NORMAN, Okla. -- Perhaps no other event illustrates the popularity of Oklahoma football like the program's annual Meet the Sooners Day held each August in conjunction with the opening of preseason practice.
 
The 2008 edition will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 6, beginning at 11 a.m. at the rugby fields west of the Lloyd Noble Center. More info...
 
The event gains its popularity from the opportunity for Sooner fans to interact with their favorite coaches and players. Last year, the OU Athletics Department provided one lucky OU fan and a guest a day they won't soon forget.
 
As the winner of SoonerSports.com's first online auction experience, Tahlequah, Okla., native Warren Ragsdale went behind-the-scenes during Oklahoma's media day and Meet the Sooners festivities. The experience, hailed "A Morning with the Sooners", proved a huge success and, according to Ragsdale, exceeded all expectations.
 

Meet the 2008 Sooners Bid on the 2008 Morning with the Sooners Experience

Ragsdale and his daughter, Courtney Summers, began the day by taking in the media day activities at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. They watched Coach Stoops' press conference from the front row in the Big Red Room and personally met the head coach for a photo opportunity.
 
After the press conference, Ragsdale and his daughter went down to Owen Field to collect autographs as OU's players conducted a variety of media day activities. As media day wound down, the winners were driven down to the rugby fields and granted early admittance to Meet the Sooners Day to collect any autographs they may have missed at the stadium.
 
At the end of the day, they walked away with an authentic OU football helmet (included with the experience) full of autographs, photos with their favorite Sooners and, most importantly, memories of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
 

Looking Back: 2007 Experience   Interview with Warren Ragsdale (2007 Winner) |  2007 Meet the Sooners Day Photos

Ragsdale was so pleased that he secured the winning bid on another experience just a few weeks later. He returned to Norman with his wife, who had given him the Morning with the Sooners experience as an anniversary gift, for the Miami game on Sept. 8, 2007.

OU Athletics administrative assistant Anne Carter will again serve as the department's host for this year's Morning with the Sooners auction winner.
 
"I had so much fun last year and am looking forward to helping make this year's winner's experience just as memorable," Carter said. "Sooner football means so much to so many people, and this unique experience allows one fan and a guest to the opportunity to enjoy Media Day and Meet the Sooners Day up close. Again, I can't wait to help the winners have the best experience possible."
 
A Morning with the Sooners Experience
For more information on the 2008 Morning with the Sooners experience, visit the official OU Athletics Online Auction.
 
2008 Meet the Sooners Day
Visit the 2008 Meet the Sooners Day presented by Alltel main page. OU will release additional information detailing Meet the Sooners Day early next week. Please continue to monitor SoonerSports.com for the latest official information.
 
OG+E Sooner Kids Club
Members of the OG&E Sooner Kids Club are admitted to Meet the Sooners Day 30 minutes before the general public. Sooner Kids Club members will have exclusive access to autographs from 10:30-11 a.m., at which time the lines will open to all fans. More Info...
 
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