What is a Sooner?

The origins of Oklahoma's nickname stretch back to the Civil War era. The Homestead Act of 1862, provided that a legal settler could claim 160 acres of public land, and those who lived on and improved the claim for five years could receive title.... At high noon on April 22, 1889, legal aspirants would be able to enter the Oklahoma Territory and choose 160 acres of land. The event soon became known as the "Oklahoma Land Run". Settlers made their way to Oklahoma Territory to stake their claim to a new life....One of the few rules to claiming a lot of land was that all participants were to start at the same time. Those who went too soon were called "Sooners". Sooners were often deputy marshals, land surveyors, railroad employees, and others who were able to legally enter the territory early to mark out choice pieces of land for themselves or others. The success of OU athletics teams over the years has made the nickname synonymous with winning.

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