Texas Football Culture

Football in Texas isn’t just a sport — it’s a way of life. From Friday night lights in small towns where the whole community packs the stands, to the massive stadiums of high school programs that rival college facilities, football is woven into the state’s identity. Rivalries span generations. Here, “Friday Night Lights” is reality. Whether it’s high school on Friday Nights, college on Saturdays, or the Cowboys and Texans on Sunday, football in Texas is about pride, community, and tradition passed down from one generation to the next.

How is Texas High School Football Different?
🏈 Friday Night Lights are king: High school football in Texas draws crowds of 10,000–20,000+ in some towns. Entire economies (restaurants, gas stations) adjust their schedules around game nights. Other states care about high school football, but the scale in Texas is unmatched.

🏈 Stadiums on a different level: Texas high schools have built facilities that would make some college programs jealous. Allen’s Eagle Stadium is a $60M venue that comfortably seats 18,000 fans. McKinney is Allen’s next-door neighbor. The main McKinney ISD Stadium cost $70M and seats 12,000. Frisco ISD has a $50M indoor facility at The Star. It expands to seat 20,000 and doubles as the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility. That doesn’t happen anywhere else.

🏈 No state championship by classification: Most states have one champion per class. Texas has seven tiers for 11-man football plus six-man divisions with two 6A championship game divisions (2,215+ enrollment). The competition depth is absurd.

🏈 It’s a multi-generational identity: Families in Texas track their lineage through Friday night history. Grandpa played for this school, dad did too, now the kids wear the same jersey numbers. In most states, that’s college talk — in Texas, it starts in 9th grade.

🏈 The culture is everywhere: Even in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin (huge cities), high school football dominates local news and water-cooler talk. In other big-city states, high school sports usually take a backseat to pro teams.

SMU running back Zach Line (48) forces his way
across the goal line against Tulane in Dallas
on Nov. 5, 2011.
Mark M. Hancock & The Dallas Morning News

Texas College Football History
🏈 Texas has produced more NFL talent than any other state for decades running. Texas has produced 12 Heisman winners, from Davey O’Brien (1938) to Johnny Manziel (2012). It’s not just a sport here — it’s the sport.

🏈 The University of Texas played its first football game against a club team in Dallas in 1893.

🏈 The Heisman Trophy itself has a Texas connection. John Heisman coached at Rice University from 1924–1927.

🏈 Doak Walker, Namesake of the Doak Walker Award given to the nation’s best running back, played for Dallas’ Southern Methodist University in 1948.

🏈 Earl Campbell, “The Tyler Rose,” bulldozed his way to the Heisman and led the University of Texas to a national title in the same season in 1977.

Texas Pro Football Fun Facts
🏈 The Dallas Texans were the AFL’s first champions: In 1962, the Texans beat the Houston Oilers 20–17 in the longest pro football championship game ever (77 minutes, 54 seconds). A year later, owner Lamar Hunt moved the team to Kansas City, where they became the Chiefs.

🏈 The “Hail Mary” was coined in Texas: With 16 seconds left in a 1975 playoff game, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson to beat the Vikings. Afterward, Staubach said, “I closed my eyes and said a Hail Mary.” The term stuck forever.

🏈 Houston Texans are the youngest NFL franchise: They began play in 2002 as an expansion team after the Oilers left for Tennessee in 1996.

🏈 The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable: According to Forbes’ 2025 valuation list (published December 2025), the Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports team on the planet at $13 billion. Not just American football - all sports, worldwide.

The Cowboys have held the No. 1 spot since 2016 and are roughly $2 billion ahead of the No. 2 team (the NBA’s Golden State Warriors). They also generated $629 million in operating income last season alone. And all this despite not appearing in a Super Bowl since 1995. The brand is simply untouchable.

Texas football is a different beast entirely. High schools draw thousands of fans to multi-million-dollar stadiums each week. That same pipeline has produced 12 Heisman winners and more NFL talent than any other state. The Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports team on the planet at $13 billion.

Y’all can download my newest book “Welcome to Texas” for free! Print a copy for your coffee table and share it with friends. It is a great starter guide for new Texans and proud Texans who love the state. View or download the new book or my other books for free at this link.

I've Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Build Certified
214-862-7212 (call or text)
DFWmark@kw.com
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #football #WelcomeToTexas #western #Texas #culture

Welcome to Texas!

You can download or view my newest guide for FREE!

Whether you arrived yesterday or have been here your whole life, you are part of something extraordinary! This guide celebrates Texana. It explains our Lone Star culture, history, weather, celebrations, traditions, contributions, and the land under it all.

This is a great guide to quickly acquire the knowledge to become a true Texan. It also lets you soak up the warmth of knowing you're in a place where big dreams become real. It will continue to grow with new future pieces.

Texas is the Friendship State and a state of mind. The brisket, Dr Pepper, big trucks, cowpokes, Buc-ee's, rocket ships, and endless skies are the invitation. The people with golden hearts make this place home!

I’ve Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Construction Certified
214-862-7212
dfwmark@KW.com
DFWmark.blogspot.com
Download the DFWmark App

#DFWmark #FreeBook #Welcome #Texas #Texana #Culture #Travel

State Fair of Texas

The annual State Fair of Texas has unique features to set it apart from other state fairs. It’s a bucket list item for visitors and new Texas residents. It’s a family tradition for most lifelong Texans. Everything is bigger in Texas!

It is one of the largest state fairs in the U.S. The historic Fair Park covers 277 acres within sight of downtown Dallas. The fair has more than 2,000 vendors, rides, and exhibits. The State Fair of Texas began in 1886. The fair starts on the last Friday of September and greets more than 2 million guests within 24 days. Don’t miss the nightly Starlight Parades, fireworks, acrobats, music and more. It requires more than a day to see it all!

It is one of the largest state fairs in the U.S. The historic Fair Park covers 277 acres within sight of downtown Dallas. The fair has more than 2,000 vendors, rides, and exhibits. The State Fair of Texas began in 1886. The fair starts on Friday of the last full weekend in September and greets more than 2 million guests within 24 days. Don’t miss the nightly Starlight Parades, fireworks, acrobats and more. It requires more than a day to see it all!

• Big Tex: Big Tex is the fair’s mascot and is known as the world’s tallest cowboy. Since 1952, the 55-foot-tall figure has greeted visitors and served as a symbol of the event. He was rebuilt in 2013 after a tragic fire in 2012.

• Iconic Food: The Corny Dog was first introduced by the Fletcher family in 1938. Since then, the fair is known for its inventive and sometimes outrageous food offerings. The Big Tex Choice Awards features creative fried foods like cheesecake, butter, Twinkies and even fried beer. This year includes Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick. The fair is a culinary adventure with new smells and tastes every few feet.

• Historic Location: The fair is held at Fair Park, a historic site with significant Art Deco architecture and numerous museums and iconic sculptures.

• Livestock and Agricultural Exhibits: The Texas State Fair places a strong emphasis on its agricultural roots, showcasing a wide range of livestock, farm products, and horticulture. The scale and quality of these exhibits are particularly impressive.

• Music and Entertainment: The fair offers live entertainment every day with more than 100 acts across three stages, musical acts span genres from country to rock. This includes performances by big-name artists on the main stage as well as local talent.

• Cultural Celebrations: The fair often highlights Texas culture and heritage, including its diverse ethnic traditions, dancing, food and customs. Special events, parades, marionette shows, and exhibits celebrate the state’s unique and broad cultural landscape.

• Carnival Rides and Games: With an extensive selection of rides and games, the fair provides entertainment for all ages. The rides range from thrilling roller coasters to classic carousels. The 212-foot-high Texas Star was the tallest Ferris wheel in North America when it was built in 1985.

• Red River Rivalry: The football game between the University of Texas and Oklahoma University draws fans from the region along with other key games.

• Rodeos: Each rodeo in 2024 in the Fair Park Coliseum is free with admission to the Fair. Rodeos are held on weekends and feature bull riding, bucking horses, cultural specialties and even wild cow milking.

• DART to the Door: Save parking fees and hassles. Ride DART light rail from your town to the gate daily.

•Creative Arts: Texan creative artists are on full display in the Creative Arts Building. Enjoy everything from fine arts to award-winning recipes. Major items include ceramics, designer craftsman, dolls, canning, hobby collections, needlework, sewing, quilts, rugs, photography, scale models and witty shoe dioramas.
Cooking contests are held each morning in the Creative Arts building along with demonstrations.

• Museums: Historic fairgrounds museums include the Women’s Museum, African American Museum, Hall of State, Children’s Aquarium and more.

• Insider secret: Museums typically have the cleanest and least crowded bathrooms at the fair.

Visit BigTex.com for more information.

You can also view or download the whole Information Of Value or my other books for free at: https://dfwmark.blogspot.com/2021/11/free-books-by-dfwmark.html

I've Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Build certified
KW North Country Realty
214-862-7212
markhancockrealty@gmail.com
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #InformationOfValue #StateFair #Texas #annual #entertainment #community #food #history

Texas Independence Day

Happy Texas Independence Day!

I’ve Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Build certified
DFWmark.com
214-862-7212

#DFWmark #TexasIndependenceDay #Texas #freedom #WildWest #Texan

Texas Land Considerations

Texas has a lot of land to sell and conditions to consider. Buying land in Texas is different than buying a house. In addition to using different contracts, land use and size dictates which contract will be used.
A small unimproved parcel of land will probably use an Unimproved Land contract while a larger tract of land with buildings on the property is most likely to use a Farm and Ranch contract, which allows for price changes based on surveyor results. Throughout the process, Buyers need to be careful where they step – especially around cows.
Thorough due diligence and consultation with relevant professionals are essential for Texas land buyers to make informed decisions and mitigate potential risks associated with purchasing land. Buyers are ultimately responsible for what they choose to purchase. Let’s examine some ways to avoid pitfalls along the way to land ownership.

Zoning and Land Use
How a Buyer intends to use the land is a vital decision before anyone looks for land. Will there be animals, a mobile home, a house, two houses, a workshop, a business, a camper trailer, an industrial truck, or any farm equipment? Each of these can be a potential problem for the land buyer.
Zoning regulations can vary widely between urban, suburban, and rural areas. Be clear about the use of the land to find the right land.

Location
Texas is a vast state with diverse landscapes from swamps to deserts, so buyers should consider the specific region and its annual rainfall, proximity to amenities, employment opportunities, schools, transportation, paved roads and other important facilities.

Deed Restrictions
Deed restrictions are conditions set upon the land to future landowners. Most of these conditions are limitations of use. The most common deed restrictions do not allow mobile homes, secondary homes on the same property, no large trucks or trailers, limited animals, or a restriction of animal size.

Topography and Soil Quality
The land's topography and soil quality can significantly impact its potential uses, such as agriculture, development, or recreational activities. Buyers should assess these factors along with a “soil sample” (test) to determine the suitability of the land for their intended purposes.

Access and Easements
Access to the property and any existing easements for roads or utilities should be clarified to ensure that buyers have legal access to their land and that there are no encroachments or restrictions that could affect their use of the property.

Mineral Rights
Mineral rights can be sold separately (severed) from land or conveyed with the land. Many sellers may want to retain some or all of their mineral rights when they sell the land. This is part of the negotiation process of buying the land.
More frequently, a seller doesn’t know if they even own the mineral rights. A “Landman” must be hired to investigate and determine who owns the mineral rights under any specific plot of land. This isn’t a cheap project, which is why most people don’t know if they own the mineral rights under their land. Most landmen are part of the AAPL (American Association of Petroleum Landmen).
If another person or entity owns the mineral rights under the land you purchase, the mineral rights are considered “dominant,” and the landowner must give the mineral rights owner access to extract their products including surface products such as soil, sand and water.

Water Rights
There are two broad categories of water rights in Texas: groundwater and surface water.
Groundwater is “water percolating below the surface of the earth” according to the Texas Water Code. If there are no other agreements, landowners own the groundwater beneath their property. A severed groundwater right is also the dominant estate in Texas.
Surface water collects on top of land. When a piece of land has a creek, river or lake on the land, the water itself is not necessarily owned by the landowner. According to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, “The State of Texas owns surface water and a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is generally required to divert state-owned surface water.” A TCEQ permit allows the holder to use a designated amount of water for a designated purpose.

Cash or Financed?
Cash is always king in real estate. Cash makes the entire transaction easier. Without lenders involved, the buyer can accept the property in any condition, can close as soon as the ink is dry on the contract and can often negotiate extra concessions from the Seller.
All deals – including cash and Veterans Administration (VA) loans will require about 2.5% of the sales price for closing costs.
Financed
Buying land through a lender has higher hurdles than a cash purchase. The lender will most often require the borrower to pay 20% down on a 15-year mortgage. Additionally, not all lenders are willing to make land loans. Buyers will need to find lenders willing to finance land loans. The land must also appraise for the sales price or less. Otherwise, the buyer will be required to pay the difference in cash – even if a significant down payment was paid.

How much land?
Many land lenders will also require the land to be more than 10 acres. A few credit unions will allow loans for less than five acres, but most land lenders are interested in 10 or more acres.
That said, agriculture tax exemptions can occur on as little as five acres anywhere in the state of Texas if the land has active bee hives. However, most counties will require at least 10 acres for an “ag exemption.”

Exempt or Not
As mentioned above, land can be exempt. I’ve written an entire post about exemptions, but the most likely use of land is for an ag exemption. The land must be “productive” to earn an ag exemption. Furthermore, it must be productive for at least five years before it is granted an exemption by the county.
Buyers should check with the county Central Appraisal District (CAD) to determine if specific land already has an exemption or will qualify for one.

Surveys
Most urban surveys are based on a Lot and Block system and platted at the city. Meanwhile, rural surveys are more likely to use a Metes and Bounds system, which measures distances from specific stakes or landmarks.
Obtaining a survey of the property and verifying its boundaries is essential to ensure that buyers are purchasing the correct parcel of land and to avoid any boundary disputes in the future.

Utilities
The most common utilities are electricity, natural gas, water, sewage, cable and internet connectivity. Land that has access to all utilities will often cost more because buyers will otherwise need to pay utility companies to bring those utilities to the property – at a cost per linear foot.
Depending on the governing jurisdiction, electricity, water and sewage may be required before a certificate of occupancy is authorized. If a water well, septic tank or propane tank are needed due to a lack of infrastructure, ensure it’s legal at that location according to all controlling governmental entities.

Water
Water can be supplied by a city, a water district, a water well or even a water service. City and water districts often have the lowest starting cost. Depending on the land, a water well can be extremely expensive and could be illegal. You can know more about water here.
If water isn’t currently at the property, a water line may need to be installed across another property owner’s land. This will create a need for the Buyer to acquire a Right of Way Easement from each landowner between the Buyer and the water supply if a water line doesn’t already exist.

Sewage
Rural areas may require a septic system to handle sewage. If a septic system currently exists on the property, an Information About On-Site Sewer Facility form will be required to convey the land. Sewage is often handled by the city in urban areas. Many cities will not allow septic systems.

Environmental Considerations
Buyers should conduct environmental assessments to identify any potential hazards or restrictions on the property, such as flood zones, wetlands, endangered species habitats, or contamination from previous land uses.

Future Development Plans
Buyers should research any potential future development plans or infrastructure projects in the area that could impact the value or use of the land.

I've Got Your Six!

Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Build certified
214-862-7212
DFWmark.com

#DFWmark #REALTOR #MarketWatch #ResidentialMarket #LeaseMarket #RealEstate #Sold #NewListings #Pending #Leased

Fair Housing for Renters in Texas

Want to learn more about fair housing for renters in Texas?
Please follow this link.
In addition to what you can do if your rights are violated, you can learn about common fair housing concerns such as:

• Landlord-Tenant Law in TDHCA Properties
• Families with Children
• Occupancy Standards
• Steering
• Reasonable Accommodations
• Eviction

I've Got Your Six!
DFWmark.com