Published: October 12, 2008 12:00 am            

OU football a big hit on the big screen

By M. Scott Carter

MOORE -- Saturday's OU-Texas football game proved to be the most popular feature at Moore's Warren Theater.

It was a bigger hit that the movie "Appaloosa," "The Express" and even "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."

Sure, "Beverly Hill Chihuahua" may have starred Drew Barrymore, but it was only on one screen.

The OU-Texas game had three screens, and it came with its own indoor tailgate party. For $12 you got admission to the game, two hot dogs, chips, coleslaw and candy.

Drinks weren't included.

But that didn't stop several hundred rabid Sooner fans from filling the theater, cheering for the Sooners, cussing the refs and, of course, trying to put the hex on Texas.

"Man, there isn't any better way to see the came," said Bo Phillips, who drove all the way from near Shidler just to see the game. "I have some family down here and my brother-in-law and I decided we treat ourselves."

While the rest of the family spent Saturday shopping, Phillips and his brother-in-law, Ben Sanders, spent Saturday afternoon in the dark.

"It's like the ultimate big-screen television," he said. "It was like being there."

And for a while, both Phillips and his brother-in-law were having a good time.

"We laughed, cheered and even acted a little stupid," he said. "But we got 'em started on the ol' Boomer-Sooner cheer."

The cheers began to fade as the fourth quarter closed.

And by the time of Texas' 45-35 victory, Phillips was ready to see daylight again.

"I was a helluva game," he said. "But I hate, just absolutely hate, losing to the Longhorns."

That feeling seemed to be shared by the hundreds there at the theater who walked out somewhat more quietly than they went in.

Still, Phillips, Sanders and a majority of the group who did the game at the theater said they would return should another chance to see the Sooners on the big screen present itself.

"Sooner football is Sooner football," Phillips said. "You win a lot and, once in a while, you lose a few."

But Sooner football on a screen the size of a house, is, he said, every fan's dream. "I just wish my television was this big."

M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscipt.com

        

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