This year, six pledges from last year returned and eight new men were added to the group, said Lori Kemmet, spirit coordinator at the Athletic Department. Eventually, the department would like to have 20 in the group.

The group this year was chosen to be a good representation of the Sooner name, Kemmet said.

"Sometimes they created a reputation for themselves that wasn't the image we wanted to put forth," she said.

Collins said the group is using this weekend to try to improve their image.

"We want to just try to get our name back out there," he said. "I think people have a negative image of us."

The weekend in Dallas will look different this year for the RUF/NEKS. Instead of being autonomous, the group will travel around with the other spirit squads to perform at alumni and fundraising events.

Although this limits their activities, Collins said the perks are worth it. For one thing, now that the RUF/NEKS are under the Athletic Department, funding isn't an issue. The department has helped out financially, he said, "everything from getting paint to paint the shotgun to little things like T-shirts."

Although all transitions have the potential to be rocky, Collins said the RUF/NEKS have moved fairly smoothly their new position in the Athletic Department.

"Considering everything that happened last year, I think it's going extremely well."

Julianna Parker 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com