Patty Gasso calls the SEC a 'different animal' for Oklahoma

Oklahoma undoubtedly has the top softball program in the country at the moment. The Sooners have won four consecutive national titles under Patty Gasso and don’t appear to be close to slowing down any time soon.

Gasso and the Sooners are now a part of the SEC, and while she is confident in her team, she also knows that being as dominant in the SEC won’t be easy.

Of the eight teams in last year’s Women’s College World Series, four of them are now in the SEC. That includes Texas, Florida and OU, who were the last three teams remaining.

“Going into the SEC is just a different animal. I’m really excited,” Patty Gasso said Monday on The Paul Finebaum Show. “I think everyone here at Oklahoma is very excited.”

While Gasso respects the talent in the SEC, she also is well aware that Oklahoma is more than capable of competing with anyone.

Yes, the SEC has more good teams, but OU isn’t shying away from the competition.

“We love competition. We never are afraid of it. We face it in the eye, and that’s why our team has been so successful and most teams here on campus have, as well. So we’re looking forward to it,” Gasso said. “I know it’s going to make us better, and I know it’s going to help this University flourish.”

Patty Gasso calls 2013 National Championship most satisfying following Moore tornado

Paul Finebaum and Patty Gasso chatted about several topics during his show on Monday.

The two reflected on the past ahead of the program’s new-look SEC future. Finebaum asked Gasso which of her eight national title victories was the most satisfying, a question that may seem impossible to answer, but was obvious to Gasso.

“I do feel 2013 was special and that was the tornado that happened and more,” Gasso said.

While the Sooners were making their run in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, an extremely violent tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma just 10 miles away from Norman on May 20. A natural disaster that resulted in 24 fatalities, 212 injuries, and an estimated $2 billion worth of damages. Forcing a city to pick up the pieces and rally around a softball team that was looking to play for more than just themselves.

“Yeah it was the most devastating thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” Gasso admitted. “And having tried to reach out to those that needed help, and raising a family that lost a child in a tornado, and bringing her older sister in. Who was at that time 10 years old as our bat girl and her living her dream.

“All we wanted to do is make people smile.”