Something has been bothering me for some time. This is a sincere question.

If there is a rational, intelligent Sooner fan (hold on now, that might not be a contradiction) out there, please explain to me why anyone with a shred of personal integrity would take upon themselves the name "Sooner", which is derived from cheaters and thieves in the Oklahoma land rush. Bad jokes about gap-tooth, redneck child molesters aside, it simply does not make sense to me. Any takers?
If the answer has already been posted (intelligently), please point it out.

For the record, I have been following Longhorns (and SWC/Big 8/Big XII opponents) football since 1967, and I've never heard a satisfactory explanation.