Fansided

Ranking the 10 best college football fight songs

By Phil Poling

12 November 2016: USC quarterback #14 Sam Danold leads the Trojan band in a song after the game against Washington. USC defeated Washington 36-13 at Husky Stadium on November 12, 2016, in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
12 November 2016: USC quarterback #14 Sam Danold leads the Trojan band in a song after the game against Washington. USC defeated Washington 36-13 at Husky Stadium on November 12, 2016, in Seattle, WA. (Photo by Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 01: An Oklahoma band member performs before the Big 12 Championship Game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns on December 1st at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by John Bunch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 01: An Oklahoma band member performs before the Big 12 Championship Game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns on December 1st at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by John Bunch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

No. 4: Oklahoma Sooners

Quite possibly the most basic fight song on this list, Oklahoma’s, “Boomer Sooner,” is also one of the best. Derived from Yale’s, “Boola Boola,” and North Carolina’s, “I’m a Tarheel Born,” the Sooner anthem is one of the most recognizable songs in college athletics.

Arthur M. Alden wrote the original lyrics in 1905 when he was a student before a section was added the following year. Aside from the repeated chants of “Boomer Sooner!” and “Oklahoma,” the third verse is as follows.

“I’m a Sooner born and Sooner bred
and when I die, I’ll be Sooner dead
Rah Oklahoma, Rah Oklahoma
Rah Oklahoma, OK U!”

“The Pride of Oklahoma,” as the band is known, played a special role in a 1983 football game against Oklahoma State. As the Sooners trailed 20-3 early in the game, the Pride’s band director was tossed for not having a field pass. Before leaving the field, he instructed the band to play non-stop until the team was ahead. Three hundred-or-so, “Boomer Sooners,” later and Oklahoma completed the comeback. Head coach Barry Switzer wound up awarding The Pride the game ball.