April 22, 2023
Bodhi’s First Trip to Owen Field
Team 129’s first shot at taking the field at Owen Field in Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma. My dad, my oldest son Bodhi, and I loaded up and made the one-hour trek northeast to Norman.
But first—priorities. We stopped at Rudy’s BBQ for lunch (because no Sooner memory should begin on an empty stomach). While there, we ran into our friends Caleb and his son Cruz. The boys exchanged a high five, followed by a fist bump, followed by that unspoken toddler-code look that said, “Yeah, we’re cool.” Caleb and I caught up for a bit, and then it was off to the tram at Lloyd Noble Center to head toward the Palace on the Prairie.
The Tram, the Flags, and the Hats
For Bodhi, the five-minute tram ride might as well have been Disney World on wheels. He’s ridden in a bus before, but this was next level—windows, people, and OU flags everywhere. He pointed out every crimson detail like a tour guide who’d just had an energy drink.
“Look, Dada! That guy has on an OU hat like me!” he exclaimed.
I gently explained there might be a few more OU hats where we were going.
Re-Living the Firsts
There’s something magical about watching your kids experience new things—it almost feels like you get to re-live your own firsts through them. I’ve been an OU fan my whole life, went to school there, spent countless Saturdays in Norman. But this was the day I had been waiting for: Bodhi’s first trip to see the Sooners play.
Okay, fine—it was technically just a spring game. But let me have my moment.
The Little Owl at Owen Field
Once we hopped off the tram, Bodhi went full explorer mode. His legs were moving at top speed, and his head was on a swivel like a tiny owl on espresso. The questions came rapid-fire:
- “Why is there food under here?”
- “Why does everyone have OU stuff on?”
- “Why can’t I see the sky, Dada?”
I’ll admit it—it was… cute. (Yes, I said it. Don’t tell anyone.)
Finally, as we emerged from the tunnel in Section 13, I had the GoPro ready to capture the moment Bodhi first laid eyes on Owen Field.
Ponies, Cheerleaders, and… the Band!
Bodhi’s eyes lit up as he took in the Sooner Schooner pulled by ponies, the Ruffnecks firing the shotgun, the cheerleaders, and—most importantly—the Pride of Oklahoma.
Now, Bodhi and his two-year-old little brother can hum, chant, and shout along with every OU band number. I’ve got a Spotify playlist to prove it. So when the band launched into the fight songs he already knew by heart, Bodhi acted like the stadium had been planning this concert just for him.
Outlasted by a 3-Year-Old
We arrived about 30 minutes before kickoff. By the time Jackson Arnold trotted onto the field for his first snap as a Sooner, Bodhi tugged on my sleeve and asked the question every parent knows is coming:
“Dada, are we about to go home?”
I had hoped to stick around for the halftime Kyler Murray tribute, but asking a 3-year-old to hang tight for two hours in stadium seating was like asking him to run a marathon in cowboy boots. We packed up, knowing ESPN+ could deliver the rest later.
347 Vlogs and Counting
Of course, I brought the cameras. I edited it all into what I proudly call my 347th vlog, preserving Bodhi’s first OU experience forever—even if “forever” lasted only until the first quarter.
Bodhi, Dad—thanks for the memories. I treasure these moments, halftime or no halftime. 🙂
👉 Watch the vlog of Bodhi’s first OU trip here.