Sooner Nation

I've been blessed to be born into Sooner Nation, through my father, Coach Mike Shearhart of Antlers and Henryetta, Oklahoma. He's made the Sooner State proud - a member of both the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. He was an All-American nose tackle and an All-American heavyweight wrestler.

Born and raised in Oklahoma during the 1950s, he later moved west to Yakima, Washington, where he met my mother at A.C. Davis High School - and the rest is history. He also spent over 40 years as a public school history teacher.

I grew up captivated by his stories - tales of listening to OU football games on the radio, back when they were coached by the legendary Bud Wilkinson. He'd also describe Oklahoma's dramatic lightning storms, the kind he'd sit and watch from his front porch. We carried on that tradition together, watching storms roll in from the porch of our home in Medicine Lake, Washington.

From a young age, I dreamed of attending The University of Oklahoma. I spent many Saturdays in front of an RCA box TV, soaking in every bit of Sooner Magic. I eventually became a standout high school athlete and played small-college football. But I never had the opportunity that you have in this moment.

My sister would go on to graduate from OU's School of Law, cementing our family's bond to The University.

This legacy of excellence, tradition, and pride is deeply rooted in The Program. As Coach Stoops once said, "There is not one person bigger than The Program." My father built a successful wrestling program around this very same idea. I see that same legacy alive and well at OU today - carried on by Coach Venables, his staff, their families, and you - the players.

In a world of contract negotiations, NIL deals, and relentless outside pressure, building a culture of loyalty and purpose is no easy task. Yet Coach Venables has done just that. Many of you have chosen to stay - to finish what you started together.

Some of you are household names. Others are unsung heroes grinding it out on the practice squad, pushing the starters to be their best. No matter your role, how you got here, or why you stay - YOU are what makes this team special.

YOU are OU Football.

YOU are Sooner Magic.

YOU make fans like me proud to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

Every Saturday, I fly my OU flag and gather around the TV in my humble home with my family and friends. I know I'm not alone - there are thousands of us across the country who plan our days, even our years, around this program.

No pressure, right? LOL.

Still, that pressure is real. So I ask all true Sooners: give these young men grace.

Once a year, my sister and I make it back to Norman. We meet up with friends and family, and take in the atmosphere. I know every program has its own traditions and culture, but there's just something different about a fall Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma.

Don't ever take for granted what you're a part of - or what you mean to the people watching. Just walking into that stadium is an honor. I can't even imagine what it's like to run onto that field with a packed house on its feet.

You mean so much to so many.

This is more than just a game.

It's family.

It's tradition.

It's community.

It's The University and the State of Oklahoma.

The sights, the sounds, the pageantry - this is OU Football.

You chose Oklahoma for a reason. You've shown commitment and loyalty in a world too often defined by greed and disloyalty. And for that, you'll be rewarded with a lifetime of brotherhood, pride, and belonging.

I wish I could promise that all your blood, sweat, and tears would guarantee a 10-win season. I wish I could tell you there wouldn't be setbacks. But life doesn't work that way. Injuries happen. Adversity strikes.

What matters is this: when you elevate The Program and commit to succeeding as a team, you build something lasting - something that will stay with you long after the final whistle.

You're part of something truly special, something you'll carry for the rest of your life, and someday pass on to your own children. You may not fully realize it yet - but one day, when it's all over, you'll understand. All that will remain are memories… and the little ones you tell those stories to.

So thank you.

Thank you for giving me, and fans like me, something to look forward to.

Thank you for building traditions I get to share with my family.

And now - let's remind the nation of the standard we play by, both on and off the field.

Boomer Sooner.

Sincerely,

Coach Robert Shearhart