Oklahoma offers $2 beer, free tickets for students after Ole Miss scheduling saga

Oklahoma football is attempting to fill Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium for their game against Ole Miss after scheduling complications led to a rescheduling of the match. On short notice, the game has been pushed to Sunday, November 15. In response to the disruptions, the institution has offered several incentives to attendees, including complimentary admission for students, discounted beer and concessions priced at $2, and complimentary tickets to future Oklahoma sporting events, including the men's basketball game against Syracuse in December. The announcement also highlights that items inside the stadium will be discounted.

These measures are aimed at attracting a large crowd for the game, despite the challenging weather conditions expected on that day, which could include rain and lower temperatures. The situation reflects the growing animosity between the fanbases of the two teams. Oklahoma officials, including the athletic director Roger Denny, have expressed discontent over Ole Miss' inability to travel to the game as originally scheduled.

This issue arose due to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground stop on November 13 caused by a safety concern with air traffic control.

The disruption has led to a unique scenario where the only college football game nationally is set for November 15, impacting numerous other programs across the country. The rescheduling of various Oklahoma sports events, including volleyball and wrestling, to later times due to the football game, adds to the logistical challenges.

The women's basketball team's game against Southern, originally scheduled for December 17, has also been moved. Given these circumstances, the game might not draw a full stadium, but the promotional offers may help boost attendance.