Tradition – it’s what sets universities apart. Tradition separates the men from the boys, the pledges from the established brothers/sisters, the current students from the alumni. Like many universities, Oklahoma is steeped in tradition. The Sooners face another team well-versed in tradition, none other than Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish. As a former student and Pride of Oklahoma marching band alum, I’d like to introduce you to some of the traditions you’re likely to see and hear this weekend while Norman hosts the Irish on ESPN’s College Game Day.
Play Like a Champion Today
Why not start with one of the most hotly debated traditions relevant to both Notre Dame and Oklahoma? Both teams have claimed that they used the slogan first, however, there is no definitive answer as to when Oklahoma first started using the inspirational slogan. The traditional “Play Like a Champion Today” sign hangs above the locker room door at Owen Field and as players and coaches take the field they touch the sign. A crimson banner adorned with the fabled slogan also faces the players as they take Owen Field. A travel version accompanies the team to away games.
Notre Dame has recently used their Play Like a Champion Today slogan in an advertising campaign, showing alumni touching the storied sign before preparing for their “fields of play” in career situations like doctors in hospitals, lawyers preparing for cases, etc. When it comes to football, though, the Sooners will come prepared to play like champions on the field.
Crimson and Cream
The university colors became official over a century ago in 1895. Crimson isn’t red, scarlet, maroon, or any other variant between red and purple – it’s Crimson.
The Sooners are hoping to make Sooner Nation proud by striping the stadium for the Notre Dame game. Information on stadium striping can be found at the official Sooner Sports site.
Boomer Sooner and Pride Songs
Yeah, yeah – we’ve all heard the “Ooooooooklahoma, where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain”. Everyone’s done it and we all know that there’s a classic movie that makes Oklahomans and fans of Oklahoma out to be corn fed, hokey, hillbillies. Well, as hard as it is to dispute that we aren’t all like that, especially with an all-male spirit squad called the Ruf/Neks, we really aren’t the yokels that we’re painted out to be. You’ll surely hear all kinds of iterations of the instantly recognizable song Oklahoma! throughout the game – shortened, sped up, cut off versions, versions with the whole chorus, others that only feature the opening line.
The song you’ll hear most of all though is Boomer Sooner. You may hear it a couple hundred times over, especially if they trounce the Irish. The Pride of Oklahoma marching band includes the fight song in their pre-game show, but also plays it before a touchdown, after a touchdown, to fill quiet gaps, during times outs, to cheer on the team and inspire the cheerleaders, during…I think you get it. The fight song, written in 1905, is essentially a mashup of North Carolina’s I’m a Tarheel Born and Yale’s Boola Boola. The lyrics are easy to learn, so get a head start on Saturday’s game:
Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner
Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner
Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner
Boomer Sooner, OK U!
Oklahoma, Oklahoma
Oklahoma, Oklahoma
Oklahoma, Oklahoma
Oklahoma, OK U!
I’m a Sooner born and Sooner bred
and when I die, I’ll be Sooner dead
Rah Oklahoma, Rah Oklahoma
Rah Oklahoma, OK U!
Not satisfied with one fight song, Oklahoma won a promotion in 1939 offered by NBC’s Red Radio Network and musician/bandleader/radio show host Fred Waring in which Waring composed a new fight song. O.K. Oklahoma is the Sooners’ secondary fight song and can be heard upon a successful PAT.
Though the song typically doesn’t get airtime on television, all fans, students and alumni are encouraged after every game, win or lose, to stand and raise their forefinger in the air to sing The OU Chant. The chant, written in 1936, is a beautiful and inspirational tune that promotes unity between all Sooners. Fancy yourself a true Sooners fan? Learn the song:
O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A
Our chant rolls on and on!
Thousands strong
Join heart and song
In alma mater’s praise
Of campus beautiful by day and night
Of colors proudly gleaming Red and White
‘Neath a western sky
OU’s chant will never die.
Live on University!
The Sooner Shooner
Remember when I said we aren’t the yokels that we’re made out to be? Here’s where you’ll doubt me. Sooner tradition includes a conestoga, or a covered wagon (like you used to see on the Oregon Trail game). The schooner charges out of the tunnel at the beginning of the game and is pulled by matching white ponies, aptly named Boomer and Sooner, and can also be spotted every time OU scores. The Ruf/Neks can be found driving the Schooner while waving their famous red and white paddles.
Say what you will about Sooner tradition, but never underestimate the power of Sooner Magic. The Sooners have a chance to reignite what was once a legendary rivalry. November 16, 1957 marked the end of a 1,512-day college winning streak by the Sooners. Notre Dame handed Oklahoma their first loss in 47 games by a tame score of 7-0. These two teams haven’t played one another since 1999, Bob Stoops’ first year as coach of the Sooners. OU looks to take down undefeated Notre Dame and tighten up their game just in time for bowl season.
BOOMER SOONER.
(Image courtesy of the author, Jennifer Metzler.)
