College Spotlight

The University of Oklahoma

OUThe University of Oklahoma is known as OU.

Mascots

Boomer and Sooner, white horses, are the costumed mascots.

What is a Boomer?• “Boomers” were the people who believed that

the unassigned land in Oklahoma was theirs to take from the Native Americans.

• They participated in the Boomer movement to stake claim to land in Oklahoma.

What is a “Sooner?”•During the Oklahoma land run, a race to win free land,

“Sooners” were the ones who snuck in and started the race “sooner” than everyone else. • He was prosperous,

ambitious, competent, a "can-do" individual.

ColorsThe official colors are crimson and cream.

Sooner SchoonerThe Sooner Schooner is a Conestoga (covered wagon)

similar to those used by pioneers who settled Oklahoma Territory around the time of the 1889 Land Run.

Pulled by white ponies named Boomer and Sooner, the Schooner races across the football field after every OU score.

• OU's all-male spirit squad, who maintains and drives the Schooner.

• Every year, over a hundred students apply to join the group but less than 12 are chosen

• The RUF/NEKS began in the late 1910s. In December 1915 at a basketball game a group of football players were yelling, cheering, and causing a ruckus. An elderly women shouted, "Sit down and be quiet you roughnecks!” The name stuck.

What is FADADA?• Before football games, the

players charge out of the tunnel and to their benches, led by the Schooner and the RUF/NEKS. The RUF/NEKS then charge across the field to the north end zone, sliding around the goal post and banging their paddles into the ground and chanting. The chant is known as FADADA.

• Supposedly, it brings good luck.

“FADADA FADADA FADADADeton boten doten

Raddy daddyDo hey

Feendit feendit feendit fa

Sooners SoonersRah rah rah”

RivalryOU and UT are huge rivals! Their football game each year is known as

the “Red River Rivalry.”The Red River is the river between Oklahoma and Texas.

Hand Signal• They make the UT

longhorn sign and point it down.

• They also put their arms up and make an O, then open their hands to make a U.

Location: Norman, OK

• Can you find Norman on the map?

• Norman is 420 miles from Humble/Kingwood

The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art

One of the finest university art museums in the country

Sources• www.ou.edu• Forbes.com• Wikipedia• Doggerbobble.com