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Marshall Johnson, 2009 OU graduate and project manager for Northern Air Mechanical, walks into the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Friday. Workers are on site Monday through Saturday.
Alumnus returns to OU to help build stadium LOOKING BACK: STADIUM CONSTRUCTION
SCOTT HINEY • @SCOTTHINEY “Jump around ... jump around ... jump around.” Never have words so simple meant so much to a fan base. Almost eight years ago on a chilly November night, they m a r k e d a m o m e n t t h a t re mains etched in the rich history of Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. On a night that pitted two of the nation’s top five teams, as Oklahoma took a commanding 42-7 lead over undefeated, second-ranked Texas Tech, the stadium erupted with those words from House of Pain’s “Jump Around.” It was a moment all Sooner fans remember. And for those in attendance, it was a moment unlike any other. “ I c a n ’ t e v e n e x p l a i n i t ,” Marshall Johnson, a 2009 OU graduate, said. “You could feel the stands rocking, really, and it actually made me a little uncomfortable because everyone’s jumping at the same time and you could feel the concrete just kind of shaking,” Johnson said. “I’ve never had that feeling in a game before — almost unsafe insanity.” It’s not really a wonder why in the middle of an electric game, in a sea of crimson, side-by-side with fellow classmates, Johnson somehow noticed, above everything, the stadium’s structure. At the time, the Davis, Oklahoma, native was working on his construction science degree at OU and knew he was on a path to a job in that industry.
It just might have surprised him what that job was going to be. *** It’s a cool, rainy morning as Johnson trudges through the mud, making his way toward the south end zone of Owen Field. He’s on his way to do a walkaround, a daily fixture in his line of work. Pointing at a hastily-made wooden ladder, he figured walking up the stadium steps would be a better path.
“We basically threw a party when we got the job. We were so excited about it. But really, what better project to work on than the OU stadium?” MARSHALL JOHNSON, OU GRADUATE AND STADIUM CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGER
Johnson is a project manager for Northern Air Mechanical and he’s in charge of all things plumbing and mechanical inside the stadium’s south end renovations. As he makes his way up the stairs that’ll soon be lined with seats, he turns around to view Owen Field. He marvels at the angle of the grass that momentarily looks barren without “OKLAHOMA” gracing each end zone. Johnson’s a rare breed. At just 33 years old, he’s in a position that’s normally filled by people 10 or 15
years his elder. But what sets him apart more than most employees on the $160 million project is his connection to the stadium beyond the steel frames, exposed pipes and copious amounts of concrete. “(Oklahoma) is the only place I wanted to go,” Johnson said. “I just wanted to get here, and I did what I wanted to do.” Growing up in Davis, Johnson’s summers were spent working for his dad’s construction company, doing whatever “paid the bills” including digging ditches for cables, creating steel buildings and hanging garage doors. Upon arriving in Norman for school, he continued that path as he interned for Flint Co., the company that’s leading the charge on the stadium renovations. There, he helped with the team’s locker room renovations prior to the 2009 season, and it was then the soon-graduate started to see his work as something more than just pipes and concrete. That realization came to a head last August when Johnson found out his company’s bid for a contract on the stadium was selected. “We basically threw a party when we got the job. We were so excited about it,” he said. “But really, what better project to work on than the OU stadium? “You’ll have your stamp on this thing forever … it’s iconic,” Johnson said. see STADIUM page 2
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June 19, 2015: Construction begins Coaches, players and memorabilia were moved out of the Switzer Center, and coaches’ offices were relocated to the Bud Wilkinson Center. June 24, 2015: OU Regents approve stadium spending The OU Board of Regents approved the expenditure of $105 million for renovations to the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. July 6, 2015: Construction crews tear up turf field behind stadium Construction crews began tearing up the turf practice field behind the stadium. July 23, 2015: Team moves into temporary locker room OU football moved into a temporary locker room before fall camp would start on Aug. 8, 2015. Sept. 3, 2015: Stadium bonds downgraded OU’s bonds to pay for the renovations to the stadium and other projects were downgraded because of the university’s level of indebtedness. OU press secretary Corbin Wallace said the university anticipated the downgrade and said its expected impact was negligible. Oct. 20, 2015: OU being sued by construction company OU was sued by a construction company that submitted a bid to supply steel for the university’s football renovations on claims that OU allegedly violated a bidding requirement. Oct. 23, 2015: Disagreements after judge sustains injunction Stadium renovations were put on hold after Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman sustained an injunction in court. Despite the injunction, OU’s general counsel “respectfully disagree(d)” with the ruling and decided that construction would continue. The Oklahoma Supreme Court granted a stay of injunction, so progress continues. Oct. 27, 2015: Regents approve new football stadium scoreboard The OU Board of Regents approved the installation of a larger video scoreboard in the stadium. Dec. 3, 2015: Video board comes down Workers knocked down the old 5,146-square foot video board to continue with construction on the new 8,750-square foot board.
ENTRY FORM Monday, May 2 Due by Wednesday, May 4 at 4:30 pm
Name: Phone Number: OU Email: Location: Entry Form Must be original newspaper form. No photocopies or reproductions will be accepted. Each day’s entry forms will be collected at 4:30 p.m. and winners will be drawn at 5:30 p.m. Grand prize drawing will be Thursday, May 5 at 5:30 p.m. Entry forms may be submitted at the following locations: Walker Center Housing Office, Couch Restaurants, Cate Main, The Bookmark, The Sooner Card Office (Oklahoma Memorial Union)