Choctaw Nation citizen Clare Bebout represents tribal identity on Oklahoma football field
By Troy Littledeer | @kituwahpunk
Clare Bebout steps onto the field at Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial Stadium with more than school spirit. She wears the seal of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma on her uniform in front of more than 80,000 fans.
Bebout, a sophomore marketing student from Newcastle, serves in the University of Oklahoma’s Lil’ Sis program. The student group works alongside the RUF/NEKs to handle the Sooner Schooner and care for its ponies during game days.
She said the role connects directly to her upbringing.
“Within hours of being born, I was already in an OU shirt and wrapped in a Sooner blanket,” Bebout said. “In my house, football game days are treated like a holiday.”
The tribal seal she wears is part of a visible tradition. Native students in the program display their nation’s seal on their uniforms. Bebout said she approaches that responsibility with intent.
“It’s such a powerful way to celebrate where we come from,” she said.
Her presence continues a line of Native representation within the program. Previous members have used the same space to make tribal identity visible, including a Choctaw Nation citizen who became the first Native woman to drive the Sooner Schooner and a Cherokee Nation citizen who wore his nation’s seal during his time on the squad.
Bebout said support inside the program has been consistent.
“My teammates are nothing but supportive of us,” she said. “They celebrate our identities right alongside us.”
She applied for the position while still in high school. The process required written submissions and interviews from a large applicant pool.
“The waiting was the hardest part,” she said. “When I finally got the email, it almost didn’t feel real.”
Her weekly schedule reflects the demands of the role. Fridays are spent at the program’s farm preparing the ponies. Saturdays begin early and run through pregame coordination and on-field responsibilities.
She said the environment inside the stadium has not lost its impact.
“Standing there and hearing the entire stadium sing ‘Boomer Sooner’ gives me chills every time,” Bebout said.
Outside the stadium, Bebout maintains a full schedule. She participates in Crimson Club, works as a campus tour guide, and keeps up with her coursework.
She said visibility matters beyond game day.
“I want younger Native students to know there are no limits,” she said. “Representation matters, and if they see me doing this, maybe they’ll believe they can, too.”
Troy Littledeer is a writer and photographer based in Stilwell, Oklahoma, and a member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. He covers tribal governance, sovereignty, and community impact across Adair County and Indian Country. His passions are high school and NCAA sports, community, sci-fi and music.
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