Making the pilgrimage from Nebraska

As a life-long Nebraskan, I constantly get asked why the Texans are my team. Growing up, I had an uncle that lived in the woodlands (before it was crazy nice). We would go down and visit him about once a year. He was a little older and didn't have kids, so he treated my siblings and me really well. He was the definition of a fun uncle. I had a rough childhood and 90% of my good memories are from our trips to Houston.

We made one of our last family trips to Houston in about 2005. On our last full day, my uncle took my brother and I out for pizza and mini golf. While talking about life, football got brought up. 12 year old me kept going on and on about how my jr high team was an all time great team and how I wanted to play college ball. He was extremely supportive and said that he would make sure my dad brought us back later that year to watch the new pro team in town. He talked about how he recently did a job for one of the starters, so he could get us good tickets (he owned a construction company). From that day on, I was a Texans fan.

Unfortunately, that follow-up trip didn't happen. Finances and schedules didn't allow us to go. The following year, we made another trip to Houston. This time, I was one of the pallbearers at his funeral. I didn't know at the time, but he was fighting a battle with liver cancer. I made it one of my life goals to follow-through and watch the Texans play in Houston. I will officially be able to achieve that goal on September 17th at noon. My football buddy (my three year old) and I are going to make the pilgrimage as a follow-up after attending the draft this year in KC.

Thank you for allowing me to share with you. I am excited for this trip, but the game itself feels like so much more than a game. If anyone has advice on tailgating, purchasing tickets, or things to do with preschoolers in Houston, please let me know. If anyone knew "Big" Mike Brown from the woodlands in the early 2000s (loved his harley and corvettes), send me a message.

P.s. I need to learn the Texans chants, etc. My only Texans game was in KC. Don't let my kid and me look like idiots haha.