Two days until the OU game. Two days until battle against the Sooner team and its band.
Sometimes, the band is happy:
Sometimes, it is not:
In addition to emotional highs and lows, the band is known to play Boomer Sooner somewhat often. Fortunately, my spies have obtained the top secret chart for what the OU band will play during Saturday's game, and at what time:
Now, some of you may be wondering "what the hell does 'Boomer Sooner' mean?" Well, wonder no more:
The lyrics in the first verse refer to the Land Run of 1889, in which the land around the modern university was settled.[2] Boomers were people who campaigned for the lands to be opened. Sooners were land thieves who settled before the lands were opened, giving them an unfair advantage on finding, fencing, and claiming farm land. A number of the people who participated in the run entered the unoccupied land early and hid there until the legal time of entry to lay quick claim to some of the most choice homesteads. These people came to be identified as "Sooners." This led to hundreds of legal contests that arose and were decided first at local land offices and eventually by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Arguments included what constituted the "legal time of entry."[3] While some people think that the settlers who entered the territory at the legally appointed time were known as "boomers," the term actually refers to those who campaigned for the opening of the lands, led by David L. Payne.[citation needed]
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| An Oklahoma land rush. Not like the natives were doing anything with it. |
The University of Oklahoma's fight song, "Boomer Sooner," derives from these two names, the latter reflective of the institution's history of winning in major sports.[4]
So, enjoy a musical ode to land thievery. About 20 times during the game.
They played this song often during one particular game of note, the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, which I watched live on Bourbon Street with a number of fellow ND band members. OU's performance in that game was vital in creating one of the greatest college football games I have ever seen (the zanyness begins at the 2:30 mark, and continues on to one of the most spectacular [SPOILER REDACTED]s ever)
But OU football wasn't always the butt of jokes. Once upon a time, in 1953, Notre Dame beat Oklahoma. It was, at the time, an unremarkable game. OU tied its next game, and won the next one. And all the rest of their 1953 games. And then went undefeated in 1954. And 1955. And 1956, beating Notre Dame 40-0 in South Bend along the way, still Notre Dame's worst home loss in history. And then came 1957, with a return game in Norman, Oklahoma. OU had won 47 straight, and no-one was really expecting Terry Brennan and Notre Dame to win the game. Especially the people of Oklahoma, all of whom were solidly against the Irish (with the exception of small groups of Mexican-Americans).
The team arrived as they always did in those days, by train. And received a warm welcome from thousands of booing, jeering OU fans. The team practiced, went to their hotel for Friday night, and then went to mass the morning of the game. The booing crowds of Friday were no more. All that remained were a small group of Mexican-American kids, waiting for the team as they left mass on the 16th of November. The kids had one request for the visitors from South Bend: beat Oklahoma so they (the kids) wouldn't have to take crap for being Catholic anymore.
Meanwhile, many states away, a friend of mine's grandfather was sitting down at the local watering hole to watch the game. He was well-liked by his friends, a huge Notre Dame fan, and one of the best drinkers in town, but not necessarily the best of Catholics. he turned his eyes skyward and said, 'God, I'll make a deal with you. Let Notre Dame win this game and I promise I will never miss Mass again.'
A few minutes later, a kicker sent the ball spiraling into the dusty Oklahoma sky. One of college football's most famous games had begun.
To be continued.
Backer Song of the Day:
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