TCU Football: Mem’ries Sweet - See You at the Tree

One KillerFrogs writer reflects on growing up a Sooner. He may have been a Sooner born and a Sooner bred, but he'll be a Horned Frog dead.

Editor's Note: This article was initially published in October 2021, before the last time TCU played in Norman. With Oklahoma leaving the Big 12 after this season, there may not be any more trips to Norman, at least in the foreseeable future. So, republishing this journey down memory land would be nice, especially during Thanksgiving Week. 

Growing up in Oklahoma, I had no choice. The team my family supported wore crimson and cream. My parents both went there. My paternal grandparents went there. My aunt went there. My maternal grandparents may not have attended, but they were both fans. Being a Sooner was what my family did.

Billy Sims rushed for Oklahoma against Nebraska in 1979.  / Tulsa World

So, I was a fan. I wore my crimson proudly. My friend Scott was the first person I knew who wore orange and cheered for that school in Stillwater. I just couldn't fathom not cheering for OU.

My sister and I were Sooners fans from an early age. Here we are with our late aunt, a proud OU Alum / Barry Lewis

It was the Barry Switzer era. I grew up idolizing Billy Sims, Joe Washington, Tinker Owens, and the Selmon brothers.

My parents had season tickets since they were at OU. In 1975, OU added the west side upper deck. My parents were donors for those new fancy seats. They purchased two in the upper deck plus their original pair, giving them four total. Perfect for our family of four.

My parents are avid Sooners fans. They met at OU and have been married and attending OU games since 1961 / Barry Lewis

My sister and I were excited. We got to go to games! Neither of my parents wanted to give up the fancy seat in the upper deck. So, my sister and I got their original seats. I was 10; she was 8. That first game, my parents took us to those seats. They introduced us to the four grandmas behind us and the guy beside us. That group became our in-stadium babysitters.

Before the game, Dad found a big oak tree on the stadium's west side. That was the meeting point. "When there's 5:00 left in the game, leave your seats. Go to the tree. Stand right there. Mom and I will meet you at the tree. You better be there!" Those were the instructions from him.

So that's how it went. For years. Every game. My sister and I got to know our caretakers. We were at the tree, even if it meant missing an exciting ending.

The grandmas were great. They probably weren't even that old, but they cared for us like grandmas. The man who sat next to us, and for the life of me, I wish I could remember his name, was great. He taught me so much about the game. He'd explain what was happening and explain the rules. And we left before every game was over. 

Years go by. I discovered TCU and knew it was where I belonged. My sister followed me to The Fort two years later. She met her husband at TCU. Our generation proudly bleeds purple.

A generational divide in our family.  / Barry Lewis

In 2005, we were all excited. Our Frogs went to Norman to play No. 5 OU. We all know how wonderfully that game turned out for the Frogs. But it wasn't just the game that day. My sister Karen and I made a pre-game trek to The Tree. The area had changed. New buildings. New landscaping. But we found the tree. We said hello to that old friend.

So, this week, when I travel to Norman, I will make another trek and say hello to the tree. Then, I might sing my adapted version of their fight song. Sure. I was a Sooner born and a Sooner bred. But when I die, I'll be a Horned Frog dead. Go Frogs!

TCU Football Week 13 Opponent Preview: Oklahoma Sooners

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