The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy is tapping into the intensity of the Red River Rivalry to raise money for a statewide youth civics program, launching a limited-edition T-shirt campaign aimed at Oklahoma football fans.
The Oklahoma City-based organization said proceeds from its “Arch Nemesis” shirts will support the Kid Governor® program, which introduces fifth-grade students across Oklahoma to civic participation, voting and public service.
‘Arch Nemesis’ Campaign Taps Into Oklahoma-Texas Rivalry
The limited-edition shirt features the phrase “Arch Nemesis” on the front, referencing the University of Oklahoma Sooners’ rivalry with the Texas Longhorns and Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
The shirts are priced at $25 and are available at Bush League Sports Tavern in the Shoppes at Northpark, located at 12252 N. May Ave. in Oklahoma City.
OICA will also sell the shirts during the WWLS Bevo Bash in the parking lot at Treasure Valley Casino, located off Exit 55 on Interstate 35, on Friday, Oct. 10. The event comes as fans travel toward the Cotton Bowl for the annual Oklahoma-Texas football matchup.
The back of the shirt carries the message, “Beat Texas in child well-being and football,” along with OICA branding and logos from sponsors supporting the fundraising effort.
“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 almost every year.
“However, both our states lag when it comes to overall child well-being. Hopefully, the friendly competition this shirt will generate awareness and help improve both states’ rankings in child well-being statistics.”
Oklahoma and Texas Tied in Child Well-Being Ranking
OICA is using the football rivalry to draw attention to broader concerns about conditions affecting children in both Oklahoma and Texas.
According to the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Oklahoma and Texas are tied at 44th among the 50 states.
“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 because it is our future that is at risk, and just like with fans of football, it takes advocates calling for better results.”
The campaign seeks to channel attention surrounding one of college football’s best-known rivalries toward issues affecting children while generating financial support for OICA’s civic education work.
T-Shirt Sales to Support Kid Governor® Program
All proceeds from sales of the “Arch Nemesis” shirts will benefit OICA’s Kid Governor® program.
In spring 2022, OICA partnered with The Connecticut Democracy Center to bring the award-winning Kid Governor® civics program to participating fifth-grade classrooms in Oklahoma.
OICA has sponsored or co-sponsored an Oklahoma Kid Governor program for the past 11 years. Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, the initiative expanded into a full Kid Governor® civics program for fifth graders across the state.
The program is designed to teach students about civic responsibility, voting and participation in government. Students are also given an opportunity to run for and vote for Oklahoma’s Kid Governor®, providing practical experience with elections and civic engagement.
For OICA, the fundraiser combines the visibility of the Red River Rivalry with its broader goal of encouraging greater attention to child well-being and civic participation across Oklahoma.
Football Tradition Meets Child Advocacy
The annual Oklahoma-Texas matchup draws significant attention from college football fans, giving OICA an opportunity to reach supporters through a campaign directly tied to the rivalry.
By using the “Arch Nemesis” theme, the organization is seeking to turn traditional competition between the Sooners and Longhorns into support for programs serving Oklahoma children.
“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.
