It’s that time of year again – Texas Hate Week! The iconic Red River Showdown is just around the corner. Thousands of fans are preparing to make the journey to Dallas, Texas to cheer the Sooners to another victory against the Longhorns.
It sort of feels like any other week, but campus is getting ready for the rivalry. Many professors have canceled classes for Friday. Just to the west of the library, a group of ten or so Rufneks and Lil’ Sis are standing guard over the freshly-painted list of all the years we have beat Texas.
It’s a favorite tradition of the group.
“Sunday night before every OU/Texas since 1983…Rufneks paint it…then the Lil’ Sis come and fix it up Monday.”
It’s Monday afternoon, and the paint is already dry, but the group is still watching over their masterpiece. The chairs are not enough to protect it – this is the route some of the vending trucks take. One Rufnek told me about the year they had the battle with a Coca-Cola truck to keep it from driving over the sign before the game.
Not all the Rufneks will be on the field on Saturday, but for the ones who are, it will be a highlight of their career. However, driving the schooner is not without responsibility. One of the guys told me it is both exciting and stressful.
“The drivers get to sleep with the ponies,” they explained. “At the fairgrounds, they have this barn where they keep a bunch of animals…we keep Boomer and Sonner in a stable near them.”
The most important part, however, is standing guard all night to make sure the Texas fans don’t try anything.
The University of Texas has its own version of the Rufneks called the Silver Spurs. They are the official caretakers of Bevo the longhorn. In keeping with the OU/Texas spirit, there is a long-standing rivalry between the Rufneks and the Spurs.
“The presidents of each club have a bet going on. Whoever loses has to get their head shaved by the other team’s president. And they get $1500 to the charity of their choice.”
In the past, there have been other pranks as well.
“Before any of us were here, twenty or thirty years ago, Rufneks would mess with the lock on Bevo’s trailer.”
The group talked over each other trying to recount the tale, but I got the just of the story.
“They would lock Beevo out of his own trailer.”
Another favorite Rufnek tradition is taking the home field advantage down to Dallas. Even though the stadium is halfway between Austin and Norman, it is still deep in the heart of Texas. In years when Texas wins, the site does not exactly feel neutral. To balance this out, the Rufneks like to bring some of Norman with them to the game.
“The home game before Texas, we take empty shotgun shells and put grass from our football field in them.” The Rufneks bring these shells to the Cotton Bowl to give the Sooners the “home field advantage”.
The other important Sooner advantage comes from the fans. I asked the Rufneks what our team needs from fans this year.
“The good old classic Texas and Oklahoma rivalry support,” they replied. “OU fans to be themselves, long story short.”
Whether you’re watching from Norman or traveling to Dallas, cheer loud, be yourself, and get ready for some Sooner Magic!