Most OU Sooner Fans Are Taking Their First SEC Loss with Grace

In a surprising turn of events, reactions from the normally boisterously vocal Sooner fanbase are shockingly mild after a bad beat at home vs Tennessee this past weekend.

@its.matt.fuller what a hard watch #fyp #foryou #2024 #cfb #ncaa #football #boomer #sooner #oklahoma #tennessee #vols #volunteer #sec #big12 ♬ sonido original - ☂

For at least four decades, the norm after a Sooner loss is a call for one or more coaches to be fired, but it's like this venture into - arguably - the most competitive and tough college football conference has had a somewhat humbling effect on the OU fanbase.  

@vawldaddy Goodbye Oklahoma. #collegefootball #football #vols #funny #tennessee #fyp #oklahoma ♬ origineel geluid - no sound

That's not to say there are more than a few of the more toxic Boomers who aren't calling for heads to roll, there's always those loud and obnoxious voices in the crowd, but it's not the vast majority this time around.

In a similar, but smaller, reaction to last year, fans want to swap out the offensive coordinator again this year. Last year it was OC Jeff Lebby, this year it's Seth Littrell...

@lisamcginnis5 Next in line please!! #BOOMERSOONER #FIREHIM #BRINGBACKJOSH #OUDNA ♬ original sound - Chief Green Screens

@lisamcginnis5 Let’s just be honest here! #BOOMERSOONER #FIREHIM #OUDNA #OU #SEC ♬ original sound - Amanda

...but more than a few fans are placing this current issue at the feet of the OU Sooner Boosters, who apparently have all of the pull in this situation. So in effect, Sooner fans are defending Coach Brent Venables in this scenario... which they should, he's a great coach and he'll likely see OU to the top of the SEC if everyone around the team would stay out of his way.

Also, it's worth mentioning, OU may have found their next great quarterback in Michael Hawkins Jr. Coming in to relieve starter Jackson Arnold, Hawkins was more effective against Tennessee in the second half. As a freshman, if he continues to play with the heart and grit he showed on the turf Saturday, there's a chance Hawkins may be the new stud at OU for years to come.

I may bleed orange and black for my Oklahoma State Cowboys, but I'll cheer for every Oklahoma team - even the Central Oklahoma Bronchos and SWOSU Bulldogs. Yes, we lost too, but we're OK State... As long as we all had fun.

The odds are that OU will rally from this and remain bowl-eligible in 2024... 6-6-ish, but the most optimistic Sooner fans are hoping for a loftier 8-4 to roll out their first year of SEC play.