By Russ Tresner
I am a Sooner fan working at OU with the College of Liberal Studies. As I watched Thursday night’s game, I saw some impressive football and I hope that you will do the same thing to Texas but even worse. That being said, I thought you might enjoy a Sooner lament, with an ode to Edgar Allen Poe.
Once upon a Thursday dreary, while the Sooners weak and weary,
Over many a curious three and out and many calls from refs galore,
While they nodded, nearly napping, suddenly a Bear came rapping,
As of some gigantic slapping, slapping at the football score.
`’Tis some vision,’ I then muttered, `tapping at my memories door –
Only this, and nothing more.’
Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak November,
And each separate dying touchdown wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; — vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books of Sooner power — power for those years of yore –
For the rare and radiant Team whom the football mavens named before –
Sooners here for evermore.
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
To the television I was screaming, just one touchdown I implore;
But the fact is they were napping, and so greatly Bear fans clapping,
And so faintly they came tripping, tripping down the football floor,
That I scarce could watch at all — there I said a safety gaining, this may open wide the door; –
Ah, but Darkness there, and nothing more.
Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams of Sooners playing as before;
But the touchdown darkness was unbroken, and the darkness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, no more!
This I whispered, and a faint echo murmured back the word, no more!
Merely this and nothing more.
`Be that signal of a play, maybe yet they are starting, pass or run!
I shrieked upstarting –
`Get thee back onto the Goal Line and the Night’s great stormy shore!
Leave no drive upon the field unbroken and that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave thy happiness unbroken! — quit the dearth of football score!
Take the ball and move it forward, take the ball for another score!’ Ah but then I heard it.
Quoth the football mavens `Nevermore.’
But the Bear, sitting proudly on the placid field, spoke only,
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Yet another Baylor score, only this and then he uttered –
not a touchdown did they stutter –
Till I scarcely more than muttered `Other teams have gone before –
On the morrow this will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.’
Then the football mavens said it, for this season, `Nevermore.’
Congratulations on a well played football game. Boomer Sooner.
Russ Tresner
University of Oklahoma College of Liberal Studies
