It’s a long way up to the top of the Jumbotron in the south end zone of Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Let’s see if I can remember this right: it starts with a 50-foot metal ladder, followed by a succession of 10 more 10-foot metal ladders interrupted by brief jogs along a catwalk behind what used to be the country’s largest high-def television set. The sound system is nothing to sneeze at, either; if you don’t get up to the top before the teams get on the field for warm-ups it’s very possible you’ll lose an eardrum if you get too close to a giant woofer. All in all the trip up takes about 10 minutes at a leisurely pace, laden with camera equipment. And the rungs of the ladders are all coated with a sandpaper-like substance which ostensibly keeps your feet from slipping, but in reality does nothing more than strip your fingers raw. It only took me one trip up and down last year to learn the most important lesson of shooting from a perch atop Godzillatron: bring gloves.

But the climb is well worth it. And when you do reach the top? What a view.

More photos from the Longhorns’ 64-7 drubbing of the Miners…