SAN ANTONIO — The opening kickoff to the Alamo Bowl was still nearly eight hours away Thursday, but the familiar notes of the Colorado fight song echoed down the River Walk.
“Shoulder to shoulder we will fight, fight, FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!” Buffaloes fans randomly shouted from their lunch tables at the Cafe Ole restaurant along the river.
What began as a slow trickle of fans of CU and Oklahoma State into San Antonio at the beginning of the week had reached a fever pitch by Thursday afternoon, the banks of the city’s most famous attraction painted in Cowboy orange and Buffalo gold. The sidewalks along the river were packed with college football fans Wednesday night, with the wait for dinner at nearly every restaurant stacking up to more than an hour.
That sure didn’t seem to temper any of the revelry among CU fans as they soaked in the experience of attending the team’s first bowl game in nine years.
“Our fans are really enjoying it, I know that,” CU coach said during the final press conference before the game Wednesday. “They are really excited about being here and going to a bowl game. It rejuvenates that. Hopefully it will sell more season tickets for us next year, keep growing our program. It definitely is a big deal to be in this bowl game.”
At the Rio Rio Cantina, a popular Tex-Mex dining spot on the river, banners with the logo of Oklahoma State’s mascot, Pistol Pete, designated it as the official restaurant of the Cowboys. Naturally, that drew chants of “Go Buffs!” whenever CU fans would pass the signs.
The River Walk, where the San Antonio Spurs have cruised to celebrate five NBA championships parades, was the go-to destination for fans of both teams throughout the week. Christmas lights decorated the trees that hang over the water, adding to the ambiance after dark for pedestrians taking a stroll or taking a tour in a barge.
“It’s definitely a cool atmosphere,” CU senior defensive tackle said.
As fans celebrated into Thursday afternoon, the Buffs finished final preparations for their first bowl game since 2007. Two hours before the game, quarterback was among the players to take the field, donning oversized headphones and beginning the preparation for his final college game.
Soon other Buffs followed. The wait was almost over.
“From the first day here, I feel like that was our first goal was to go to a bowl game,” senior cornerback said this week. “I feel like we’re playing for our own dreams but also for theirs that didn’t get a chance. We want to finish out strong and make sure that we secure our legacy.”