A Century of Sooner Gridiron Glory
The Oklahoma Sooners are a college football program steeped in tradition. The team was started in 1895 by a student from Kansas who played football back in his home state... — bleacherreport.com
In the heart of the Great Plains, where crimson bleeds into burnt orange and echoes of "Boomer Sooner" roll across the prairie, lies a football program as storied as it is fierce: the Oklahoma Sooners. Their history is a tapestry woven with legendary coaches, iconic plays, and an unwavering pursuit of national glory.
The saga begins in 1895, a fledgling program taking its first wobbly steps. But by the 1940s, under the legendary Bud Wilkinson, the Sooners found their stride. Wilkinson's "Split T" offense revolutionized the game, churning out future pros like Bob Stovall and Billy Vessels, the "Little General" who led Oklahoma to its first national championship in 1950.
The Sooners cemented their dynasty under Barry Switzer in the 1970s and 80s. The wishbone offense, orchestrated by players like the electrifying Steve Davis and the unstoppable Marcus Dupree, tore through defenses, culminating in three more national titles. Switzer's fiery spirit and larger-than-life persona solidified Oklahoma's reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
Oklahoma has continued to churn out talent under coaches like Bob Stoops's successor, Lincoln Riley. Baker Mayfield's Heisman Trophy campaign in 2017, Kyler Murray's dazzling dual-threat brilliance, and Jalen Hurts's leadership all remind us that the Sooner spirit burns bright.
