WATCH: 80,000 college football fans pay tribute to country music legend Toby Keith

Toby Keith and Oklahoma fans (Keith & OU
Toby Keith and Oklahoma fans (Keith & OU's IG handles)

Week 13 of college football action in the Southeastern Conference was full of upsets as probably the most competitive conference in the country finally found some semblance of order. The Georgia Bulldogs clinched a place in the conference championship game while their opponent will be decided after the Texas A&M Aggies versus Texas Longhorns game in Week 14.

Arguably the biggest upset came at the Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium where coach Brent Venable's Oklahoma Sooners thoroughly outclassed coach Kalen DeBoer's Alabama 24-3 to knock them out of contention for the conference championship game.

It was one of the most cherishable moments of the college football weekend when 80,000 fans sang along to former Sooners fan, country music legend Toby Keith's song "Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue."

According to an interview he gave to "The Oklahoman," Keith was a lifelong Sooners fan and even sold refreshments in the stadium as a child. He attended several games before he died in February this year.

It was not the first time this season that Oklahoma paid tribute to Keith. In the third quarter of the Sooners' season-opening 51-3 win over the Temple Owls, the stadium sang to the musician's hit song, "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)."

Toby Keith played alumni game for college football program

Toby Keith played defensive end for Moore High School but did not play college football. Although, he played for the Oklahoma City Drillers in the United States Football League (USFL) and the Oklahoma Outlaws before fully pivoting to music.

Despite never officially playing college football, Keith suited up for Oklahoma during a University football alumni game in 1994 where he broke an ankle. He replaced former Kansas City Chiefs star Jimbo Elrod who won the national championship with the Sooners in 1975.

During an interview with "The Oklahoman," Keith who forgot to remove his cap when he sang the national anthem revealed his delight at the opportunity to wear the Sooners uniform.

"I'd do it again," Keith said. "I was in heaven standing there in Sooner Red. It was just a freak accident. I never did suffer much pain. As soon as it happened, my ankle went numb."
"They (organizers) wanted me to have a good time. I think they felt worse about it (breaking his ankle) than I did," Keith said. "I got top-of-the-line treatment."

Oklahoma Sooners fans have continued to pay tribute to lifelong fan Toby Keith throughout the college football season commemorating his love for their program via his hit songs.

Edited by Vaishnavi Iyer
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