"It just means more."... This is always something fans of Sooner Nation have, maybe, underscored?

Before hearing the news of the eventual transition of the University of Oklahoma into the SEC, we (meaning OU fans) felt we had a pretty decent grasp on what it meant to play big-boy football. However, as the years turned to months, months turned to weeks, weeks turned to days, and now mere days to hours, we're starting to do a little more research on what this impending move has in store, and it, in fact...does appear to mean a little more.

As a new contributor here at SEC Unfiltered, I would like to introduce myself and describe the program I have been assigned to cover for the site. My name is Brandon, I live near Norman, Oklahoma, and I love college football. Not like the enjoy listening to podcasts-type love, or the 'I can name former Biletnikoff winners'-type love, but the 'I watched a full replay of the OU vs. Alabama game the other night on YouTube... the one from 2002..."-type love.

I grew up a diehard Sooner fan and discovered when I was about 17 that I wouldn't be dawning the crimson and cream. Instead, I took my 5.1 40-yard dash and went to play for the Wyoming Cowboys. I spent 5 seasons in Laramie on the offensive line before graduating in 2011. It was there that I truly fell in love with the sport and the intensity, passion, and effort that goes into making it great.

Now, after getting my Master's from OU, I write about college football, specifically the Oklahoma Sooners. Since OU is officially joining your daunted conference on Monday, July 1, I thought it would be fitting to formally introduce ourselves to you, the diehard fans of the SEC.

First, I want to make it abundantly clear that Sooner fans are pumped about coming to THE Southeastern Conference. We know, unfortunately, all too well how dominant your conference is. 43 national championships, 18 Heisman trophy winners, 10 Super Bowl MVPs, and the greatest coach in college football history all come from the SEC.

Three of the Sooners' last 4 playoff early exits came at the hands of SEC teams (Georgia, Alabama, LSU). We know about the Swamp, Death Valley, and Rocky Top. Sooner fans recognize the generational greatness of names like Bo Jackson, Tim Tebow, and Joe Burrow. So, trust me when I say we know the greatness of the conference we will soon call home. But for those who don't know who OU is, let me take a second to introduce ourselves.

The University of Oklahoma is located smack dab in the middle of tornado alley in a little place called Norman. Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium (... I know) sits at the corner of Jenkins and Lindsey Street, and it has been host to some of college football's finest history. The Sooners have won seven national titles, 50 conference titles (16 in the old Big 8 and 14 in the Big 12), and the 6th most wins in college football history (944).

The football program is tied with Notre Dame and Ohio State for having 7 Heisman trophy winners and Alabama for having 4 Butkus winners. It is tied for 2nd all-time with Georgia and Notre Dame for having 5 players selected first overall in the NFL Draft. We also have two 30 for 30s on ESPN... but we don't need to go too deep into those.

We don't particularly like Texas... OU vs. Texas, or the Red River Rivalry, is played every year from the old Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas, TX. The rivalry dates back to 1900 and has been the site of some of the greatest moments in college football history. We equate it to our version of y'all's Iron Bowl. And yes, we say y'all just like y'all do. They play the game in Dallas because it is an equal distance from Norman as it is from Austin, and we can't stand the thought of going to Darrell K. Royal stadium (even though he's a Sooner).

By the way, the Longhorns are tagging along with us and coming to the SEC as well. You'll get to know them soon enough because, unfortunately, they're pretty stout right now, too. I know people in the South pride themselves on their hospitality and manners, so if I had to say one nice thing about Texas, it would be... (2 hours later) Vince Young was pretty cool, I guess?

The SEC is tossing OU right into the fire, too. Apparently, Commissioner Sankey thought it would be fitting to give the Sooners the toughest conference schedule during their inaugural year. That's fine; we want all the smoke... I think. On the topic of scheduling, I have always joked about how SEC teams play an FCS team in November every year. Now we get that little November game, too, and I have to say it's kind of nice.

The Sooners will open their SEC slate in Norman against Tennessee and then travel to Jordan Hare to play Auburn. Don't people throw toilet paper on oak trees down there? Well, anyway, the Sooners will also have road games in Oxford, Columbia, and Baton Rouge. Fortunately, South Carolina, Alabama, and the previously mentioned Tennessee will all travel to Norman. The schedule experts rank the Sooners conference schedule as the toughest in the SEC this year. Moderation is for cowards.

Lastly, I must mention our head ball coach (Isn't that what y'all refer to your head coaches by?). His name is Brent Venables, and he is our guy. Coach Venables cut his teeth in Norman in the first half of the Bob Stoops era. He won a national title with the Sooners in 2000, and in 2012, he became the defensive coordinator at Clemson.

At Clemson, he helped the Tigers win the 2016 and 2018 national championships. Venables solidified himself as the premiere defensive coordinator in college football before coming back to Norman in 2021 to be the head coach for the Sooners. He's a fiery, intense, passionate coach and an excellent recruiter. We believe in him and how he is building the program, and we think he's just the man to lead us into the SEC. 

Well, thanks for taking the time to allow me to introduce the Sooners. The Oklahoma football program has a rich tradition of success, a passionate fanbase, and an optimistic outlook. We're humbly awaiting our introductory season into the most incredible conference in college football, surrounded by immense greatness, cool traditions, and the best fans in the country. I know the guys down in Norman can't wait to permanently etch their names alongside an extensive list of SEC giants; we hope it happens SOONER rather than later.

Boomer Sooner!