The Oklahoma Sooners mascot is an iconic symbol of the University of Oklahoma's athletic programs. The mascot is a representation of the university's athletic teams, known as the Sooners. The term "Sooners" is derived from the state's history, referring to settlers who entered the Oklahoma Territory illegally before it was officially open for settlement. The current official mascot of the University of Oklahoma is a costumed character known as "Boomer." Boomer is a humanoid character dressed in a crimson and cream uniform, representing the university's colors. The mascot is a representation of the spirit and enthusiasm of the university's athletic teams and is often seen at sporting events, rallies, and other university-related activities.
All doors locked, venue secured.
Given the sums in dispute, it wouldn t be a surprise if at least some of these cases end up in litigation with claims that poor drafting by agents and brokers caused the parties to incur damages. Listing agents who call the hotline clearly don t believe they ve authorized inspections during showings, or they wouldn t be calling, but there is no clear rule that says this is or isn t permitted.
The mascot is a representation of the spirit and enthusiasm of the university's athletic teams and is often seen at sporting events, rallies, and other university-related activities. Boomer is often accompanied by his female counterpart, a costumed character named "Sooner Schooner." Sooner Schooner is a wagon pulled by two white ponies, Boomer and Sooner.
It’s All About the Inspections
A snowstorm is in the forecast. You rush to the store, only to find that the milk cooler appears empty. But wait… here’s a carton of milk just next to the cooler. It’s not what you’d call “cold,” and appears to have leaked enough that the sell-by date is smudged and unreadable. But – it’s MILK! And you need milk for snowstorms! The next morning, you put some on your cereal and shortly thereafter you get violently and persistently ill.
Three days later, after an ER visit and lots of clear fluids, you’re telling this story to a friend and say, “It was obviously a bad idea, but if I hadn’t grabbed the carton right then and there, I wouldn’t have gotten any milk at all. ”
What’s going on out there?
With this crazy market, the PAR Legal Hotline call volume is seriously elevated and every day involves several callers saying something like “I knew was a bad idea, but if we didn’t do it, we wouldn’t have gotten the deal at all!” Of course, they’re only calling because got their buyer the deal – but now the buyer’s deposit is at risk or they’re locked into buying a house that has a surprise $50,000 foundation problem and they’re probably wondering, “Why did my agent let me do that?”
Anecdotally, we’re seeing terminations and deposit disputes shoot up, as well as a spike in seller disclosure problems and about a 40% increase in buyer-seller mediation requests. Given the sums in dispute, it wouldn’t be a surprise if at least some of these cases end up in litigation with claims that poor drafting by agents and brokers caused the parties to incur damages.
So, let’s take a look at some of the issues we’re seeing. Each poses a quick scenario, identifies one the biggest problems it raises and offers a suggestion or two about how to deal with the situation in a more effective way. Remember that these are just quick hits here – there isn’t space to dig into all the details, nor to bring up all the weird tactics we’ve heard about.
Shhh. It’s a secret.
Scenario: Buyer schedules a showing through the regular scheduling method, then shows up with a home inspector who does a quick inspection during the showing.
Problem: The Code of Ethics says that Realtors® cannot provide access to the property on terms other than those established by the seller and/or listing broker. Listing agents who call the hotline clearly don’t believe they’ve authorized inspections during showings, or they wouldn’t be calling, but there is no clear rule that says this is or isn’t permitted.
Suggestion: Pre-offer inspections can be a great tool for buyers (who can make stronger offers if they know about the property) and sellers (who can feel more secure that a buyer is making a reasonably educated offer). Some listing agents are even opening the property for inspections before sellers consider offers. Most listing agents we hear from are less upset about the inspection itself and more upset that it’s being done in the guise of a regular showing.
So why not be upfront and ask the listing agent if the buyer can bring someone along to look at the property with them – or at least tell them (“I’ll be there with my inspector tomorrow morning!”), so they can push back if they feel the need. In a highly competitive market, antagonizing the seller/listing broker from first contact may not be the best approach. And if they refuse, that might also tell the buyers something about how a future transaction might go.
Where did that come from?
Scenario: Buyer waives all inspections in paragraph 12, then provides seller with a list of repairs identified by a mortgage lender and/or municipal inspection. Listing agent triumphantly shouts, “You can’t do that – you waived inspections!”
Problem: Some listing agents seem to forget that there are several places in the Agreement of Sale that cover different types of inspections. Specifically, paragraph 8(G) has a separate contingency covering repairs required by a mortgage lender or insurer and paragraph 15(B) covers violations uncovered through municipal inspections. Waiving inspections in paragraph 12 does not affect either of those provisions.
Suggestion: Read. The. Form. Buyers who ask for repairs under those provisions aren’t using a “loophole,” they’re using the form as written. Listing agents may have a lot of explaining to do if they’ve advised their sellers that waiving paragraph 12 means there are no inspection-related options for buyers to terminate. (This tip also applies to lots of other waivers that listing brokers seem to misunderstand.)
Information, please.
Scenario #1: Buyer elects one or more inspection contingencies in paragraph 12, then the words “inspections for information only” are written in the margin or in the special clauses section. Buyer tries to terminate and get their deposit back (because they have elected an inspection contingency that gives them that right), but seller resists (because they believe that “information only” overrides all the rest of the words in that contingency).
Scenario #2: Buyer waives all inspection contingencies in paragraph 12, but also writes “inspections for information only” in the margins. Buyer schedules several inspections (because they believe that writing the word “inspections” now gives them the right to do inspections despite having waived each individual inspection), but seller refuses to allow inspectors in (because the inspections were waived).
Scenario #3: Inspection contingencies are waived or elected (we’ve seen this one either way), and “inspections for information only” is written in the margins. Buyer tries to terminate or negotiate because they claim that what those words really meant were:
- Buyer could terminate if the repairs would be over $XXXX.
- The language didn’t apply to structural defects.
- I was only waiving the right to ask for repairs or credits, but I can still terminate.
- I was only waiving the right to terminate; I can still ask for repairs or credits.
Problem: There are hundreds of carefully constructed words in the existing inspection contingency and just tossing the phrase “inspections for information only” into the mix with no other explanation or changes to the pre-printed form is utterly meaningless. In fact, they’re worse than meaningless because the parties almost always disagree on the meaning, so they only cause problems without solving anything. (This also applies to lots of other ‘magic words’ that cause huge problems when agents use them without any context, like “as is” or “property must appraise.”)
Suggestion: For starters, DON’T DO THIS. Forgetting about the wisdom of waiving inspections in the first place, trying to jerry-rig a brand-new inspection concept agent-by-agent in the middle of a crazy, contentious market is just a lawsuit/ethics complaint waiting to happen. And there’s that little “practicing law without a license” thing as well.
To be clear, PAR attorneys cannot interpret language written by the parties. (Translated: No, you can’t just read it to us over the phone and have us fix it for you.) If you think it’s a great idea to substantially modify a major section of the Agreement of Sale, you could suggest your client talk with an attorney (preferably one who has used PAR forms before). Or better yet, if your broker believes that this is a viable tactic, perhaps the broker could speak with brokerage counsel about suggesting modifications or drafting a clause that could be used by their agents.
In conclusion
The amazing thing about many of these conversations is that they start with the caller admitting that they were pretty sure whatever they were doing wasn’t a good idea and/or that they weren’t quite sure what the outcome would be. So… just think on that the next time you whip out the editing pen.
The wagon is a representation of Oklahoma's pioneering history and the tradition of the university's athletic program. The Oklahoma Sooners mascot holds a significant place in the university's traditions and culture. The mascot represents the pride and passion of the university's athletic teams and serves as a symbol of unity and support for the university community. The mascot is often beloved by students, alumni, and fans of the university who appreciate its role in fostering school spirit. In addition to being a symbol of the university, the Oklahoma Sooners mascot also plays a role in promoting the university's athletic programs. Boomer and Sooner often make appearances at events, parades, and community functions, serving as ambassadors for the university and its athletic teams. Overall, the Oklahoma Sooners mascot is a cherished symbol of the University of Oklahoma's athletic programs and is an embodiment of the spirit, pride, and tradition of the university. Through its presence at various events and activities, the mascot fosters enthusiasm and support for the university community and helps to promote the university's athletic programs..
Reviews for "The Oklahoma Sooners Mascot: Connecting Generations of Fans"
1. John - 1 star
I was incredibly disappointed with the Oklahoma Sooners mascot. Not only did it lack creativity and originality, but it also felt outdated and unimpressive. The design of the mascot seemed like it was taken straight out of a children's cartoon show from the 80s. Additionally, the mascot's movements were stiff and awkward, making it difficult to feel any sense of excitement or enthusiasm during games. Overall, I felt that the Oklahoma Sooners mascot failed to bring any real energy or spirit to the team, leaving me feeling let down and unimpressed.
2. Emily - 2 stars
As a fan of the Oklahoma Sooners, I was hoping for a mascot that would fire up the crowd and create a sense of team pride. However, the mascot fell short of my expectations. The overall appearance of the Oklahoma Sooners mascot was lackluster and uninspiring. It lacked the fierce and intimidating presence that a mascot should possess. Furthermore, the movements and gestures of the mascot felt forced and unnatural, further dampening the overall experience. I believe a better-designed mascot could significantly enhance the fan experience and create a stronger sense of unity among fans and players alike.
3. Mike - 1 star
The Oklahoma Sooners mascot is simply underwhelming. For a team with such a rich history and passionate fan base, the mascot fails to capture the essence of what it means to be a Sooner. The mascot costume itself appears cheaply made, and the design lacks any originality or creativity. The mascot's interactions with fans and performance during games are lackluster and uninspiring. Overall, the Oklahoma Sooners mascot does not live up to the standards that one would expect for a team with such a high level of success and prestige.
4. Sarah - 2 stars
The Oklahoma Sooners mascot leaves much to be desired. It feels outdated and cliché, lacking any unique qualities that would make it stand out among other college mascots. The costume looks amateurish and needs a complete overhaul. Moreover, the mascot's performance during games lacks energy and excitement, failing to create a captivating atmosphere for fans. I believe that with a more modern design and improved performance, the Oklahoma Sooners mascot could truly elevate the fan experience and bring a new level of enthusiasm to the team.