So, I think it is no secret that I am currently at the University of Oklahoma, which is a very big football school. Now, the football gene skipped me in my family, leading some to wonder if I am adopted. Contrary to the lack of the football gene, I do enjoy being with my family and so when my parents come to visit, I am more than happy to join them in the thin atmosphere of the "actually affordable" seats.
Tonight was one of those nights, and so I sat in the upper end zone of OU's first 2011 season game against Tulsa. (If there's someone out there who can explain to me why Tulsa is the "Golden Hurricanes, I would be appreciative.) We did win, by a large margin, and I enjoyed dragging my husband into the action by texting him a "smootch" every time we made a touchdown. (Yes, that is a Texas A&M thing - that's where I got my masters...)
Anyway, the whole point of this post is that during the pregame, OU brought the two hundred plus 2011 National Merit Scholars out onto the field. I thought this was awesome, although the fans around me looked askance when I yelled out, "Go academics!" Because I don't have the football gene, I have a really hard time appreciating the athletics program hoopla that surrounds life at a Big Twelve University. In fact, it often annoys me.
I watched Extraordinary Measures (2010) the other night. This is a movie based on a true story where a father works with a research scientist to develop a treatment for Pompe's disease. Early in the film, the research scientist makes this comment: "the university pays its football coach more than his entire research budget." That is the biggest thing that bothers me about athletics.
Now, I know that athletics pays for itself and more; I just wish that academic accomplishments got fancy video introductions and theme songs and "Think Like a Champion" banners too. That would be awesome. That's why I was so pleased to see the National Merit Scholars out on the field. Next year maybe they'll get theme music.
I swear though - I am making my own fancy video introduction for when I defend my dissertation. There is only one Oklahoma.
Just found this from Wikipedia:
ReplyDelete"The name "Golden Tornadoes" was chosen by TU football coach H.M. Archer (1922–24) based on new gold and black uniforms (rather than the previous orange and black) and a remark made during practice of the team "roaring through opponents" (during a season when TU went undefeated, including wins over Texas A&M and the University of Arkansas). However, it was quickly discovered that the same name had been chosen in 1917 by Georgia Tech. Archer then substituted the term "hurricane" for "tornado" and a team vote prior to leaving for the game against Texas A&M confirmed the official nickname as "Golden Hurricane".[2]"