How the Senior Sooner crimsonized this far off his rocker
Not Sooner forgotten ...
Want to look your best at OU sports events in crimsonized couture that's outrageously over the top? Okay, maybe that's still not you just yet, but the Senior Sooner sure does. (After all, Outrageous is my middle name, if I remember correctly.)
Sports' coat flip side
So should you see a guy wearing this coat, then HEY, IT'S ME! Say hello.
I know, I know, I'm known for being seen publicly in full football uniform due to my 20-year sports editing career off my OU Journalism degree. But you've got to agree that a better outfit is needed that represents Oklahoma's other successful sports, right?
So I fashioned this, uh, well, yes, sports coat with patches honoring softball, gymnastics, basketball and baseball on the sleeves. Silver slacks, a sequined press hat with a scrolling message sign and shoes and a tie that glow crimson complete the getup. Silver? Yes, like the color of my hair.
And while completing the coat I couldn't help but wonder how I got this far off my rocker.
It was algorithms, I tell you. They're to blame. Honest. No, really. I'm serious.
You see, having so much school spirit that you probably could smell it, I was looking online for a Sooner shirt that offered something more expressive than a little OU logo. And of course the web in turn enticed me with "all over printing," showing me shirts printed all over (hence the term) with numerous Oklahoma graphics. Several were better than what you see on game days at the Pa
This shirt had only the OU logo now inside the helmet.
Trouble was, these online shirts were expensive. Very. So I set out to upgrade ordinary shirts into extraordinary couture by somehow adding graphics. It helped that my soulmate of 49 years had pass
Trouble was, these online shirts were expensive. Very. So I set out to upgrade ordinary shirts into extraordinary couture by somehow adding graphics. It helped that my soulmate of 49 years had passed, leaving nobody at home to stop me.
I bought a better printer for graphics and got some encouraging results using an iron. So I obtained a heat press, then a sublimation printer and so on until my dining room table wouldn't hold it all. I had to turn a bedroom into my workshop, today jam packed with equipment.
Despite Google and product instructions, the learning curve was steep on all this. Mistakes were made. Many. Oh, they weren't big, like misspelling Olahoma or something -- but they were noticeable, and garments were ruined.
I wore successes around my senior complex, and folks tried to call me Mr. OU. I wouldn't allow it, since there already was a true fan by that name. So they've punted to Senior Sooner, which was fine with me since I'm a bona fide baby boomer Sooner who will be 80 this fall.
Since the price for a real OU jersey also was cost prohibitive on my budget, I created home and away ones. And, of course, those dang algorithms just had to show me OU Roughrider PANTS on eBay.
Now I'm not a fan of those alternative uniforms, but here's an idea: why not be bold enough to wear a full uniform to games, with pants as well as your favorite player's jersey. So I did. (Well, without a helmet, but I have one and somehow summoned the courage to don it, too, for the playoffs.)
I first wore football pants to Dallas because I knew I wouldn't stand out among the crazies at the state fair. How about at the Palace, though? Brent Venables' record-setting Spring Game provided an opportunity, and I woke up on game day feeling dangerous.
Along the way I was blessed by Bill Kaufman of the Sooner Magic Experience. You've likely seen him at OU games looking like a magician with a top hat and wand. Oh, and buckets of buttons that he gives out to fans in the stands. For FREE mind you.
When the economy cost me my season tickets, Lady Sarah and I retreated to Coaches Corner. To get fans to cheer like champions during telecasts there, I decided to bribe fans with freebies like Bill. And algorithms naturally led me to earrings, keychains, patches, coasters, flags, pompons, refrigerator magnets, pinwheels, stickers and bookmarks.
Freebies that bribed fans to cheer like a champion.
This past season my daughter Annette, taking over fThis past season my daughter Annette, taking over for Sarah, and I had a long table overflowing with free items -- all devoted toward making the Palace a noisy nightmare. However, OU fans' outstanding response at the playoff allows me to stamp the effort mission accomplished.
So should you see the Senior Sooner in either football togs or sports coat, remember it's all due to algorithms. So don't hold it against me and please say hi. I'm harmless, regardless of what saxeT fans claim.
