Oklahoma DB Billy Bowman excited to visit SEC stadiums, reveals favorite place he's played so far

Oklahoma defensive back Billy Bowman is excited about the Sooners’ move to the SEC, and he’s ready to do some sightseeing.

Speaking with Andy Staples during the latest episode of Andy Staples On3 on YouTube, Bowman elaborated on why one of the top reasons he’s elated about joining the SEC is to see all the amazing stadiums the conference has to offer. A couple stadiums stand above the rest in his view though, at least at the present moment.

“It’s very cool. That’s actually one of the things I’m most looking forward to in going to the SEC, is seeing these different stadiums, and going to play in these different you know, teams,” Bowman told Staples. “Like, Jordan-Hare for our first away game. People say that’s electric. I’ve never been there, I’ve never seen it. I’m also looking forward to Ole Miss and LSU, as well.”

When Oklahoma takes on Auburn, Ole Miss and LSU, it’s going to be a pretty incredible trip for Bowman, it seems. As for stadiums he’s already visited, the Sooners defensive back shouted out West Virginia as one of his favorites from his time in the Big 12.

“I’d say, West Virginia was pretty cool. West Virginia is pretty cool. It’s definitely a different scenery,” Bowman added. “It’s something that, you know, not necessarily being from down South, I’m not used to seeing that type of scenery. That was cool. That’s really the only one that comes off the top of my mind.”

Continuing, Staples made mention of BYU and their unique stadium, and while Bowman loved the ambiance, he relayed that the field was in terrible condition, so that knocked the Cougars’ home down a few pegs.

“BYU actually, it was. But the field was terrible. It was the worst field I’ve ever been on in my life. The field was terrible,” Bowman stated. “But the mountains? It was literally in the mountains. It was awesome.”

The Big 12 has some awesome places to play, but the SEC will put that all to shame when Billy Bowman and the Sooners go on the road. The Oklahoma defensive back may have to update his rankings after 2024.

Billy Bowman applauds SEC allowing ‘Horns Down,’ calls Big 12 restrictions ‘pretty soft’

Alas, Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC this upcoming college football season has come with a multitude of different topics during SEC Media Days in Dallas this week. One being the ‘Horns Down’ hand gesture that has been popularized as a taunt against the Longhorns.

Use of the Horns Down resulted in a 15-yard penalty unsportsmanlike penalty in the Big 12 Conference, but at SEC Media Days, SEC Coordinator of Officials John McDaid confirmed that Horns Down will not be considered unsportsmanlike conduct. Which Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman reacted to during Media Days on Tuesday. 

“It shouldn’t be a penalty … if you let a hand signal affect you & affect the game, maybe you shouldn’t be there … allowing us to throw the horns down, that’s cool and all,” Bowman said. “But, I mean, if it can’t be a part of the game? Pretty soft.”

Bowman’s comments were spoken like a true Sooner with hatred for Texas, words that will likely be supported by Oklahoma’s fans and frowned upon by fans of the Longhorns.

The Hook’em Horns hand celebration is one of the most iconic and recognizable hand gestures across all of college athletics. But despite athletes and fan bases turning those horns upside down to taunt Texas for many years, there’s no question that Horns Down has taken on a life of its own.

On3’s Kaiden Smith contributed to this article.