Any poor Michigan football fan who watched FCS-caliber quarterback Davis Warren lose badly in Texas could have easily gone to the Dallas Cosmos to escape the pain.
Oscar-winning actor and Texas State Minister of Culture Matthew McConaughey, in my eyes, was the driving force off the field that inspired the Longhorns to take the field and win in a commanding fashion in Ann Arbor. Waving his alma mater’s flag before kickoff, McConaughey glared at former Wolverines Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson. No easy task, no matter how good an actor you are!
The feud between @CharlesWoodson and @McConaughey has begun 🔥〽️🤘 @TexasFootball | @UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/uADCiF8G69
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 7, 2024
Always rooting for you 🤘 #HookEm | @McConaughey pic.twitter.com/goECMKgNSR
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 7, 2024
Texas proved the faculty’s enthusiastic support by beating Michigan to a 24-3 lead, and even better, McConaughey was invited to appear on Fox’s halftime show to provide commentary on the game and the progress of starting quarterback Quinn Ewers.
Okay, okay, okay 🤘 @McConaughey joins us for the Big Noon Saturday halftime show to talk about @texasfootball’s first half performance 🤠 pic.twitter.com/viQsOev6Kt
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 7, 2024
University of Michigan alum Derek Jeter was an honorary captain for the Wolverines, and the New York Yankees legend didn’t seem keen to cause any trouble on the sidelines during his exchange with McConaughey.
Derek Jeter will serve as honorary captain for Michigan in today’s game against Texas.
He’s on the sidelines with Matthew McConaughey 👀
(via @DerekJeter) pic.twitter.com/muBWWpLUrL
— MLB (@MLB) September 7, 2024
McConaughey’s motto is to just keep living, and he’s certainly living the dream. If I were a Hollywood star, the first thing I’d do would be to hang out on the sidelines of my favorite football team, make guest appearances on pregame and halftime TV shows, and do all sorts of other good things. That’s a fair, less exploitative way to use celebrity status, don’t you think?
Matthew McConaughey seems to be a polarizing figure on tour. pic.twitter.com/5MZP7HMWMu
— Noah Gross (@noah_gross27) September 7, 2024
There’s always that one weirdo around.
Matthew McConaughey happened to be in Texas. pic.twitter.com/JxVSH0nrqV
— Jacob Richman (@JacobHRichman) September 7, 2024
In the end, the Longhorns came away with a 31-12 win over Michigan, which was the best they could have hoped for. But can we talk a bit about McConaughey’s analysis? He highlighted the subtleties of Ewers’ pocket movement and how he handles pressure better than he has in years. Those topics alone are better than 90% of what you’ll hear at any sports halftime show.
If a political run, as he’s constantly hinted at, isn’t on the cards, McConaughey could be a designated hitter-style mainstay for the college football program whenever Texas plays in a big game. Think about it: In 2025, the Ewers era will be over and Arch Manning will be the quarterback.
Quinn Ewers 🤝 Matthew McConaughey 🤝 Archie Manning pic.twitter.com/Fb9AG1lj4P
— ESPN (@espn) September 7, 2024
Sam Ehlinger was a little overzealous in his infamous “We’re back!” proclamation, but Longhorns football is, in fact, back. It hasn’t been this back since the heyday of Vince Young.
Okay, okay, okay. And finally, here’s my favorite Texas McConaughey clip: Get ’em, Matthew. Rally the troops!
Minister of Culture. #McConTheBench pic.twitter.com/APE4vLfI70
— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) January 20, 2019
