Ben Reznik stood under the bright lights of his high school stadium, the same field where he had spent countless nights battling for every yard and protecting his quarterback like a fortress wall. The crowd had long since gone home, the stands empty, yet the roar of past games still echoed in his mind. Tonight was different, though. This time, he wasn’t here to play but to make a decision that would shape his future.
The top offensive lineman in Colorado, Ben had been courted by some of the biggest programs in the country. Mississippi State had rolled out the red carpet, Vanderbilt had promised an academic environment to rival the best, and other schools had made their pitches with flair and persistence. But for weeks, Ben had felt a pull he couldn’t quite shake—a whisper from Oklahoma that felt more like a roar.
Standing in the middle of the field, he held a baseball cap in each hand: Mississippi State’s maroon and Vanderbilt’s black. His Oklahoma cap, crimson and cream, rested on a table nearby. Reporters from the local paper, coaches, and a few teammates gathered around, cameras flashing, waiting to see what choice he would make. The tension was electric.
Ben took a deep breath, thinking back to his visit to Norman. He could still feel the energy from that day—the camaraderie of the team, the vision of the coaching staff, and the legendary Sooner spirit that seemed to wrap him up like a warm blanket. He remembered how he had walked into Oklahoma’s stadium, eyes wide, and how he had felt the history there, the kind of legacy he wanted to be part of.
He set down the Mississippi State and Vanderbilt hats, leaving them behind. Picking up the Oklahoma cap, he smiled, lifting it high above his head.
“I’m proud to say,” Ben announced, his voice firm and sure, “that I’m committing to the University of Oklahoma. I can’t wait to be a Sooner.”
Cheers erupted from his family and friends, and his teammates rushed in to congratulate him. The moment felt perfect, like the culmination of years of hard work and dreams finally coming together. As Ben slipped the Oklahoma cap onto his head, he knew he had made the right decision, ready to anchor his future on the Sooner offensive line and chase greatness in crimson and cream.