NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma and OU Athletics Department are excited to announce plans for a series of special, free public events celebrating the Sooners’ historic move to the Southeastern Conference that will officially take place Monday as the Sooners, along with the Texas Longhorns, will join the SEC officially when July hits.
The celebration, sponsored by Riverwind Casino, will feature a full slate of fun activities for fans of all ages on OU’s Norman campus, including SEC Network programming, the athletics department’s popular summer equipment sale and open houses at the Barry Switzer Center and Love’s Field, with additional morning events in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It will culminate with a free and family-friendly “Party In The Palace presented by motorola razr” from 5-10 p.m. inside Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, with live music, appearances from OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. and OU Vice-President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione and a drone show above Owen Field.
“Entering the Southeastern Conference marks a transformative new era for the University of Oklahoma and all of Sooner Nation,” Harroz Jr. said. “This day of celebration is a tribute to our iconic traditions, relentless pursuit of excellence and the indomitable spirit of Sooner Magic. We can’t wait to bring our passion and pride to the SEC, and this event provides the perfect opportunity for the OU Family to come together and celebrate all that lies ahead.”
“This day is years in the making, so it’s appropriate for us to come together and celebrate,” Castiglio said. “We couldn’t be more excited to join the SEC. Our teams are poised for success and look forward to the competition with many of America’s most outstanding universities. At Oklahoma, we have a story to tell, and we’re invigorated by the opportunity with which we’re presented to share with the world what makes OU so special. Our resolute commitment to our student-athletes and their success and to our fans and their experience will only strengthen with this move. We can’t wait to welcome thousands of new people to our community as well as spread Sooner Magic throughout the SEC.”
