his legs accounted for 200 yards on the ground to give the Longhorns their first national title in 36 years.
