What to know about July 1st OU to SEC celebration

For OU, the move to the SEC has been a long time coming. That’s why the Sooners are throwing a party for their official entry into the conference. 

On July 1, Oklahoma’s first official day in the SEC, the school will host several events to commemorate the move. It starts with a 5k Glow Run Sunday night and ends with a concert and drone show at Gaylord-Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Monday evening. 

“We knew we wanted to have a big celebration,” said Leah Beasley, who is the Executive AD of External Engagement at OU. “I’ve been here for about two years now and that’s how long we’ve been talking about it, since I’ve been here. So we wanted to make a splash. We knew July 1 was going to be the official date, but there have been several things going on behind the scenes to try to get here not only from a branding perspective of switching out Big 12 logos for the SEC logo, but also in the department — what does the SEC expect from us? So this is where it’s taking place, right here in front of us, right here behind us and actually inside the stadium. So we’re stoked for July 1.”

Beasley is the mind behind the celebration on Monday, helping create the events and organize the party. She and her team have been putting together the schedule for the celebration for over a year. 

“Everybody from internal operations to the compliance department,” Beasley said. “It’s been about a year in the making. So our first meeting regarding July 1 specifically was a little bit over a year ago and trying to piece together what all we could use.” 

OU to the SEC events 

• Race to the SEC 5K Glow Run: 11 p.m. on Sunday, June 30. The 5K will begin on Brooks Mall immediately north of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. It will conclude at Owen Field’s 50-yard line. $24.25 entry fee.
• Midnight Madness Sale: Fans will have their first opportunity to purchase officially licensed OU-branded SEC merchandise.
• “Wake Up in the SEC” Events in OKC and Tulsa: From 8-9:30 a.m. The Oklahoma City breakfast will take place at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill. It will feature OU President Joseph Harroz Jr., Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione and other special OU guests, including head coaches. In Tulsa, the breakfast will be held at Mother Road Market. It will include the SEC Network’s Dari Nowkhah, OU Vice President Susan Bynum, former OU head football coach Barry Switzer.
• Sooner Schooner Roadshow Final Stops: Photo opportunity with the Sooner Schooner that will include stops in Tulsa and OKC.
• Norman Pep Rallies: From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at seven different Norman business districts.
• Summer Equipment Sale: Can be found in the Mosier Indoor Track Facility from 2-7 p.m.
• SEC Network Programming: The “Paul Finebaum Show” will be broadcast live starting at 2 p.m. in the North end of the stadium.
• “Party In The Palace presented by motorola razr”. Will include live music, a pep rally and a drone show from 5-10 p.m.
• Open Houses: Barry Switzer Center and Love’s Field will be open from 5-7 p.m.

Paul Finebaum schedule 

Paul Finebaum will host his daily show on SEC Network outside of McCasland Fieldhouse and in front of the reflecting pool from 2-6 p.m. Monday. He will have on every coach at OU and other guests, including a couple of SoonerScoop staffers. 

• 2 pm: Brent Venables 
• 2:15 pm: Patty Gasso
• 2:45 pm: Skip Johnson
• 4 pm: Joe Harroz and Greg Sankey
• 5 pm: Joe Castiglione
• 5:30 pm: Eddie Radosevich and George Stoia

For full details on the events, read more here.