OU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT DECEMBER 5, 2017

FANSGIVING WEEK
OU SPIRIT GIVES BACK TO THE NORMAN COMMUNITY

OH THE PLACE’S WE GO

GIVING IN OKC
THE SCHOONER TRAVELS TO
OKC TO KICK OFF FANSGIVING
WEEK
The Sooner Schooner, the Oklahoma
RUF/NEKS, and Lil’ Sis traveled to
McIntyre Law Firm in Oklahoma City to
kick off Fansgiving week on November
16. Approximately 5,000 Thanksgiving
turkeys were given to families in need.
L to R: RUF/NEK Lil’ Sis members Lexi Williams, Camille Fichera, and Sam Mitchell, with Oklahoma
RUF/NEK Hunter Geer pose with the Sooner Schooner at McIntyre Law. 100 Oklahoma law firms raised over
Credit: Oklahoma RUF/NEKS Twitter $78,000 to purchase the turkeys.
“We go to McIntyre Law with the
CELEBRATING OU FANS schooner because it’s a big event of giving
THE OU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT SETS OUT that is close to OU’s heart,” RUF/NEK
TO CELEBRATE FANS WITH A WEEK OF Hunter Geer said. “We want to be there so
GIVING all the people who show up to get free
Once a year, the University of Oklahoma Athletic
turkeys can be surprised by getting to
Department takes time during the holiday season to give
interact with OU spirit.”
back to the fans. Fansgiving week takes place before
Thanksgiving, with select coaches and spirit members They were accompanied by head Men’s
going around the Norman, Moore, Oklahoma City area Basketball coach Lon Kruger, who gave
giving away free hats, tickets, and Boomer onesies. This away 25 men’s basketball tickets and 50
year, OU athletics partnered with McIntyre Law, OU Top of the World hats.
Braum’s, two Buffalo Wild Wings locations, Homeland,
Raising Cane’s, Fan Outfitters, and the OU Bookstore.
The week started on November 16 and ran through
November 21. Approximately 175 football tickets were
given away, as well as approximately 225 combined
Head Men’s Basketball
tickets for women’s gymnastics, wrestling, men’s Coach Lon Kruger uses
the grill at McIntyre Law
gymnastics, and men’s basketball. 325 Top of the World Firm.

hats were given away as well. This was the fifth year of Credit: OU Athletics
Twitter
Fansgiving.

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OU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT DECEMBER 5, 2017

BACK IN TOWN, BACK IN BUSINESS GYMNASTICS GOES

FANSGIVING RETURNS TO NORMAN/MOORE ABOVE AND BEYOND
AREA WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS COACH
Beginning November 17, OU Athletics visited different GIVES MORE TICKETS THAN
eateries in the Norman/Moore area. PLANNED
On November 17, head baseball coach Skip Johnson Monday, November 20 at Raising Cane’s
joined spirit members at Braum’s on Lindsey to give on Main St OU Pom and RUF/NEK Lil’
breakfast sandwiches away to people wearing OU gear. Sis members were joined by women’s
OU vs. West Virginia football tickets and hats were also gymnastics coach KJ Kindler to help give
given away to 25 lucky patrons.
away gymnastics tickets, free cups, and
hats. Less than 20 minutes into the event,
Buffalo Wild Wings was the location for a round of
giving on Saturday, November 18, during the OU vs. however, there were no more tickets to
Kansas game. Spirit members gave away football tickets give away. After conferring with Drew
and hats at the location in Norman and in Moore. Gaschler, Director of Marketing and Fan
Experience, Coach Kindler took down
Pom member Payton Mackay has participated in emails with promises of free tickets.
Fansgiving for three years and finds the opportunity to
interact with fans a unique experience. “Their support and what they do for us
honestly gives us all the resources we
“It’s so important to give back to the OU community. have right now in order to win,” Coach
These people spend so much of their time and money Kindler said. “We’re just really proud to
supporting the University of Oklahom and the athletic call ourselves Sooners, we’re glad
programs. We, as students and spirit members, need to everyone else is excited too.”
return the favor,” Mackay said. “And Moore is still a part
of the OU community even if it’s not directly in Norman. This was RUF/NEK Lil’ Sis Emma
It’s important to read every fan no matter where they are Dillard’s first year to participate in
geographically.” Fansgiving and she enjoyed having the
opportunity to interact with fans outside
of a sporting event.

L to R: Pom squad members Jasmine Chonlahan and Alex Tindal pose with customers at
Buffalo Wild Wings Norman location.
Credit: Sooner Vision
Credit: OU Athletics Twitter
https://twitter.com/OU_Athletics/status/933032764877754373

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OU ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT DECEMBER 5, 2017

GIFT CARDS GALORE

HOMELAND AND FAN OUTFITTERS GIVE
AWAY GIFT CARDS TO CUSTOMERS
November 21 was the final day of Fansgiving and
proved to be the most fruitful. Norman Homeland and
Fan Outfitters gave away $1,000 worth of gift cards to
customers while they were shopping.
Men’s golf coach Ryan Hybl and Men’s gymnastics
coach Mark Williams were on hand to give away gift
cards at Homeland, along with gymnastics tickets,
Boomer supports Fansgiving at Buffalo Wild Wings Norman Location
football tickets, and OU hats.
Credit: OU Athletics Twitter

Director of Community Relations Bobby Nash was

coordinating the event at Homeland when he had a FANSGIVING SCHEDULE
special opportunity to give away the last $100 gift
card with Coach Hybl. November 16
“We identified an elderly woman grocery shopping  McIntyre Law
alone and Coach told her that he wanted to buy her
groceries that day and gave her the gift card,” Nash November 17
said. “She immediately broke down into tears and
explained that she was there to purchase her  Braum’s
Thanksgiving meal for extended family. Moments November 18
like that are what makes Fansgiving a great event.”
 Buffalo Wild Wings
Norman
 Buffalo Wild Wings
Moore
November 20
 Raising Cane’s
November 21
 Homeland
 OU Bookstore
 Fan Outfitters

L to R: Reiley Menzie, Emma Dillard, Salem Naifeh, Hayden Shaw, Chase NouNou, Robert Riley pose with fans
at Fan Outfitters

Credit: OU Athletics Twitter