As many of you know, our son attends the University of Oklahoma, and so I occassionally take a look at the Oklahoma Daily online -- just to get a feel of what's going on in Norman.
I ran across some letters to the editor which really struck a chord with me regarding the college football experience -- particularly sportsmanship.
While I'm sure this is true at many schools, it is not at some.
Some of the things people mentioned included scoreboard messages from the university president and head coach, The Pride of Oklahoma (band) playing the visitors fight song, personalized (logo) stats on the scoreboard, graciousness in winning, lack of insults and just basically a welcoming atmophere.
As an O.U. dad, it made me feel pretty good. This is the way all intercollegiate athletics should be.
Here are some edited comments from the paper from a fan from Houston and one from Bowling Green:
To the Editor,
"I attended the OU vs UH football game last Saturday, and in spite of the lopsided score, I came away having had a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
The OU campus is beautiful and the football stadium is not only beautiful, but is one of the best I've ever been in. But, lots of schools are beautiful and lots of stadiums are nice.
The main difference is I encountered a graciousness and hospitality that was genuine and refreshing. This is how I always thought the college football experience should be -- good sportsmanship on the field and in the stands.
I can't count the number of people who welcomed me before the game and were gracious after the thrashing of our young team. There was none of the nastiness and gloating I've encountered elsewhere.
Your students, alumni, and fans are justifiably proud of your team and University and it shows. These same folks also know how to be good winners, which sometimes is harder to find than good losers.
I also hope your team will someday come visit us in Houston. But regardless, thank you all for restoring my faith that true sportsmanship in college sports is not a thing of the past."
--University of Houston alumnus
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"This game was perhaps the best experience I have ever had at any game we have played. The very worst thing I heard from a Sooner fan was "How ya doin?" I have never been in a stadium, including ours, that was as welcoming and friendly to visiting fans. The Sooners have every right to be proud of their team, but I don't think the team realizes how proud they should be of their fans. I learned a valuable lesson this weekend -- big-school programs do not have to be intimidating off the field. A good team holds its own without a bunch of smack.
Before the game we were treated to a tour of the campus. Mary Ann, a Sooner through and through, invited us to meet her at 9:00 to take a look around the campus. She took us through the library, through several beautiful gardens surrounding wonderful sculpture, and through the rec hall. We were able to see parts of the campus that we would never have thought to look for. OU is a beautifullly kept campus. She explained some of the Sooner history and some of the projects in process. Every Sooner fan we met throughout Friday, Saturday, and Sunday was nothing but pleasant, helpful, and interested in BGSU..."
There were also some great notes from Oregon fans, but this is too long already.
In the end, it's great to know that this kind of atmosphere can still exist on a Saturday afternoon in the Fall at a big time football school...
http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArti...0&ATCLID=76587