Week 3: Oklahoma

An Oklahoma game day should be atop every sports fanatic’s bucket list.

A rivalry renewed!

Nebraska 16, #3 Oklahoma 23

You’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere that matches the tradition and pageantry of Oklahoma Sooners football. Add in an old Big 12 rivalry we haven’t seen since 2010, and you’ve got an excellent game day.

Spencer Rattler and Oklahoma didn’t run the Cornhuskers out of town like most expected, making for a fairly entertaining game.

Defensive back D.J. Graham hauled in one of the best interceptions you’ll ever see. Flying through the air, one-handed… it will make all of the highlight reels for all time:

It was a hot day on the prairie, around 90º at kickoff. Without much of a breeze and 86,500 folks packed into Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, the feels-like temperature was likely pushing 100º.

Overall, you’ll enjoy yourself in Norman. Come early for the team walk and give yourself time to walk campus as well as to view the Heisman statues and Champions plaza. Coming the night before? I’d recommend the Barry Switzer Center attached to the south end zone of the stadium.

A tip worth noting is the free parking offered south of the stadium at the Loyd Noble Center. There’s shuttles available, but the walk is just over a mile if you don’t mind a workout. With the hefty price tag often attached to OU tickets, this is a nice reprieve on the wallet.

Almost nothing beats an Oklahoma game day.

Game Day Grades

Stadium: A. More recent renovations to the south end zone complex vaults Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to the elite ranks in the country. The press box could use updating, but chances are, you won’t be up there.

Tradition: A+. The Sooner Wagon. Boomer Sooner. History. Pride. Pageantry. Oklahoma’s got it all.

Atmosphere: B. It could be due to stadium layout, but noise just doesn’t hold like it does in other stadiums. There’s no shortage of passion, but the fanbase tends to lean a bit older.

Tailgating: D. I’m genuinely confused if I’m just not in the right place? I’ve walked all directions around campus and, for a school this size, there’s just not that much tailgating.

Fans: A. It’s not a secret that Oklahoma fans are some of the most dedicated. And I’m talking across decades, wealth, geography, doesn’t matter. Oklahoma fans LOVE their Sooners.

Extracurriculars: B. Norman is a fine college town. Plenty of places to eat, drink, and be merry. The living history around campus and the stadium is top-tier. Oklahoma City isn’t exactly a resort city and getting here can be tricky if you aren’t within driving distance.