Noel Mohrmann Development Associate

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2 Deren Boyd Assistant Athletics Director of Development Matt Roberts Director of Athletics Development Tara DeGiusti Director of Special Events and Suite Operations Dusty Clements Director of Annual Giving Noel Mohrmann Development Associate Tracy Branstetter Customer Service Representative Dianne Henderson Customer Service Representative This disk is in DVD format. The recommended use is a DVD player in a personal computer, due to the presence of web-based links within the content. The disc will play in a home DVD player, though no links will work without internet connectivity.

3 Joe Castiglione Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Athletics Every year as I approach writing this letter, I try to think of a better way to say thank you for all that each of you do to support our student-athletes and coaches. Each of you is a significant part of every success story that is written in our program, whether it is in the classroom, in competition or in community service. Quite frankly, so many of the achievements that we celebrate would only be dreams if not for your support. It is important that you understand that every Sooner Club member makes a meaningful, lifelong and lasting impact on the lives of our student-athletes, regardless of the size of your donation. It s not the size of the donation that demonstrates support... it s the action of donating. Because our Athletics Department is entirely self-sufficient, your donations make possible the state-of-the-art academic and athletic resources that our student-athletes need to compete at the highest level. Your donation, when added to the donations of nearly 10,000 other Sooner Club members, provides the tools and resources necessary for our student-athletes to be in the best position possible to succeed, to become champions inside and outside of the classroom. Our mission statement, Inspiring Champions Today and Preparing Leaders for Tomorrow, forms the foundation for every decision I make as athletics director. Our coaches and staff are committed to making this mission statement a reality in all of our endeavors. Our student-athletes only have to look at those who have come before OU ATHLETICS CORE VALUES Respect Accountability for Self and Others Passion for Comprehensive Excellence Commitment to Continuous Improvement Celebration of Diversity Integrity in All of Our Affairs to understand that at the University of Oklahoma mission statements are truly what dictate our decisions; they are not just empty words on a banner. Our commitment to excellence, which is shared by every coach, staff member and student-athlete, demands that our teams consistently perform well in the classroom and in competition. That commitment, when partnered with our mission statement, requires that we not only succeed but that we pursue that success with honesty and integrity. As we inspire champions and prepare leaders, we too, must take the lead. As long as we stay focused on our core values, then we will remain a leader in intercollegiate athletics for years to come. Your continued support through financial contributions and attendance at competitions is proof that you also share this commitment to experiencing success that has been earned by doing things the right way. Together, we have put Oklahoma Athletics at the head of the class as one of the elite intercollegiate programs. Together, we will continue to do what it takes to keep OU a leader in intercollegiate athletics by providing the best possible experience and environment for our student-athletes. Your continued partnership, combined with our outstanding coaches, staff and student-athletes, makes far-off dreams become a reality at the University of Oklahoma. We will never lose sight of the value of your participation in the Sooner Club. Thank you for everything that you do to support our efforts and our student-athletes. I hope you will join us once again for all that 2008 holds. Sincerely, Joseph R. Castiglione Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Athletics

4 MEMBERSHIP GUIDE Perhaps the greatest benefit of Sooner Club membership is the understanding that your contribution creates educational opportunities for the student-athletes who represent the University of Oklahoma. The chart on the next page illustrates some of the benefits associated with your Sooner Club gift. Below is a detailed description of each benefit CLUB BENEFITS CHART Santee Lounge Privileges (Maximum Four (4) Per Account) BUD WILKINSON SOCIETY $10,000 & Above GOLDEN CIRCLE $5,000- $9,999 SILVER CIRCLE $3,000- $4,999 BRONZE CIRCLE $1,500- $2,999 COACHES CIRCLE $500- $1,499 CRIMSON CIRCLE $250- $499 CENTURY CIRCLE $100- $249 4 Benefits of Membership 8 Sooner Club Contributions 10 Priority Point System 12 Upgrades and Priority Seating 13 OU vs. Texas Red River Rivalry 14 Athletics Ticket Office 16 Frequently Asked Questions 18 Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Seating 19 Lloyd Noble Center Seating 20 Cotton Bowl Seating 21 Beyond Sports 22 Letter from Athletics Compliance The 2008 Sooner Club Membership Guide is a production of the OU Athletics Development Office. The guide was written by Director of Athletics Development, Matt Roberts and designed by Director of Graphic Design, Scott Matthews. Additional editing provided by the Oklahoma Athletics Ticket Office. Printing: This publication was printed by University of Oklahoma-Printing Services and distributed at no cost to the taxpayers of Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. Photo Credits: Photos courtesy of Jerry Laizure, Lisa Hall and Shevaun Williams. November 2007 Tax Deduction All gifts to the Sooner Club are tax deductible as allowed by federal income tax law. The IRS allows an 80 percent charitable deduction for a contribution to educational institutions where, as a result of such contribution, the donor receives preferred seating rights for athletic events. You may decline any benefit by calling the Sooner Club office. Donors should consult their tax adviser. Football Game Program Recognition All members of the Sooner Club are recognized by giving level in the football game program provided the contribution is received prior to July 1 of each year. Window Decal New Sooner Club members are provided with a window decal to proudly display on their car or office window. If you need another decal, please contact the Sooner Club office. Priority Points All Sooner Club members receive priority points for their contributions. A more detailed explanation of the Priority Point System can be found on page 10 of this membership handbook. Sooner Insider The Sooner Club s bi-monthly newsletter is the Sooner Insider. This publication contains information about your Sooner Club membership, OU athletic events, personality profiles of student-athletes and coaches, travel information from SoonerSportsTravel.com and much more! The Sooner Insider is provided exclusively to members and friends of the Sooner Club. MBB Reserved Parking Special Event Invitation WBB Reserved Parking Kerr-McGee Courtside Club (MBB) Football Priority Parking Qualification Sooner Club Football Tailgate Passes Kerr-McGee Courtside Club (WBB) Media Guide Men s Basketball General Parking OU vs. Texas Ticket Qualification Ticket Marketplace Membership (Season Ticket Holders Only) Sooner Insider Priority Points Window Decal Football Game Program Recognition Tax Deduction Sooner Club Membership Guide 2008 Sooner Club Membership Guide 5

5 Ticket Marketplace Membership Season ticket holders of football, men s basketball and/or women s basketball receive an annual membership to OU s Ticket Marketplace. Ticket Marketplace is the best way for season ticket holders to buy, sell, or exchange tickets. For a more detailed explanation of Ticket Marketplace visit SoonerSports.com. OU/Texas Tickets The best way to get tickets to the Red River Rivalry is to donate to the Sooner Club. Because tickets to the game are in such high demand and short supply, the Priority Point System is used to determine who qualifies for tickets to the OU vs. Texas game played each year in Dallas. Men s Basketball General Parking Men s basketball season ticket holders at the Crimson Sooner Circle level and above receive preferred parking at the Lloyd Noble Center. Media Guide Sooner Club members contributing at the Coach s Circle Level may request a media guide from one sport. Bronze and Silver Sooner Circle members may request media guides from two sports. Golden Sooner Circle and Bud Wilkinson Society members may request media guides from up to three sports. Request forms are mailed to qualifying members upon receipt of your 2008 Sooner Club donation. Kerr-McGee Courtside Club Women s Basketball Women s basketball season ticket holders at the Coaches Sooner Circle level and above qualify to receive up to four (4) complimentary passes to the Kerr-McGee Courtside Club before each home game. Additional season passes may be purchased for $100 each by calling the Sooner Club. The number of Courtside Club passes qualifying members may purchase is limited to the number of season tickets in their account. Courtside Club passes and a complete schedule will be mailed to qualifying members prior to the start of basketball season. Sooner Club Football Tailgate Passes Football season ticket holders at the Bronze and Silver Sooner Circle levels qualify for up to two (2) Sooner Club Tailgate passes. Football season ticket holders at the Golden Sooner Circle and Bud Wilkinson Society levels qualify for up to four (4) passes. Additional season passes may be purchased for $180 each by calling the Sooner Club. The number of Sooner Tailgate passes any member may purchase is limited to the number of season football tickets in their account. Football Priority Parking Qualification Football season ticket holders donating at the Silver Sooner Circle level and above qualify to receive priority football parking. Priority parking location is allocated by the Priority Point System while supplies last and based on availability. Parking in all game day lots is on a first-come, first-served basis. A football parking request form will be mailed to qualifying Sooner Club members. Limit one pass per four season tickets with a maximum of three passes per account. Kerr-McGee Courtside Club Men s Basketball Men s basketball season ticket holders at the Silver Sooner Circle level and above qualify to receive up to four (4) complimentary passes to the Kerr-McGee Courtside Club before each home game. Additional season passes may be purchased for $100 each by calling the Sooner Club. The number of Courtside Club passes qualifying members may purchase is limited to the number of season tickets in their account. Courtside Club passes and a complete schedule will be mailed to qualifying members prior to the start of basketball season. Women s Basketball Reserved Parking Women s basketball season ticket holders at the Golden Sooner Circle and Bud Wilkinson Society levels receive one reserved parking pass for regular season home games. Each qualifying member will receive a numbered reserved space on the south end of the Lloyd Noble Center. Special Event Invitation Golden Sooner Circle members and Bud Wilkinson Society members are invited to a minimum of one special event each academic year. Men s Basketball Reserved Parking Men s basketball season ticket holders at the Bud Wilkinson Society level receive one reserved parking pass for regular season home games. Each qualifying member will receive a numbered reserved space on the south end of the Lloyd Noble Center. Santee Lounge Privileges Bud Wilkinson Society members and Sooner Club members with seats in the under deck chairback sections (sec. 3-8, rows 59-71) receive access to the Santee Lounge located on the west side of the stadium. Limit four (4) passes per qualifying account. Courtney Paris Major: Journalism Sooner Club Membership Guide 2008 Sooner Club Membership Guide 7

6 Annual Cash Gifts Cash and checks are always acceptable. All checks should be made payable to the University of Oklahoma Foundation. Gifts made to the OU Foundation are tax deductible as a charitable contribution. In most cases, the IRS has determined that donations made to the Sooner Club are 80 percent tax deductible because the donor receives some benefit (in the form of priority seating opportunities) in exchange for the donation. You may, however, request that you receive no benefit in exchange for your donation and therefore your donation would be 100% tax deductible. For your convenience, the Sooner Club also accepts donations made by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover) and/or through a monthly payment plan (monthly billing or credit card). IMPORTANT NOTE: All annual Sooner Club donations for priority seating privileges must be received no later than March 31, If you choose to utilize the monthly payment plan, complete and return the enclosed form, along with one-quarter of the minimum required donation for priority seating, by December 31, The remaining three-quarters of your donation will be billed in equal parts in January, February and March. You may elect to have your credit card charged or you may pay by check. Priority Point Reminder: Current gifts are awarded 3 priority points for every $100 given. All past gifts are awarded one (1) point for every $100. Matching Gifts Many companies and corporations provide matching gift programs for employee contributions. Ask your personnel office about your employer s matching gift policy and see how you can make your gift work two or three times harder for the Sooners! Enclose the matching gift form provided by your company with your contribution to increase your gift and benefit level. Capital Gifts Every sport sponsored by the University of Oklahoma has recently seen major improvements in facilities and equipment. By every measure, OU is the flagship for excellence especially when it comes to facilities. Still, when it comes to maintaining our competitive advantage in this important area, there is always a need for capital gifts. Top-notch facilities are not just important for recruiting the nation s best and brightest student-athletes, they are also important because we ve made a commitment to all of our student-athletes to equip them with the best tools to use toward their pursuit of scholastic and athletic goals. For information about donating toward a current or planned capital project, please contact the Sooner Club. Scholarship Endowments The primary purpose for privately funding the athletics program at the University of Oklahoma is to provide the necessary funds to send our student-athletes to school. While most of the scholarship funding comes from the annual Sooner Club donations, more and more scholarships are being fully endowed, thus ensuring that this funding will be available for generations to come. There are many different programs available through the OU Athletics Scholarship Endowment Fund, up to and including a fully-endowed $250,000 Foundation Scholarship that would bear your name and associate a donor with a former letterwinner and current student-athlete. For more information about this important program, please contact the Sooner Club. Priority Point Reminder: All capital gifts (including signed pledges) and scholarship endowments are awarded one priority point for every $100 pledged. Sooner Schooner Program More than 50 automobile dealers support OU Athletics through their participation in the Sooner Schooner Program, which guarantees reliable transportation for OU coaches and administrators. Car dealers who participate in the program receive Sooner Club benefits and priority points based on the number of vehicles provided for athletics department use. Gifts-In-Kind A donation of goods and/or services in lieu of cash can also be made to the Sooner Club. All gifts-in-kind must receive prior approval from the Sooner Club. Sam Bradford Major: University Studies IMPORTANT NOTE: If you plan on using your company s corporate matching gift toward your minimum required donation for priority seating, the matching gift must be received by March 31, Many matching gifts require a significant period of time for processing, so please plan the timing of your gift accordingly. Priority Point Reminder: Matching gifts are awarded priority points just like regular annual gifts 3 points for every $100 current year s gift and 1 point for every $100 of past gifts. IMPORTANT NOTE: Gift-In-Kind donations cannot count toward your minimum donation required for priority seating. Priority Point Reminder: Gifts made through the gift-in-kind program are awarded one priority point for every $200 worth of goods and/or services donated. Other Methods of Giving Gifts to the Sooner Club may also take other forms. Some examples might include real estate, stocks or personal property, as well as planned gifts such as endowments, life insurance, bequests, trusts, annuities and gifts of securities Sooner Club Membership Guide 2008 Sooner Club Membership Guide 9

7 In an effort to more equitably serve Sooner Club members, a system was developed and implemented in 1995 to determine ranking for season ticket placement and acquiring tickets to high-demand events like the annual Red River Rivalry, away games, post-season tournaments and championships, bowl games and other special events. The Priority Point System is also used to allocate Sooner Club benefits including priority parking and requests for seating upgrades. Current Year s Donation Points All Sooner Club donations received in a current giving year are awarded 3 priority points for every $100 received. Please note that priority points are awarded only when donations are received. Current year s donation points are awarded 3 points per $100 received in an effort to encourage Sooner Club members to donate each and every year. Past Years Donation Points All priority points for Sooner Club donations received since the inception of the Priority Point System in 1995 appear in this category. Past gifts are awarded 1 point for every $100 received. These points cumulate year after year and recognize the long-term financial commitment of our donors. IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT YOUR GIVING STATEMENT: When the Sooner Club prints and mails the annual giving statements for the new giving year, ALL CONTRIBUTIONS are recorded as past gifts. Your current year s donation is re-set to $0 until your contribution is received. Think of the priority point total that appears on your statement as your base point total and any contribution you make in the current year will be added to the total that now appears at the bottom of your giving statement. Important ticketing decisions like bowl game allocations are still being determined based upon your 2007 total. IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT BOOSTER CLUBS: Several sports at the University of Oklahoma have their own booster clubs. These clubs exist to provide financial support that directly benefits the specified athletics program. Because donations to the many different sport booster clubs are designated to specific sports (much like an athletics capital or scholarship endowment), priority points for membership donations are recorded in this category. One point for every $100 given is awarded for booster club memberships. UNDERSTANDING YOUR POINT TOTAL The Sooner Club awards priority points in several different categories that make up your priority point total. Please consider the following example: Bronze Circle Member ($2,000 Donor), Account # 6513 Current Year s Donation Points: 60 Past Years Donation Points: 100 Ticket Loyalty Points: 6 Season Ticket Points: 3 Sooner Loyalty Points: 11 CurrentCapital/EndowmentPoints: 50 Touchdown Club Points: 2.5 TOTAL: Ticket Loyalty Points At the conclusion of the academic year, OU recognized its longterm season ticket holders with a one-time addition to the priority point total. A scale was developed and a priority point deposit was made to Sooner Club accounts based on a patron s consecutive years of purchasing season tickets. Each account was analyzed and once it was determined which sport had the longest consecutive season ticket purchase, the addition was made. Sooner Loyalty Points To reward our faithful supporters, season ticket holders earn priority points based upon their attendance at sports for which they hold season tickets. Sooner Loyalty points are earned based upon the percentage of events attended over the course of each season. These attendance points are earned regardless of who uses your tickets, if they are sold on Ticket Marketplace, or shared online via Ticket Sharing and used for entry to the event. At the conclusion of each season, your account will be credited with the appropriate number of priority points based upon the following scale: Hall of Famer - 100% attendance (4 points) National Champion % (3 points) All-American % (2 points) Season Ticket Points Beginning with the academic year, season ticket holders have been awarded one priority point for every sport in which they purchase a season ticket. For example, if a patron had season tickets for football, women s basketball and baseball, they would earn a total of three priority points. Remember, it s one priority point for every sport, not every ticket. Current Capital / Endowment Points Every Sooner Club member has the opportunity to make financial contributions and commitments specifically directed toward OU s capital and scholarship needs. The Sooner Club awards one point for every $100 given or pledged toward an athletics department capital or scholarship endowment gift. Priority points for athletics capital or endowment gifts are awarded at the time of the gift or pledge. While regular Sooner Club donations are awarded priority points only upon receipt of the gift, athletics capital or endowment commitments are awarded priority points up front. Touchdown Club Points As the oldest and most prestigious sport booster program in the country, the Touchdown Club is in a class of its own. This remarkable organization has helped OU build a tradition-rich program for more than 50 years. Even though the Touchdown Club is a separately-chartered organization, the Sooner Club enjoys a close working relationship with this group of supporters. For Sooner Club members who maintain an annual membership in the Touchdown Club, 2.5 priority points are recorded in this category. Where Do You Rank? Below is a ranking of Sooner Club members by annual giving level and priority points within that giving level. Every ticketing and parking allocation is managed by placing donors in priority point order within each annual giving level. The tables below are offered as a guide to help you gain a better understanding of the priority point system and where you may rank within that system. Ranking is based on 2007 Sooner Club donations. Rank Giving Level Points 50th Bud Wilkinson Society th Bud Wilkinson Society th Golden Sooner Circle th Silver Sooner Circle th Bronze Sooner Circle th Bronze Sooner Circle th Coaches Sooner Circle th Coaches Sooner Circle th Coaches Sooner Circle th Crimson Sooner Circle th Crimson Sooner Circle th Century Sooner Circle 22 Taylor Griffin Major: Health & Sport Sciences Sooner Club Membership Guide 2008 Sooner Club Membership Guide 11

8 Priority Seating and Season Tickets Acquiring new season tickets, adding additional season tickets, and/or upgrading existing season tickets are each addressed through a combined effort of the Sooner Club and Athletics Ticket Office. Every ticket request for both football and basketball is ranked in priority point order within each annual giving level and reviewed one request at a time. Because season ticket renewal rates are typically very high (better than 99 percent for football, for example), acquiring seats or upgrading seats can present a challenge. Despite the high demand and low supply, each request is reviewed in the same manner. You must make your additional ticket and/or upgrade request in writing either by writing the specifics directly on your season ticket application, by attaching a letter to your application or making the request on your online renewal application. Any move or upgrade of your tickets will potentially create a new donor component assignment. For example, an upgraded public season ticket will now have a minimum donor component assigned. This donation will be required annually to maintain the season ticket location. Once the regular season ticket renewal deadline has passed, all non-renewed tickets are placed in inventory and made available for distribution. Then, requests for tickets and/or upgrades are addressed, and if a new ticket location is successfully secured, your new tickets will be mailed with all other season tickets. Because all ticket requests are ranked and reviewed in priority point order, making a donation to the Sooner Club remains the best way to acquire season tickets. These donations to the Sooner Club are non-refundable as your gift provides charitable support for OU student-athletes. While your gift increases the chance of your opportunity to acquire tickets, it is not an implicit guarantee of tickets or ticket locations. Post-Season Games (Tournaments, Championships and Bowl Games) The opportunity to purchase post-season tickets is also determined by the Priority Point System. From time to time, the Athletics Ticket Office will mail post-season ticket order forms. After the demand for post-season contests has been determined, a distribution plan will be implemented based on the Priority Point System. IMPORTANT NOTE: The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing every opportunity possible for Sooner fans to attend post-season games. Every effort will be made to acquire tickets to make available to any Sooner fan who wants to attend the game. At times, however, supply to these contests is very limited and the Priority Point System must be utilized to determine how tickets will be allocated. The OU vs. Texas football game has become one of the greatest rivalries in all of college football. The ticket for this game has become perhaps the most popular ticket on our schedule each year. Due to the demand for these tickets, the Priority Point System allows for qualification and allocation of the OU vs. Texas tickets each year. HOW ARE TICKETS DETERMINED AND ALLOCATED? Because demand is so high, a plan, utilizing the Priority Point System, provides the most equitable way to determine 1) which Sooner Club members receive tickets, and 2) the location of tickets inside the Cotton Bowl. Orders are placed in priority point order within each annual giving level beginning with Bud Wilkinson Society members through Bronze Sooner Circle members. Coaches Sooner Circle members and below are categorized together in priority point order. HOW MANY TICKETS DO I QUALIFY FOR? Some Oklahoma season football ticket holders acquire OU vs. Texas tickets because of their seat location inside the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Some Sooner Club members have a companion OU vs. Texas ticket for each priority seat. All other Sooner Club members who do not have matching OU vs. Texas ticket locations may request a maximum of four (4) OU vs. Texas tickets. Those accounts with less than four (4) season tickets may request only the same number of OU vs. Texas tickets as the number of season tickets in the account. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE MY LOCATION? While the opportunity to purchase an OU vs. Texas ticket is guaranteed by these seating locations and priority points, the ticket assignment inside the Cotton Bowl is determined by the Priority Point System. The OU vs. Texas ticket locations will strongly be determined by giving levels, annual Sooner Club contributions, and points within those levels. The quickest way to obtain improvement to the OU vs. Texas location is to increase to the next giving level. The Priority Point System will consider both annual and cumulative contributions to determine seat locations for all Sooner Club members. This process will allocate seats first based on current year s giving level, and then priority points within that level. Bud Wilkinson Society members will be prioritized based on priority points, and then allocated seats. Next, the Golden Sooner Circle will be prioritized and allocated, followed by the Silver Sooner Circle and finally the Bronze Sooner Circle. All Sooner Club accounts at the Coaches Sooner Circle and below will be categorized together and allocated seating based on priority points. Again, the qualification to receive tickets will remain based on points. All donations must be made on or before March 31, 2008 to count toward priority points, and specifically the OU vs. Texas ticket allocation. OU Women s Basketball Team GPA of 3.0 or better in 21 of 22 semesters under Sherri Coale Jermaine Gresham Major: University Studies Sooner Club Membership Guide 2008 Sooner Club Membership Guide 13

9 OU Athletics Ticket Office Phone: (405) Toll-Free (800) 456-GoOU Fax: (405) Ticket Office Location The OU Athletics Ticket Office is located on the plaza level of the Asp Avenue Parking Facility, immediately west of the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (see map below). A limited number of metered parking spaces are available on the second floor of the parking facility and on Asp Avenue for customer use. The Ticket Office is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Athletics Ticket Office opens at least three (3) hours prior to kickoff on football game day and remains open through halftime. Will Call Tickets are available for pick up at the Athletics Ticket Office Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Pick up tickets you have ordered on the Internet or over the phone as early as the next business afternoon following the date of purchase. Tickets ordered eleven (11) days or more prior to an event are mailed, or kept in Will Call if specified by the ticket holder. Tickets ordered ten (10) days or less prior to an event are placed in Will Call. Tickets may be picked up at the Athletics Ticket Office on or before game day. Please allow one business day for processing. A photo ID is required to pick up tickets in Will Call. Only the ticket holder may pick up tickets, unless arrangements are made through the Athletics Ticket Office in advance. Gameday Will Call - Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Tickets are available for pick up at the Athletics Ticket Office located on the west side of the stadium near Gate 2. Will Call will open at least three (3) hours prior to kickoff. Gameday Will Call - Lloyd Noble Center Tickets are available for pick up at the east lobby of the north box office of the Lloyd Noble Center at least one and one-half (1.5) hours prior to the start of the event through halftime. Gameday Will Call - Olympic Sport Venues Tickets are available for pick up at the ticket booths at least one (1) hour prior to the start of the event. Payment Options Payment for season tickets can be made in cash, by check payable to the University of Oklahoma, or charged to VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. No refunds or exchanges are made unless an order cannot be filled. Processing fees are not refunded. Single game tickets purchased at the event location must be paid for with cash or credit card. Admission Policy Ticket holders are restricted to seating in the location that appears on their ticket and agree to abide by facility and University policies, as well as State and Federal laws. The University of Oklahoma reserves the right to revoke tickets by refund of purchase. Football: All persons, including children of any age, must have a ticket for admission into the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Men s Basketball: Children 2 and under are free. Women s Basketball and Olympic Sports: Under Kindergarten are free. Special Seating Requirements ADA Seating-Football ADA seating is available for home football games the day of the game. ADA seats are not for sale, but are available by trading 2 of your current tickets for 2 ADA seats, one (1) for the person in need of assistance and one (1) for a companion. This service is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Exchanges are made at the Athletics Ticket Office near Gate 2 on the day of the game. Note: ADA seating is also offered at all other venues on a first-come, first-served basis. Season Ticket Transfers A one-time transfer policy may apply to an immediate family member. Only home locations are transferable. (OU/Texas, priority points and years of purchase do not transfer.) Samantha Ricketts Major: Sociology Sooner Club Membership Guide 2008 Sooner Club Membership Guide 15

10 How can I change the name(s) on an account due to marriage, divorce, or a death? Provide the appropriate legal document (i.e. marriage license, divorce decree, death certificate, etc.) to the ticket office in order to make any changes. You may fax, mail, or hand deliver a copy for our records. We will make the changes to your account once the appropriate documentation has been received, verified, and processed. All transfer policies will be applicable to the tickets that must be transferred. Why is there a renewal deadline? Because of the great demand for the best seating locations and the limited release of tickets each season, a deadline is set so vacant seats can be offered to season ticket holders requesting a seat change or to new season ticket holders. Due to the high Aaron Baker Major: University Studies volume of requests to be processed, the renewal deadline must be strictly enforced. How do I keep the seats I had last season? Payment for tickets (and donations for donor seating areas) must be received by the renewal deadline in order to be eligible for the same seating location. How do I request additional season tickets? Note the total number of tickets you would like to order in the quantity column on the renewal form. Indicate seating preferences for the additional seats and/or your preferences to move so you may have all of your seats located together. Please be advised that these are only requests. Fulfillment of requests will be based upon availability. Please pay for renewable seats only. You will be invoiced for any additional seats. How do I request a seating change? You may write any requests on the actual ticket application, or you may submit a separate written request to our office via , fax, or mail. Be sure to describe in as much detail as possible exactly what you are requesting. Feel free to include sections, rows, and seat numbers if applicable. Listing first, second and third choices will help in assessing the best seating available for your preferences (i.e., which is more important, yardage or height of row, etc.). Customers who renew seats online can make their request on their online ticket renewal. How can I request to sit with my friends? Indicate the names and account numbers of the individuals you would like to be seated with when completing an order form or request form. All parties must indicate their desire to be seated together and make the same request on their respective order forms. You may also fax or your group-seating request by the renewal or order deadline as well. Each party must make this request. IMPORTANT NOTE: When allocating seats for parties wishing to sit together, the location will be based on the party with the lowest priority point total. When will I receive my season tickets? Season tickets are mailed between two and four weeks prior to the first home event. Individual game tickets are mailed up to 10 days prior to the event. Ticket orders received within ten (10) days of an event will be placed in Will Call. How do I change the address/contact information on my Athletics Ticket Office account? Please note any changes on order and request forms returned to the Athletics Ticket Office. You may also send a written request via , fax, or mail to change your contact information. Please be sure to include your account number and your previous contact information. What if I can t attend a game or want to give my tickets to someone else? The Athletics Ticket Office offers the Ticket Marketplace and Ticket Sharing programs as convenient methods to sell or share your tickets. As a season ticket holder in football and/or basketball, you will be provided a complimentary Ticket Marketplace membership which allows you to safely and securely resell individual games from your season ticket online and allow other Sooner fans the opportunity to attend games that you may be unable to attend. If you simply want to give your individual game tickets to friends or family, the Ticket Sharing program allows you to send your tickets electronically via so that they may be conveniently printed and used. For detailed operating instructions on Ticket Marketplace and Ticket Sharing, please visit the Athletics Ticket Office page on SoonerSports.com. If my tickets are sold on OU Ticket Marketplace, will I recoup the cost of the ticket? Yes. When your tickets are purchased, you will receive a credit of 85% of the ticket s regular price. Checks will be issued by the OU Athletics Ticket Office bi-annually to season ticket holders who have sold tickets throughout the year. Do I have to use all of the tickets on my account for each game to receive 100% attendance credit? Yes. Attendance percentages will be calculated based upon the use of all tickets associated with a particular account. For example, if Joe Fan has 4 season football tickets then he has 24 tickets (4 season tickets x 6 home football games = 24 tickets) which must be used for admission to receive 100% attendance credit Sooner Club Membership Guide 2008 Sooner Club Membership Guide 17

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12 The mission of our BEYOND SPORTS program is to equip our studentathletes and alumni with the necessary skills for life beyond intercollegiate athletics. In keeping with our athletic department s mission to inspire champions today and prepare leaders for tomorrow; our goal is to assist in the preparation of these future leaders Seating Chart Professional Networking- Information sessions with individuals within the student-athletes fields of interest or career choices; Job shadowing and Internship opportunities The BEYOND SPORTS program will include three areas of concentration: Career Development- Annual Career Fair; Workshops; Resume Development; Programming; Individual and Team Specific Career counseling; Job Listings; Ongoing partnership with OU s main campus Career Services Degree Completion- Locating and communicating with former student-athletes who have not met degree requirements; Advisement on degree completion options and assistance with the re-admission process; Assistance with funding educational costs. We encourage all of our current students and alumni to take advantage of the many opportunities that our BEYOND SPORTS program provides. We are committed to assisting with the professional, career and academic needs of our current and former student-athletes. For additional information about this program please contact Teresa Turner at (405) , or tturner@ou.edu.

13 The University of Oklahoma appreciates your support of our athletics program and helping ensure our student-athletes receive a top-notch educational and athletic experience at our institution. As a member of the Sooner Club, you are also considered to be a booster of OU athletics. The NCAA defines a booster in a number of ways; including, anyone who has made a financial contribution to the athletics department or to an athletics booster organization of the institution. As a booster of OU, we ask for your help in understanding and abiding by the following information to ensure our programs operate in accordance with NCAA and Big 12 rules and regulations. We are all committed to the integrity of our programs; therefore, please ask Athletics Compliance if you have any questions concerning interaction with our student-athletes and/or our sports programs. Be sure to read our Compliance Corner in the Sooner Insider and visit our website for more in-depth information regarding NCAA legislation. What is an extra-benefit and why do I need to know this term? An extra benefit is anything that is provided to a student-athlete or a student-athlete s family and friends by an institutional staff member or a booster that is not available to the general student body or general public under the same terms. Providing anything considered an extra-benefit to one of our student-athletes or their family/friends jeopardizes their eligibility to compete for OU. The following are some common examples of extra benefits: Cash, loans, or co-signing a loan on behalf of a student-athlete Free or reduced services (e.g. free oil change, car detailing, dry cleaning, laundry, etc.) Providing free lodging or rental property at a reduced rate Free or reduced cost meals and drinks Providing tickets to concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities Any other cards, gifts or presents, even for special occasions (e.g. Birthday, Christmas, etc.) Is it permissible for someone to purchase a student-athlete s complimentary tickets? Per NCAA rules, OU is allowed to provide complimentary admissions to its student-athletes to enable his or her family and close friends to attend competitions in the student-athlete s sport. NCAA legislation precludes a student-athlete from selling or trading his or her tickets for any item of value (e.g. meals, furniture, lodging, etc.). Unfortunately, over the years, many student-athletes have been declared ineligible for selling their complimentary admissions to fans and boosters. You can help the University of Oklahoma and our student-athletes by recognizing this rule and not approaching our student-athletes to buy their complimentary admissions. What are the general rules surrounding recruiting and boosters? Boosters should not be involved in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes. A prospective student-athlete is anyone who has started classes for the ninth grade. The best rule of thumb is to refer any questions about OU athletics to our staff and do not attempt to contact a prospect or influence his/her decision to attend OU. Remember that only members of the coaching staff may be involved in the recruiting process. Are student-athletes allowed to be employed? Yes, it is permissible for student-athletes to be legitimately employed. However, it is important to remember the following guidelines regarding the employment of student-athletes: The job must be registered with Athletics Compliance prior to the student-athlete beginning any employment duties The student-athlete must be paid for work actually performed The student-athlete must be paid the going rate for the position A student-athlete may not be compensated for any value or utility they may bring to an employer because of their athletics reputation or affiliation A student-athlete s name may not be used to promote a commercial business Please contact our office with any questions regarding NCAA and Big 12 rules and regulations at (405) Sincerely, important INFORMATION FOR CLUB MEMBERS Jason Leonard Executive Director of Compliance