Patty Gasso calls SEC entry ‘a different beast’

It’s realignment time for the Oklahoma Sooners, as the entire athletic program is moving from the Big 12 to the SEC. The move became official at midnight Monday morning.

For the softball team, that means defending its four consecutive national championships from another conference. But with Patty Gasso calling the shots, OU has a better chance than anyone else to make it a five-peat.

Gasso was a guest on ESPN’s Paul Finebaum’s show Monday as the SEC Network celebrated the Sooners’ move to the conference. She noted how excited fans were about her team moving to the SEC.

“Going into the SEC is just a different story,” Gasso said. “I’m really excited. I think everyone here at Oklahoma is really excited. But we love competition. We’re never afraid of it. We’re going to face it head on and that’s why our team has been so successful and most of the teams here on campus have been so successful, so we’re looking forward to it. I know it’s going to make us better, but I also know it’s going to make this university even more prosperous than we’ve been.”

The softball roster has been under construction since winning the national title last month. A historic group of seniors is departing after four straight championships. Three players have departed through the transfer portal, while Gasso has filled out the depth chart with new additions both in recruiting and in the transfer portal. But there’s little doubt Oklahoma will be loaded with talent to chase the program’s ninth ring in 2025.

Gasso’s comments on “The Paul Finebaum Show” illustrate the competitive nature of both the softball team and the entire athletic program. Of course, the SEC will be tougher (especially for football). But the resources and prestige of the conference, along with the elite competition the SEC provides, will help OU Athletics improve in the short, medium and long term.

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