Boomer and Sooner

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Boomer and Sooner pulling the Sooner Schooner. OklahomaSooners-BoomerSooner-Schooner.jpg
Boomer and Sooner pulling the Sooner Schooner.
Sooner, the costumed mascot of the University of Oklahoma. Boomer or Sooner Mascot.jpg
Sooner, the costumed mascot of the University of Oklahoma.

Boomer and Sooner are two matching white ponies who pull the Sooner Schooner, a Conestoga wagon across the field when the University of Oklahoma football team scores. The Sooner Schooner is the true mascot of the team, bringing to mind the pioneers who settled Indian Territory during the 1889 Land Run and were the original "Sooners". The Sooner Schooner represents the University of Oklahoma as a mascot for the university and its sports teams, the Oklahoma Sooners.

Contents

Boomer and Sooner ponies

The Sooner Schooner and ponies were introduced in 1964 and became the official mascot in 1980. The Sooner Schooner is cared for, maintained, and driven by both the Oklahoma RUF/NEKS, OU's all-male spirit squad, and the RUF/NEK Lil' Sis, OU's all-female spirit squad. Mick Cottom, a freshman Ruf/Nek member from Liberty Mounds, Oklahoma, has the distinction of being the first person to pilot the Schooner across Owen Field in 1964. Darby Dean became the first woman to drive the Sooner Schooner during the Bedlam football game on November 21, 2020. [1] The Sooner Schooner and ponies were kept at the Bartlett Ranch in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, till 2011 when the university took over the care for the Schooner and ponies. Charley F. (Buzz) Bartlett and his brother, Dr. M. S. Bartlett, organized the Doc and Buzz foundation in 1964 for the purpose of presenting scholarships to deserving students, but the foundation also supports the OU mascot.

There have been five sets of ponies.

Boomer and Sooner V are two crème white Welsh Ponies who were introduced in 2007 to replace the retiring Boomer and Sooner IV. [2]

Costumed mascots

Non-animal mascots were needed to represent the University of Oklahoma at certain athletic contests, charity events and children's hospitals. [3] The Boomer and Sooner costumed mascots represent the University of Oklahoma in these situations. They represent the two crème white ponies that pull the Sooner Schooner, [4] a Conestoga wagon across Owen Field in a victory ride after every OU score. Boomer is the blue-eyed horse and Sooner is the brown-eyed Horse. Traditionally, Boomer wears crimson jerseys and Sooner wears white jerseys that match the team that they are supporting. The mascots replaced the Top Daug mascot at Oklahoma Sooners basketball games. Boomer has competed in Universal Cheer Association National Competition for 4 years, placing 2nd in 2012.

See also

Related Research Articles

A boomer, or baby boomer, is a child born between 1946 and 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Oklahoma</span> Public university in Norman, Oklahoma, US

The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a public research university in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two territories became the state of Oklahoma. In Fall 2023, the university had 32,676 students enrolled, most at its main campus in Norman. Employing nearly 4,000 faculty members, the university offers 174 baccalaureate programs, 199 master's programs, 101 doctoral programs, and 88 certificate programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sooners</span> Settlers in Oklahoma, now a demonym

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conestoga wagon</span> Type of covered wagon

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land Rush of 1889</span> 1889 land run in Oklahoma, US

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"Boomer Sooner" is the fight song for the University of Oklahoma (OU). The lyrics were written in 1905 by Arthur M. Alden, an OU student and son of a local jeweler in Norman. The tune is taken from "Boola Boola", the fight song of Yale University. A year later, an additional section was appended, borrowed from the University of North Carolina's "I'm a Tar Heel Born".

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sooner Schooner</span> Official mascot of the sports teams of the University of Oklahoma Sooners

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherri Coale</span> American basketball player-coach

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">RUF/NEKS</span> Spirit squad of the Oklahoma Sooners

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Oklahoma Sooners football team</span> American college football season

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References

  1. "OU football: Darby Dean becomes first woman to drive Sooner Schooner". 21 November 2020.
  2. "Boomer and Sooner IV Retiring". University of Oklahoma. November 20, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  3. Mascots, University of Oklahoma Spirit Squads. (accessed October 7, 2013)
  4. "Mascots". Spirit Squads. Retrieved June 7, 2012.