I do love football, especially the OU Sooners, but I have nothing against Southern Methodist University’s ponies.

Ponies–that is what you call those Mustangs, right? Anyway, I could have been an SMU fan, because I was accepted and everything, but…I digress. The other evening I found myself chatting with SMU royalty, but being a Sooner, I didn’t even realize it.

I just want you to know that I spent a long time visiting with the oh-so-nice Lance McIlhenny at a reception, and only when the organizer of the soiree ask how long he was he able to stay, did I learn he was an honored guest. Yes, the polite, mild-mannered guest once tore up the Cotton Bowl and is the winningest quarterback in SMU history. Well, I declare.

Anyway, we met at City Cafe (www.thecitycafedallas.com) , where Karim Alaoui, one of my boyfriends holds court (bonjour, mon ami), to celebrate dallas author Gene Wilson’s new book, Kings of the HIlltop. (http://www.thewilsoncompany.com/gene_wilson_books.html)  As we sipped wine and some vodka-concoction called “Pony-something,” Wilson autographed the book dedicated to SMU football and its quarterbacks. I didn’t get to read the book yet–the line was long to get your autographed copy–but evidently Mr. Quarterback Lance is mentioned prominently in the tome.

The book-signing reception benefited Children’s Cancer Fund. Helping children, talking football, sipping wine–score!

Rebecca Robinson, Miss Texas 2008

The Dallas Cowboys football team isn’t the only organization making a move to Arlington.

The Miss Texas Scholarship Pageant (MissTexas.org) is pulling up stakes in Fort Worth, a city it’s called home for 46 years, and making the move to Texas Hall at the University of Texas at Arlington. Preliminary competitions are set for 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at UTA, with the final competition set for 7 p.m. Friday.

The new Miss Texas will follow Rebecca Robinson, Miss Texas 2008. The winner will represent the Lone Star State at the Miss America Pageant, which in recent years has moved from its traditional home of Atlantic City, NJ to Las Vegas, NV.

Robinson, a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Spanish, performed a high-energy tap dance to “Hey Pachuco!” to win the Miss Texas title. Among her many accomplishments this year, she was chosen to sing the National Anthem at The Cotton Bowl and was selected as the subject of a United Way of America video promoting education.  

To become Miss Texas, a contestant must first win a local competition. This year contestants will represent 37 areas from acorss the state. During preliminaries, the competitors are broken into three groups, with each group presenting a different part of the competition for the judges’ review. Those scores will be used to select finalists to compete in Friday’s pageant where the new Miss Texas will be selected.

The Miss Texas Scholarship Pageant will be held concurrently with the Miss Teen Texas Pageant, a competition that began in 1990. The current Miss Teen Texas is Sydney Capello.

Tickets are available from Central Ticket Office. Check CentralTicketOffice.com.

Preliminary winners will be updated this week at www.eSocialWorld.com.

Sydney Capello, Miss Teen Texas