A Tulsa Fan's Farewell

Originally Published: Apr 17, 2010 11:45 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma – For the average fan at H. A. Chapman Stadium, Saturday’s spring football game marks the beginning of something new for the Golden Hurricane. For one of Tulsa’s biggest fans, it marks the end of something great.

“It’s hard. It’s very hard,” said Gennie Lynn. “I’ve gotten to grow up with these boys and have seen a lot of them from their freshman years to now.”

Lynn has worked as an area coordinator with the university’s housing department for the past five years on campus. She’s helped house incoming athletes and was often the first face the Golden Hurricane football players would see when they arrived at TU.

“I’ve watched a lot of them really develop into great young men,” said Lynn. “It’s very bittersweet to watch them in uniform for the last time.”

After five seasons in the stands, Lynn is taking a job at Stephen F. Austin to be closer to her family. Consequently, she’s leaving behind a group of young men that helped her feel like family.

“I actually get to know them as people,” said Lynn. “They help keep me young. So, I don’t have to grow up, just get older.”

One of the program’s most familiar faces cheered as the football team walked off the field Saturday night. The offense won the annual scrimmage 39-32. To Lynn, the score didn’t matter.

For the last time, she got to see the kids she loved play the game they love.