[Spiny_Norman]

I grew up in Bartlesville.  My family has been in Oklahoma since 1908, right after statehood.  My Oklahoma roots run deep, but when I looked at college I wanted to go away.  Stanford ended up being a great fit. 

I still have great fondness for my home state, but I will not be shaking T. Boone Pickens' hand if I ever meet him.  He and his cronies greenmailed Phillips Petroleum in the mid 1980s.  Phillips took on so much debt to fight off takeover attempts by Pickens and then Carl Ichan that they had to shed assets and employees for many years until they merged with Conoco.  It had a lasting, negative impact on my home town and my family's business.  Wish I still had my Boone Busters t-shirt.  Would have been a nice conversation starter for pre-game Fiesta Bowl festivities.

I am interested in the views/stereotypes that the Pokes have about Stanford.  What do you think of when you hear about Stanford? 

And for anyone who is interested, I'll be happy in Phoenix/Scottsdale to explain the proper pronunciation of places like Gotebo, Tishomingo, Nowata and Miami (not the same as your town, Garvin).

[Spiny_Norman]

I grew up in Bartlesville.  My family has been in Oklahoma since 1908, right after statehood.  My Oklahoma roots run deep, but when I looked at college I wanted to go away.  Stanford ended up being a great fit. 

I still have great fondness for my home state, but I will not be shaking T. Boone Pickens' hand if I ever meet him.  He and his cronies greenmailed Phillips Petroleum in the mid 1980s.  Phillips took on so much debt to fight off takeover attempts by Pickens and then Carl Ichan that they had to shed assets and employees for many years until they merged with Conoco.  It had a lasting, negative impact on my home town and my family's business.  Wish I still had my Boone Busters t-shirt.  Would have been a nice conversation starter for pre-game Fiesta Bowl festivities.

I am interested in the views/stereotypes that the Pokes have about Stanford.  What do you think of when you hear about Stanford? 

And for anyone who is interested, I'll be happy in Phoenix/Scottsdale to explain the proper pronunciation of places like Gotebo, Tishomingo, Nowata and Miami (not the same as your town, Garvin).