An estimated 7,500 Sooner boosters leave happy
OU fans invade Boone Pickens stadium

Published: November 26, 2006

STILLWATER — Even though Oklahoma fan Todd Thacker lost his voice, his team won the game.

That made his vocal sacrifice worth it.

"I had to defend my turf," Thacker explained after the Sooners' 27-21 victory.

Actually, he and an estimated 7,500 OU fans invaded OSU turf. Crimson not only dominated the end-zone areas normally held by visiting fans but also heavily dotted other sections at Boone Pickens Stadium. Even some of the south side — sections held by big-time OSU boosters — had OU fans.

No matter where the Sooner fans sat, though, they left happy.

"It was a great game," Thacker said. "It was close, down to the wire.

"You couldn't ask for a better Bedlam game."

The OU victory keeps alive the Sooners' chance at a Big 12 title and a BCS bowl. Paired with Texas' loss on Friday, the Sooners claimed the South Division title and a spot in the Big 12 championship game next weekend.

Beat Nebraska in Kansas City, and OU will play in a BCS bowl.

That had some OU fans considering trips to the Big 12 game.

Tom and Welema Greer were thinking about making the trip to Kansas City from their home in Ponca City. Even though Welema is an OSU fan and wore her orange Saturday, Tom is an OU supporter who was decked out in crimson.

"It was an all-out good Bedlam football game," Tom Greer said. "One of the cleanest games I've seen. Less penalties. Less interceptions.

"It could have been closer than it was."

Then again, many a Sooner fan expected a tight game.

"Especially here in Stillwater," Amy Nguyen said as she and husband, My, waited for friends outside the stadium.

In the last five Bedlam games at OSU, the Cowboys have won twice and the Sooners have won the other three by a combined 14 points.

"We knew it would be a close game," Nguyen said. "They've both been playing well."

Now, with the possibility of a conference title and a BCS bowl, there's a positive vibe in the Sooner Nation.

"We've got some momentum now going in to play Nebraska," Thacker said. "I'm hoping we can keep it rolling and maybe get into the BCS."

Despite the disappointment of losses to Oregon and Texas, the Sooners still have a chance to win a conference title, which has become the program's yearly rallying cry under Bob Stoops. The talk is always about competing for championships.

"At the beginning of the season, they had their goals," Thacker said. "They find themselves today with all those goals still in front of them. I don't think they can be disappointed."