Oklahoma unveiled a new alternate uniform Thursday paying homage to a dominant 1946-56 era that included 14 conference championships, three national titles and a 47-game win streak — a record that still stands. The Sooners will wear their throwback threads in a Week 2 home game against Houston as part of a season-long celebration of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium’s 100th season.
The simplistic design is highlighted by white tri-stripes on the shoulders and a logo-free helmet with a crimson stripe down the middle. It’s similar — though not identical — to a uniform the Sooners wore for their 2003 season opener as they celebrated the stadium’s expansion.
OU’s throwback uniforms harken back to the first half of coach Bud Wilkinson’s storied tenure, which spanned 1947-1963, and to Jim Tatum’s final season (1946). Oklahoma claimed a conference title in 11 straight seasons from 1946-56 while donning uniforms closely resembling the new alternates.
The Sooners’ greatest achievements in the uniforms came in 1950, 1955 and 1956, when they claimed AP national titles. OU went 31-0 from 1954-56 with the 1956 team standing out for its rare level of dominance. The Sooners held six of their 10 opponents scoreless that season and won all but one game double-digits.
As part of the uniform reveal, Oklahoma published photos of third-year coach Brent Venables posing in a simplistic t-shirt with the words “University of Oklahoma” that is modeled after one often donned by Wilkinson.
