OU Fans Look for Sooner Magic at Annual Big Red Rally

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- Hundreds of Sooner fans filled the practice field at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Friday for the annual Big Red Rally in hopes of finding a little "Sooner Magic" for Saturday's game.

The pep rally kicks off the football season each year, but fans said this year seems more important than most.

"Students are saying how they really need a pep rally now because of the way the season has opened," said Jake Elliott, the rally's organizer.

Oklahoma lost to BYU in a huge upset last week. Sam Bradford was also injured in the disappointing game.

"This is the time for what I call Sooner Magic. It's that tenacity and willingness to never give up. The football season is far from over. I'm optimistic," said OU President David Boren.

Head Coach Bob Stoops also had some words of optimism for the Sooner nation.

"We're not going to stop building and continuing to pursue championships and pursue success, and all that doesn't happen without all of you," Stoops said.

Many fans at Friday's pep rally said it did the trick to bring back some "Sooner Magic."

"It got me pumped up for the game tomorrow even though we did lose the first one I'm excited for tomorrow," said Sarah Bramlett, OU freshman.

One thing President Boren wanted the crowd to know is that the Associated Press has named OU's football program as consistently the greatest football program in America since the AP poll began.

Hundreds showed up to the rally Friday, but tens of thousands more are expected come game time on Saturday.

Norman police want to remind fans that parking is limited to one side of some neighborhood streets, a rule that was put in place last year.