Welcome to the party: Houston, Texas and old standby Alabama make playoff statements

ByHEATHER DINICH
September 5, 2016, 1:11 PM

— -- HOUSTON, ARLINGTON and AUSTIN, Texas -- His entire team had already trickled into the locker room, but Texas coach Charlie Strong lingered on the field at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Sunday, stopping for extra photos, hugs and handshakes as fans in each end zone chanted, "Char-lie! Char-lie! Char-lie!"

Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary ran toward him, giving him the signal to wrap it up.

"Man, you're the last one at the party!" he yelled. "Let's go!"

Texas hasn't partied like this in years.

"We needed tonight to get this program back in the spotlight, and this is a big win for us to get the program headed back," Strong said after an instant-classic, 50-47 double-overtime win against Notre Dame. "I know one game does not make a season. We have many more to go, but this is a great start for us, a record crowd.