Vulgar Display of Orange
11-13-2009, 06:37 AM
BY JAKE TROTTER Comments 56
Published: November 13, 2009
NORMAN — A controversy is brewing in Norman.
But it goes beyond play-calling, injuries or development of the offensive line.
This controversy has carried into the stands at the University of Oklahoma, where two of the state’s passions are clashing: patriotism and Sooner football.
Before each game, OU fans shout "home of the Sooners” instead of "home of the brave” at the end of "The Star-Spangled Banner.”
And the debate rages. Is this school spirit? Or disrespect to the national anthem?
"It’s really out of character for this state,” said Dick Murphy, a combat veteran from Boston, who moved to Norman after retiring from the Army and who buys season tickets for football and men’s and women’s basketball games. "I just feel it’s disrespectful to the flag and to the nation.
"It bugs me.”
Other fans don’t see what the big deal is. "I’ve never meant it as disrespect,” Chad Edwards said. "It’s simply a show of school spirit. Only prior to an Oklahoma football game do I say ‘Sooners,’ rather than ‘brave.’ Our servicemen are brave and the national anthem is important, but they are just words. Not showing support for the troops is disrespectful, not what we Sooners fans say prior to a game.”
Nobody knows exactly when people began shouting "home of the Sooners” before football games, though the consensus is that the practice began earlier this decade.
OU President David Boren, however, is asking fans to discontinue the burgeoning tradition.
"I strongly believe that the words to the national anthem should never be changed. Especially the word "brave” should be sung because it can be taken as a reference to those who have fought and given their lives for our country,” Boren said. "I sincerely hope our fans will choose to sing the national anthem with the words as they are written and then shout ‘Go Sooners’ just after the anthem is finished. To me that approach is more appropriate and honors both our country and university.”
School officials have made other attempts to end the ritual, with no success.
Before the Baylor game last month, a video message just before the anthem explained why America is home of the brave, a covert effort at persuading fans to not yell "home of the Sooners.”
Some still shouted "Sooners” at the top of their lungs, while others around them winced.
"I cringe every time the song ends,” OU fan Eddie Joslin said. "It’s not that I think people mean disrespect, they just don’t know any better.
"People just don’t understand what the national anthem represents.”
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Trash. You are all trash.
Published: November 13, 2009
NORMAN — A controversy is brewing in Norman.
But it goes beyond play-calling, injuries or development of the offensive line.
This controversy has carried into the stands at the University of Oklahoma, where two of the state’s passions are clashing: patriotism and Sooner football.
Before each game, OU fans shout "home of the Sooners” instead of "home of the brave” at the end of "The Star-Spangled Banner.”
And the debate rages. Is this school spirit? Or disrespect to the national anthem?
"It’s really out of character for this state,” said Dick Murphy, a combat veteran from Boston, who moved to Norman after retiring from the Army and who buys season tickets for football and men’s and women’s basketball games. "I just feel it’s disrespectful to the flag and to the nation.
"It bugs me.”
Other fans don’t see what the big deal is. "I’ve never meant it as disrespect,” Chad Edwards said. "It’s simply a show of school spirit. Only prior to an Oklahoma football game do I say ‘Sooners,’ rather than ‘brave.’ Our servicemen are brave and the national anthem is important, but they are just words. Not showing support for the troops is disrespectful, not what we Sooners fans say prior to a game.”
Nobody knows exactly when people began shouting "home of the Sooners” before football games, though the consensus is that the practice began earlier this decade.
OU President David Boren, however, is asking fans to discontinue the burgeoning tradition.
"I strongly believe that the words to the national anthem should never be changed. Especially the word "brave” should be sung because it can be taken as a reference to those who have fought and given their lives for our country,” Boren said. "I sincerely hope our fans will choose to sing the national anthem with the words as they are written and then shout ‘Go Sooners’ just after the anthem is finished. To me that approach is more appropriate and honors both our country and university.”
School officials have made other attempts to end the ritual, with no success.
Before the Baylor game last month, a video message just before the anthem explained why America is home of the brave, a covert effort at persuading fans to not yell "home of the Sooners.”
Some still shouted "Sooners” at the top of their lungs, while others around them winced.
"I cringe every time the song ends,” OU fan Eddie Joslin said. "It’s not that I think people mean disrespect, they just don’t know any better.
"People just don’t understand what the national anthem represents.”
--
Trash. You are all trash.