OU Naval ROTC Begins Their Run Down To Dallas With Red River Showdown Game Day Ball

The kickoff for the Red River Showdown is days away, and a group of U.S. Naval ROTC students from the University of Oklahoma are dedicated to safely getting the pigskin to the Cotton Bowl.

OU student Callahan Kelly was handed the game ball early Wednesday morning from OU football Head Coach Lincoln Riley with the honor to carry the ball all the way to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

"You just saw our ROTC take off to get to Dallas. I do not want to throw any shade here, but one of our schools runs the entire distance, and another doesn't. I'll just say ours does," said OU President Joseph Harroz. 

The school rivalry begins as the game ball heads down 200 miles to meet with the University of Texas' ROTC. 

"We will meet in Dallas, play some flag football, some soccer, tug of war, and have a good time," said Kelly. 

Legend has it, whoever wins flag football wins the game at 11 a.m. Saturday.

As this 20-year tradition continues, so does the drive for Toys for Tots as each member of the ROTC dropped off a toy before running out of the stadium.

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