University of Oklahoma Athletics
marketing_year_of_the_fan
May 20, 2013 | Athletics
  |
|||||||||||
 Random Acts of Crimson OU Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione recently visited sports talk radio matriarch "Miss Effie" as she celebrated her 100th birthday. Castiglione was joined by mascot Boomer and Megan, the Pride of Oklahoma's featured twirler, to present Miss Effie with an OU sweatshirt throw for all she has done over the years for Sooner Athletics. Effie Heil grew up in Texas, but is a long-time OU fan. "Miss Effie" became well known to many Oklahomans through her participation on sports talk radio stations in the Oklahoma City-Norman area. Local newspapers featured her as one of the most unique stories on the airwaves. Her subject matter always centered on her beloved Sooners. The Athletics Department will conduct "Random Acts of Crimson" throughout OU's Year of the Fan. Sooner fans should be on the lookout throughout the year, both at events as well as in the community. Year of the Fan Pin Program There are thought to be some 500 web sites dedicated to the hobby of lapel pin collecting and Olympic pin trading dates back to the summer games of 1896. Until now, the University of Oklahoma Athletics Department has never commissioned its own pin collection. That will change in the upcoming school year when a pin set will be issued in conjunction with the Year of the Fan celebration. "This is another unique way to thank and engage our fans," said Charlie Taylor, assistant athletics director for marketing. "The pins are attractive and will make a fine addition to any collection of Sooner memorabilia." A set of 14 pins will be produced and made available at various OU events throughout the school year. The first is a football pin, which like all of the pins features the "There's Only One Oklahoma" slogan and the sport name. The first 7,000 fans to the OU Fan Fest for the Sept. 11 Florida State game will receive that pin. Pins also will go out at events involving 13 other OU sports. The number of pins at those events will range from 500-1,000, with the exception of men's and women's basketball pins, which will number 5,000. The only other dates that are already scheduled for distribution are the Sept. 29 volleyball match vs. Nebraska and the Oct. 14 soccer match, also against Nebraska. Some 1,000 pins will be distributed at both of those events. "We hope this program will encourage our fans to support all of our sports teams," Taylor said. "Last year, we had our highest-ever finish in the Director's Cup competition and we want our fans to enjoy all of our nationally competitive programs. The pins are a nice item that will allow those collecting them to sample a wide variety of our teams." There will be no charge for the pins. The sport pins are similar in design with the name of the sport differing on each one. Another round of specialty pins will carry a unique look that will relate specifically to a coach or a special piece of the Sooner tradition, including the Schooner and the Pride of Oklahoma. Those pins have not yet been revealed. Release dates will be announced periodically in advance of specific OU events. The pins will not be available at any other time or location. OU's Year of the Fan School records are hard to come by in Oklahoma's football program. The Sooner history, wrought with things like seven national championships and a 47-game winning streak, is such that improving on the existing standard is nearly impossible. That's part of what makes the upcoming 2010 season so interesting. Two significant milestones are within reach for OU. The first is in the realm of all-time wins. With its next victory, Oklahoma will reach No. 800, making it only eighth program to achieve that mark. The second milestone is one that could belong to the fans. The last 68 Oklahoma games have been sold out. The school record for consecutive sellouts is 69 from 1971-84. If OU sells out its opener against Utah State, it will tie that mark. A sellout in game two against Florida State, would set a new standard, which would coincide with every game of Bob Stoops' tenure as head coach. As a way of saying thank-you, the OU Athletics Department has designated the 2010-11 school year as the Year of the Fan. "The tradition here is always humbling, but especially so when you encounter milestones like these," said OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. "This is one of those brushes with Oklahoma's success that reminds you again of just how special this place has been for so many years. "We've always tried to make the fans feel part of what we do and it seems especially appropriate to make our appreciation known this year. And we want to do that well beyond football to encompass our entire department." |
The Huddle - 9/8/25
Monday, September 08
Sooner Sports Talk - 9/1/25
Monday, September 01
The Huddle - 9/1/25
Monday, September 01
The Huddle - 8/25/25
Monday, August 25
