Oklahoma Sooners Medical Team Gears Up With Intensive Preparations to Handle Game Day Emergencies for Upcoming College Football Season
As the excitement builds for the start of another college football season, preparations are underway across the country. While players sharpen their skills on the field and coaches finalize game strategies, a different kind of team behind the scenes is also ramping up for the high-intensity days ahead—the Oklahoma Sooners medical personnel. For them, game day is far more than a sporting event. It’s a high-stakes environment requiring split-second decisions, seamless coordination, and an unwavering commitment to player and fan safety.
The University of Oklahoma’s football program, steeped in tradition and competitive excellence, draws tens of thousands of spectators to Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium with each home game. The electric atmosphere, passionate fans, and hard-hitting action are staples of college football Saturdays. But beneath the energy and spectacle lies a complex web of preparation by the medical and emergency response staff, designed to handle everything from minor sprains to life-threatening emergencies. Their work starts well before the coin toss and continues long after the final whistle.
Dr. Mark Brandenburg, the lead team physician for the Oklahoma Sooners, has spent years developing medical protocols for game day. He leads a diverse team of professionals, including orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers, paramedics, emergency physicians, and specialists in concussion and cardiac care. Each has a clearly defined role, and together they form a comprehensive emergency response unit with one goal: protect the health and safety of players, staff, and fans.
According to Brandenburg, the preparations begin in the offseason with detailed planning meetings. “We go through every possible scenario—traumatic injuries, heat exhaustion, cardiac events, even mass casualty situations. We don’t just plan for what’s likely; we plan for what’s unlikely but still possible,” he says. The team conducts simulations of medical emergencies, ensuring that all members know their roles and responsibilities. Communication protocols are rehearsed, emergency equipment is tested and calibrated, and coordination with local EMS and Norman Regional Health System is fine-tuned to ensure that every second counts.
On game day, the medical team arrives hours before kickoff. They check medical equipment stationed on the sidelines, including automated external defibrillators (AEDs), oxygen tanks, spine boards, and advanced trauma kits. Radios are distributed and tested to ensure direct communication between the field, the locker room, and the stadium’s on-site command center. Throughout the stadium, medical stations are staffed with licensed personnel to care for fans who may suffer from dehydration, overexertion, or other health issues. The hot Oklahoma sun can be unforgiving in early-season games, making hydration and heat monitoring critical tasks.
Athletic trainers work in tandem with doctors to assess players during warm-ups, noting any lingering injuries or signs of strain. Once the game starts, their eyes are fixed on every play. “We’re watching movements, tackles, falls—anything that might indicate an injury,” explains Brittany Hughes, a senior athletic trainer with the Sooners. “Our job is to catch something early before it becomes serious, whether that’s a limp, hesitation, or unusual behavior that might suggest a concussion.”
Concussion protocols are a major focus of the medical team’s game-day routine. The NCAA has tightened rules and standards in recent years, and the Sooners have implemented a rigorous concussion management plan. Baseline neurocognitive testing is conducted for all players before the season begins. If a concussion is suspected during a game, the player is immediately removed and evaluated using the SCAT5 (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool). A quiet room in the stadium is reserved specifically for these evaluations, away from noise and distractions. Only when a player is fully cleared through a multi-step process can they return to action.
For more serious injuries, the team follows a chain of command that ensures rapid intervention. “In cases of suspected spinal injuries, we have protocols down to the minute,” Brandenburg says. “From stabilizing the neck to transferring the athlete to a stretcher to transport by ambulance, everyone knows exactly what to do.” Coordination with Norman Regional’s trauma center means injured athletes can receive top-tier care within minutes if transport is necessary.
Of course, the medical team isn’t only concerned with the athletes. With a stadium capacity exceeding 80,000, the likelihood of a medical emergency in the crowd is statistically high. That’s where the stadium’s EMS crews come in, augmented on game day with additional staff and mobile response units. EMS teams are stationed throughout the stadium, including upper levels and tailgating zones, and are in constant contact with the stadium’s central command.
Michael Turner, Director of Stadium Operations, describes game day as a “city within a city,” with its own infrastructure, traffic systems, and emergency services. “We work closely with the OU Health Sciences Center, local fire and police departments, and private ambulance services to ensure rapid response across all parts of the stadium. We could have anything from a fan with a heart condition to someone injured in the tailgating area. Everyone has to be ready for anything.”
Turner notes that one of the most important aspects of preparation is the post-game review. “After each game, we hold a debriefing session. We talk about what went well and what can be improved. It’s a learning process every time, and that’s how we get better and faster.”
One area of recent innovation is the use of wearable technology. The Sooners have begun integrating GPS tracking and biometric monitors into practice and game environments. These devices can detect unusual changes in player movement, heart rate, or temperature, providing early warning signs of fatigue, dehydration, or potential injury. The data is transmitted in real time to medical staff on the sidelines, enabling proactive intervention before an issue escalates.
Additionally, the university has invested in mental health resources for athletes, recognizing the pressure and emotional toll of college sports. Licensed sports psychologists are available not just in the offseason, but also on game days to support players dealing with anxiety or emotional stress. The medical team now considers mental well-being as critical as physical readiness.
All these efforts are grounded in a commitment to player-first decision-making. “We don’t take chances,” Brandenburg says. “Our priority is the long-term health of the athlete. That means pulling someone from a game if there’s even a shred of doubt about their condition. No championship is worth compromising someone’s future.”
The Oklahoma Sooners’ approach reflects a growing trend in college athletics to treat game day as not just a competition, but a complex event requiring multi-disciplinary collaboration and high-level medical readiness. The stakes are high, and the pressure is real—but so is the dedication of the professionals who make it all possible.
As the countdown to kickoff continues, fans can rest assured that while they cheer from the stands, a highly trained team of medical personnel is standing by, watching every play, ready to act. Their goal is simple but vital: ensure that game day is as safe as it is thrilling—for players, coaches, and every fan in attendance. The work is largely invisible, but the impact is immeasurable. In the world of college football, it takes more than athletic talent to win the day. It takes a whole team working behind the scenes to keep the game—and everyone in it—safe.
