OU DAILY - OU athletics wrote it is ready to explore the possibility of bringing back an annual Bedlam football game in a statement to the OU Daily Wednesday.

This statement follows Norman Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman’s announcement of a piece of proposed legislation in collaboration with Stillwater’s mayor last Tuesday that would require OU and Oklahoma State University to play a non-conference football game every year for economic development purposes.

In a Thursday Facebook post, Holman wrote that the intention behind the legislation was to show collaboration between Norman and Stillwater.

OU athletics wrote that it has not been able to continue its football rivalry with OSU because seasons are scheduled multiple years in advance.

“While we know this (is) not official legislation, the idea of bringing back Bedlam football is always welcome and we’re ready to explore the possibility with Oklahoma State (University) officials again,” OU athletics wrote in a statement. “Our broader partnership with OSU would only be enriched by the reintroduction of our storied football rivalry.”

The proposed legislation was co-authored by Holman and Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce at the Oklahoma Municipal League Congress of Mayors event Friday.

Holman told the Daily Wednesday that in order for state legislators to hear

authority at the state level to tell OU or OSU what to do,” Holman said. “Or tell the SEC what to do or the Big 12.”

The Congress of Mayors is a yearly gathering of mayors from across the state, who meet at the state capitol for a mock legislative session, Holman told the Daily. During the session, mayors meet in the House Chamber to debate proposed legislation.

Joyce said he and Holman included the Bedlam idea in their proposed bill to encourage economic development.

“We would like to encourage the state legislature to look at the opportunity to bring back Bedlam football to be played every year,” Joyce said. “ We don’t have an actual state bill put together… this was us, he and I, as mayors saying … this is an initiative we’d like for the state to look at, so not quite a formal bill.”

Holman said the legislation was a fun gesture, but it has valid benefits for both cities.

“Our cities operate on sales tax revenue … so in my mind, if OSU were coming to Norman, they’re going to bring more fans,” Holman said.

Joyce said the Bedlam game creates “its own little economic engine.”

“Bedlam is important because it stands on its own in terms of attracting crowds and selling out stadiums,” Joyce said. “It creates its own little economic engine in both Stillwater and Norman and really throughout the state.”

Holman talked about the benefits of playing OSU on top of OU’s scheduled non-conference opponents.

“We felt in Norman’s case, when we are playing New Mexico and (University of Texas El Paso) at home next year, a non-conference game against OSU would be much more beneficial to the local Norman economy,” Holman said. “Same thing for Stillwater, it would be much more beneficial for their local economy to have OU come and visit every other season.”

Holman said conference realignment has taken away long-standing college sports rivalries.

“I think it’s ridiculous that OU and OSU aren’t playing anymore, and not just them,” Holman said. “All these different long standing rivalries in college sports … don’t exist anymore now because of conference realignment.”

Holman said he has not directly communicated with anyone from OU athletics about this piece of legislation.

Joyce said he has been encouraging OSU athletics to revive the Bedlam rivalry but he has not talked to the athletic department about this legislation.

“I’ve commented to them many times over the years that it would be great if they played (Bedlam) more often,” Joyce said. “This amendment that Mayor Holman and I proposed on Friday is not something we’ve talked about with (OSU).”

Joyce told the Daily that he understands there is a lot that goes into a football schedule, but state legislation could help spur the initiative forward.

“I understand there’s a lot of mechanics that go into a football schedule and it’s not always easy,” Joyce said. “Which I think is one of the reasons the state legislature could help to say, ‘We think this is important and we want to make sure it happens,’ so maybe that makes it a little easier for the schools to get it done.”

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