Oklahoma Football: 8 Reasons Why Norman Is the Best Game Day Experience
Oklahoma Sooner football is most recognized for its runs at national championships year in and year out.
The Sooners also boast one of the best game day experiences in the nation.
Whether it be the raucous crowd at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium or the famous "Boomer Sooner" chant, Sooner fans produce some of the most unique traditions in all of college football.
If you are not familiar with game day at an Oklahoma Sooner football game, I hope you will read this article to better understand why it is such a memorable experience.
Here are eight reasons why Oklahoma football provides one of the best game day experiences for any fan of college football.
1. Fan Fest
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Every home game, the Sooner athletic department hosts Sooner Fan Fest on the east side of the stadium through Heisman Park.
Sooner Fan Fest allows Sooner fans of all ages to come and enjoy great food and entertainment before partaking in an Oklahoma football game.
Food vendors, inflatable interactive games and great places to sit and enjoy your food attract both children and adults to Fan Fest, ensuring that everybody enjoys themselves.
Oftentimes, an autograph tent is also set up inside Fan Fest for past and present Oklahoma Sooner athletes to spend some time with the fans and sign autographs.
They also have added a video screen for fans to enjoy other college football games around the country.
Sooner Fan Fest is a great way to enjoy your time at the stadium before even stepping a foot inside.
2. The Legends Lobby
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Legends Lobby provides a great perspective for fans on the celebrated history and tradition of Oklahoma Sooner football.
Featured in the beautiful Barry Switzer Center, Legends Lobby features past championship trophies, jerseys and any other kind of memorabilia imaginable.
Fans can call ahead and schedule tours of the three-story museum in which all three floors have a distinct feel to them.
The first floor highlights Sooner history with a wall-sized mural as well as a moving video screen that takes fans through the years of Oklahoma football.
The second floor concentrates on the many championships Oklahoma has claimed over the years and the coaches that have taken the Sooners to the top of college football.
Finally, the third floor focuses on individual accomplishments of different Sooner players, including the school's five Heisman Trophy winners.
Legends Lobby is an excellent addition to the Sooner game day experience.
(photo courtesy of ou.edu)
3. The Rich Past of Oklahoma Football
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One of the best things about the game day experience at an Oklahoma Sooner football in Norman is witnessing the decorated past of Oklahoma football.
The school has claimed five Heisman Trophy winners in its history along with seven national championships.
Oklahoma has dominated even more within its conference by winning 43 conference titles, including 14 in a row from 1946-1959.
While the past of Sooner football is not necessarily a tangible aspect of the experience, it still undoubtedly adds to the pride in which Sooner fans carry with them at the games.
Oklahoma Sooner football is a proven winner.
Experiencing a game day at a university that has had so much success over the years only enriches the totality of the experience to a even greater level.
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4. The Sooner Fans
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Perhaps one of the most memorable aspects of attending an Oklahoma Sooner football game is the crowd at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
When filled to capacity, Memorial Stadium can hold up to 82,112, making it the second-largest college football stadium in the Big 12 Conference.
The crowd has played a big part in Oklahoma's ability to win over the past decade in a major way.
From 1998-2007, Oklahoma had the best home record of any team in Division I football at 57-4.
Clearly, the fans affect the away team and inject energy into the Sooners.
Watching 80,000 fans erupt in the "Boomer Sooner" chant is also one of the best sights in football.
The Sooner fanbase is one of the best in the nation.
5. Boomer Sooner
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Boomer Sooner is one of the most recognizable chants in all of college football.
Written in 1905, Boomer Sooner remains the biggest fight song for Oklahoma as the team takes the field.
Boomer Sooner begins with the crowd yelling "Boomer Sooner!" numerous times and then following up with "Oklahoma, Oklahoma, OK U!"
Although away teams might not understand the passion behind this song, Boomer Sooner still brings fear to opposing players.
To the Oklahoma fans, there is nothing compared to Boomer Sooner when it comes to getting the fans riled up as the team makes its way onto the field or during a game-changing play.
6. The Pride of Oklahoma
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The Pride of Oklahoma plays an important part in the Oklahoma football game day experience.
As the team runs out onto the field, the Oklahoma band blares Boomer Sooner throughout the entire stadium.
The highlight of the Pride of Oklahoma comes when they first march onto the field for their first formation by interlocking to make an "OU" in the middle of the field while playing Boomer Sooner.
Another unique tradition by Oklahoma's band is that they taunt the opposing team by facing the away fans and playing that team's "fight song."
The Pride of Oklahoma adds a tremendous amount of passion within Sooner fans, which makes the game day experience all the better.
7. The Sooner Schooner
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The Sooner Schooner is one of the most popular pregame rituals at Oklahoma Sooner football games.
The Schooner was introduced in 1964 and became the official mascot of Oklahoma in 1980.
White ponies named Boomer and Sooner take the Schooner across the field while OU's RUF/NEKS, an all-male spirit squad, drive the Schooner.
The Sooner Schooner represents the mode of travel that pioneers used in Oklahoma territory around the 19th century.
It continues to be one of the most cherished pregame traditions in all of college football.
8. OU Always Plays in Big Games
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Playing in the Big 12 Conference, Oklahoma has become accustomed to playing in games with a lot on the line.
That only adds to the game day experience in Norman, Oklahoma.
Oftentimes if one attends a game at Oklahoma, it is against a big-time opponent.
In 2009 and 2010, Oklahoma hosted Florida State, BYU, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.
The Sooners will also welcome Missouri to Memorial Stadium in 2011.
The fact that the Sooners play such quality opponents out of conference and conference opponents at home every year allows fans to immerse themselves in the intensity and passion of the game.
If you attend a game at Oklahoma, make sure you go watch them play one of these high-caliber teams. You won't be disappointed.
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