Southern Methodist University

January 2007. Ooh, Texas! Not quite the stereotype where droves of cattle wearing ten-gallon hats work on oil rigs. I mean, a few were but they were probably just humoring the tourists. SMU is a religious affiliated school - most likely Jesuit - in a little enclave of Dallas called University Park, within view of downtown's intimidating highways and skyscrapers. I wanted mustang gear and I wanted it bad. Pardon? No shop on campus? A licensed store by the rush of freeway on-ramps only? Pedestrians are moving targets in Dallas I learned. I parked at a petrol station across the street and dared to jaywalk as the nearest crosswalk was blocks away. My thoughts turned to Frogger and his lifeless red body. But since I am typing this now, I made it. The store's collection of apparel was impressive but the drinkware selection was anemic. Get with the program, Barnes & Noble! Some people want more than a Bisphenol-A bottle with pink flowers and bubbly type. We also want horsies.

Pictured above: Hank Hill, Methodist

Texas Christian University

January 2007. The TCU area of Fort Worth was much greener than I ever imagined it would be. Large stately lawns in front of every hall, marble steps leading to their entrances, a kind of UVA feel. The bookstore was gutted for renovations, leaving a raggedy trailer as its stand-in. The low ceiling threatened visiting basketball recruits to this religious affiliated - probably Jesuit - school. This travel mug was the only affordable trinket. It is top heavy, the handle is too small to fit the proper amount of stabilizing fingers, and nothing about the removable lid says durable. Its saving grace, of course, is the blinding purple. Not too many schools have the utter gall to make purple its primary color. But then again not too many schools willingly name their sports teams 'The Horned Toads'.

"They musta turned him into a h-horny toad!"

Texas State University

10 Sept 2004. Some universities, noting the impending boom in eligible applicants, have realized that the scales of higher education are starting to tip in favor of the students. Community colleges and online classes are exploding. Students are taking general education classes while still at home, avoiding the costs of room and board. To lure the kids back to their dorms, they are starting to offer perks that seemed unimaginable even a generation ago. Catered meals, free transportation, and extravagant student gyms complete with waterslides are some of the carrots on the end of the academic stick. But then these institutions are saddled with the responsibility to still emphasize that their school is first and foremost a place of learning, not leisure. Some schools, however, cannot be bothered to put on such high airs. You can make your own conclusion about Texas State University in San Marcos (formerly Southwest Texas State), which has a 'lazy river' running behind the Bobcats' Strahan Coliseum and through campus.
As an aside, I picked up this fat little tumbler at the souvenir table during a volleyball match.