Sooner Orientation Weekend (Aug. 19-22)

Nite @ the Union (Aug. 21)

Completely terrified about your first week of college? Relax with fellow students. The Union Programming Board (UPB) teams with Campus Activities Council (CAC) to present Sooner Orientation Weekend and Howdy Week, culminating in a Saturday night extravaganza known as Nite @ the Union. Iron Man 2 screens at 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 9 p.m. and midnight in Meacham Auditorium, but stop by the Union before or after the movie for food, games and prizes. The best part? It’s free for students.

OU/Texas (Oct. 2)

Even if you’re not a huge football fan, no student should miss out on the grandeur surrounding one of the greatest rivalries in college football. Carpooling to Dallas with your hallmates, gorging yourself full of fried fair food and suffering from a sunburn that only covers half your face is all part of the OU/Texas experience. Tickets to the AT&T Red River Rivalry have to be purchased separately from student football season tickets and will become available shortly after the start of fall semester.

University Sing (Oct. 28-30)

Greek pledges vie for bragging rights at University Sing, a variety show meant to showcase the newest talent to the university. Held in conjunction with CAC Dad’s Day, U-Sing is a popular fall event for all students, not just those involved in Greek life. Tickets for the event are available in early October.

Homecoming (Oct. 11-16)

The leaves have turned from green to orange, the temperatures have finally started to cool and the Sooners play host to the Iowa State University Cyclones for Homecoming 2010. The South Oval is always buzzing with activity during Homecoming week, and this year’s theme, “Sooner Magic,” will hardly be an exception. Various activities including sidewalk-chalking and float-building occur throughout the week, and students are encouraged to cast votes for the Homecoming King and Queen, who will be crowned at halftime on Owen Field.

Typical Game Day

The typical game day in Norman remains almost the same regardless of kick-off time, however, the examples included in this article assume that kick off occurs at 7 p.m.

10 a.m. – Wake up! It’s game day!

You’re probably going to be tempted to sleep in on Saturdays, but there’s too much going on in Norman to stay in bed. So get up, clad yourself in crimson and cream and get ready to cheer on the Sooners to another win.

11:30 a.m. – Have lunch.

If you’re feeling brave and adventurous, wander over to Campus Corner. It will be packed with alums and fans, but Campus Corner has been a gameday tradition for years, and everyone should experience it at least once. Be sure to drink lots of water with lunch and before the game, especially if the temperatures are high. The last thing you’ll want to do is pass out in the middle of the first quarter.

3:30 p.m. – Have a snack.

You’re going to want to eat again before game time, especially when it’s hot. Eating in the stadium is an option, but keep in mind that prices are usually sky high and once you claim your seat, you won’t want to move.

4 p.m. – Head toward the stadium.

Heading to the stadium an hour before the gates open may seem ludicrous, but those who get the best seats often show up hours before kick-off.

5 p.m. – Gates open for students.

Regardless of what time the game starts, sunscreen is an absolute must for football. Sitting in the student section sans sun protection means you could end up with a crimson-and-cream face for much longer than just game day.

6:40 p.m. – The Pride of Oklahoma takes the field for pre-game.

Trust us, you don’t want to miss the first notes of “Oklahoma!” as the drum major performs the famous strut down the field.

7 p.m. – Kick-off! Boomer Sooner!

SPRING

Winter Welcome Week (First week of classes)

CAC and UPB are at it again with another week of fun-filled activities to welcome students back from Winter Break. Freshmen are welcome to apply for leadership spots and applications will become available at the beginning of fall semester.

Scandals (March)

Didn’t get enough of U-Sing the first time around? Are you curious to see the talent of the Greek houses as a whole? Sooner Scandals is presented in spring the same weekend as CAC Parents’ Weekend. Tickets become available shortly after the start of spring semester.

Big Event (April)

Continuing a tradition that began at Texas A&M University, Big Event brings together thousands of students who want to make a difference in their communities. Students can form groups within their student organizations or apply to volunteer on an individual basis. Applications are available online at bigevent.ou.edu in early spring.