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Oklahoma’s rich sports history includes more than Sooners | Adams

Joining the SEC is nothing like competing in the SEC. I’m sure the conference’s newest members – Oklahoma and Texas – won’t need much time to figure that out.

The ego and revenue boost that comes with SEC membership is substantial. But negotiating an SEC schedule in almost any sports can be challenging at best.

Oklahoma’s first SEC football game – next Saturday in Norman against Tennessee – should be both challenging and historic.

The challenge will go both ways, though. The Vols have sputtered recently in SEC road games. And road trips to Norman, Oklahoma, seldom go well for anyone.

Being chosen as Oklahoma’s first SEC opponent makes you part of Sooners history. However, considering how successful Oklahoma football has been, I doubt any SEC athletic director lobbied conference commissioner Greg Sankey for the honor of welcoming the Sooners into the league.

Oklahoma has won seven national championships and 49 conference titles. It also has produced seven Heisman Trophy winners.

Sooners football might serve as the centerpiece of the state’s sports. But there is so much more to Oklahoma sports. You can see that for yourself if you have time to visit the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in downtown Oklahoma City while following the Vols.

Any sports fan can appreciate this hall of fame. There are so many prominent inductees it’s almost as though you’re touring a national sports hall of fame. You will recognize many of the names and probably think:  “I didn’t realize they had an Oklahoma connection. “

I’ll offer a few examples.

Jim Thorpe: An ABC poll ranked him as the greatest athlete of the 20th century. It’s easy to see why.

He won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon and pentathlon. He also distinguished himself in football as a running back, placekicker, and punter. He played professional…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/oklahomas-rich-sports-history-includes-090100857.html

Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Publish date : 2024-09-15 09:01:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.

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