Let's create home court advantage for Baylor

[catladyok]

Hey, all of you who are reading this and live within 100 miles of Norman -

Now that the Sooners will not be participating we are going to have a ton of empty seats at LNC. You can buy tickets at the door and move to a good seat later. Let's get our butts to the games and yell for the Lady Bears. Sure, it won't be quite the same for them as their true home crowd but we'll be better than nothing. We can make a lot of noise when we put our minds to it, and maybe it'll give them the encouragement they need to pull off the Upset of the Century. I have persuaded some of my co-workers to go and will continue to 'recruit' up until tip time. After I get into the arena I'm going to go around and ask other Sooners to yell for Baylor. Hope the rest of you will do the same.

Okay, if you're from Tennessee and are a true Lady Vols fan, you're exempt from all of this. But for those of you who don't care who wins, well, why not yell for Baylor?

SIC 'EM http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/bu.gif

(P.S.: Does anybody know where we can scrounge up some green/yellow pom-poms around here? Could some of you who are coming up from Waco bring a few extras?)

[schooner2]

All right Bears fans - you need to teach us okies some Baylor cheers.

I think I've got the bear claw thing down whenever the Star Wars theme is played.

What else is there?

[catladyok]

Zo and Bear Lady -

Please get to the arena a couple of hours early so that we can all rehearse over at Gator's RV. We need some serious coaching!

Sic 'em http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/bu.gif

[This message has been edited by catladyok (edited 03-24-2004).]

[aggiegal]

Don't forget the whining and booing on every single call...lol!!! Seriously, OU fans should come root for the Bears, since we're one of only 2 teams from the "power conference" left. Maybe the K.State fans can come on down to Norman to get a "feel" for the Sweet 16, as well. Originally posted by schooner:
All right Bears fans - you need to teach us okies some Baylor cheers.

I think I've got the bear claw thing down whenever the Star Wars theme is played.

What else is there?

[BearLady]

Catlady, you're a jewel! But, in my mind, you all have already got the basics down VERY well! To paraphrase Mack Brown, the main thing is to come, be loud and stay late. I know you all can be loud, because I've heard it on more than one occasion!

We'll see what we can do about the green/gold pom-poms. And I will plan on seeing you for the 'pre-game' at Gator's RV.

BTW, one interesting tidbit about the crowd in Albuquerque at The Pit on Monday night. The loyal Lobo fans turned out in very strong numbers, just as one might expect. Quite a few of them wore the team colors of the team they planned to cheer for that night. It was an interesting sight to see gold/green fans scattered throughout The Pit, yelling right along with us. (in the interest of fairness in reporting, yes, some fans were clad in orange/blue.)

Go Lady Bears!

[Gator]

OKOKOK I don't own ANYTHNG Baylor yellow - I don't think they sell that color in Oklahoma - or anywhere outside a 50 mile radius of Baylor! But I'll shake a Pon Pon (not my boody - you really don't want to see THAT)

I assume that the Baylor bench will be at the normal visitor bench in OU and we have the perfect seats - 3 rows up from the visitor's bench - Mark likes to watch the visitor coach at OU home games. That is Sect RE2 for folks who are looking for reserved seats in that area. Seats 1 in that section are almost up from the basket so most folks like the higher number seats in that section. Few OU season ticket holders sit down there so there should be plenty of room for folks moving down from general admission tickets. The lower levels of that section are also where they usually put the folks who get visitor team tickets so we see lots of team family at games.

[swok34]

Actually, the NCAA sanctions the seating........

in the past, they've given a section (or two) to each of the 4 teams participating....

and your seed determines where your fans sit and which hotel the teams stay at and how the teams travel.....

I would almost suspect that Tennessee fans are where OU "homer" fans would typically sit.....and the section behind the bench will "probably" be Vanderbilt, since they are the 2 seed.

Don't know for sure, but there definitely will be a section for each teams fan's on the "four sides" of the arena.

[Big12Bear]

Yall rock!

You never know, it could happen. If we had Steffanie I would give BU more of a chance, but you have to play with the hand you're dealt. About the only common opponentthat BU and Tenn had this year was Texas and Florida, and we fared reasonably well against both, while the Lady Vols stumbled against Texas at home.

Any kind of home court advantage would really help! If I wasn't going to Vancouver for the Stars game, I'd be there for sure.

GO BU!

[NewBearFan2002]

I'm coming with a friend. I would appreciate all that "Sooner Magic" thrown in on our side of the court!

[swok34]

Newbearfan.......better stop by Dallas and pick it up on your way here, I think that's where we left it http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

I would appreciate all that "Sooner Magic" thrown in on our side of the court!

[Press]

SssssssssssssssssIC'em LADY BEARS!

I've always wanted to do that! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Press (edited 03-24-2004).]

[BearLady]

Wow! Press leading 'sic 'em'! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/biggrin.gif

[40ishHorn]

Let's get our butts to the games and yell for the Lady Bears.

You know, it really shouldn't be a stretch for any of the OU faithful to pull this off. Baylor is playing that evil ORANGE UT team! http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif Just act normally, but scrap the horns down sign and you'll do a bang up job! You can do it!

Again, may I remind you that any OU fashion wear will only appear to be in support of Stanford, a school that despises all things Sooners. Avoid that and wear green and/or gold/yellow.

Sic Em BEARS! Go Baylor!

[spooky]

Just talked to Mary at the BU ticket office and she said the ticket block we got is in W6, which looks like upper level across from the benches. I assume this means that most of the lower level seats were bought in advance by OU fans. As long as the other schools also got upper level blocks I'll be happy, and Mary said that the OU ticket rep did say he expects plenty of open seats to move into down low.

I think Baylor will bring a decent number of fans, although the late Sunday start time is keeping alot of potential folks home. I'm sure Tennessee will travel pretty well, but wonder about Stanford and Vandy.

[schooner2]

When Stanford was here 3 years ago, there were very few fans. I expect a lot of Tennessee fans. It just seems they come from out of the woodwork wherever Tennessee may be playing. Don't know about Vandy.

I give Baylor a good chance at bringing the most fans of any team.

And Baylor fans should probably just plan on trying to sit in the lower section right behind the team. Again, a decent chance those seats will be left empty by a Sooner fan.

[swok34]

the ticket block we got is in W6, which looks like upper level across from the benches. I assume this means that most of the lower level seats were bought in advance by OU fans

given that LW6 is the student section where there is no assigned seating...I'm surprised.

I would have thought it would have been set up like this,,,seating is sanctioned by the NCAA's and each fan's teams have one of the four corners, that's how it's always been set up for the NCAA's in the past. I recall the year Oral Roberts was in LW6....I thought they spilled over to LW5.

LW6.Baylor
LW2.Stanford -
LE5.Tennessee - #1 seed
LE2.Vanderbilt - #2 seed

[Jimi]

When KSU hosted, the NCAA in all its glory set the rules. There was NO GA seating in the building and such niceties as student sections were not in force. As a multi year season ticket holder and very early buyer I got good seats but not the same as my regular seats. The NCAA reserves several rows of prime midcourt seats for, you guessed it, NCAA use. If you are a season ticket holder in those seats tough nuggies. They get bumped out and the school has to then bump others to try to accomodate their fans as best they can. Of course in addition space has to be carved out for the participating team's bands and fans. In short, what goes for seating policy during the year gets fruit basket upset to an extent.

but I expect you already knew that.

[NormanGlenn]

I received my usual season seat location in LE5.

[Jimi]

Two years ago I actually wound up three rows in front of my usual seats and last year I got my regular seats but most of the people I know from clay Center were less fortunate. The couple who sat beside us all year wound up in another section.

[swok34]

I got my regular seats in LE4......but, before OU went to reserved seating; that was considered general admission for the NCAA's. Had to find a way into LNC early on those occasions....because it was a hard seat to get 3 and 4 years ago.

[dem]

Originally posted by schooner:
I expect a lot of Tennessee fans. It just seems they come from out of the woodwork wherever Tennessee may be playing.

They certainly do. Vol fans travel very well. They don't bother much with the subregionals (even when they're at home), but they will come to the Regionals. We met plenty of them in Ames two years ago. You can expect over a thousand Tennessee fans, maybe more, and they will be LOUD.

And oh, one more thing. If you hope to make it through the game with your sanity intact, may I suggest that you practice this week by listening to "Rocky Top" play about five thousand times. If you don't, I promise you, you and your friends sitting next to you will have to restrain each other from attacking the Tennessee band. Mark my words.

[35TangoTango]

Originally posted by dem:
And oh, one more thing. If you hope to make it through the game with your sanity intact, may I suggest that you practice this week by listening to "Rocky Top" play about five thousand times. If you don't, I promise you, you and your friends sitting next to you will have to restrain each other from attacking the Tennessee band. Mark my words.

Does anybody know alternate words we can sing - like we all sing "I've been working on the railroad" for Texas? http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/cool.gif

[swok34]

oh man.......I think I'm bringing my sunglasses...

all that bright orange and bright yellow in one arena is enough to blind someone for years to come http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[spooky]

Kim's getting 'em ready for the experience. She had "Rocky Top" blaring over the PA all during practice today. If that doesn't motivate you to get practice done quickly I don't know what will.

[ChipperF1]

Just tell that Baylor band to keep the fight song coming on strong. I still have the Baylor fight song in my head from Dallas.

[catladyok]

Hey, Chipper, I sure wish you'd fly out to OKC and join us Sunday in Norman. I'd be most happy to pick you up at the airport. You could stay at my house and all (if you don't mind cats).

[Gator]

Originally posted by spooky:
Kim's getting 'em ready for the experience. She had "Rocky Top" blaring over the PA all during practice today. If that doesn't motivate you to get practice done quickly I don't know what will.

LOL - I actually like Rocky Top - up to a point. The Walmarts around western Tenn had a CD with versions and versions of Rockey Top for sale for about $7. I don't like Rocky Top THAT much. But I do have one version of it on my iPod - grin.

[bosley]

I just talked to someone at Baylor who said there are seven buses driving up for the Sunday game and there are more fans than that who are driving on their own and staying over. I hope the Sooner faithful will join us and wear a little gold rush gold.

[Jennifer]

Letter from Coach Coale: (I assume this is on the OU website, which I can't access. I got it from an OU board)

Dear Oklahoma Sooners Faithful,

Let me begin by thanking you for your support throughout this season! As we have built this program over the past eight years, you have been an integral part of our
foundation. Strong fan support is often the impetus that pushes a good program over the bar to greatness. I speak on behalf of my staff and our team in saying "Thank
you" for being such a significant part of our success story. We wouldn't be among the nation's elite without you!

This weekend offers you yet another occasion to support our program and in so doing enhance our program's future opportunities by attending the Midwest Regional at
the Lloyd Noble Center on Sunday, March 28 and Tuesday, March 30. The road to the Final Four runs through Norman and that presents Oklahoma with a unique
chance to make a positive impression on the NCAA and the rest of the country. The field of Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Baylor, and Stanford promises to offer fast-paced,
exciting women's basketball action.

The Sweet 16 games are scheduled for Sunday, March 28 at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Both games will be televised nationally by ESPN 2. The winners of those two games
will face off on Tuesday, March 30, at 8 p.m. on ESPN for the ticket to the Final Four in New Orleans.

Fan support at this event will have a residual effect on our Oklahoma program. In order to ensure future hosting opportunities and optimize future television exposures,
we need to show great support of this year's regional. We regret our inability to participate but invite you to join our team in hosting those who did earn the right to fight
on toward the National Championship.

To purchase tickets call 800-456-GoOU, or go online at SoonerSports.com. Tickets may also be purchased at the Lloyd Noble Center two hours prior to Sunday's first
game.

Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Sincerely,

Sherri Coale

[Bob_Ballew]

Great message. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif Sure hope we get some help from the OU fans.

[BearLady]

40ishHorn, are you traveling out west this week-end? If not, and if you'd like to take in the games in Norman, you are welcome to ride up with us on Sunday. We're just going up and then coming back after the games on Sunday night. If interested, give me a call at the office 972-312-8181 or at home 972-612-5082.

Just don't want you to have roadie withdrawal!

sic 'em!

[This message has been edited by BearLady (edited 03-25-2004).]

[40ishHorn]

Bearlady, that was so very nice of you to offer. I have just been on the road too much (between Austin and Dallas) and I'm afraid my work is suffering a little from March Madness. My bosses have been very accomodating and understanding during a pretty intense time at work (I attended all of the Big 12 Tourney and the first two rounds of the NCAA's. My Team Leader was starting to think I had a relative playing on the Longhorn team. Although VERY tempting, I'm gonna pass this year, but don't write me off in the future.

I'm truly rooting for the Lady Bears to make the Final Four and I have a T-Shirt worthy of supporting them. I'll be yelling for them in my recliner. Hope BU fans rule the Lloyd Noble Center! (You Normanites do your thing and help out your Big 12 South sisters!) I too, love the BU fight song.

Thanks again. (I'm gonna keep your phone #'s). http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[BearLady]

We appreciate your help, 40ishHorn! Just thought I'd make the offer, but can also appreciate how 'road weary' we can get sometimes. Plus there's this little work thing.

Do keep the numbers and give me a call anytime.

sic 'em!

[dem]

Originally posted by Gator:
LOL - I actually like Rocky Top - up to a point.

I like Rocky Top too (at least I used to like it), and I even learned to sing it. It's just that hearing it five hundred times (in whole or part) over the space of three days, played at twice the normal tempo by a screeching loud brass band, would drive nearly anyone not wearing orange to frothing at the mouth.