NORMAN — There are some sports fans who know only two seasons. Fall OU football and spring OU football practice. For them, the new season starts today.
The seventh-ranked Sooners take on Utah State tonight. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Road construction at Lindsey Street and Jenkins Avenue has been completed.
City workers have been busy painting the curbs around campus intersections yellow so that out-of-towners know not to park there. (It makes it hard for fire trucks or ambulances to get by — trust us, they will tow).
For newcomers, game day is special. Campus Corner streets close and sidewalks fill with vendors. Carloads of crimson and cream-clad fans park as far north as Main Street.
Fans come early for the choice parking places. By noon, the city smells of smoking bratwurst and cold beer. Pedestrians holding two fingers in the air are not signaling for world peace. They are letting you know they need two tickets.
For about 12 hours Saturday, the city’s population doubles. It’s a night game so residents are asked to leave porch and yard lights on to light the way afterwards to help our guests leave for the night. It’s the least we can do. Most of them will leave some cash here six weekends this fall.
