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Jan. 26, 2012

By Andrew Gilman | SoonerSports.com
 
NORMAN, Okla. -- It was 16 years ago when Amy Logan and a few others decided to do something a bit different in Norman.

They started a women's basketball booster club at OU.

Now, looking back, Logan started something more than just a club to support OU women's basketball. She started a number of friendships.

"I'd say a lot," Logan said of the amount of friends she has made since starting the club before coach Sherri Coale's first year at OU. "A lot of friendships have been made and it's really grown over the years."

Oklahoma vs. No. 1 Baylor | Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. Game Preview | Tickets | Promotions | Live Coverage | Gameday Central

And Thursday when the Sooners host top-ranked Baylor at 7 p.m., those friendships will be celebrated inside the Lloyd Noble Center for Cheer Like a Champion night, an annual promotion where fans get T-shirts and players and coaches enjoy what has become a great home-court environment.

"The fan support is one of the reasons you go to play OU women's basketball," OU junior guard Whitney Hand said. "You can't beat the environment of the Lloyd Noble Center. Fans are here in large numbers rain or shine and regardless of the opponent.

"And for a visiting team, it's just as awesome ... until tip-off and 10,000 people turn against you."

But back to the originators. The group gathers before every game inside the Clinton Lounge on the upper concourse of the Lloyd Noble Center. For road conference games, there's bus trips and for many, there's lasting friendships.

"The Fast Break Club is kind of the mechanism for meeting lots of people who enjoy OU basketball," said member Coleman Harris. "When the doors open, until tip-off, it's a chance to visit with people. Over the past few years, we've made a lot of new friends and now we see them everywhere."

T-shirts will be given to all those who attend Thursday night.

"Our fan base is obviously broader than just the Fast Break Club," coach Sherri Coale said. "But, by and large, what has made our fan base special is they have grown the program with us. They check on each other and care about each other. They go to dinner and talk about games. It's been a neat network."

The 550-member club will expand again Thursday night, when Cheer Like a Champion attracts new fans to the game and, hopefully, a new passion.

"We actively invite people to join throughout the season," Harris said. "Our feeling is if we can get them to be involved, they will have more fun and enjoy it more and they will come back for more."

OUFastBreakClub.com | OU Booster Clubs