SOONER Football doesn't impact my life outside what I allow it to, but this is an emotional event for me. It has been since I was a young boy probably 6 or 7 years old.
I was at my paternal grandmother's home (R.I.P.) and there is this memory etched in my mind.
The women of my clan were all in the kitchen/dining room, all of them talking incessantly.
The men, my father, uncles, brothers, & cousins were all gathered in the living room around a large radio. Lots were smoking and there were several drinking beer. I remember it was Schlitz.
The family had paused their lives to gather for this moment, a college football game!
I didn't really understand at the time, but remember as the game was being played the men of my clan talking with loud voices, sometimes heard what mama told me was "bad language." Sometimes they would stand & cheer!
My young mind knew right then,...THIS was a BIG DEAL!
And from that day until this, It always has been...IT ALWAYS WILL BE!
I've way too much angst to sleep. Been a long night filled with apprehension and more than a little worry.
Reason and mastery of my emotions fail me on the 2nd Saturday in October. The alienation from my emotional nature, so necessary for the conduct of my life, is suspended this day.
I indulge myself in a systematic gratification of irrational thoughts and imaginings, and seem powerless to control it.
While the game is played, it will be an emotional orgy. Moments of vast disappointment and even despair, between moments of incomprehensible joy and satisfaction.
The intensity of this game, the almost secret & sacred nature of it is the closest thing I know to a duel to the death. A gunfight in the street at High Noon. A gladiator moment.
The small, poor little redneck State north of the muddy red waters of the Red River gather like David in a holy mission to subdue Goliath on the waterway's south side.
Goliath has every advantage. The population, the money, the vast #'s of High School talent, the love of the media and this attitude of disrespect, looking down there noses at little David.
YOU would DARE to challenge US!!!
Damn straight!
With defiance in our eyes, with one hand in a "Horns Down" gesture and the other in an emphatic middle finger sign of our attitude towards you.
We're OKLAHOMA!!!
The SOONERS are OUR TEAM!
They represent OUR UNIVERSITY!
They stand for OUR STATE!
WIN, OR LOSE...WE SIDE THE OKLAHOMA SOONER FOOTBALL TEAM.
For texass, this is a Big Game.
For OKLAHOMA it's the Holy Grail!
That opportunity every year to show the nation who we are, what we believe in, what we love and what we're made of!
I repeat a famous prayer. (By I think, Scot Hill before a Nebraska game in the 70's.)
"PLEASE GOD...DON'T LET THE BEST TEAM WIN! AMEN!!!"
YA GOTTA BELIEVE!
