Sooner fans pack OU oval for its first tailgating experience

Sooner fans came out in droves for the big game on Saturday between OU and Illinois State leaving Oklahoma City with a different kind of quiet.  

Many people were excited to celebrate the opening game for the first time at the oval on campus.  

Sooner fan Si Simon wanted to see some different plays this year and said, “I hope we get to see some offense that we haven’t seen in the past and with our new coordinator and their quarterback and hopefully our defense is as good as we hear it is.” 

His wife Sherri Simon was taking in the vibes at the oval. “ It's energetic, happiness, it’s just fun, that's what football is, it's just fun,” Said Simon.   

Jacob Reyes was also taking in the vibes and added, "I'm a huge college football guy and you know just watching football and being around people that love football just to be able to talk about it and the food and the tailgate you know i just love the atmosphere.” 

Many fans were out tossing around footballs of their own and stepping up their game.  

Some of them shared with News 9 their football favorites.  

“Cee Dee Lamb is definitely my number one guy. I love watching him. I love Baker Mayfield. I think that’s kind of a given with any Sooner fan,” said Carson Caddell.  

Ryan Hayes agreed but added an extra favorite.   

“I don't know anybody who doesn’t like Baker Mayfield and Cee Dee Lamb. I really like Marvin Mims," said Hayes.   

Tents were set up all over the oval with flat screens of all sizes showing the game on Saturday. 

No matter where you turned, you saw Sooner red.  

If you were looking for Illinois colors, good luck with that.