Bill Little commentary: The fourth quarter

Near the end of every Longhorns football practice, as the team prepares to enter the final drills, they all come together and chant "Fourth quarter!" repeatedly.

With three games remaining in the regular season, having won six straight games in a season that now stands at 7-2, they are about to enter the final fourth of their regular season of 2013. Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Baylor -- three teams all with outstanding records -- stand between the Longhorns and a dream.

But in a year where Mack Brown has constantly stressed that the only game that matters is the next one, the Cowboys of Oklahoma State are the only issue on the docket at the moment.

After a playing a unique schedule which at one point had the Longhorns playing away from home for 42 straight days, Texas faces two of its final three opponents at home. Saturday's meeting with Oklahoma State is a Big 12 showdown in the midst of the 2013 season, but it also reflects a special kind of history on a day that will be filled with remembrances and tributes.

The Longhorns are in the midst of the 90th season in what is now known as Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. On Nov. 8, 1924, Texas played its first game in the facility which was built as a memorial to those Texans who had lost their lives fighting in World War I. Then, it was called "The Great War -- the war to end all wars."

Time has proven that didn't happen. Today, men and women of America's military still stand in harm's way, fighting wars in an effort to create great peace. And for these ninety football seasons, the mandate for the reason for the stadium's initial role hasn't changed.

When the stadium name was changed to include Darrell Royal in 1996, Royal made it very clear that he would accept the honor only if the original dedication to the Veteran's remained. Hence, it became officially "Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium."

A stadium Veterans Committee, chaired by World War II hero and Longhorns benefactor Frank Denius, is appointed by The University president. The committee, which dates from Denius and others who served in World War II through former UT quarterback Mike Cotten who served in Vietnam, and to David Little (Iraq) and Nate Boyer (several tours in the Middle East), stands sentinel to task of preserving the original mission of the stadium.

Saturday's activities in pregame will include a fly-over from World War II aircraft and a game ball delivery by active duty paratroopers. Boyer, who is the first UT current student to be appointed as a standing member of the committee, will also be recognized by Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby for his selection as the league's male sportsperson of the year for 2012.

The salute to history will also include the on-campus recognition of former defensive back Jerry Gray as the newest Longhorn to be enshrined in the National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame. Gray will officially be inducted in ceremonies in New York in December, but NFF president Steve Hatchell will be on hand to present Gray and UT with his certificate. Gray is the 17th Longhorn player -- and 19th UT person including coaches Darrell Royal and Dana X. Bible, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Student groups are exhorting Longhorns faithful to arrive early -- and loud -- to welcome home the team which started its six game winning streak (all in Big 12 play) with a victory here on September 21 and has played only one other opponent at home (Kansas) since.

The total package -- which is supposed to be encapsulated in a brilliant afternoon -- should make for a memorable day.

It is about the past, certainly. But for the Longhorns of 2013, it is very much about the present. They say proudly about Texas that "What starts here changes the world," and this Longhorns team has a big chance to take a step toward their season's goal as they face an outstanding opponent in Oklahoma State.

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