NORMAN — There was a point this season where the Oklahoma Sooners were testing out some new hype music from the press box speakers.
The stands were cleared out and the team was on the field, and a staffer upstairs cycled through different songs.
No … nah … not this one. That’s how the cycle went for a while, per OU coach Patty Gasso. Then came the 1996 hit “Let Me Clear My Throat” by DJ Kool. The song fits Gasso’s era a little bit more than it does college students, but something about the beat was timeless.
“That came on, and they just went crazy,” Gasso said.
Later in OU’s series against Texas, the song came on between innings, and the Sooners stuck to their plan. Team members emerged from the dugout. Fans got out of their seats. The tradition has carried on throughout the past several weeks, with “Let Me Clear My Throat” becoming the unofficial anthem of a team seeking its third straight national title. Players such Kelsey Arnold wave towels around their heads. Jocelyn Alo bumps her arm up and down to the beat.
“Music is a big part of this team’s motivation and just their energy,” Gasso said. “It’s fun to be around.”
OU (47-3, 18-0 Big 12) is in Pool A and opens the Big 12 Championships at 2 p.m. Friday against Texas in Oklahoma City. The Sooners play Iowa State at 7:30.
It’s not quite the same as playing at Marita Hynes Field, but don’t expect the energy to die.
Thursday, even OU athletic director Joe Castiglione expressed his affection for the program’s rally Twizzlers, a tradition now into its second year. When things get going, fans pick up the red candies and wave them over their heads. There’s an art to make sure it happens without breaking the Twizzler.
“I think that’s cool, especially in big moments, when we have momentum on our side,” infielder Sydney Romero said. “All you see is the fans twirling them around.”
For all the fun and games, this is also a team that’s all about business.
“Postseason is always on our mind in the way that we want to prepare ourselves,” pitcher Paige Parker said. “And we know what we want to accomplish.”
Wednesday, OU dominated the Big 12’s postseason awards. Parker was named Pitcher of the Year. Arnold earned Defensive Player of the Year, Alo was Freshman of the Year and Gasso was Coach of the Year.
The Sooners became the first team since Nebraska in 1998 to finish Big 12 play undefeated. But despite the Sooners’ 18-0 regular-season run, OU wants to make sure it gets a few more conference victories.
“They said ‘Our goal is 18 isn’t enough,’” Gasso said. “’We want to walk away 21-0’ ... They want this ’18 season to be one to be remembered, and I know that’s on their mind. When they say it, I believe them.”
No. 2-seeded Oklahoma State is in Pool B and plays Baylor at 11 a.m. and Texas Tech at 5 p.m.
Big 12 Championships
ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, OKC
Pool A: Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa State
Pool B: Oklahoma State, Baylor, Texas Tech
Friday
Oklahoma State vs. Baylor, 11 a.m., FSP
Texas vs. Iowa State, 11 a.m.
Oklahoma vs. Texas, 2 p.m., FSP
Baylor vs. Texas Tech, 2 p.m.
Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech, 5 p.m., FCSC
Oklahoma vs. Iowas State, 7:30 p.m., SCSC
Saturday
Pool A third place vs. Pool B third place, 11 a.m., FSP
Pool A second place vs. Pool B second place, 1:30 p.m., FSP
Pool A first place vs. Pool A first place (championship), 4 p.m., FS2