Jay "The Birdman" Stumpff - My Story

Last Saturday my Dad, Trey, and I went to Norman to be a part of the OU Spring Scrimmage and Sooner Fest.

It was a beautiful day in Norman. The temperature was about 80 degrees with a cool breeze blowing from the south. The breeze came at just the right time when you think that it is too hot the breeze would cool you off to be comfortable. Of course, that leads to a nice red sunburn, which we all got.

We arrived in Norman around 10:30 and quickly jumped in line to get autographs from the departing senior class of the Sooners Football team. This has to be one of the greatest classes ever or some of the best to have all come out of one class. Just think of it, 14 to 15 projected draftees from one school in one year is either a record or a tie with on of the Flori-DUH schools with 14 draftees from one school in one year. Jason White is on the bubble about being drafted. I will get into this senior class later next week because they distract from the story. Anyway, we were waiting for the opportunity to get autographs from these guys. The signings were supposed to get started at 11:00am and as 11:00am approached, the line never moved. Except for the tightening up of the line we didn’t budge an inch. 11:15 rolled around, still no line movement. Our view of the autograph tent was obstructed partly by a giant blowup-climbing wall and a slide and partly by the OU cheerleaders who were climbing and sliding down that blowup wall/slide. Finally about 11:45 someone came around saying that there was only 2 seniors show up and they are the guys that got to play only during the 2003 texas a&m game when the score was 77-0. The common phrase when this was announced was, “Who?” So we decided that we could find a good seat while the other people waited for no one. This was about 11:50. Yes I know that means that we stood in line for 1 hour and 20 minutes for nothing. Well I did mention the climbing wall and the people on the wall didn’t I. So it wasn’t a total waste of time.

We were seated at the 20-yard line on the Northwest side of the field right on the front row! Wow! What great seats, you might say. Well let me tell you. They were great until the game started, the seniors finally decided to show up, and the autograph hounds decided to crowd in front of use. It got hot in a hurry around there. We watched the first quarter of the game and stood the whole time because our view was blocked by the mob of people in front of us.

We went to the Kerr McGee Club to meet up with a high school friend of Dianne’s as the second quarter started. Wait… I need to back up 24 hours to set the rest of the story up.

24 hours before we arrived in Norman…
Trey met with his dentist, Dr. David Boyd Friday morning before school. Trey mentioned to the doctor that we were going to the game on Saturday. That sparked what was going to happen next. When we got home from the dentist we had a call from Deren Boyd, Dr Boyd’s son, asking me to call him. I called and Deren said that he is the Assistant Director of Athletic Development at OU and would love to help us out with tickets or schedule a tour or what ever. That gets us back to meeting at the Kerr McGee Club…

Meanwhile, back at the stadium we find our trio at the Kerr McGee Club waiting on Deren Boyd…
Deren met us at the club and asked if we would like to go down on the field for a few plays. “Um, let me think. Watch an OU football from the field… Gosh I don’t think so.” Of course we want to go down to the field. We watch several plays from on the field. The size and speed of the game became evident at that point. Those guys are big and those guys are fast!! I could not believe how big and fast they were. Not only that but I could not believe we were on Owen Field!!! While we were on the field Deren introduced us to Larry Naifeh who is the Executive Associate Athletic Director and CFO of the OU sports department. Security guard kept coming and asking us to leave. Deren would say, “These 3 are with me” to which the guards would say, “Sorry Mr. Boyd” and then they would tell us they were sorry for asking us to leave. (That was a great picture of what it is going to be like entering into Heaven. As we walk in the guards of Heaven will say, I need to see your ticket or you will have to leave, while Jesus says, he’s with me.) After a while, Deren asked if we wanted to tour the new parts of the Gaylord Memorial Stadium.

Deren took us up to the private suite level. It was Plush!! It looked like a country club and not a football stadium until you stepped into the suites. Deren then took us in Joe Castiglione’s personal suite. There were 3 TV’s 2 at each of the front corners, one in back, and a bar that normally had all sorts of food. The only person there was Jan Meeks who is Joe Castiglione’s Administrative Assistant. We watched Lendy Holmes run back a 103-yard touchdown from a kickoff while we were in the suite. Some guy in a suite came in and asked if he could get us anything to eat or drink. That was cool!! I could get used to watching games from there but I could not afford it. The people who pay for those suites probably donate more money than I make in 3 years.

Deren finally dropped us at the Club level. This was more my speed, again I could not afford it but the seats were outside and the concessions were more like a sports pub without the alcohol. We watched the rest of the game from there. The food and drinks were just as expensive there but it was nice. You could actually go inside and watch the game from inside if you wanted but it is football, who would want to watch a game from inside. Well from inside when you are not in a press box that is.

Special Thanks To Deren Boyd and the OU Athletic Department.

All in all it was a fun day to watch football and to spend time with 2 people I love. I was able to share a wonderful day with my son and my father.

It was perfect.

~Bird~

Bird, what a killer day, my friend! I'm so glad that you had a chance to do something you truly have a passion for, with two people that are so near and dear to you. I hope you and your dad and Trey have MANY opportunities to share time together.

-Myles-

Posted by: Myles at April 19, 2005 11:14 AM

Sounds like you had a great time! I am so glad Deren was able to meet up with you and take you on the field. I am also glad you got to share this experience with Trey. He is going to remember this trip forever. This is what memories are made of.

Posted by: Dianne at April 19, 2005 02:30 PM