OU's Boomer and Sooner

There is nothing much more a part of OU football, beside the players on the field, than Boomer and Sooner and the Sooner Schooner. <br><br>News on 6 reporter Rick Wells shows us just like the player Boomer

Monday, November 17th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

There is nothing much more a part of OU football, beside the players on the field, than Boomer and Sooner and the Sooner Schooner.

News on 6 reporter Rick Wells shows us just like the player Boomer and Sooner have a game-day routine.

Here they come, Boomer, Sooner and the Sooner Schooner. They are a big part of every OU home game. Look how fixed up they are. OU Mascot Wrangler Bill Warden: "The fans think these things come all pristine and smelling good.â€ Not when they spend all week playing' in the pasture and rolling in the mud.

Bill Warden takes care of that. He's finishing his sixth season as the mascot wrangler. Game day starts with a pedicure. The players have a game-day ritual, so do Boomer and Sooner, and what they really need is a good bath. "They're just like kids they don't wanna take a bath." Except before the games in August and early September, they kind of like it then.

"Ya see this yellow on the in the hair, that's what this shampoo does, it helps bleach that out." It makes the white look whiter. He buys it at the feed store. One bottle will last a couple of Saturdays.

They get a good rinse, and then it's time for what he calls the soft and cuddly stuff. â€œDon't give away my trade secrets here." It's conditioner to make their manes and tails soft and fluffy. Another rinse and it's off to the trailer and the squeegee. This isn't the entire routine, at the game they get curried and combed and fluffed up and their hooves get painted white.

Then it'll be picture time. "Ten million times. It's just constant, click, click, and click.â€ Look how smart they are. Boomer, what's your favorite TV station. 6, atta boy. All right, they've had their bath; it's time to head for the game. "The next bath is mine."

Saturday's game against Baylor was OU's final home game this season. Boomer and Sooner will travel to the Big 12 Championship in Kansas City, and the game-day routine will be the same.