• Main
• Roster
• Coaches
• Schedule
• Statistics
• Archives

NORMAN, Okla. -- What does it take to get Owen Field ready for a big game?
 
Well, let's just say it doesn't happen overnight. After spending some time with OU Director of Athletic Fields Jeff Salmond and his crew, you will gain a new appreciation for all that goes into preparing the field for gameday.
 
Earlier this season, we documented the process of painting the field from start to finish. Click the link below for a behind-the-scenes look.
 

Grounds Crew Preps Owen Field for Gameday

Throughout the course of the week, the grounds crew puts in more than 200 hours of manual labor and uses approximately 250 gallons of paint to create a 120-yard by 160-foot masterpiece.
 
Their reward? Having the eyes of an entire nation admire their work on Saturdays.
 
"I think everyone here takes a lot of pride in it," Assistant Director of Athletic Fields Brandon Kent said. "When you have 85,000 people watching here on gameday, not to mention the people around the country watching on TV, that's one of the things we all look forward to is saying, 'That's our field. We put all that work in.'"
 
And while their job requires many long hours of manual labor, the grounds crew realizes how lucky they are.
 
According to Kent, "Without a doubt, it is the most important piece of grass in the state of Oklahoma."