The Rutledge children are back for Week 10 of college football, as ESPN/ABC analyst Laura Rutledge’s daughter Reese and son Jack attempted to make a pick on Saturday’s game between No. 9 Vanderbilt and No. 20 Texas (Noon ET, ABC).
Jack appeared to be more interested in toppling both the Commodores and Longhorns helmets Godzilla-style than making a pick, but his older sister Reese – after questioning if Jack is wearing a burnt-orange set of pajamas – stepped in to deliver some logic and an actual pick.
“We’re still trying to figure out what is going on with Arch Manning,” Reese said before resorting to the tried-and-true method of Eeny Meeny Miney Mo to select a winner.
That method, which we hope eventually becomes a wagering option in Vegas, landed Reese on Texas – to which she celebrated by awkwardly hoisting the white Longhorns helmet over her head and exclaimed “Texas the best!”
Although Vanderbilt leads the all-time series against Texas 8-3-1, the last time the teams met was in 1928 – with the series originating in 1899. The Commodores won that game 13-12 before a 96-year series hiatus set in and the game evolved through the Great Depression, leather helmets, World War II and games broadcast only on radio.
Texas-Vanderbilt has only been played once in Austin, that coming 124 years ago on Oct. 13, 1900. That game ended in a 5-5 tie. In all, 7 of the 12 previous Texas-Vanderbilt games ended in a shutout.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
