OU fans celebrate first game as season kicks off

NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) – The Palace on The Prairie was expected to be packed with Sooner fans excited for their first game as official members of the SEC.

"I think everybody feels a little bit of Sooner magic,” said Gary Bonner, an OU fan.

The University of Oklahoma even canceled class to celebrate the start of a new SEC era.

On Friday, Sooner fans and Norman community members came out to support their team against the Temple Owls.

"We love our Sooners, we love our Sooners!” said Todd Bowling, an OU fan.

Diehard fans were already staking claim to spots ahead of Friday’s game.

"I came out here yesterday at five in the morning to get our space here," said Bowling.

Tailgaters told News 4 they're ready for a new round of opponents to come through Norman.

"Excited, nervous. It's going to be different. I think we're going to be good,” said Dustin Rudolf, an OU fan.

“I think will be great. I think we're going to be able to get better recruits, better competition, better games week in and week out, more excitement,” said Dustin Teeters, an OU fan.

"This year we said, 'okay, let's get SEC ready.' So, we've made some floral arrangements, we got a new bar," said Carlene Lower, an OU fan.

Fans said it's the camaraderie that brings them together.

"We got people here in our group that are millionaires, and we got people who can't afford tickets. So, they come watch the game and everybody comes in and have a good time,” said Gary Bonner, an OU fan.

"Boomer Sooner baby! Yes indeed, we're ready to roll!" said Bowling.