A cold wave that delivered snow, sleet, freezing temperatures, and school closures to North Texas in recent days will be the frosty background that spectators will settle into as the Cotton Bowl Classic begins Friday night at 6:30 p.m. in Arlington.
In a College Football Playoff semifinal matchup at AT&T Stadium, the Longhorns of Texas will face off against the Buckeyes of Ohio State in an effort to advance to the championship game.
Although some voiced worries about the weather and its potential impact on the game, it appears that no serious plans to postpone or reschedule were ever considered, particularly as weather predictions improved. Furthermore, particularly in the case of television, there were several scheduling implications to consider in the event that things did change. Cancelling or rescheduling the game on a different date during the weekend would have allowed it to compete with the NFL playoffs.
Officials from the Cotton Bowl, AT&T Stadium, and the local emergency management agency all vouched for the existence of measures to ensure the safest possible passage to and from the stadium.
Even during Wednesday’s press conference, in response to a reporter’s query, Gov. Greg Abbott reaffirmed that assurance.
As Abbott explained, “I’ve had conversations with multiple people about it,” he included the subject of Texas football in the briefing they had just before arriving. Everyone should be able to enjoy the game without any problems.
Abbott cautioned drivers to exercise extreme caution due to the possibility of snow and ice on the roads.
Everything will be alright, Abbott said, if the driver is cautious, slow, and systematic.
This reassurance was given the day before Dallas authorities revealed on Thursday that the city was experiencing a spike in accidents due to the slippery roads.
On Wednesday, neither team had any problems getting to the area. However, as anticipated, there may have been more issues for fans trying to fly into the area on Thursday or Friday: Almost half of Thursday’s flights at Dallas Love Field and DFW International were canceled because of the weather.
The AT&T Stadium parking lot was filled with early risers on Friday, eager to watch their team play and enjoy some tailgating.
Longhorn football games have been a significant tradition for Eddie Ford and his father for over 25 years, according to the Dallas resident and fifth-generation UT-Austin alumnus. He was unfazed by the chill.
“Real Texans are out there, and they share our desire to see UT succeed,” Ford stated.
The weather was of little concern to a few Buckeyes fans who traveled all the way from Ohio.
Chris Caston, 68 years old, described his family as “cold blooded” because they are from Ohio. “I escaped five degrees and two feet of snow to arrive here, so this is a welcome change.”
Enhanced safety
Not only is the weather a factor, but the game is also happening soon after the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans, which killed fifteen people (including the attacker) and injured scores more. The terrifying incident occurred in the days leading up to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans’ Superdome, forcing the rescheduling of the event and the implementation of stricter security measures.
After the incident, organizers and law enforcement in Arlington, which is more than 500 miles away, discussed how to ensure the safety of Friday’s game at AT&T Stadium.
There will be a heightened police presence, especially in and around the parking lots, according to Arlington police. However, they have not been informed of any significant security threats for the game as of yet.
Willing to face the chill
Local forecasts indicate that temperatures will be around 35 degrees when Friday’s game begins.
The cold is nothing new to AT&T Stadium, of course. Some spectators were hurt when ice and snow from the stadium during the infamous ice storm that occurred the week before Super Bowl XLV, which pitted the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Green Bay Packers, fell.
To avoid future incidents like these, the Cowboys have put a ridge-shaped ice protection on top of the stadium. The purpose of the guard is to prevent or reduce the rate of sliding ice and snow, as well as to break up bigger pieces. To further reduce the likelihood of snow and ice accumulation, the crew also set up a system to pump warmer water over the roof.
However, the nature of the weather problems that may arise this time is still to be determined.
Is the weather going to dampen the festive mood? Well, college football fans are highly dedicated, so no matter the weather, a large crowd will still show up to the game—especially those cheering for the Longhorns. Among them are a large number of alums from North Texas as well as those from Austin, which is within easy driving distance.
Regarding the game, North Texas supporters will want to pay special attention to the local flavor: 31 players from high schools in the North Texas area will be representing Texas, and a number of them are key players in their success.
Famous quarterback Quinn Ewers went to Southlake Carroll, while running back Tre Wisner is from DeSoto and the team’s top tackler, linebacker Anthony Hale Jr., is from Denton Ryan. Also, the team’s leading sackscorer is Colin Simmons, a true freshman defensive end hailing from Duncanville.
When the four-team era began in 2014, Texas was the only team that has never advanced past the first round of the playoffs. Last year, it advanced to the playoffs for the first time, but it was eliminated in the semifinals by Washington. And now that we’re back to square one with the original 12 teams, the issue becomes whether Texas can finally win it all and return to the national championship game after a 2009 loss to Alabama.
This coming Friday, at 6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN will air the Cotton Bowl Classic live from Arlington, Texas’s AT&T Stadium.
