OKC Thunder’s NBA title just lit a fire under the Oklahoma Sooners

Sometimes the best motivation to accomplish something is to witness it firsthand.

The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night at Paycom Center to win the state's first major pro sports championship. OU administration, coaches and fans were there to see the moment in-person, while the rest of Sooner Nation watched from their nearby homes. And it was hard to ignore the fact that the Sooners taking the gridiron were the next team up when this summer and celebration winds down.

The Thunder were still eight years from even getting to Oklahoma the last time the Sooners won a national championship in football in 2000 under Bob Stoops. The franchise eventually moved from Seattle to OKC in 2008, and the Sooners made the national championship game that year, but lost and haven't been back since.

OU's fingerprints are all over the Thunder organization, even from the top. Owner Clay Bennett, responsible for bringing his home state an NBA franchise, is an OU alum and was even part of OU's Board of Regents in 2011-19. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is married to Ashley Kerr, who is an assistant coach for the Sooners' women's gymnastics team, which also won a title this year.

There were plenty of reasons for the Sooners to cheer for the Thunder, but also reason to mimic the best basketball team in the world that's set up to emerge as a dynasty. Sooner Nation rightfully celebrated the championship, and some even found motivation from it while they're up next.

Sooners enjoying and finding motivation from Thunder's NBA title

The Sooners are up next...

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