SPIRIT OF THE MONTH: PAM & JOE HORN

YOU’LL FIND Pam and Joe Horn in the same seats — section 103, just underneath the luxury boxes — at nearly every Texas baseball home game. Pam began going to
Disch-Falk Field in the early 1980s and, seven years ago, she and her husband, Joe,
bought two season tickets from a friend at the Austin Yacht Club. Since then, they’ve become a part of an unofficial dry land club: the Longhorns’ baseball Super Fans. Here’s Pam’s account of their diamond experiences, as told to Horns Illustrated.
– We hit most home games. We sit in the same seats each year, near the top just underneath the luxury boxes. I like the view…

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there. I can watch [head coach] Augie Garrido in the dugout and try to figure out his signs, see his reaction to an at-bat will he give a fist bump for a “productive out” or the cold shoulder for a groundout?
– Back when I was in school, Disch-Falk was new, but with wooden bleachers. Even in the
early season, the seats would get hot. Before the renovations, the area behind our seats was open and the wind would howl through there. Looking back, the changes they made between ’06 and ’09 made it the best stadium in college baseball. I love the concourse and great sight lines.
– The Boston College marathon (a 25-inning affair in 2009 Regionals, which Texas won
3-2) was amazing. We stayed to the bitter end, even though Joe considered leaving early
once or twice. We went to Omaha that year, and Joe had several Boston College
and Army fans shake his hand after seeing our burnt orange gear. They told us
what a great experience they had in Austin at the Regionals, and how they were pulling for Texas to beat LSU [in the College World Series].
– We’ve been to the World Series twice — in 2009 and 2011. In 2009, we wanted to stay
for the duration but didn’t know how the Longhorns would fare. We decided to set up
a camp to save money, a good decision since Texas played LSU in the championship series. We stayed at Lake Manawa State Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa. An eclectic mix of people stayed at the campgrounds — some were baseball fans like us, a few families, but the weirdest group was the traveling carnival sideshow. Those folks partied all night long and worked all day.
– I think bunting is a useful tool, just sometimes overused by Texas. I’m glad to see the players hitting more this year.
– The best players I’ve seen throughout the years include Kyle Russell (who knocked the cover off the ball) and Taylor Teagarden. He was great behind the plate. Huston Street and J. Brent Cox were great closers. Austin Wood’s performance during the Boston College game will never be matched. I loved watching Brandon Loy play shortstop.
– What draws us back year after year are the fans. We’re a family. The fans provide an experience like no other — a club that anyone who roots for Texas can join.
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