I hesitate to tell this story but I feel that the truth must finally be told. My great uncle,George Lynn Cross, was the University of Oklahoma president from 1943-1968. . A few years ago after the passing of one of my cousins I wound up with a couple of boxes of books that had belonged to the former president. Apparently they had been in an attic untouched for over 50 years. One of these books actually turned out to be his diary and the story I am going to relay comes directly from his own writings of the things he was privy to both prior to and during his tenure. . I intend to tell this story in the most brief and direct way possible.
In early 1929 the devil, otherwise known as Big Tex ran into a gentlemen from the OU athletic department down by Thackerville, OK and convinced him to hop on a train to Dallas so that he could introduce him to some ladies at a bordello on the outskirts of town. The diary refers to him as Bargain Billy though I’m not sure if that was a real nickname or my uncles way of concealing his identity in the event his diary were ever found.
Once in the Big D and after a few shots of whisky the devil told Bargain Billy he had idea for him to consider. The devil told Billy his idea was that EVERY single football game between the University’ of Oklahoma and Texas should be played in the state of Texas. Billy laughed at this notion calling it both ludicrous and unfair.
Undeterred the devil told Billy that he already had a contract prepared and intended on making a deal with Billy that very night. The devil stopped at nothing. He had the ladies coax Billy with a pint of moonshine while making promises of their own if Billy would simply sign the contract.
Bargain Billy resisted hard through the night and on just past sunrise. Exhausted and delirious Billy finally caved when the devil promised that he would he could ensure the State of Texas would provide all manner games,rides, and exotic concessions outside of the stadium every year for all of the fans of both teams to enjoy after the game together.
Billy, certain in his drunken mind that he could convince his associates back in Oklahoma that he had made a wonderful deal that all of the children in the state would enjoy for generations, signed the contract.
There was much embarrassment among the administration in Oklahoma that EVERY OU-Texas game would be played IN the State of TEXAS and NEVER in the STATE of Oklahoma. However, the administration knew that a deal with the devil had been made and knowing no way to get out of it made up their own series of backstories and publicity to make the deal sellable to the public.
There have been a few attempts to annul the deal but none have been successful. The most shocking involved JFK himself. At a luncheon in the summer 1963 JFK was overheard by my uncle ribbing a couple of Texas alumni about how unfair it was for EVERY game they played against Oklahoma to be played in their own State of Texas and NEVER in Oklahoma. The boys from Texas pointed out that it was no different than the fact that Marylin Monroe always visited him at the White House and that he never visited her at her house. JFK annoyed and puzzled that the Texans made such an analogy vowed to look into the matter telling the Texans it sounded like a deal only the devil and a drunk would make.
The Texans feared that JFK, as president of the United States , may actually have the power to annul a contract written on American soil by the devil. Upon arriving back in Texas the Texans went to the Dallas Morning News to talk to the publisher about JFKs comments. They were told this should never be made public but that something must be done to mitigate any movement on JFKs part to circumvent the contract. They did exhaustive research at local Dallas libraries looking for any literature available on deals made with the devil. After months of research and fearing JFK may speak publicly on the subject during his visit to Dallas in November the Texans switched gears. They began negotiating with a young man named Lee that they had become acquainted with at the Texas State Book Depository. Lee Harvey seemed to dislike the president and claimed to be a crack shot . They also like the fact that since Lee was a communist no one would believe him if he claimed that it was some Texas fans him up to it.
We all know the events that followed. I hate that you had to hear it from me. The delusions of the devil continue. He has payed off anyone and everyone to maintain the status quo in hopes that the contract would never be annulled. He has gone on to spread many narratives designed to distract such as convincing otherwise good and decent OU fans that live in Dallas that it is a good thing because it is one game a year they don’t have to drive to and reminding people at every turn that it’s fair because Dallas is geographically halfway between the two campuses in hopes people forget that Dallas is actually IN Texas. He also has put it in many peoples minds that any Oklahoma fan that objects to the fact that Oklahoma NEVER actually gets to host the rivalry game IN the State of Oklahoma is an enemy of tradition and either a dork or a NERD or even an infidel or HEATHEN. Apparently that’s how the devil does his work
There you have it. Hookers,booze,dirty deals, coverups, a US president, propaganda, and the devil in Big D still getting his way.
In early 1929 the devil, otherwise known as Big Tex ran into a gentlemen from the OU athletic department down by Thackerville, OK and convinced him to hop on a train to Dallas so that he could introduce him to some ladies at a bordello on the outskirts of town. The diary refers to him as Bargain Billy though I’m not sure if that was a real nickname or my uncles way of concealing his identity in the event his diary were ever found.
Once in the Big D and after a few shots of whisky the devil told Bargain Billy he had idea for him to consider. The devil told Billy his idea was that EVERY single football game between the University’ of Oklahoma and Texas should be played in the state of Texas. Billy laughed at this notion calling it both ludicrous and unfair.
Undeterred the devil told Billy that he already had a contract prepared and intended on making a deal with Billy that very night. The devil stopped at nothing. He had the ladies coax Billy with a pint of moonshine while making promises of their own if Billy would simply sign the contract.
Bargain Billy resisted hard through the night and on just past sunrise. Exhausted and delirious Billy finally caved when the devil promised that he would he could ensure the State of Texas would provide all manner games,rides, and exotic concessions outside of the stadium every year for all of the fans of both teams to enjoy after the game together.
Billy, certain in his drunken mind that he could convince his associates back in Oklahoma that he had made a wonderful deal that all of the children in the state would enjoy for generations, signed the contract.
There was much embarrassment among the administration in Oklahoma that EVERY OU-Texas game would be played IN the State of TEXAS and NEVER in the STATE of Oklahoma. However, the administration knew that a deal with the devil had been made and knowing no way to get out of it made up their own series of backstories and publicity to make the deal sellable to the public.
There have been a few attempts to annul the deal but none have been successful. The most shocking involved JFK himself. At a luncheon in the summer 1963 JFK was overheard by my uncle ribbing a couple of Texas alumni about how unfair it was for EVERY game they played against Oklahoma to be played in their own State of Texas and NEVER in Oklahoma. The boys from Texas pointed out that it was no different than the fact that Marylin Monroe always visited him at the White House and that he never visited her at her house. JFK annoyed and puzzled that the Texans made such an analogy vowed to look into the matter telling the Texans it sounded like a deal only the devil and a drunk would make.
The Texans feared that JFK, as president of the United States , may actually have the power to annul a contract written on American soil by the devil. Upon arriving back in Texas the Texans went to the Dallas Morning News to talk to the publisher about JFKs comments. They were told this should never be made public but that something must be done to mitigate any movement on JFKs part to circumvent the contract. They did exhaustive research at local Dallas libraries looking for any literature available on deals made with the devil. After months of research and fearing JFK may speak publicly on the subject during his visit to Dallas in November the Texans switched gears. They began negotiating with a young man named Lee that they had become acquainted with at the Texas State Book Depository. Lee Harvey seemed to dislike the president and claimed to be a crack shot . They also like the fact that since Lee was a communist no one would believe him if he claimed that it was some Texas fans him up to it.
We all know the events that followed. I hate that you had to hear it from me. The delusions of the devil continue. He has payed off anyone and everyone to maintain the status quo in hopes that the contract would never be annulled. He has gone on to spread many narratives designed to distract such as convincing otherwise good and decent OU fans that live in Dallas that it is a good thing because it is one game a year they don’t have to drive to and reminding people at every turn that it’s fair because Dallas is geographically halfway between the two campuses in hopes people forget that Dallas is actually IN Texas. He also has put it in many peoples minds that any Oklahoma fan that objects to the fact that Oklahoma NEVER actually gets to host the rivalry game IN the State of Oklahoma is an enemy of tradition and either a dork or a NERD or even an infidel or HEATHEN. Apparently that’s how the devil does his work
There you have it. Hookers,booze,dirty deals, coverups, a US president, propaganda, and the devil in Big D still getting his way.
