2026 Themes: Houston Football

Are you judging deer hunters?

Just kidding…

Nope, they all go into the no-show pile.

Maybe we need a hunting theme day last home game before the season starts.

Theme days would be much more fun if they actually made it a theme day. Theme based give aways, change the food offerings, music (though I think it is done by band for hispanic day). There seems like there is so little done for the average fan to notice the difference.

For Hunters Day - venison served (legally obtained), hunting education booths, maybe give away free license or annual registration in a drawing, (no rifles at the game, though would be cool to see displays)

Military appreciation could have red white and blue decorating the stadium, military displays, must have fly over which UH seems to do very little of. invite all military (active or retired) to wear their uniforms. etc…

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I arranged a B2 Bomber flyover for a Division 2 (Central Missouri) game…

It was easy…

I was the only active duty Army Officer living on Whiteman AFB (10 miles down the road from Warrensburg) and just had to coordinate a routine training flight to be timed with the kickoff…

All the commanders were friends of mine…

Also got them a Blackhawk Helicopter Flyover for a game. That was even easier…

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TCU games almost always had a flyover for every game. Last season they had a game, and I had to pause when I realized there was no flyover. Got so used to them (and enjoyed everyone).

When B2 flies overhead, everything stops, and everyone stares.

https://www.reddit.com/r/AirForce/comments/1q1k2t5/b2_fly_over_during_the_rose_bowl_today/

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Game at Annapolis (not a B2 though):

not sure why some things go as links while others place the videos…

What is the nearest military base (besides Ellington) to Houston. (Apaches would be really cool)

I remember flyovers and parachutists at TDECU. Wasn’t there a B-2 flyover?
Surely there will be some sort of a flyover at a military appreciation themed game.

Years ago, I was at a 4th of July celebration and we had a flyover of a B-2 Stealth Bomber, flying unusually low. I thought my ears would explode, yet, the muscle and the intimidation of the B-2 Stealth was a sight to behold. You see and feel that and you can’t help but be proud to be an American.

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A couple of quick stories…

While still on active duty, I was the only active duty Army Officer living in base housing; at Whiteman AFB. I was at a soccer game, on base, where my Son was playing. Also at the game was my neighbor from across the street. His pager went off and he looked at me and said… “Will you take my kids home after the game?” I said… “sure”. The next day I found out we dropped bombs on Kosovo and my neighbor (and friend) had just flown the longest Combat Aviation Sortie in history, flying over 30 hours, roundtrip, from Whiteman, to Kosovo and back. He dropped the first bombs, as he was the most experienced pilot in the 509th Bomb Wing, with over 3,000 flight hours, at the time. He later dropped the first bombs on Baghdad in OIF 9-11. He retired as a Major General.

Once I stepped off of active duty, I took a 6 year hiatus and was a finanicial advisor for a company whose clients were military professionals. Most of the B2 pilots and all of the Squadron. Group, and even Wing Commander(s) were my clients. I held a “barn bash” at my place every spring with whole-hog barbeque, a bluegrass band out of Nashville, and invited all my clients, and friends at Central Missouri (coaches, fellow soldiers, etc…). One of my clients (a pilot) told me…. “We use your Barn (with a silver roof) as a waypoint to make our turns because your farm is exactly 6 miles north of the flight line, and at night, I can see the blue light of your swimming pool”. After that, I left the pool lights on at night…. all night… every night.

God bless our troops!

:us:

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Can’t say I would enjoy being a bomber pilot. They have far more patience than I (different skill sets). Much respect for what they do.

I wanted to fly Tomcats.

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There are 2 pilots for every flight…

My administrative assistant was the wife of the US Air Force Crew Chief of the year (Spirit of Hawaii). I got a tour of the cockpit. Didn’t hurt that the Wing Commander was my client and I still held a Top Secret Security Clearance.

I led a “charmed” life…

Yes, I have the basics. Just the long flight time in one space. I’ve driven Houston to Minnesota and Houston to California multiple times, but was able to stop and get out of the car along the way. Not sure you can do that in a bomber.

They can move around and stretch their legs.

The B2 is a “Marvel” of technology…

A marvel, That it is. Like I said, respect to the pilots of them and the other bombers. I just can’t be in any passenger size plane or vehicle (car, SUV) for that long without getting out (trains, cruise ships, & carriers are notably bigger). We each have our strengths and good to those that are different.

The 30 hour, roundtrip sorties are the rare exception, not the rule. Just part of the cost of doing business and being a Warrior.

In the O-Club bar at Whiteman AFB, an Air Force (pilot) Friend of mine once told me that the Army sends their Enlisted into combat and the Air Force sends its Officers.

Note: Air Force Pilots can be very cocky, especially B2 Bomber Pilots in THEIR hometown bar.

I corrected him and told him… “If You’re an Airborne Ranger Infantry Officer, you not only see more combat than any pilot in the Air Force, but you’re out front WITH the men. Leading from the front, by example”.

But “nice try’”.

I’ve been shot at, a lot.

By God’s grace, I’m still here.

That said, I still admire the heck out of all our Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Pilots. Theirs is a “unique” calling. They’ve gotta be smart, skilled, and physically fit to do what they do.

I took an incentive ride in a T-38 at Sheppard AFB, in Texas, and for over an hour, 1lt Adam “Rocket” Roberts pulled G’s over, and over, and over… When we finally landed back on the tarmac he came up to me and said… “you’re the first civilian I’ve taken on a flight who hasn’t puked”. I asked him how many Gs we pulled and he said about 6.5. I don’t know if that’s a little or a lot, but I damn sure felt it. I told him I jumped out of Airplanes for most of my career. I did “almost” pass out though. Because when they took me through the pre-flight prep, they had me ride the centrifuge to make sure I could handle the “G’s”, etc…. they told me the “G suit” would take care of all the pressure. But no one told me I needed to tighten my gut as we started doing the loops and barrel rolls. Furthermore, the pilot knows when he’s gonna yank the joystick and the passenger has no clue.

We shared a beer at the club that evening…

He tried to pay, but I wouldn’t let him.

Instead, I bought a round for the bar…

:us:

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Goshdamn you got some good stories. Thank you and thank you for your service. :+1:

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It was a fun ride.

Lot’s of great memories.

For every story I’ve shared here on this message board, I have a hundred more.

Some I can’t, or won’t share.

I’d love to hear the stories others have.

We’ve got a lot of veterans on this site…

FYI, Willie’s college roommate was an Army ROTC Cadet (later an Army Officer), and Willie is a GREAT Supporter of our men and women in uniform…

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Idk if most of us can squeeze into our uniforms anymore… lol

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Does he have any idea how hot it gets in Houston?

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