Despite an imperiled economy and 21st century ticket prices, Oklahoma fans have proven a loyal bunch. Or, to be accurate, an almost perfectly loyal bunch.

Wednesday, the university announced the 2009 renewal rate for football season tickets has come in at a staggering 99 percent.

In all, 69,000 season tickets are sold annually to the general public and another 8,000 are sold to OU students. It is from that pool of 77,000 season tickets that the renewal rate is set.

According to OU ticket office officials, the average renewal rate for football season tickets is about 96 percent, and the figure that has never dipped below 94 percent during the Bob Stoops era of Sooner football.

OU officials were complimenting the university’s fan base Wednesday.

“When we speak so glowingly about their dedication and support of our program, it’s not just lip service,” OU athletics director Joe Castiglione said. These numbers illustrate why we praise them the way we do.

“They’re remarkable. We don’t have all the figures but it wouldn’t surprise me if that renewal rate led the nation.”

Sooner football coach Bob Stoops chimed in.

“They’re incredible,” he said of the fans. “The love they have for the program is overwhelming, and it means so much to us. From a coaching perspective, it’s rewarding to me to hear our players talk about (the fans). They can’t wait to tell people what it’s like to play in front of that crowd in Norman.”

It should be noted, however, that Stoops has also taken the fans to task. Last season, in the week leading up to a critical game against Texas Tech, he didn’t question the fans devotion, but their intensity inside the stadium.

The result may have been the loudest game day Saturday in program history.

Apparently, they’ll just about all be back for the coming season.