Texas always attracts attention

I am a native of the state of Washington.  I have lived on two separate occasions in Texas, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I currently live in Maryland.  I have college degrees from two different states, Washingtonn and West Virginia. 
And I have worn college apparel from about 44 schools in 38 states. That said, here is my point.
Nothing starts a conversation faster than a University of Texas shirt.  I have a few of them, mostly impulse buys at HEB.  But I have made purchases at the bookstore in Austin and also at an outlet store in Round Rock.
I always knew that my UT clothes were attracting attention, but no so much as during my last business trip to Detroit.  I wore the shirt twice —a very nice orange polo with the horns over my heart — once in the evening and then on my travels home, which took all darned day.
While in Detroit, I met one man who was obviously a liberal, but he signed a napkin saying he supported Texas leaving the Union — because he thinks Texas should just leave and that America does not need it.
When I was on my way home the ticket agent at Air Tran asked me about the Big 12 South and how it was looking this year.  The TSA guy checking my ID said “you know this is (Michigan) State country right?”
The man in front of me at the security line asked after looking at my shirt, “So is that where you went to university?” In a South African accent.  No it is just a shirt; my wife has beautiful light orange, red hair so I have affection for the shade to begin with!
Now I can acknowledge that a sweet polo shirt such as mine, given my natural good looks, does suggest director of the athletic department, or at least head of scouting. Most times I am wearing an orange or white t-shirt with big horns on changing the oil in the car or pounding some weights in the gym.  One of my favorite things to do is wear a shirt from Maryland when I go to Washington.  Or a UC-Berkley shirt at an NRA rally.
Sorry to disappoint, folks: I may look all Texas and big time college football. I can tell you who the head coach at UT is, and I know Colt McCoy has had a good career there as well. I can even get into the way back machine and know that Ricky Williams went to UT.  But that’s about it.
There is nothing wrong with being proud of your home town.  My undergrad Alma Mater, Eastern Washington University, played and lost a playoff game at Stephen F. Austin State last year. 
But to tell the truth I have found the more excited people are about their home team, from Alabama to Boise State the less likely it is that they actually went to college there.
 “Hey Jim, do you think he is talking about us?”