Quote :

"Many fans want ‘Home of the Sooners’ refrain to stop FootballMany OU fans, officials want anthem ending to stop BY JAKE TROTTER Comments 447 Published: November 13, 2009 NORMAN — A controversy is brewing in Norman. University of Oklahoma football fans wave flags Sept. 11, 2004, during the national anthem at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Before each game, many OU fans shout "home of the Sooners” at the end of the anthem. The chant is causing a controversy. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman Archive "I strongly believe that the words to the national anthem should never be changed." David Boren University of Oklahoma president 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.” Read more: http://newsok.com//article/3417055?custom_click=rss#ixzz0WpDVTgQO"

WTF is wrong with these people, don't they know that America is the home of the WOLFPACK and not the Sooners....

Word on the streets is that they also emphasize the O and U at the begining...

OH THE HUMANITY!!!!

11/14/2009 4:41:21 AM

First.

I agree though. I don't say "Red" or "Wolfpack" I think both are stupid but I guess it's whatever.

11/14/2009 4:45:21 AM

OH SAY CAN JUSSI

11/14/2009 4:56:20 AM

This thread has never been done before, nor anything like it.

11/14/2009 5:24:55 AM

I love these threads

and I love the 'red' and 'wolfpack' additions

and I love all the people who are so offended by it

11/14/2009 7:12:43 AM

isnt there a 30 page thread on this somewhere?

11/14/2009 7:15:53 AM

oh more than one, I can remember at least three 20-30 page threads on this topic, they all read exactly the same too

11/14/2009 7:17:09 AM

i went to a 'canes game.. did they really say Jussi? I didn't understand why they were all loud, but i was ready for the "RED" and nobody made wolfpack hands at the end with me

11/14/2009 7:37:54 AM

Yes, they really said Jussi.

11/14/2009 7:54:01 AM

i did like the little trick that was pulled during the basketball games

when the band played the anthem in the instrumental version, the yelling dropped off a good bit

made me lolz

11/14/2009 9:49:07 AM

WHO CARES

11/14/2009 2:12:07 PM

Who the hell cares, people act as if saying something during a song completely destroys everything. ITS A FUCKING SONG, NOTHING MORE

11/14/2009 2:21:47 PM

If you yell something during the National Anthem that clearly means you hate the troops, hate America, and should GIT OUT.

11/14/2009 3:02:14 PM

they should take a page out of the Ole Miss playbook and just stop playing the national anthem, lol

11/14/2009 3:07:45 PM