Professor Carlson took a road trip with Kirk Bohls to the SEC Media Days and shares his day-by-day adventure with the History of Longhorn sports group members and the Longhorn Nation. Enjoy the trip!

DAY 1 WAS SATURDAY, 7/15/2023

Larry Carlson says:

Kirk Bohls and I embarked on a trek to Nashville for SEC Media Days, scouting the future. We made it to Little Rock for the night, then will cruise to Memphis and Nashville Sunday.

I love all kinds of music, but Kirk was driving and likes only ’60s music. He can listen to the same tunes from The Four Seasons, the Righteous Bros., the Four Tops, and Bobby Goldsboro. All the time. Ad infinitum. I've tried to get him to add other tunes from his school days in Taylor, TX, and at UT, such as Soul Town and the '70s channel. Not interested.

We never tire of football talk and asphalt philosophy, with the tunes more of just a backdrop than the main event. Lots of laughs, wisecracks, and observations.

Still, for me, with Arkansas and Tennessee on our travel menu, I'm in the mood for a sample of Dave Dudley's "Six Days On The Road," Willie's "On The Road Again," Dwight's "Please, Please Baby" or the foot-stomping "Beer Never Broke My Heart" from Luke Combs.

Road talk today…lots of Fred Akers and DKR memories, a timely call from Longhorn buddy Jay Arnold as we passed the Cotton Bowl, a text from my old girlfriend, Sally, the prettiest cheerleader ever at Lee High School, now a writer in Seattle.

I learned that Kirk’s all-time celebrity crush is Suzanne Pleshette. And Kirk, having watched CBS Sunday last week, is sold on body composting to replace burials. I could buy in. Let’s hold off for at least a decade. I think I topped that idea before we swung into the Fairfield In. Sell mixed drinks at Waffle House!

It’s an idea whose time has come.

Gonna say the night in Little Rock. Hope the Texas license plate does not result in slashed tires.

Larry Carlson The history of Longhorn sports is at https:// texaslsn.org

Day 2 Dateline: Nashville 7/16/2023

It was only appropriate to eat at the Longhorn Steakhouse in Little Rock last night. Kirk and I asked our waitress who her college team was. "Not the Razorbacks," she stated, tartly.

It used to be a fully red state.

Took just a couple of hours on the road this morning before we crossed the mighty Miss-uh-sip into Memphis, home of Elvis, home of the blues. Love that place. I asked Kirk to name his favorite song by The King. He picked "In the Ghetto," narrowly edging out "Crying in the Chapel." Like Kirk,I grew up as a big, big Elvis fan. Saw all his movies as a kid.

Memphis slid past in the rearview mirror as we rolled through miles of green crops and rolling hills in horse country, continuing our endless chatter about Longhorn football, the farewell to the Big XII, and UT's upcoming venture into the great unknown of the dangerous SEC.

I voiced my weariness of college coaches incessantly chirping about how hard they work on "building the culture" of their teams.

"Darrell would laugh at that," Kirk said, shaking his head.

"Amen," I echoed. But...it's part of today's, well, "culture," to focus more on talk than practice. And wins.

Before long, the Nashville skyline was with us, and soon we were signing in for our SEC Media Days credentials. Four days of media madness. Kind of like the Super Bowl of preseason

college football.

Kirk, by the way, is supposed to be on Paul Finebaum's show on Tuesday afternoon.

Finebaum, as you likely know, rules the SEC airwaves, and he regularly checks in with Kirk for interviews. The frequency of that gig is sure to increase in the coming years, much like the impressive size of Finebaum's legendary ears.

LSU's Brian Kelly headlines the opening day at the SEC Media Days. We'll see if he's improved that phony Southern accent he tried last year. Then Jimbo, the guy coming off a 5-7 year, will talk to us about how he's fine with giving up the play-calling to Bobby Petrino.

Yeah, suuuurrre.

More highlights are on the agenda. Kirby Smart is on deck for the next day, as Jaw-yuh aims for three natties in a row. Saint Nick of Tuscaloosa takes the mick, and the following day Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss will wrap up July football later in the week. Lots of lesser lights in between.

Meanwhile, we're just waiting here in the World's Country Music Capital. T for Texas, T for Tennessee.

DAY 3: Nashville - SEC media days

Nashville seems much like Austin. Bustling, crammed with bars and music spots and terrorized by roving bands of bachelorette party attendees. The city's official bird should be the building crane. Lots of construction and traffic detours.

When the media seminars got rolling today, radio alley was energized by dozens and dozens of broadcasters going live all day. Guys you'd recognize are Paul Finebaum, Greg McElroy, Jordan Rodgers, Cole Cubelic, Chris Doering, and others who worked hard and glad-handed friends during breaks.

The big coaches set for our main stage today were Brian Kelly and Jimbo Fisher. Both were bland and fluent in cliches and coach speak. But Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz, who has recently gained national traction with his views on the evils of NIL, was certainly more entertaining, occasionally brutally frank. "I have no ideas or opinions on AI and college football," was his response to a question about the connection between the two.

I hate to waste this on the Aggies, but the Ags could dedicate a Tom Petty song to the UT football team and legions of Texas fans regarding the Horns' much-anticipated entry to the SEC. So, as Casey Kasem might've said, here's a long-distance dedication from College Station to Austin. It's the great Tom Petty's "You Don't Know How It Feels."

While Texas has been struggling with the likes of Iowa State, K-State, Okie State, Baylor, and TCU the past decade-plus, the Ags are battle-tested, battle-scarred, from duking it out with Bama, LSU, Auburn, Ole Miss, and occasionally Florida and others. And they've had more W's than the Horns.

Texas gets one more year of playing Candyland in Big XII country before chess match cage fights every week. Please don't feel like you can fool yourself. It ain't gonna be easy.

I got to talk to LSU running back Josh Williams of Houston about Texas and OU preparing to join the Southeastern Conference. "I don't think they know what they're in for," he smiled.

"The SEC's a beast. But I'm glad they're joining. It's good for everybody."

The Bayou Bengals are favored by many to repeat as SEC West champs. Meanwhile, some pick the Aggies to jump over LSU and Bama and win the division.

A preseason top-five pick last year, the Maroons gagged their way to their first losing season as a member of the SEC. But they again rocked it in recruiting NIL money and, for better or worse, bring back almost their entire starting lineup. Eighteen guys have been starters, and A&M will likely be ranked just outside the top ten in August.

I asked one Aggie beat writer for his expert outlook. "I'd say the Aggies should be 10-2," he replied, adding, "which means 9-3." He advised A&M fans to be "cautiously optimistic."

Of course, Texas fans hope Miami can spoil that non-conference A & M schedule of New Mexico, UL-Monroe, and Abilene Christian. Appalachian State is no longer on the sked. The visiting Mountaineers took the Aggies' money last September, then ate their lunch on the field. One and done.

About an hour after Coach Jimbo finished his Q&A, the three designated Aggie players arrived for group interviews. To the amusement of most media members, they all wore shades-

Guess they were Hollywood Swinging' Kool and the Gang. And when a few of us asked WR Ainias Smith about renewing the rivalry with Texas, he grinned and gave the Horns down. Somebody is bound to have snapped a shot of that. Could you send it to Sark?

And everybody's gotta hustle. There are shuttle buses to Bridgestone Arena this evening for a sponsored dinner and open bar. Work, work, work. Rinse and repeat.

Day 4 SEC Media Days

Georgia coach Kirby Smart is taking dead aim at a third straight national title.  Smart said the focus is on constant, daily improvement.  He deftly skirted questions about improving upon the horrific -- even fatal -- record of traffic-related, severe speeding incidents by Dawg players this calendar year.

On a much lighter note, Smart told the media we would face a challenge in getting several sentences from Brock Bowers, the junior who returns as the nation's premier tight end.

I walked alongside the 20-year-old from Napa, CA, who is listed as 6-4, 240 pounds.

He didn't seem that hefty.  But the guy is sensational, a sure-fire first round NFL pick next spring.

One reporter asked him if he ever looks at tape of other top tight ends, "like Ja'Tavion Sanders of Texas."  

"We don't really take a deep dive...we just watch opponents, really,"  came the short reply.

Somebody from Texas quickly asked for an overview of former teammate AD Mitchell, the receiver who made a highlight-reel touchdown catch as a fresh Texas transfer in the Orange-White game.

"One of the freak-est athletes I've seen...it's impressive to watch him and I wish him well."

Bowers' feet tapped incessantly under his table on stage as several dozen of us tried hard to get any information of note.  After he had addressed the team's outlook and the usual queries, I sought to get a glimpse of personality and asked what's on his playlist.

"A little country, a little rap...a little rock."  

I pushed him.

"Any artists in particular?" 

"Nah," he shook his head, seeming to squirm like a seventh-grader required to survive giving a short oration in speech class.

Later, I asked him what was the "most California thing about him," wondering if he had ever surfed.  "No, I never surfed," Bowers said.  He pondered something to come up with.

"Uh, I really hate bugs.  So that makes the guys call me "Cali."

Okay, Brock.  I don't believe entomophobia is limited to Californians.  

I tried.

Maybe Bowers won't be the next Peyton Manning of TV commercials.  But many NFL scouts have labeled him "the next Gronk."

If UT's Sanders lives up to '24 expectations, he could join Brock Bowers as a first-round pick.

####

About a half-dozen beat reporters who cover A&M are out in force here.

Kirk knows 'em all.  Kirk knows everybody.  And there are more than 1100 media types here, the most ever credentialed for a college football soiree.  Several who follow the Horns came by today to pick Kirks’s brain for intel.

But back to the scribes who cover the Ags.  At lunch, they were grousing about what they called the nation's worst, most limited access to players.  Remember when Johnny Manziel wasn't allowed to speak to reporters until he flew to New York for Heisman ceremonies?

It apparently hasn't improved in the Jimbo era.  And one writer said transcribing tape from speed-talking Fisher almost IS rocket science.  The man speaks in a rat-a-tat-tat cadence that never slows.  Speaking of Jimbo, the Ag beat reporters said they hear that more than a few prominent Aggie boosters are not pleased that Fisher skipped a key meeting of the Texas High School Coaches Association last week.  He claimed to have "a family commitment" that blocked a visit to Houston.  

But Steve Sarkisian was there.

So was Mack Brown, among many others.  But no Jimbo.  Perhaps a $77 million buyout clause breeds complacency.  Longhorn backers are hoping it costs their country cousins.

####

Last night's buffet over at Bridgestone Arena, home of the NHL Nashville Predators, fittingly brought out the predator instincts of hundreds of reporters.  Much free Tennessee whiskey. of the Jack Daniel's breed, was poured free of charge.  Vittles included Nashville chicken sliders, pork tenderloin, roasted turkey breast, coconut shrimp, and a dozen or so warm-up acts.

A good time was had by all.  And I instigated a bit of a parlor game among the Texas reporters at our table.  The evening's background music was provided by a talented jazz guitarist who played old rock songs, jazz-style.  So...it was time for "Name that Tune," and it wasn't easy.  The guy launched long, wandering riffs.  But you could usually, eventually ID tunes from the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Led Zep, the Doobie Brothers, etc.  Great fun.

When the SEC shut the place down, I sauntered over to the no-vocals guitarist, who didn't even have a tip jar out.  Don’t know if the conference felt it had already paid him enough or what.

But I tipped him and told him of our parlor game.  He was so delighted that he handed me

his guitar pick.  A suitable Nashville souvenir, I reckon.  After another day of grueling toil.

                                         TLSN    TLSN    TLSN    TLSN

Day 5 SEC Media Days, Nashville, Wednesday, 7/19/2023

Well, it's always good to sit in when the Greatest College Football Coach Ever is in the room.

Nick Saban said he ended up having a great time on a summer vacation to Italy with Miss Terry, having ducked pond-crossing for an anniversary trip the past two years.  He said he expected they'd be incognito, but "we got Roll-Tided everywhere."  Even on a tour of the Ferrari plant.

"Those cats didn't even speak English, but we got Roll-Tided...so I think we must have a decent brand at Alabama."

But with all the talk of Georgia's dominance and mission for a three-peat, at least one Tide player, offensive tackle JC Latham, perceives the unfamiliar scent of disrespect in the air.

He told a group of two dozen of us that it motivates him.  JC is firm about expectations.

"Winning the national championship is the standard here.  I'm confident we'll go undefeated and win it all," Latham said.  

It's a fair guess that Saban will get wind of Latham's declaration and have a discussion with him en route back to Tuscaloosa.

One other note from Latham.  When I asked him what he learned about Texas last September that he could apply this fall, he described the Longhorns as "a physical team."

"They're gonna hit us in the mouth.  It's gonna be a good test for our O-line because they've got a good D-line." 

#####

Arkansas boss Sam Pittman is well-liked by the media.  He's the heir apparent to the late Mike Leach as college ball's most endearing character.  Today he mentioned Hamm's beer-causing burps, referenced being on stage with Foreigner last week, and told a reporter named Clark Brooks that he thought he had ID'ed himself as Garth Brooks and was ready to seek an

autograph.

One surprise from Pittman today: He shared with several Texas writers that he does not particularly want Texas on an annual basis and prefers Missouri for a rivalry.  Hmm.  Tell that to Razorback fans.

Arkansas D-line star Landon Jackson was the smoothest, most personable interviewee of the week to me.  The 6-7 Texarkana guy has gone from 240 to 280 since last year and looks like he has zero percent body fat.  He had interesting takes on a variety of football topics, and I finally had to ask him if he's often told that he looks like a king-sized NoHo Hank, the Chechen mobster character from the HBO series, "Barry."

Glad I asked.  Jackson smiled and told me that he and actor Anthony Carrigan actually follow each other on social media, and both have raised awareness for alopecia and childhood hair loss.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jackson get into acting after football.  And he already has a NIL deal with WWE.

###

You know Cole Cubelic from his work as an ESPN TV analyst and as a radio co-host with Greg McElroy.  Strange pairing, on the surface.  Cubelic played center for Auburn a quarter-century ago.  McElroy, of course, was Bama's winning pitcher when Colt McCoy went out hurt on UT's first possession of the '09 title game.

Earlier this summer on ESPN radio, I heard Cubelic mention that Austin's place as an LA-East (my term) hotspot for the high life can make it tough for Texas footballers to succeed.  The opponent:  Distractions.

I have expressed that same sentiment in TLSN content in recent years.

So when I came across Cubelic on Radio Row at SEC Media Days, I spoke with him about our shared view on the strength and weakness of utilizing Austin as a magnet for recruits but perhaps seeing that same shiny bauble turn into something that erodes commitment and focus.

"Every place has distractions," Cubelic shrugged, "but Austin has MAJOR distractions."

Cubelic said he thinks young players can "get lost" in just hitting the weight room and working out constantly in SEC outposts such as Auburn, Oxford, Starkville and College Station.

One might also add Fayetteville, Lexington and Columbia, SC to that mix.

"You can't get away from distractions in Austin," Cole concluded.

Cubelic wanted to make another point.  He is amazed and dismayed about the direction college football is headed with no NIL guidelines and guardrails in place.  Noting news of ballplayers hopping around the globe on trips to the Amalfi Coast, the Bahamas, and other vacation spots, thanks to newfound riches, Cubelic sighed about what he perceived as a lack of focus that the newfound riches bring.  "When I was at Auburn, I couldn't afford to go to Panama City (FL)," he said wryly.  He only sees NIL deals blowing up bigger.  "Even if the players aren't demanding it," he said, "I can see parents of these guys wanting real estate, shares of stock, things like that instead of 20 thousand dollars."

I've known for many decades that my buddy Kirk Bohls is a lightning rod for criticism from Texas fans. They want him to lead cheers for Texas instead of being a journalist, gathering info from a variety of sources, then reporting and writing honest opinions.

He still takes abuse from a segment of fans who blame Kirk for Vince Young not winning the 2005 Heisman.  It's hilarious.  They must never have bothered to read -- or look up -- the basic fact that Bush's win was one of the biggest landslides in Heisman history.

Reggie got 784 votes, Vince got 79, and Matt Leinart, the previous year's Heisman winner, was the only other player with double digits.  He got 18 votes.

So, since Bush beat Vince in the balloting by more than 700 votes, you'd think UT fans would stop blaming Kirk for some imaginary "deciding vote" and know that the national championship win turned out to be a bigger deal.  Ol' Kirkie just laughs it off after all these years, and even fellow national writers kid him about Austin’s perception that he snuffed VY’s Heisman chances with his one vote.

Day 6 -SEC Media Days, Nashville, Thursday, 7/20/2023

Turns out all the other SEC head coaches were opening acts.

Lane Kiffin, widely known for wide open offenses, tormenting Jimbo Fisher and for biting barbs on social media, appeared a tad world weary when he took the stage on the final morning of 2023 Media Days.  But appearances sometimes deceive.

Though he is known as The Portal King of college ball, the Ole Miss coach is never hesitant to lament the state of college football in its Brave New World existence.  He adapts.

"With NIL, you've got a lot of play-for-pay, which is what it is."

Kiffin called today's system, "free agency" and mentioned that college ball is "professional sports" and had the guts to say that NIL is not what it was sold to be.  "It's not name, image and likeness.  Ninety-nine percent of the guys are not getting paid for marketing rights.

"It's the biggest schools with the most aggressive boosters....it's a poor system that's getting worse. It is what it is.  We'll deal with it.  But it's gotta get fixed."

When Kirk Bohls asked Lane where Ole Miss boosters stack up in financial power and how the SEC teams might rank in that category, Kiffin didn't hesitate.

"I'm not about to start putting rankings out on boosters from top to bottom in the conference."

Everybody chuckled.

"God, I want to so bad, though."

Now we all roared.

Minutes later, in a much smaller session, one writer asked about A&M and Kiffin's relationship with Jimbo Fisher.  Ole Miss has beaten the Ags the last two years and Lane has trolled Jimbo's school for "needing a salary cap."  Fisher angrily referred to Saban and Kiffin as "clowns" for saying A&M essentially bought its top-ranked recruiting class last year.  Then when the Rebs downed the Aggies again, Kiffin told ESPN reporters he would be set for Halloween.  "Maybe Jimbo has a Joker outfit for me."

Today, though, Kiffin didn't mention Fisher.  He just emphasized how much talent A&M has, same as he did last season.  "A&M is tied with Alabama for the most talent," he said, referring to the SEC West.  No need to read between the lines.  Nuff said.  Now the Rebs are again positioned as horribly overmatched.

Lane was much brighter about his relationship with Steve Sarkisian, his former running mate on Pete Carroll's USC staff.  "I've had a great relationship with Sark.  We've stayed close," Kiffin shared.  "I think he's doing awesome there and I think the future is extremely bright for Texas football."

Though Kiffin looked relaxed in dress...no tie, no socks, he still exuded a bit of the morning blahs, but his deadpan answers kept warranting laughs.

On Paul Finebaum, the SEC's resident media king:  "He's always saying about Coach Saban and Alabama that the dynasty is over.  He's always wrong.  And he did it again the other day.

Thanks a lot for pissing (Saban) off.  Thanks, Paul."

After a long, convoluted question that lasted 90 seconds, Kiffin exhaled.  "That was a long one.  That wasn't coffee...that was Red Bull."

When the moderator said there would be just one last question, a young Alabama TV reporter said he constantly gets mistaken for Kiffin, and wanted advice on that.   

"I guess embrace it.  When people ask me if I'm Lane Kiffin, I just say 'No, I hate that dude,' ...and I keep walking."

After a few more laughs from follow-ups in response to the narcissist reporter, Lane got up.

And kept walking.   The Joker had left the building.

####

I had only strolled a few blocks from the hotel yesterday, heading down Nashville's famed Broadway when I found myself waiting at a crosswalk, next to a guy who looked familiar,  
Yep, it was Roman Harper, 40, the former Bama star who recently was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.  The standout DB was an All-Pro who helped the Saints to the Super Bowl XLIV championship and now works as an ESPN/SEC Network analyst.

So I introduced myself and we started talking football as we walked.  When I told him his Tide brother and fellow broadcaster Greg McElroy had just ranked Texas sixth in his preseason rankings, Harper expressed more than mild surprise.  "I'm not quite that bullish on Texas yet."

He laughed when I mentioned the Aggies again hyped in spite of their 5-7 record last year.  "I couldn't believe it when I read that they've had just one ten-win season (2012) since 1998," Harper said.  "I'm gonna be 'Missouri' when it comes to A&M," he chuckled, pausing a few steps for the punchline.  "They're gonna have to 'show me.'"

But what about Roman's alma mater, Alabama?

"I talked to Nick a little today," Harper said, "and I think he really likes this team.  He's quietly confident."  

We spoke about all the Georgia dynasty talk and how Saban relishes Bama's sudden underdog role against the likes of the Bulldogs and LSU.

"This is a card Alabama seldom plays," Harper said, his smile broadening as we stopped at another traffic light.  "It's kinda like 'reverse rat poison' for Nick, and he likes that."

More city blocks and more pigskin chat later, Harper, svelte and looking dapper with sunglasses and his now-signature trimmed grey beard, asked if I had any dining recs.

I told him Hampton Social was good the other night and directed him over to 1st street.  

Me, the Nashville veteran of four days.

I was gonna snap a shot of him for my buddy Mike Kickirillo, the San Antonio Spurs' Director of Broadcasting and world's most avid Saints fan, but Harper said, "Naw, you gotta get in this."  Sorry to photo-bomb your souvenir, Kick.  Who dat!

Austin Bound from Nashville

I hope Einstein’s’ feelings about mediocre minds translate in collegiate sports and the Longhorn burnt orange spirit overcomes the arrogance of many in the SEC.

Well, we didn't even have cold "Hot Nashville Chicken" for the road when we left SEC Media Days after driving out in a heavy thunderstorm Thursday afternoon.  The only chicken we managed on the trip back was at Chick-fil-A in Mount Pleasant, TX, having spent the previous night in Little Rock.

Zero time for any sightseeing in Nashville.  No Grand Ole Opry, no visit to Andrew Jackson's Hermitage Mansion, not even a look at Vanderbilt's campus.  We did get a shuttle over to NIssan Stadium, home of the Titans, for yet another free buffet supper on our last night there.

I thought of Vince Young and Michael Griffin.  And of Alan Lowry, the All-Southwest Conference DB, then All-SWC QB ('71-'72) who coached many years with the Titans and is credited as the wizard behind the franchise's most illustrious play, "The Music City Miracle."

But on a two-day return drive that stretches, 16 hours over two days, good company is a must.

And Kirk Bohls, my best buddy and the writer who is either your favorite or least-liked sportswriter, provided the good company.  Kirk has won about every sportswriting award there is.  He was a guest on several national shows while in Nashville and got called on to ask questions (there were usually 300-400 media members in each session) to coaches more often than anybody at the conference.  Other writers constantly came up to Kirk anytime he wasn't on his keyboard, looking for insight, opinions, inside observations and deep background.  Or just to chat.

I've long been blessed with easy access to mi amigo.  We've talked about virtually everything, especially football, music, females and life its own self, for 46 years and counting, now.  Like Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley, we pretty much know what the other guy is thinking before it gets said.  We were like that as tennis partners for many, many years.  

If you didn't know, Kirk has been toiling for the Austin American-Statesman for fifty years now.

That's not a typo.  And know this, though somewhat like the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, aka "The Hardest Working Man In Show Business," I'm pretty sure Kirk feels like he's never worked a day in his life as a writer.  He busts his tail and he loves it.

He had his fill of real work as a youngster, chopping cotton every day each summer, for his dad, a UT grad and farmer in Taylor, what used to be a quiet, small town northeast of Austin.  Tougher even than the  fields, as Kirk remembers it, were Christmas seasons that he worked in Taylor as a window cleaner, perched on downtown scaffolding in frigid, windy weather.  

Not surprisingly, Kirk was motivated to avoid cotton and window-washing.  He studied hard and was at the top of his class in Taylor while playing football, baseball and tennis plus running track for the Ducks.  

Like many people who know Kirk, I'm amazed by his relentless pursuit of excellence in all that he does, especially in interviewing, reporting and writing sports.  Very, very thorough.  Not to be denied.  That's why he is occasionally not so popular with coaches, even readers, who expect him to be a "cheer-writer."

Anyway, after all these years of friendship, weekly lunches at Dan's Hamburgers, endless discussions of Longhorn sports, a couples trip to Cancun and cruising past miles and miles of Texas and the entire South, all to Kirk's soundtrack of the '60s, we know just about all there possibly can be known about each other.  Yeah, we regularly update our lists while on the road....I asked him yesterday to pick five music artists in case of the ol' desert island crisis...what if you were stranded and could only listen to the full catalogs of five singers or bands?  

Not surprisingly, we both picked the Beatles.  I knew Kirk would choose The Four Seasons, and he did.   I knew he'd pick the Beach Boys (and they were among my finalists).  He also selected two solo artists, Neil Diamond and Glen Campbell.  All solid, known mostly for their work in the 1960s..

I went more eclectic, going with -- in addition to the Beatles -- Frank Sinatra, Dwight Yoakam, Grimes and Tom Petty.  Kirk had never heard of Grimes.  

I'm gonna do Kirkie a huge favor and not divulge the solo artist who just missed his top five.

Just know he was the sappiest, syrupiest, ear-cringing singer of the '70s.  I'll leave it at that.  Don't want

Kirk to have to forfeit his "man card."

If you soak up Kirk's famed "Nine Things and One Crazy Prediction" column on Wednesdays, you already know he's an incurable movie buff and is always ready to rate flicks.

Though he seeks to watch new movies or binge-watch a series, his seemingly immovable favorite is still "To Kill A Mockingbird."  Anytime I check for a minuscule or seismic shift in his rankings, that one ain't budging.  "Saving Private Ryan," "Titanic," "The Great Escape" and "Ben-Hur," round out the short list.  

I couldn't believe he could now leave out "The Heartbreak Kid," the '73 original featuring Cybill Shepherd and Charles Grodin, and the source of dozens of one-liners Kirk and I still spout to each other every week.  I put it at number four, with "The Searchers," "Jaws" and "Body Heat" as 1-2-3 and Paul Newman's stellar "Hud" finishing the top five.

Among non-football types, Kirk and I concurred that the trip's most enlightening interviewee was Chloe, our waitress/barmaid at Hampton Social just off Broadway in Nashville.

When asked about the Nashville scene, she confided that she had come to Music City to crack the industry that draws singers and musician wannabes the same way L.A. attracts acting hopefuls.  Now, at 29, she's set to move on, to LA, of all places, to push for work in the Hollywood event planning niche. Dismissing the city she has resided in for half a decade, Chloe shrugged and told us, "Nashville's just not in my universe."  Very cosmic, very new age-y. 

Next time I don't succeed, and it won't take long, I'll borrow from that. 

"Y'know, representing Taylor Swift just isn't in my universe."

At last, as we moved closer to Austin and San Antonio, passing the Kolache Capital, West (Kirk favors strawberry; I'm a poppyseed guy), I had to go with the time-tested "Awright, tell me one thing I don't know about you after all these years" ploy.  He wouldn't have answered had he known I'd put it in The History of Longhorn Sports.  So I didn't tell him, and he thought for a minute or two and then said he was inducted about fifteen years ago into the UT Intramural Hall of Fame.  Naturally, he credited all his Lutheran Campus Ministry teammates in football, basketball, softball, track and volleyball.  He said their 4x100 relay team -- he was a member --had even set a UT intramural record back in the day.  

And now we know 'the rest of the story."

Closing in on the Capital City, we agreed again, hat if we could be "a fly on the wall," and just follow any sports figure around for a week or two, we would tail Nick Saban.

What makes the guy tick differently than anyone else?  The guy is a Swiss watch, every second of the day, it seems.  Polished, intense, motivating every player, every coach and himself to keep improving so as to enhance the playing of winning football at every position.  Perhaps Saban should be president.  Or everybody's "life coach."

Kirk remembered attending a banquet in Indianapolis with Saban as the keynote speaker.

"After he finished, I was ready to run through a wall for him," Kirk testified.

fter we enjoyed snacks and refreshments with lovely Vicki at the Bohls' home, it was time for me to face the late evening traffic to San Antonio.  How did our road trip rank among all the trips thus far?

As we so often do, Kirk and I agreed.  Second place, only trailing the '08 trip to Lubbock. See link below:

https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/larry-carlson-texas-tech-2008

So strange to still revere that one, a game that caused so much Longhorn heartache.

But what a setting, what a game, what a finish.  It just lasted a few seconds too long.  

Borrowing from the old coaching credo, you remember the losses because you expect the wins.

As Coach Saban has said after a rare loss:  "Hopefully, we won't waste a failure."

Longhorn fans feel the same and are hopeful that 13 seasons of failure to win the conference Title will not be wasted this Fall.