Support the Sooners & Oklahoma’s Children During the Red River Rivalry

T-Shirt Campaign to Help Raise Funds for Child Well-being

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) today announced the launch of its newest fundraising campaign, designed to capture the spirit and intensity surrounding one of college football’s greatest rivalries.

OICA is selling a limited-edition T-shirt is emblazoned with the phrase “Arch Nemesis” on the front, a nod to the fact Sooners are now the arch nemesis of the Longhorns’ new quarterback. Arch Manning. The back of the shirt says, “Beat Texas in child well-being and football” and the link to OICA’s website at www.oica.org. The back of the shirt also will include logos from the efforts’ sponsors.

“The University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns are a pair of ‘blue bloods’ in college football,” said Joe Dorman, OICA’s CEO. “Both rank among the top college football teams in the nation every year.

“However, both our states tend to lag when it comes to child well-being. Hopefully, the friendly competition this shirt will generate will help drive both states’ numbers up in the child well-being statistics.”

According to the 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Oklahoma ranks 46^th among the 50 states; Texas does not fare much better, ranking 44^th. In specific areas, Oklahoma is 40^th in economic well-being, while Texas ranks worse at 41^st. Texas is ahead of Oklahoma in education, ranking 38^th, while Oklahoma ranks 48^th among the states. Health scores favor Oklahoma, which is at 43^rd, with Texas is 48^th. Oklahoma also ranks ahead of Texas in Family and Community, ranking 40^th compared to Texas at 47^th.

“If either OU or Texas ranked this poorly in football, it is no exaggeration to say, ‘Heads would roll’,” Dorman said. “Both our states owe it to our children to do better by our children because it is our future we are putting at risk.”

All proceeds from the t-shirt sales will benefit OICA’s year-round efforts to improve the health, safety, and well-being of children across the state. Each shirt sold supports the organization’s mission of “creating awareness, taking action, and supporting policies” that ensure a brighter future for Oklahoma’s youth, helping to continue OICA’s more than 40-year mission.

Fans are encouraged to order their “Arch Nemesis” shirts now, as quantities are limited. To order a shirt for pickup, go to https://tinyurl.com/ArchNemesisPU; that price is $40. To buy a shirt and have it shipped to you for $50, go to https://tinyurl.com/ArchNemesisSH. On each shirt purchase, $20 is considered a tax-deductible donation to a nonprofit organization.

“With the ‘Arch Nemesis’ campaign, Sooner fans have a chance to show their true colors, proudly wear crimson, stand behind their team, and help make Oklahoma a better state for its children,” Dorman concluded. “The quantities are limited, so we encourage fans to order their shirts soon!”

About OICA: The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy was established in 1983 by a group of citizens seeking to create a strong advocacy network that would provide a voice for the needs of children and youth in Oklahoma, particularly those in the state’s care and those growing up amid poverty, violence, abuse and neglect, disparities, or other situations that put their lives and future at risk. Our mission statement: “Creating awareness, taking action and changing policy to improve the health, safety, and well-being of Oklahoma’s children.”