Mason Young
Tulsa World OU Sports Reporter
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NORMAN — Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold’s hardly the first former Sooner to take on his old team.
What’s it like when an ex-Oklahoma player or coach comes back to Norman, or has to welcome the crimson and cream to their new home?
Or, how about when an OU transfer player returns to their old stomping grounds?
The modern era of college football and the transfer portal has made reunions, good or bad, all the more common.
Houston transfer Darrell Shepard quarterbacked the Sooners against the Cougars in the 1981 Sun Bowl, but that was before the internet and social media stirred up vitriol.
Austin Kendall also had a fine experience when he played OU as West Virginia’s quarterback in 2019. Kendall had no ill will towards OU, even as Lincoln Riley had tried at first to block his intraconference transfer.
Kendall told the Tulsa World’s Eric Bailey that he was greeted at his visiting locker at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium by a gift toy from OU center Creed Humphrey.
OU fans weren’t bothered that Kendall, who backed up Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, left for a new school when the Sooners brought in Jalen Hurts. They applauded when he was shown on the video board during pregame warmups.
There was some jawing and joking on the field between Kendall and his old teammates during the game, but nothing crazy.
The experience was much different for Mayfield after he transferred to OU from Texas Tech. When the Sooners went to Lubbock in 2014, Mayfield met up with some of his old Red Raider teammates at Chimi’s. The Mexican restaurant’s owner didn’t like Mayfield and kicked him out.
Then, in 2016, Texas Tech fans audibly started chanting “(Expletive) you Baker” inside AT&T Stadium multiple hours before the kickoff against OU. But that only energized Mayfield, who outdueled Patrick Mahomes that night in a historic game of offensive explosion.
Former OU defensive lineman and assistant coach Calvin Thibodeaux returned to Norman with SMU in 2023. There was no bad blood, despite that Thibodeaux was not retained at OU when Brent Venables replaced Riley as head coach.
However, there was some angst between SMU defensive lineman Kori Roberson, a transfer from OU, and his old teammates. Roberson got into a pregame scrap with OU’s Isaiah Coe.
Another defensive lineman, Trace Ford, was subject to hostility from Oklahoma State fans when he transferred to OU for his last two years of eligibility.
Ford and Mike Gundy jabbed at each other in the week leading up to Bedlam 2023, and Ford almost certainly heard from the Stillwater crowd before and during the game.
Last year, former OU quarterback Josh Heupel came back to Norman as Tennessee’s head coach. Heupel’s relationship with the Sooners and Bob Stoops is said to have been icy since Heupel was fired from his offensive coordinator position in 2014.
Heupel got a hero’s welcome though, with a video board feature during warmups. He patted his heart as the Sooner faithful applauded the 2000 national champion. Heupel mostly kept his emotions in check before spoiling his alma mater’s Southeastern Conference debut.
Later last year, former OU assistant Shane Beamer brought South Carolina into Norman and took advantage as the Sooners beat themselves.
Whether Beamer meant to send a message or not, he did, by having scorned former OU quarterback Davis Beville kneel out the final seconds of the Gamecocks’ victory.
Then, OU played at Missouri against Cayden Green and Williams Nwaneri, who became despised after spurning the Sooners. Theo Wease drew the most ire that night, though.
The traveling Sooner fans booed when the former OU wide receiver was announced as starter on the video board. He responded by catching two touchdown passes in the Tigers’ victory.
Former OU offensive lineman Sherrone Moore came back as Michigan’s coach two weeks ago and was celebrated by Sooner Nation.
At the end of the 2025 schedule, former Sooners Bauer Sharp and Nic Anderson will return to Oklahoma Memorial Stadium with LSU.
But first, it’s Arnold coming back to where it all started. He’s likely to hear some boos Saturday. Staying levelheaded, and perhaps even harnessing the contempt as motivation, will be key.
mason.young@tulsaworld.com
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Mason Young
Tulsa World OU Sports Reporter
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