Uncommon Fans

Uncommon Fans

If Oklahoma women's basketball is playing in Norman, family and friends of Mary Bane, Dee Butler and Carol Mattoon know exactly where to find them - cheering on the Sooners in the same seats they have owned since becoming season-ticket holders more than 10 years ago.

The trio encompasses a group of dedicated, loyal and uncommon fans that have filled the Lloyd Noble Center night in and night out for nearly 15 years. A span that also seen Oklahoma become one of the leaders in women's basketball attendance across the country.

When Mattoon started coming to games, making the trek to Norman was a bi-weekly, 125-mile pilgrimage from November to March.

“I lived in Fredrick (Oklahoma), which is about two hours from here, and I started coming to games around 10 years ago,” Mattoon said. “We drove sometimes two or three times a week because I love to watch basketball, especially OU women's basketball games.”

"I was actually dragged to a game. We were going to dinner with some friends and they told us we were all going to a game after we ate, and I fell in love with it from that point on."
Mary Bane

Now her trips to OU's campus are a short, 10-minute car ride. Mattoon loved attending games so much that she decided to move to Norman instead of driving four hours round trip multiple times a week. Uncommon dedication to a program she's watched for a decade.

For Bane, her first encounter with the Sooners was quite different.

“I was actually dragged to a game,” she explained. “We were going to dinner with some friends and they told us we were all going to a game after we ate, and I fell in love with it from that point on. I love the basketball, but I also love the program. I love the kind of girls Sherri (Coale) recruits. I love the kind of players and young women that they become.”

While they all agree on their love for Sooner basketball, the trio differs on their favorite games and players. Bane and Mattoon highlight OU's victory over Baylor last season as one of their favorite moments. Butler has plenty of games recorded on her DVR.

“My favorite player is Amanda Thompson,” Butler said with a smile. “There's been plenty of good ones like Courtney Paris, Danielle Robinson and a bunch more. But Amanda Thompson's senior night when we beat Oklahoma State by close to 40 points is something I'll never forget. I go back and watch that game on my DVR every summer.”

But they all point to one person that sparked their interest in the program - OU head coach Sherri Coale.

“In my mind, she is the program,” Bane said. “She built this. She went around the state trying to build this program to get people interested. Those championship banners show her dedication and hard work to this program.”

“She wins with character. I think these girls win with character,” Mattoon said. “I'm a firm believer that if you play hard and show character you can win games. That's exactly what Coach Coale has done at Oklahoma and that's why so many of us keeping coming back.”

While the Sooners have worked for weeks preparing for Nov. 13's season opener against Winthrop, the anticipation for a new year has also been building for OU's fans. And for this group, they don't plan on missing any of the action.

"She wins with character. I think these girls win with character. I'm a firm believer that if you play hard and show character you can win games. That's exactly what Coach Coale has done at Oklahoma and that's why so many of us keeping coming back.”
Carol Mattson

“You just don't want to miss a game. I've gotten people to come to these games and some of them have started to buy season tickets. I guess I'm a ticket recruiter,” Bane laughed.

For Butler, missing a game is not an option. She and Bane have sat next to one another for many years and recount only missing two home games thanks to a major snowstorm.

“Sometimes people come when you're only winning, but not our group of fans,” Butler smiled. “We don't miss games.”

Uncommon fans filled with an uncommon spirit.

Fans can purchase tickets by calling the OU Athletics Tickets Office at (800) 456-4668.

For more information on Oklahoma women's basketball, follow the Sooners on Twitter (@OU_WBBall) or like Oklahoma Sooners Women's Basketball on Facebook.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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