Oklahoma: Home of the…Sooners?

Oklahoma is the home of the Sooners; that’s no controversy. What is controversial, however, is that some Oklahoma fans have taken it upon themselves to add this line to the national anthem, shouting “Land of the free/And home of the SOONERS” instead of the true lyrics to the song. While this may at first seem like an innocent show of school spirit, some fans are outraged, according to reports by NewsOK.

“I just feel it’s disrespectful to the flag and to the nation. It bugs me,” says one Sooners fan, Dick Murphy, who served in the military before retiring to Norman. He isn’t alone. Many other Oklahoma fans are speaking out against the practice, which began earlier this decade (school officials couldn’t more closely pinpoint when it started). Oklahoma president David Boren agrees, saying,

“I strongly believe that the words to the national anthem should never be changed. Especially the word “brave” should be sung because it can be taken as a reference to those who have fought and given their lives for our country. I sincerely hope our fans will choose to sing the national anthem with the words as they are written and then shout ‘Go Sooners’ just after the anthem is finished. To me that approach is more appropriate and honors both our country and university.”

Soon, there may be as big of a group yelling “brave” as their is yelling “Sooners” at the end of the anthem. Fans note, however, that this shouldn’t have to be a shouting match. Those yelling the incorrect word likely don’t mean disrespect to the country or the men and women serving in the military today. They’ve noted that it is just fun, and that they’re “just words.”

Picture via sxc.hu.