OU, OSU to honor 45th Infantry Brigade by wearing Thunderbird emblem on helmets for Bedlam

The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University both will honor Oklahoma's 45th Infantry Brigade during Saturday's Bedlam football game in Stillwater.

Brigade commander Col. Joel Ward issued a statement Friday saying the troops were "honored and touched" by the gesture.

The Oklahoma National Guard announced Friday that players from both teams will wear the 45th's historic Thunderbird emblem on their helmets during the game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. [RTO:  0530 in Afghanistan] Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium.

About 3,000 soldiers with the Oklahoma Army National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team currently are deployed to Afghanistan and Kuwait. They're expected to return home in March 2012.

Brigade commander Col. Joel Ward issued a statement Friday saying the troops were "honored and touched" by the gesture. He says the soldiers will be watching the game live in Afghanistan.

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