OKLAHOMA 52 #19 KANSAS 42
While the Sooners broke their three-game losing streak last Saturday against #19-ranked Jayhawks, I'm gonna focus more on what they were wearing while they did it.
The Sooners unveiled their new
alternate uniforms this past Saturday. The ‘Unity’ uniforms
featured anthracite-colored jerseys, pants and helmets with crimson trim and
lettering. There was an outline of the state of Oklahoma amid a triple-stripe
on both sleeves and the word “UNITY” was stitched on the back-of-the-jersey
nameplate.
I’ll be honest, my first reaction
upon seeing the alternate uniforms was that I hated them.
My first reaction was … To make a snap judgement. “The
jersey’s shouldn’t say Unity on the back, they should say Ugly.”
My first reaction was … That just the description of the
uniforms made me dizzy. “Anthracite, really? Is that even a color? Because it
sounds more like something I need to have my pesticide provider spray for on
their next visit.”
My first reaction was … To make fun of them. “It would be my contention
that any color that can’t beat out the likes of tumbleweed, inchworm, or
jazzberry jam for a slot in the Crayola Crayons Box of 120 – shouldn’t be
featured on a football jersey.”
My first reaction was … To chalk it up to something I don’t
understand. “The new generation could care less about tradition … and sad as it
may be, things like ‘alternate’ uniforms matter to recruits. Call me an old
man, but I want these hideous things off my yard”
My first reaction was … To find a way to tie it to something
else I deemed negative. “How in the hell am I supposed to know who to scream at
when the jersey doesn’t have the players name on it, and you can’t decipher
their jersey number? It’s like a witness protection program for Oklahoma Sooners
defensive backs.”
Thankfully, before I published the blog this
week, I did what I should’ve done to begin with … I took some time to educate
myself on the Unity Uniforms.
Turns out … my first reaction was … Judgmental, Insensitive, and Uninformed.
There are two thing I want to be very
clear about.
 |
| The jersey Prentice Gautt signed for me back in 2002. |
Unity Uniforms represented from the start. Prentice Gautt, a man I had the privilege of meeting back in 2002, became the first black scholarship football player at the University of Oklahoma in 1956. His perseverance through racial prejudice, helped unite this teammates on their way to four consecutive conference championships. Gautt, who was a two-time All-Big Eight running back, an Academic All-American, and the MVP of the 1959 Orange Bowl, also play seven seasons in the NFL. IMO, there could not be a more appropriate and deserving man to be honored and recognized by this kind of tribute than Prentice Gautt.
I’m also not so egotistical as to think my opinion on the Unity Uniforms matters
to anyone, nor should it. The only opinions on the subject that matters … is that
of the Gautt Family, the people who designed them and the players who wear them.
With that said, after reading more about
the uniforms I have a whole new appreciation for them.
THE IDEA
The ‘Unity Uniform’ idea was created and
then designed by a group of student-athletes, including several former football
players. I’m impressed with the idea, that it was done by committee, and that
the powers that be at the University of Oklahoma were on board and supportive
of the project. Once again, Joe Castiglione shows why he is the best Athletic
Director in the nation.
THE PROCESS
The idea for the ‘Unity Uniforms’ started in 2020. Two-years is a lot of time and
effort to put into a project. Plus, when a ‘committee’ is tasked to do a
project, that is a lot of opinions, which can lead to things being tedious at
times. I know this from experience. The two situations I was involved in where
I wasn’t the only one to get a vote, both ended in divorce. So, kudos to the
group for the time and effort it took to bring the ‘Unity Uniforms’ to
fruition.
THE HONOR
I read where it was also the desire of
the student-athlete group to use the new football uniform to honor Gautt.
“We wanted to honor Prentice for being the first African
American scholarship football player here,” said Kelly. “He stood for unity, he
stood for doing things the right way. He stood for making sure that you handled
academics and football. He was one of the founding fathers who made Oklahoma
football what it is and gave all the African American players who have come
through OU an opportunity. As I’ve already mentioned, there couldn’t be
a better choice for that honor. Well done.
THE MESSAGE
‘Unity Uniforms’ were designed for all University
of Oklahoma varsity sports, not just the football team. “We wanted to
make a statement that was way broader, something that stood out more than just
a practice jersey,” said Caleb Kelly, a former OU linebacker who is now a
director for the football team's SOUL Mission program. “When we're all together
wearing the word ‘Sooners,’ we’re all one. We wanted to make sure we
exemplified unity in our uniform.”
I’m not sure how
the swim team is going to feel about wearing those helmets, but I love the
message. I’m just kidding, we don’t even have a swim team, do we?
MY THOUGHTS
My second reaction was … That the new alternate uniforms, while not being my cup of
tea aesthetically, are special. Special because of who designed them. Special
due to the time and effort it took to bring them to completion. And special for
who and what they represent – which is Prentice Gautt and the importance of
togetherness and building relationships to better society.
Maybe the uniforms also serve as a reminder that the path to achieving
the goals above won’t always be pretty and that a person’s first reaction
should be based on meaning and not color … even if that color is something called Anthracite.
Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy
Buddy Putty
The OAS
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