Dave Rush plays Pancho to Chae’s Lefty

My dad was a loyal OU Football fan.  We never (OK, once, the fall before he died, when he simply could not stay for the rest of the game) left until the game clock showed 0:00.  Didn’t matter if OU was up by 60 points, or behind by 60 points.  You stayed for the end of the game to support your team.  Five and one-half years after his death, we still carry on that tradition (OK, once again, broken once, when there was a lightning delay, with a considerable downpour, we left – it was right around half-time – and did not come back).

Texas A & M was in town to play; it was a cold November evening.  I can’t remember if it had already been raining or not.

But, I do remember that it rained during the game, so much so, that, at one point, they actually had a delay in the game.  Most (90%) of the crowd went into the “tunnels” and stood around (I remember how spookily quiet it was when I went to the restroom) .  The Pride of Oklahoma band stayed out on the field, body surfing on the water-soaked field and serenading the student section.  It was a real back and forth, spontaneous encounter between fellow students.  As a commuter college graduate, I kind of got to experience why college life is fun for college students.

Our family stayed in our seats.  At one point, Chae, Mark’s son, who was about 3 or 4 years old then, crawled into Grandpa’s lap, under the poncho, to get warm and get out of the rain.  That was where he stayed for the rest of the game.  My dad always liked to stand up and cheer when OU made a good play on offense, defense or special teams.  But, with his grandson tucked away, I remember my dad kind of abashedly (you have to know Dave Rush to understand that word in this situation) grinning and enjoying being “stuck” in his seat.

I miss my Dad.