Fashion 101: Oklahoma Football

Written by Charlie Dutton | Oklahoma University

There are two kinds of teams in college football. No more, no less. There are the “uniform teams” and there are the winners. It wasn’t always this way. Back before Saturdays became nationwide fashion shows. Back when men were men, uniforms were nothing more than an identifying article representative of the school. They weren’t a recruiting tool or any sort of statement. They were simply just a uniform. Now, in this the two-thousand-and-sixteenth year of our Lord, we have gone far past critical mass with the uniform craze in college football. As a matter of fact, the craze became ubiquitous years ago, and it’s become a part of our world now. But no longer. I demand a pivot. Is that how that works? Can I demand a pivot? I’m doing it anyway.

Obviously Oregon led the way for this and has to assume some blame, but it’s hard to really blame them when they have the Supreme Ruler of Sports Apparel, a.k.a. Phil Knight, as an all-in booster. Couple that with the fact that… that… (takes deep breath as the color drains from my face) THE “O” STANDS FOR THE NUMBER OF NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS THEY’VE WON (excessively long exhale). Sorry about that. Point is, when you have no titles and lots of money, you try to use that money in any way possible to bring about some titles. It’s the fundamental logic of college football. Oregon can’t really be blamed for that. But what the Oregon example reveals is that the uniform epidemic divides college football. In fact, it divides it quite neatly. You have the blue-blood traditional powers on one side, largely wearing some semblance of the uniforms that they became traditional powers in. On the other side, you have the disruptors, desperately trying to create a tradition which results in, among other things, flashy uniforms to attract blue-chip prospects that will lead them to glory – throwing anything and everything at the wall hoping it will stick.

Anyway, that’s just my simmering take on the matter. Which brings us to my beloved Oklahoma Sooners. Seven national titles. Five Heisman trophy winners. White pants, red jerseys at home, white jerseys away, red helmet with the interlocking OU on the side. Some things never change. Because you know what happens when you’re already good and you change? Bad. Bad is what happens when good changes. Pretty basic stuff. Or so one would think. But alas, every few years the powers that be in Norman feel the need to spice things up a bit, I guess. They roll out some new sort of uniform or variation, and then, like clockwork, OU plays poorly and often loses.

At the beginning of the 2009 season, towards the very outset of the uniform revolution, Nike rolled out their Pro Combat Series uniforms for a handful of premiere programs in the nation. Oklahoma was one of those programs. At the time it was awesome, because, at the time, really no schools besides Oregon were changing up uniforms and wearing variations. I was personally a fan of these Oklahoma uniforms. There is two reasons for this:

1. All white is such a great look. I believe the kids these days may call it “icy.”
2. Throwbacks. Throwbacks are a nod to tradition which, as I mentioned before, is important if you have it.

All white throwback uniforms that look good. I’m all in on this. Most people were. Then the Sooners rolled into Lubbock to face Texas Tech. Oklahoma entered the game at 8-4, on the tail end of a season that had already disappointed after reigning Heisman winner Sam Bradford went out for the year with an injury, as well as All-American tight-end Jermaine Gresham and several other key players. They left the stadium 8-5 with a 41-13 loss to a team that probably still wasn’t as good as them.

Gold Accents – Red River Rivalry – 2013
At the beginning of Texas Hate Week in 2013, it was announced that both teams would be wearing gold accents on their uniforms to pay homage to the trophy they play for, the Golden Hat. The accents were on the gloves, collars, and Nike team logos. It wasn’t flashy and looked pretty good, but I almost immediately thought of what some others were saying – we don’t have a great history with any sort of alternate uniforms. Oklahoma rolled into the Cotton Bowl and played like they couldn’t find their tail. Texas had a pick-six and a punt return for a touchdown to go with some big plays from the offense. The Longhorns defense also completely stifled the OU offense as the Blake Bell-tenure at quarterback neared its end in a 20-36 loss. It was one of two blemishes on a season that did end with 12 wins and the peak of Trevor Knight’s Oklahoma career in a Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama.

Alternates – West Virginia & Baylor – 2014
Before the 2014 season Oklahoma unveiled their new home and away alternate uniforms in a reveal to the team and photo shoot with Trevor Knight, Sterling Shepard, Eric Striker, and Geno Grissom. They had a more modern aesthetic with the away look still being a white jersey and red pants and the home being a red jersey and white pants. They featured black face masks and wood-grain print on the helmets. I thought they were fine, but I was certainly now superstitious enough to be wary of alternates altogether. Oklahoma broke the away uniforms out while sitting 3-0 and on the road in Morgantown. If you shared my level of superstition about alternate uniforms at that time you might agree with me in calling that pretty ballsy. Alas, I was happily mistaken. The Sooners ground out a 45-33 win as Samaje Perine rumbled at will. Later in the season, they put on the home versions and welcomed Baylor to Norman. My superstition had been vanquished in West Virginia and I was confident about how the team would play even after losses to TCU and Kansas State. Baylor was ranked #10 at the time, but that didn’t matter because: C’mon on, it’s Baylor. Right?  Oklahoma lost 14-48. At home. And my uniform superstition has since returned. Although, those all-whites still look clean.