It reminds me of when I realized what it means to be a Sooner. A life long commitment to a group of people that you love and adore based on mutual respect for something bigger than an individual, a title, or a team.... it's a way of life in the bible belt, it's an identity.
I remember waking up in my sorority house, squealing with excitement as we all rush to get ready, trying to decide which OU shirt/dress/accessory we should wear for the first game of the season.... walking on over to the Delt, Fiji or Beta house for some pre-drinks with the guys....
Then entering Tailgate Territory... Kegs, couches, grills, and tv's. Spread up and down Lindsay Street. It was always so fun to go from tailgate to tailgate, mingling with students, alums and fans in general. The time would come when we would mosey on over to the stadium to stake our claim in the student section. A sea of crimson, cream and greek letters... standing on top of the seats for the entirety of the game.
The moment the new Intro Video is played for the first time and silence descends on a sold-out stadium of over 82,000 fans. The moment the Drum Major does his infamous walk across the field.... The moment the Ruf/Neks shoot their shotguns and the moment our stadium sings our chant as one voice.
These are the moments I miss most about not living in Oklahoma. Without fail since I moved to Utah, I have cried every year for the first home game, OU/TX and OU/OSU. Whether at home, in my car or in public. It'll just hit me... and I'll cry. I thought this year I would make it. But no, I cried when my mom told me they were leaving to head to their tailgate.
I miss the enthusiasm, the excitement and the sheer nature of what it means to be a Sooner. They don't understand in Utah and tend to trash talk to me the majority of the time. Their teams are meek so I guess I can't blame them for not understanding what it means to have the greatest college football team of all time. Sometimes I wish I could just keep a card with this information on it to pass out at said shit-talking...
Record book
- Oklahoma has the most 10+ win seasons (32) and 11+ win seasons (20) of any program, as well as the fewest losing seasons (12) of any program.
- Oklahoma has been ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll (97 weeks)and No. 1 in the Top 5 (371 weeks) more than any team.
- In the "modern era", which is post-World War II, Oklahoma has the most wins with 567, and the highest winning percentage (.763) in the country (through 2011 Fiesta Bowl).
- Oklahoma has the most wins and best winning percentage in college football over the last 75 years (1935-current).
- Oklahoma is the only school to have played in all five BCS bowl games (Fiesta, Orange, Rose, Sugar and BCS Championship).
- Oklahoma is the only school to have four coaches with at least 100 wins each (Stoops, Switzer, Wilkinson, Owen).
- Oklahoma has had at least one first team all-conference player in 95 of the 96 seasons it has played in a conference.
- Most modern era NCAA-recognized titles with 16.
- Oklahoma holds the NCAA record for most consecutive victories with 47-straight (1953-1957).
- Oklahoma holds the NCAA record for most consecutive games without a defeat (48).
- Oklahoma has scored more points than any team in college football history with 31,436 (through the 2011 Fiesta Bowl).
- No program has more unanimous All-Americans than Oklahoma. OU and Notre Dame have 31 all-time.
- ESPN ranked Oklahoma as the most prestigious college football program overall since the advent of the AP Poll in 1936.
- Oklahoma had an NCAA-record 768 rushing yards in 1988 against Kansas State.
- Most weeks ranked No. 1 in the BCS with 20 weeks (through 2010 season).
- Most weeks ranked in top 5 in the BCS with 46 (through 2010 season).
- Oklahoma has the most rushing yards in a season with 5,635 in 1971, which was 470 yards per game (12 games)
- Oklahoma holds the NCAA record for the most points scored in a single season with 702 points through 12 games in the 2008 season (58.5 points per game).
- Oklahoma holds the record for scoring 60 or more points for five consecutive games[48]
- Oklahoma holds the record for most lopsided instate rivalry with a record of 82-16-7 (as of the end of the 2010 regular season) over Big 12 Conference opponent Oklahoma State. In fact the rivalry is so lopsided that Oklahoma has shut out Oklahoma State more times (28 - not including 0-0 ties) than Oklahoma State has won against Oklahoma with the Sooners winning the last 8 games in a row.
- In the 2010 NFL Draft, Oklahoma became the only school in the history of the NFL Draft to have three players selected in the first four picks of the draft.[49]
Oklahoma Pride.... doesn't even begin to say how much I love this team.
I was lucky to get students tickets every year in college, now I have two seats in my name waiting for me to come back to a game. I hope to make it one year soon.
via OU Athletic Department
Here's to a fantastic season! Boomer Sooner! Go OU!
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