FanHouse in the Stands: Da Bears Superfans, Texans Cheerleaders and More

This season, FanHouse writers take their cameras to NFL stadiums to document what happens when you stop being polite and start getting real. Or something. We've cleverly titled it "FanHouse in the Stands."

The Bears didn't get into the playoffs after their road loss to the Texans, but their fans deserve to be. Bears fans traveled to Reliant Stadium in visiting team numbers not seen since the Steelers came to town in 2005. They were very loud.

Da Bears Super Fans

Before the game, I got to chat with Da Bears Superfans who made their funny yet wrong predictions about the game:



Hmmm, maybe their predictions would have turned out if they had invoked the power of the word....Ditka.

Texans Super Fans

The Texans marketed this game as the "Fan Appreciation Game" and did give aways in the stadium. I had the good fortune to be picked to be on the Texans Game Day Program for the day honoring the fan base.

I thought that was pretty cool, and some silly person even asked for me to autograph his program.



Texans Not-So-Super Fan

The following picture is one side of the worst sign at Reliant Stadium. Everybody in the section was yelling at this lady to ditch the sign.

On one side it read, "8 n' 8 wud B GREAT" and on the other side it read, "WE WANT SAGE." Perhaps she wants him in some sort of sexual preference way because that is an awfully peculiar sign to be holding up while Matt Schaub is having a day where he ends up getting nominated for the Fed Ex Air Player of the Week.

I rant a bit about this sign more here, but I figured I should give the documentary proof:



Disappointed Bears Fan

Speaking of signs, I took this picture in one of the womens restrooms after the game. I guess the sign holder figured that was a good place to leave it. Seems to sum up the Bears season: Hope dumped into the toilet.



Tailgating Ice Sculpture - Shot Dispenser

For the last game of the season, they also choose who wins Tailgater of the Year. The contest is sponsored by the grocery store, HEB, so tailgates who want a chance to win have to pimp their tailgates out with HEB advertising.

I can't remember who won, and I can't find the link at the Texans site, but I have to commend the Raging Bull Tailgaters for the artistic rendering of the Texans logo in ice with a tube for doing shots through. They offered me a shot, but I'm a quality not quantity drinker.



Sad Texans Cheerleaders in Happier Times

After the game, I noticed that a number of the cheerleaders who were in front of my section began to cry. It was their last game to be together as a squad. Each year they have to try out again, and some know they will be doing different things next year. So in honor of the 2008 squad, here is a selection of them doing a dance near the end of the game. A few more clothes on than usual because of the coldish rainy weather: