Camp Crimson aims to instill spirit, pride through OU traditions

As the lights dimmed and the fight song rang through the room, Camp Crimson attendees filed onstage to test their knowledge of Sooner traditions.

Boomer Session campers participated in the Tradition portion of Camp Crimson on Thursday in Catlett Music Center's Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall.

“[The Traditions session] helped us get to know people and just got us really excited to come in the fall,” said Lindsay Loy, freshman from Rockwall, Texas and Carnegie small-group member.

Before campers' school spirit is tested, the Pride of Oklahoma refreshed their memories by playing a few school songs while camp orientation guides put their cheerleading moves on display.

Finally, after the Boyd small group jumpstarted an impromptu chant competition, the Traditions session kicked off with Lyndsay Tabor, camp emcee and human relations senior.

After a few words from Tabor, Camp Crimson Director Zac Stevens announced the winner of a Twitter contest. Bryce Hermsen, freshman from Third Lake, Ill., received a certificate for a free textbook as a reward for tweeting during camp.

Then the singing commenced with the campers' rendition of "Boomer Sooner." After exercising their index fingers during the fight song, students' voices filled the concert hall as they sang along to "O.K. Oklahoma." Elvie Ellis, orientation guide, then led the Boomer Session in closing out the singing portion of the Traditions session with “Oklahoma!”

“I just liked the songs, but I was raised around those,” said Aspen Real, freshman from Carrollton, Texas and Hester small-group member.

Once the singing ended, campers were able to sit down and relax as men's basketball coach Lon Kruger and football coach Bob Stoops appeared on the screen in the center of the stage. In a short video, the coaches enlisted mascots Boomer and Sooner to help convince students to purchase a basketball-football combo ticket package.

Next, the Student Alumni Association announced the L. Dale Mitchell small group as the winner of the honorary class ring for being the most unified group at camp. The Traditions session then came to a close with the Mex small group taking the stage to accept the Crimson Hammer — the prize for showing the most spirit.

After a final chant of "Hi Rickety Whoop-te-do," Boomer Session campers headed off to their next event full of spirit and pride.

“I think I’m more pumped to try and maybe raise my spirit and try to get the spirit stick,” said Jackson Russell, freshman from Edmond and Boyd small-group member.

Tegan Burkhard

Tegan is a former staff member of Sooner yearbook who worked as Sooner yearbook.