"I want a university the football team can be proud of." — George Lynn Cross, OU President, 1943-1968
Welcome to Oklahoma Football. Welcome to the program that John A. Harts started in 1895. Welcome to the program that Bennie Owen started in earnest. Welcome to the program that Jim Tatum abandoned and Charles Burnham "Bud" Wilkinson turned into a legend.
Welcome to the program where the son of a bootlegger, Barry Switzer, perfected the Wishbone Offense and made it into the most prolific rushing offense in college football history. Welcome to the program that Robert "Bob" Anthony Stoops resurrected. Welcome to the football team that an entire state can be proud of.
As the saying goes, I am Sooner-born and Sooner-bred. Both sides of my family are die-hard Sooner fans. Some of my first clothes were crimson and cream. My father has the same season tickets that his father had. I was destined to be a Sooner fan from the moment of birth.
But that's not the only reason I am a fan—far from it, in fact. There are many reasons that I am proud to call myself an Oklahoma Sooner football fan.
Tradition
Started in 1895 by John A. Harts, the program has seen its share of history over the past 114 seasons. It has seen its share of victories (779 wins to date) and its share of defeats (295).
It has created records, such as the 47-game win streak from 1953 to 1957. It has had 21 different men at the helm, some good and some we'd rather forget.
It has created winners (four Heisman trophy, five Outland trophy, four Butkus award, three Lombardi award, and three Thorpe award winners). It has become the No. 1 program in the modern era of college football (535-163-13).
History
The football program at Oklahoma is not just important to the university. Over the decades it has become important to the entire state.
Begun before there even was a state of Oklahoma (the state was created in 1907), the university was only minimally supported until after 1945. Part of the reason for that was the constant run of bad luck that the residents of Oklahoma had had.
Between the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, the stock market crash of 1929 and subsequent Great Depression, the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and then World War II, the then-agricultural communities of Oklahoma had begun to lose all hope in the future.
Many left for the West Coast in search of better lives. Many young men never returned from war. But at the end of that war, the University of Oklahoma promoted Bud Wilkinson to the post of head football coach and began to rebuild the program.
Under his leadership from 1947 to 1963, he not only created some of the most enduring records in college football—he gave the residents of the great state of Oklahoma something to believe in. Now these beleaguered people had a reason to feel pride.
At times, "their warriors" were unstoppable. There was money flowing back into the state. Good recruits were coming in from all over the nation. Oklahoma football not only created history—it created hope.
11 comments Last one added 3 months ago — Leave a Comment
Michael Bergman 11 months ago
If cheating, dishonesty and hypocrisy are important to you, then yes you have a lot to be proud of.
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fred douglas 11 months ago
So witty....so witty...thanks mike
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Jeff Johnson 11 months ago
Michael, thank you for your comment. As I tried to make clear, there are episodes in Sooner history that I think we'd all rather forget. Most of the Barry Switzer years off the field for example. But I do applaud Bob Stoops for his actions since taking over. He has attempted to stick to the rules of conduct laid down by the NCAA. Have there been slips? Of course. Has action been taken in-house to deal with those? Yes, it has. This is not a program that will ignore infractions.
So yes, I DO have a lot to be proud of.
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Correy Retzloff 11 months ago
First and foremost: I've been a visitor at Norman when my Ducks came to town a few years ago and the fans were first class. The fact that their isn't anywhere to tailgate leaves something to be desired but all in all I was very impressed with the Sooner Nation.
But Jeff, something you forgot to mention when glorifying Bob Stoops and his so called, "clean program" that is how Adrian Peterson's mom test drove a Lexus for over 8 months and Bobby, let alone anyone else didn't say a word about that. Their is no doubt in my mind that the top tear programs like USC, Ohio State and LSU for example do have booster buy players. And you can't tell me that the coaches don't ask questions why their young 19 year old super star recruit is driving a 50+ thousand dollar car around when coaches on their own staff don't even have one.
Anyways, that's just my thoughts on the subject.
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Thomas Brown 11 months ago
Great article, OU fans have some of the most pride in the country
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M. Black 11 months ago
well done! I always enjoy passion like this.
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Reggie Garcia 11 months ago
Michael has a point, Passion like this is amazing. I feel the same way about University of Southern California
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Alex Ferguson 11 months ago
I like passion like this too.
I particularly liked the way Brian Bosworth behaved himself....
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Michael Bergman 11 months ago
Oh Boz, still as fiesty as ever. I pulled up to a light the other day and he offered to wash my window, so I let him. Except when I only had a handful of pennies in my change compartment he got all mad and stuff. Typical Boz. You would think that 20 years was enough for 'roids to get out of your system, but he's still raging, God bless 'em.
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Jay Urban 11 months ago
While I was living in Oklahoma I definitely thought that the OSU fans were more die-hard than the OU people.
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Cliff Holland 3 months ago
OU is one of if not THE dirtiest program in the history of the NCAA.
Even the name "Sooner" comes from cheaters and law breakers.
Bud cheated and won. OU named a building after him.
Barry cheated and won. OU named a building after him.
Bob recruits and keeps thugs, turns a blind eye to no work/no show "jobs". If he wins one more MNC I'm sure he will have a building named after him to.
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