For those attending Saturday’s Oklahoma vs Baylor game in Norman be sure and be at your seats 20 minutes before kickoff.
What you will see and hear will be different. But familiar.
When the Pride of Oklahoma enters the field from the Memorial Stadium tunnels it will mark a return to tradition.
Gone will be the somewhat confusing and distorted pre-game show of 2013 (and earlier this year). Back will be the pre-game fanfare that introduced the Sooner football show of Barry Switzer’s wishbone. The same show that launched Bob Stoop’s head coaching career. The fanfare that began the 2000 National Championship game.
And with it will also return the swagger of a band that has had its reputation besmirched in recent months.
Much has been written about the turmoil of the Pride of Oklahoma band under the direction of Jason Stolarik, after his questionable hiring following Director Brian Britt’s resignation in 2012. You’ve read about last year’s walk out of the tuba players. The open revolt of Pride alumni on social media. Then, full page newspaper advertisements of quotes from current Pride musicians disgruntled with the band instruction under Stolarik.
All that changed two weeks ago when OU President David Boren replaced Stolarik with a familiar face — Mr. Britt. Britt returned from a public school administrative position in Texas to direct the Pride once again.
Give substantial credit to these current Pride students. They literally risked their college careers in making this happen. In making this band a better band. In doing so with the Sooner tradition in mind.
Give substantial credit to these current Pride students. They literally risked their college careers in making this happen. In making this band a better band. In doing so with the Sooner tradition in mind.
These marching musicians have had to adapt to a new (but familiar) band director and different marching drills in mid-season. Practice has been intense. But these kids have worked hard and responded well. After all, this is what they (and most OU football fans unhappy with the band’s recent status) wanted.
There now is peace and order in the Sooner universe.
And so with Britt’s return there also returns the tradition — if there is anything that marks the University of Oklahoma it is tradition — that fans will experience moments before kickoff against the Baylor Bears.
But more importantly that intangible quality of young people working together to be the best returns.
Hey, it is kind of the Oklahoma way.
Sure, many alums of the band had a lot to do with this renaissance. Some alums especially stepped up to confront the OU powers that be over the Stolarik affair.
But give the substantial credit to these current Pride students. They literally risked their college careers in making this happen. In making this band a better band. In doing so with the Sooner tradition in mind.
They will display all that on this Saturday morning in November.
Don’t be in your seats when the Pride does their “run on” to Owen Field. Be standing for them. They deserve our ovation. — Mike (yes, a Pride of Oklahoma alum)
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