PLANO, Texas — Dudley Patterson’s love for Oklahoma runs deep. His wardrobe is a year-round display of crimson and cream. And with every passing year, he sets a new mark for the most consecutively attended Red River Rivalry match-ups.
"Seventy-seven," Dudley said. "I started in 1948."
Dudley was nine years old when his father first took him to the game in 1948. Over that time, he's seen a number of quarterbacks, running backs, defenses and Heismans.
"There's no one around here that doesn’t know I’m from Oklahoma," he proudly stated.
Adding an extra layer of intrigue, OU's biggest fan has two children who graduated from Texas. This year, they even helped out with the game tickets.
"I'll be happy no matter who wins," Dudley said with a smile. "But I'll be a lot happier if I know we won."
When asked if he had anything in burnt orange, Dudley chuckled, "Yeah, something I deer-hunt in."
The game itself is just one piece of the puzzle. It’s the memories created before and after that matter most.
"It doesn't matter that Texas should kill them," he said with a wink. "Oklahoma could win."
And that hope is what keeps rivalries like this alive.