OU Fans Usher In New Era In SEC With Norman Celebration

On Monday, the University of Oklahoma welcomed a new era of OU Athletics.

OU fans celebrated the switch to the Southeastern Conference with festivities at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

From the SEC network to live music at the Party in the Palace – fans from all over the nation came together to celebrate a new beginning. The excitement was worn on the faces of OU faithful young and old.  

“Sure, [we're excited],” said Pat Blunck, who graduated from OU in 1985. “I changed my flight one more day so I could stay to be here for this.”  

Blunck and his grandson Jackson Cook came from Gulf Breeze Florida where football is life. "I live in SEC territory,” Blunck said. “I’m ready to get it on. Be honest the Big Twelve got stale.”  

Cook roots for his home state the Florida Gators, but he gives the Sooners their credit. “I think OU is a better team,” Cook said. 

Blunck said he loves to return to a place with its drumbeat of success. “I attended the 2000 championship game down in Miami,” Blunck said. “We can see all the tradition that we’ve got here. This is the best.”  

However, the SEC defines the college football standard. “There’s been some tough teams,” Blunck said. “I think we’re as ready as we’re gonna be.”  

Oklahoma holds an opportunity on a grand stage. For Bunck, OU always means something, but a new era and a new conference mean more.  

“I sooner born sooner bred,” Blunck said. “When I die, I'll be sooner dead.”  

The Sooners welcome the Tennessee Volunteers for their SEC debut on Sept. 21.