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Oklahoma Athletics was in the middle of college sports' busiest time of the year where winter sports were coming to a close and preparing for conference championships while spring sports were just beginning their 2020 journey. Teams like women's gymnastics, men's basketball and baseball delivered peak performances, setting their teams up for great success…
The No. 1 Oklahoma women's gymnastics team sent their senior class of Jade Degouveia, Maggie Nichols and Brehanna Showers out on a high note as they took down No. 5 Michigan, 198.100-197.425, inside Lloyd Noble Center.

OU posted its fifth score of 198-plus in the victory, the most in the country. For the eighth time, OU posted a 49.500 or better on vault, also the most in the nation.
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The final play was drawn up for Austin Reaves, and the Oklahoma guard made one more shot to give the Sooners a victory in the final half-second of the regular season. 

​Reaves scored 41 points, the most by a Big 12 player for the 2019-2020 season, including the game-winning fadeaway jumper as the Sooners beat TCU 78-76 after being down by as many as 19 points in the second half. 
Dane Acker pitched Oklahoma's first individual no-hitter since 1989 to lead Oklahoma to a 1-0 win over LSU at the Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic at Minute Maid Park. 

Acker struck out 11 batters and allowed just two free passes in the first no-hitter in the 20-year history of the College Classic. His feat was the seventh individual no-hitter in Oklahoma baseball history, and the first since Jim Huslig against Old Dominion in 1989.
Even though the country and the world shut down, it was our mission to continue adding value to the Sooner Club membership experience. Throughout the months of March, April, May and June, we kept members engaged with the Sooners from the comfort of their homes as we provided weekly virtual initiatives on our social media platforms. ​
In these months of uncertainty and confusion, our teams continued paving a path to a better tomorrow. In the middle of a shutdown, the academic journey for our student-athletes did not stop. Because 4,000 Sooner Club members earmarked donations to the Inspiring Champions Fund, we continued providing the vital resources needed for student-athletes to complete their spring studies back home. While this fund has become more vital for our sustained success, the pandemic has shown us the true impact the Inspiring Champions Fund has on the health and well-being of our student-athletes.
On July 1, the department implemented budget cuts of approximately $13.7 million in controllable operating expenses, including a 10% salary reduction for any employee earning a salary of $1 million or more per year. With these budget modifications, the department is also accounting for COVID-19 expenses, which entail testing protocols and increased safety measures.
Our goal is to have all activities operate as safely and efficiently as possible. That said, we are planning on a number of contingencies and protocols that will leave us prepared for any number of scenarios."
- JOE CASTIGLIONE
Update on OU Athletics' Budget for FY21
• An approximate $13.7M decrease in OU Athletics' 2020-2021 budget compared to 2019-2020
• 20% reduction for all sport and department budgets as well as other cost containment strategies 
• 10% reduction in salaries from staff members earning $1M and above
• Additional expenses will be absorbed by the department to provide scholarships and other resources to seniors in spring sports who have elected to return to compete for a fifth year
Uncertainty abounds in every football season opener, but the circumstances were incalculable dealing with the unknown brought on by COVID-19.

​Although Oklahoma's player availability was significantly dwindled due to the pandemic, injuries and other factors, the No. 5-ranked Sooners were still able to post some impressive numbers in a 48-0 victory over Missouri State at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
"It's not maybe exactly how you draw it up. All these situations right now... We tried to look at it as an opportunity."
Lincoln Riley
The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department announced a program designed to raise awareness on matters of social justice that will launch in the fall of 2020. The new program is called "Sooners For Humanity."

"We want to be part of the solution," said OU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. "Toward that end, we have worked collectively to develop a plan for ongoing awareness and education."

​Under the heading "Sooners For Humanity," the program's purpose is to provide a framework to address issues that negate and suppress the human experience. Parallels have been drawn between Sooners For Humanity's framework and OU Athletics' ongoing commitment to its core values - Masterful, Accountable, Gracious, Inclusive and Competitive - in everything it does.
CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY • SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE • EDUCATION • ACCOUNTABILITY • ADVOCACY
Leading up to the highly anticipated return of fall sports, we continued to stay engaged with our Sooner Club members through numerous virtual events and initiatives. ​
We stayed engaged with members who opted out of attending the 2020 football season due to COVID-19 by bringing gameday in Norman, Oklahoma, to them. For each home game, a newsletter called Gameday2You was sent to those who could not attend in hopes of bringing Sooner Magic to their families and friends' football experience for the 2020 season. ​
Back in November, Sooner Club members were invited to Oklahoma Basketball's Virtual Tip-Off Season Preview featuring head coaches Lon Kruger and Sherri Coale along with special guests Courtney Paris and Cade Davis for an exclusive look at the upcoming basketball season. 
​In a year filled with many unknowns and unfathomable challenges, Sooner student-athletes and the OU community overcame significant odds to finish 2020 on a high note. For some it was hoisting championship trophies whereas others were celebrating the opportunity of a lifetime – to be Sooners for Life. As a department, the completion of 2020 marked a defining part of our journey centered around safely navigating a football season and fighting to maintain the championship standard for nearly 600 student-athletes. 
 
In retrospect, 2020 will always be known for its adversity but it should also be marked by the incredible generosity and sacrifices by many – within our communities and across the country. It should be remembered for what we overcame, together. 
As a majority of Sooner Club members ultimately elected to forgo the 2020 football season, OU Athletics launched the Sooner Relief Fund aimed at offsetting the significant financial toll anticipated from the pandemic. Together, over 3,000 members teamed up to gift their ticket and/or donations to the Sooner Relief Fund which helped to offset OU Athletics’ budget shortfall.
We Press On…
The future is bright because of the tenacity and determination of Sooners everywhere. Starting with our student-athletes who press on to compete on their stage of competition and excel in the classroom all while continuing to make a positive impact on the community. The standard is set by our coaches and staff who understand the traditions and the expectations of all of Sooner Nation. And YOU – our Sooner Club members. Your continued commitment and support of our programs plays a key role in making Oklahoma the destination spot for student-athletes and coaches.  

We have some ground to make up in 2021 for the loss of tremendous and key support in 2020. If you are engaged in any of our philanthropic opportunities, we thank you! If you have not chosen to contribute philanthropically, we ask you to consider an optional gift to help us provide the necessary resources to compete at an elite level. If every Sooner Club member adds the Optional Gift or simply renews your routine ICF gift, we’d fully fund the following areas:
We’ve often attributed Sooner Magic to play on the field, but it isn’t always the ‘comeback’ or the last second play. Rather – it’s the direct output of our commitment and intentionality of our values. Values you’ve cemented by supporting Oklahoma Athletics. As we embark on a defining moment in our program’s history, I once again ask for your commitment to our values and what we are continuing to build here at OU. We need you now more than ever."
- JOE CASTIGLIONE
We thank you for your membership and graciously joining in our mission. We are committed to pursuing championships in the classroom, in competition, and in life. Every investment you make is critical to our success while positioning Oklahoma Athletics to THRIVE forward into the future. As a self-sustaining department, your philanthropic support is critical, and we thank you for helping us reaffirm why There is Only One Oklahoma. ​

sports updates 

Oklahoma enters the postseason ranked No. 25 in the AP poll. The Sooners defeated Iowa State in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament and will take on the Kansas Jayhawks in round two.
After a weekend that saw the Sooners post two of their highest scores this season, the Oklahoma women's gymnastics team moved into a tie for first place with Florida. 
The top-ranked Sooners secured the team's second win of the season at the Cabo Collegiate that featured nine ranked teams, including the top three in the country. 
The women's golf team finished 13th at the Moon Golf Invitational after carding seven birdies and an eagle in their last five holes. 
In its first competition since Jan. 30, the No. 1 Oklahoma men's gymnastics team beat No. 11 William & Mary by a score of 403.700-384.900 in Williamsburg, Va.​
The top-ranked Sooners finished the Courtyard Marriott Tournament in Norman undefeated with a 17-0 record. 
After a 15-5 win over UT Arlington Tuesday evening, the Sooners are back in action this weekend hosting Arkansas State in a three-game series at L. Dale Mitchell Park. 
The No. 33 Sooners picked up their fourth straight win and completed a season sweep of Tulsa as OU defeated the Golden Hurricane 5-2 on the road.
For the first time since 2002, the Oklahoma Sooners are champions of the Big 12 Conference.
The No. 28 ranked OU men's tennis team faced a pair of ranked matchups over the weekend as the Sooners welcomed No. 21 Arizona State and No. 6 Texas.
Mikeisha Welcome and Essence Thomas are slated to represent the women's team at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 
Five Sooners from the men's squad will be competing in the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 

the sooner club experience 

We look forward to getting back to in-person events this 2021 football season! 
Sooner Club Tailgate
Holiday Photos on Owen Field
Travel
Champions Society Locker Room Event
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