So, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why Oklahoma doesn’t have an NFL team. It’s a head-scratcher, right? I mean, we’re a football state, just like Ohio and Texas. We live and breathe football here.
I started digging into this, and the first thing that popped up was the population thing. Oklahoma’s not exactly bustling with people, and we don’t have a massive city like some other states. Oklahoma City, our biggest city, has around 681,000 people in its metro area. Apparently, that’s not enough for the NFL’s liking when they’re scouting for new team locations.
Then I started looking at what teams people root for around here since we don’t have our own. The Dallas Cowboys seem to be the go-to team for most folks. I guess it makes sense, they’re relatively close, and a lot of people around here have adopted them. I see a lot of Cowboys gear when I go to local sports bars, that’s for sure. If you are a fan of college ball, people usually support the Sooners, of course!
I also found out that Oklahoma State University’s football team, the Cowboys, they’re pretty big around here, too. They’ve got a decent record, and their coach, Mike Gundy, he’s been there for like 20 years. That’s some serious dedication. They play at the Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. I’ve never been, but I hear it’s a great atmosphere.
But here’s where it gets interesting. I stumbled upon some history about Oklahoma having semi-pro and pro teams in the past. Did you know about the Oklahoma City Chiefs back in 1932? A real professional football team right here in Oklahoma City! That’s way before my time, but it’s cool to know we had a team with that name, at least for a while.
My Thoughts
- Exploration: I spent hours reading articles and forum posts about NFL expansion criteria.
- Comparison: I compared Oklahoma’s demographics and sports market to other states without NFL teams.
- Discovery: I found out about the history of semi-pro and professional football teams in Oklahoma.
- Reflection: I realized that while we might not have an NFL team, football is deeply ingrained in our culture here.
So, yeah, it’s a bummer we don’t have an NFL team to call our own. But, honestly, we’ve got a rich football history, a strong college football scene, and we’ve found ways to enjoy the NFL by supporting nearby teams. It’s not ideal, but we make it work. We’re Oklahomans, we’re resilient, and we love our football, NFL team or not.
