Joe Castiglione and Chris Del Conte chat often. Once or twice a week. Sometimes business, sometimes not. Either way, they end every phone call with the same farewell. “I love you.” Hundreds of thousands of OU and Texas fans just got nauseated. Bad enough that they swore allegiance in defecting together from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference, but now the dueling athletic directors are getting all mushy. 

Never fear. There will be no kisses on the cheek at midfield Saturday in the Cotton Bowl. No exchanges of cultural gifts. The Sooners and Longhorns will arrive ready to rumble, with switchblades and crow bars, trying to reach the opponent end zone and keep the infidels from doing the same. But the athletic directors will keep it cordial. It’s a business thing; OU and Texas are partners more than ever before. And it’s an Italian thing.