McClendon Center for Intercollegiate Athletics 180 West Brooks, Suite 3575 Norman, OK (405) (866) SOONERCLUB THESOONERCLUB.

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1 UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA McClendon Center for Intercollegiate Athletics 180 West Brooks, Suite 3575 Norman, OK (405) (866) SOONERCLUB THESOONERCLUB.COM facebook.com/soonerclub twitter.com/soonerclub 2011 MEMBERSHIP GUIDE

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3 It s been a dream of mine to be an Oklahoma Sooner. I get a great education while competing at the highest level in the best facilities. Sooner Club members help make that dream a reality for me. Jeremy Beal Senior - Multidisciplinary Studies 2011 MeMbership Guide 2 Benefits of Membership 6 Sooner Club Donations 8 Priority Point System 10 Upgrades and Priority Seating 11 OU/Texas Red River Rivalry 12 Athletics Ticket Office 14 Frequently Asked Questions 16 Inspiring Champions Circle 17 Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Seating 18 Lloyd Noble Center Seating 19 Cotton Bowl Seating 20 Letter from Athletics Compliance The 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide is a production of the OU Athletics Development Office. The guide was written by Assistant Athletics Director for Development Matt Roberts and Director of Development Dusty Clements. The guide was designed by Director of Graphic Design Scott Matthews. Editing provided by Director of Publications, Debbie Copp and the Oklahoma Athletics Ticket Office. Photo Credits: Photos courtesy of Jerry Laizure, Ty Russell, Stacey West, Lisa Hall, Robert Miller and Shevaun Williams. Printing: This publication was printed by University Printing Services and distributed at no cost to the taxpayers of Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. (November 2010) TheSoonerClub.com 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide 5

4 Benefits of Membership B E N E F I T S bud WiLKiNsON society $10,000 & Above GOLdeN sooner CirCLe $5,000- $9,999 silver sooner CirCLe $3,000- $4,999 bronze sooner CirCLe $1,500- $2,999 COAChes sooner CirCLe $500- $1,499 CriMsON sooner CirCLe $250- $499 CeNTurY sooner CirCLe $100- $249 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 page 2 illustrates some of the benefits associated with your Sooner Club contribution. See below for a detailed description of each benefit. Mbb reserved parking special event invitation Wbb reserved parking Kerr-McGee Courtside Club (Mbb) Football priority parking sooner Club Football Tailgate passes Kerr-McGee Courtside Club (Wbb) Media Guide 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 Sooner Club members are provided with a window decal to proudly display on their car or office window. If you need additional decals, please contact the Sooner Club. sooner insider The Sooner Club s monthly newsletter is the Sooner Insider. This publication contains information about your Sooner Club membership, OU athletic events, personality profiles of studentathletes and coaches, travel information from SoonerSportsTravel.com and much more! The Sooner Insider is provided exclusively to members and friends of the Sooner Club. The Sooner Insider is available via to Sooner Club members with an address on their account. The Sooner Club also mails out bi-annual Sooner Insider newsletters to all donors. Ticket Marketplace Membership Season ticket holders for 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 or sell home game tickets. For a more detailed explanation of OU Ticket Marketplace, visit SoonerSports.com. Men s basketball General parking Ou vs. Texas seating priority* 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 8 of this membership guide. Ticket Marketplace Membership (season Ticket holders Only) Sooner Insider priority points Window decal Football Game program recognition It s an honor to be an Oklahoma Sooner and to prepare and play in amazing places against the toughest competition in front of the most loyal fans. We have incredible opportunities here at OU and relationships that will last a lifetime, and it s all thanks to the Sooner Club. Whitney Hand Sophomore - Health and Exercise Science Tax deduction * Number indicates priority in which OU/Texas tickets are allocated Sooner Club Membership Guide TheSoonerClub.com TheSoonerClub.com 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide 7

5 benefits of membership Benefits of Membership Ou/Texas Tickets Donating to the Sooner Club is the best way to add priority points to your account and increases the possibility of qualifying for Red River Rivalry tickets. Because tickets to the game are in such high demand, the Priority Point System is used to determine who qualifies for tickets to the OU vs. Texas game played each year at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Only OU season ticket holders are eligible to qualify for OU/Texas tickets. 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. Limit one (1) pass per four (4) season tickets with a maximum of three (3) passes per account. Media Guide Sooner Club members contributing at the Coaches Sooner Circle level may request a media guide from one (1) sport. Bronze and Silver Sooner Circle members may request media guides from two (2) sports. Golden Sooner Circle and Bud Wilkinson Society members may request media guides from three (3) sports. Request forms are mailed to qualifying members upon receipt of their 2011 Sooner Club donation. Beginning with the academic year, media guides will be printed only for football, men s basketball and women s basketball. Kerr-McGee Courtside Club Women s basketball Women s basketball season ticket holders at the Bronze 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 receive 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 two (2) complimentary 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 Club Tailgate passes any member may receive is limited to the number of season football tickets in their account. Football priority parking 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 priority points within annual giving level as availability allows. Parking in all game day lots is on a first-come, first-served basis. A football parking request form, where donors rank their preference for parking lots, is mailed to qualifying Sooner Club members each spring. Limit one (1) pass per four (4) season tickets with a maximum of three (3) 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 receive 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 Vip reserved parking Women s basketball season ticket holders at the Golden Sooner Circle and Bud Wilkinson Society levels receive one (1) reserved parking pass for each regular season home game. 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 Vip reserved parking Men s basketball season ticket holders at the Bud Wilkinson Society level receive one (1) reserved parking pass for each regular season home game. Each qualifying member will receive a numbered reserved space on the south end of the Lloyd Noble Center Sooner Club Membership Guide TheSoonerClub.com Growing up in western Oklahoma, I always had a desire to be a Sooner. When I arrived on campus, I didn't realize all the incredible opportunities I'd soon experience, both athletically and academically. I'll be forever grateful to everyone who has contributed to my development as a player and person during my time at OU. That includes our wonderful fans. Cade Davis Senior - Human Relations TheSoonerClub.com 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide 9

6 Sooner Club Donations Sooner Club Donations Annual Cash Gifts Cash and checks are accepted. 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 percent tax deductible. Priority Point Reminder: Current gifts are awarded 3 priority points for every $100 donated. All past gifts are awarded one (1) point for every $100 donated. 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 on 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 balance 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. 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. To find out how you can make an impact by donating to a current capital project, please contact the Sooner Club at (866) SoonerClub. 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 benefits level. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you plan on using your company s corporate matching gift toward 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. In order to receive proper priority point credit all matching gifts must be received by the March 31 deadline. 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. DID YOU KNOW? In May 2010, OU celebrated the graduation of 121 student-athletes, including 108 with a bachelor s degree, 10 with a master s degree, one with a law degree, and two completing their Ph.D. 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 fund, 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 Priority Point Reminder: All capital gifts (including signed pledges) and scholarship endowments are awarded one priority point for every $100 pledged. OU Athletics Scholarship Endowment Program, up to and including a fully-endowed $350,000 Foundation Scholarship. For more information about this important program, please contact the Sooner Club. 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. Being a part of something that is much greater than me has been something that I have strived for my entire life. Being a Sooner has made that dream a reality. There is no place in the nation with better resources and facilities. Boomer Sooner. Garrett Buechele Junior - Multidisciplinary Studies 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. 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 like endowments, life insurance, bequests, trusts, annuities and gifts of securities Sooner Club Membership Guide TheSoonerClub.com TheSoonerClub.com 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide 11

7 Priority Point System priority point system I n 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 such as priority parking and requests for seating upgrades. Current Years donation points All Sooner Club donations received in the current giving year are awarded three (3) priority points for every $100 received. Please note that priority points are awarded only when donations are received. Current years donation points are awarded three (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 one (1) point for every $100 received. These points accumulate year after year and recognize the longterm financial commitment of our donors. Ticket Loyalty points At the conclusion of the academic year, OU recognized its long-term season ticket holders with a one-time addition to their 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 12 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: Golden Circle Member ($5,000 Donor) Account # Current Year s Donation Points 150 Past Year s Donation Points 100 Ticket Loyalty Points 8 Season Ticket Points 3 Sooner Loyalty Points 11 Current Capital / Endowment Points 100 Touchdown Club Points 2.5 TOTAL upon the percentage of events attended over the course of each season. For example, if a football season ticket holder has four tickets and there are six games, all 24 tickets must be used to gain four points. 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 85-99% 3 points All-American 73-84% 2 points season Ticket points Beginning with the academic year, season ticket holders have been awarded one (1) 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 (3) priority points. Remember, one (1) priority point for every sport, not every ticket. DID YOU KNOW? In 2009 football earned the highest APR in the Big 12 Conference for the third consecutive year Sooner Club Membership Guide TheSoonerClub.com 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 (1) 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. booster Club points Several sports at the University of Oklahoma have their own booster clubs. These clubs exist to provide financial support that directly benefits the specified program. One (1) point for every $100 contributed is awarded for booster club giving. 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 traditionrich 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. TheSoonerClub.com 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 first priority is annual giving level and secondary is priority points within each 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 2010 Sooner Club donations. Member 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 th Century Sooner Circle 6 Because I became an Oklahoma Sooner, I am surrounded by teammates who have become my best friends for the rest of my life and have helped me find who I really am as a student-athlete and person overall. Suzie Boulavsky Junior - Pre-Journalism 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide 13

8 Upgrades and Priority Seating OU/TExas Red River Rivalry 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 by priority point order within annual giving level, making a donation to the Sooner Club remains the best way to acquire or improve 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 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. The Athletics Ticket Office will mail post-season ticket order forms. After the demand for postseason contests has been determined, a distribution plan will be implemented based on priority points within annual giving levels. 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. T he OU/Texas football game is one of the greatest rivalries in all of college football. Tickets for this game have become the most popular on our schedule each year. Due to the demand for these tickets, the Priority Point System allows for qualification and allocation of OU/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, 2) how many tickets each season ticket holder receives, and 3) the location of tickets inside the Cotton Bowl. Orders are first placed in annual giving level beginning with Bud Wilkinson Society members through Bronze Sooner Circle members and then placed in priority point order within each giving level. Coaches Sooner Circle, Crimson Sooner Circle and Century Sooner Circle members are categorized together in priority point order. how many tickets do i qualify for? Some Oklahoma football season ticket holders acquire OU vs. Texas tickets because of their seat location inside 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 will receive an invoice for the number of tickets they qualify for based on their annual giving level within the Sooner Club. The number of OU/Texas tickets a donor will qualify for, regardless of annual giving level, will not exceed the number of season tickets they have on their account. What is the best way to improve my location? While the opportunity to purchase an OU vs. Texas ticket is guaranteed by some seating locations, ticket assignment inside the Cotton Bowl is determined by the Priority Point System. 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 first 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. Every season ticket holder will be re-allocated seats in the Cotton Bowl for the 2011 OU vs. Texas game. Donors will be seated according to annual giving level with the Sooner Club and then by priority points within giving levels. All donations must be made on or before March 31, 2011, to count toward priority points, and specifically the OU vs. Texas ticket allocation Sooner Club Membership Guide TheSoonerClub.com TheSoonerClub.com 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide 15

9 Athletics Ticket Office Athletics Ticket Office Ou Athletics Ticket Office 1185 Asp Ave. rm. 150 Norman, OK 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 Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (see map). 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 days and remains open through halftime. Will Call Tickets are available for pick up at the Athletics Ticket Office Monday-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 gameday. 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 in writing 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 at the Lloyd Noble Center two (2) 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 non-refundable. Single game tickets purchased at the event location must be paid for with cash or credit card. 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 exchanging two (2) of your current tickets for two (2) ADA seats, one (1) for the person in need of assistance and one (1) for a companion. This service is provided on a firstcome, 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 season Ticket Transfers The original season ticket holder may transfer the right to purchase season tickets to an immediate family member with a minimum age of 18 (defined as a son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, or parent). Ticket transfers may occur only once. The receiving family member will continue to have the opportunity to renew the season ticket, but may not transfer the ticket to anyone else. Only the right to purchase the season ticket is transferred. No priority points or purchase history will transfer to the new season ticket holder and any minimum donation accompanying that season ticket location will now be required along with the actual cost of the season ticket. The receiving family member s opportunity to purchase OU-Texas tickets will now be based solely upon annual giving level and priority point total. The automatic opportunity to purchase OU- Texas tickets based upon the original season ticket location will not apply. All ticket transfer requests must be made in writing and signed by the original season ticket holder or their authorized designee. Requests must include documentation verifying direct family relationship (i.e. birth certificate). For more information, please contact the Athletics Ticket Office at (405) I love everything about being a Sooner! OU is dedicated to making sure that we succeed in every facet of life. Looking back on my recruiting process, weighing my options among some of the top schools in the country, Oklahoma was definitely the right decision. Megan Ferguson Junior - Advertising 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 Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Men s basketball: Children two (2) and under are free. Women s basketball and Olympic sports: Children five (5) and under are free Sooner Club Membership Guide TheSoonerClub.com TheSoonerClub.com 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide 17

10 Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions how do i change the address/contact information on my 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. Address changes cannot be accepted when made online. Address change deadlines will apply for specific events. 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 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 and accompanying donation. 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 the Athletics Ticket Office or the Sooner Club via , fax or mail. Be sure to describe in as much detail as possible exactly what you are requesting. Please be specific when requesting an upgrade. 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 requests 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. 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. 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 allows 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 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 four (4) season football tickets, then he has 24 tickets (Four (4) season tickets x six (6) home football games = 24 tickets) which must be used for admission to receive 100% attendance credit. Where do i find my priority point Total? Your priority point total can be viewed by accessing your online account. Please use your account number and password to sign-in. You will need to establish a password if you have not already done so. DID YOU KNOW? Oklahoma issued just under one million tickets during the academic year. It is an honor to be able to attend a school with so much pride and school spirit. It is a privilege everyday to be able to put on the Oklahoma Sooner uniform and represent our school. I am grateful for the opportunities the Sooner Club has presented me with in the classroom and on the field. Jessica Shults Sophomore - Communication Sooner Club Membership Guide TheSoonerClub.com TheSoonerClub.com 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide 19

11 he inspiring Champions Circle is the sooner Club s elite giving level, representing donors who support Oklahoma athletics with an additional gift in excess of $17,000 the cost of a full scholarship for an Ou student-athlete for one academic year. In addition to receiving all benefits of a Bud Wilkinson Society member, Inspiring Champions Circle donors are invited to an annual Inspiring Champions dinner with Athletics Director Joe Castiglione, head coaches and select student-athletes. Inspiring Champions members will also receive correspondence from an OU student-athlete throughout the year, showcasing their progress academically and with their respective Sooner team NUMBER OF STUDENT-ATHLETES STUDENT-ATHLETES ON FULL OR PARTIAL ATHLETICS AID TUITION RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT $4,412 $12,300 $5,100 $13,390 $5,640 $14,760 $6,510 $16,470 $7,060 $17,040 inspiring Champions Today...preparing Leaders for Tomorrow. If you re interested in joining the Inspiring Champions Circle, or would like more information, please contact the Sooner Club at (405) or (866) SoonerClub Sooner Club Membership Guide TheSoonerClub.com TheSoonerClub.com 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide 21

12 Sooner Club Membership Guide TheSoonerClub.com The Official Fan Travel provider for Ou Athletics, the Ou Alumni Association and the sooner Club. TheSoonerClub.com 2011 Sooner Club Membership Guide 23

13 important information for sooner Club Members 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 consistent 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 studentathletes 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; and Any other cards, gifts or presents, even for special occasions (e.g. birthday, Christmas, or other holidays). What are the general rules surrounding recruiting and boosters? Boosters should not be involved in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes. A prospective studentathlete 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. Guidelines for boosters regarding agents: In light of recent well-publicized NCAA investigations across the country involving agents providing impermissible benefits to student-athletes and their families and friends, we felt it is essential to provide guidance on this topic. Student-athletes become ineligible if they (or their relatives and friends) accept benefits from an agent or an associate of an agent; State law requires agents to be registered with the Oklahoma Secretary of State prior to contacting student-athletes in Oklahoma; OU requires agents to be registered with the institution prior to contacting any of its student-athletes; Boosters should refrain from having any involvement in the agent selection process for studentathletes; this includes facilitating an introductory meeting between an agent and a student-athlete; The University and Athletics Department have established procedures to help its student-athletes through the agent evaluation/selection process. Please contact our office with any questions regarding NCAA and Big 12 rules and regulations at (405) or athleticscompliance@ou.edu. Sincerely, Jason Leonard Executive Director of Compliance