OU softball coach Patty Gasso reminisces 'best memories' in Big 12 ahead of SEC move

NORMAN — Heading into OU softball’s final Big 12 road series, Patty Gasso was sentimental about her time in the conference.

For 29 years as the head coach of the Sooners, it’s all she’s known. When OU and Texas move to the SEC next season, there will be an adjustment for the Big 12’s winningest coach.

“All the talk is SEC, SEC and we’re going to be excited about it, we’re going to prepare and try to be as ready as we can for it,” Gasso said. “But, my whole life has been in the Big Eight and the Big 12. My best memories come through this conference.”

Gasso misses the old Big 12 days when teams like Missouri, Nebraska and Texas A&M were OU’s annual opponents. In those days, the Sooners didn’t sell out their home stadium and weren’t the hottest ticket in every town they visited.

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The 61-year-old coach even mentioned that the game and coaches were more friendly back then. But that’s what happens when you win three consecutive national titles — everyone is out to dethrone you.

“Back when Nebraska and A&M and those teams were in the conference, it was a really good conference,” Gasso said. “It was just different. It wasn’t so many people paying attention and following and coaches would love on each other and say, ‘You made me better’ and I’d say, ‘You made me better.’ It was that kind of friendly competition and now it’s just completely different where you’re like, ‘Wow OK.’”

It’s bittersweet that in OU's and Texas’ final seasons in the Big 12, there was a real race to finish first. Heading into the Sooners’ final conference series with Oklahoma State, they held a half-game lead over the Longhorns for first place, while the Cowgirls trailed Texas by a game for third place.

It felt like some of those old Big 12 races between the Aggies, Longhorns and Tigers.

“Well, as frustrated as I might sound or we might sound, we’re deciding our own destiny here,” Gasso said. “I love the idea that our last weekend is at home, it’s going to be huge. I know it’s going to be a hot ticket at home. It’s a real big chance for the Sooners to step up and say, ‘We own this stadium.’ I want to see them bow up.”

While Gasso said she’s excited to create new memories in the SEC, what OU accomplished in the Big 12 will always be special. The question is, is the SEC ready?

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU softball coach Patty Gasso reminisces 'best memories' in Big 12