Fans’ behavior during Sooners game was shameful I enjoyed the phenomenal game against the Sooners last Saturday with a fellow alum friend who had gotten two tickets that were next to the student section. I gave my regular season seat to another buddy. I have enjoyed games from many of the sections in Autzen and there are no bad seats, but there are the occasional bad neighbors. Every Sooner I met was gracious and represented Oklahoma well.
Several of the students across from us were awful to every Sooner that walked down what was left of the aisle. I had to grab the shoulder of a guy that was harassing a 2-year-old child who was dressed in a red cheerleader outfit while she was being held by her father. Her mother was following and visibly upset. They used security to help them negotiate the way on the other trip they made.
The student section was overfilled and uncontrolled and security had lost any control and gave up on keeping the exits clear. There was a blacked-out student leaning on my back in the fourth quarter before the crowd thinned out (the game was getting tough and more seats became available). He and his friend finally stumbled into the student seats and openly smoked a joint and tossed beer cans on the ground next to the aisle.
There is a problem that needs to be fixed. As an alumnus, I am asking the students to step up and help take control of our image to the community and the world, especially as we get well-deserved media exposure about our University because of our success. We need to be as gracious as the visiting Oklahoma fans were to us.
Students will apparently need control from more effective security, especially when ticket sales exceed the capacity of the seats.
Loren Berry
Springfield