Taking a decade-by-decade approach to the University of Oklahoma football tradition, this collection brings together over 40 stories from the most outstanding voices of the program. The spirit of Sooners football is not captured by just one phrase, one season, or one particular game; instead, the student-athletes and coaches who made the magic happen over the decades blend their experiences to capture the true essence of their beloved school. Sooners fans will relish the intimate stories told by the figures they have come to cherish. "What does it mean to be a Sooner? "When I look at that Switzer Center on OU’s campus, I realize it represents thousands of other people. We all did it here in Norman. We all accomplished the success that we all enjoyed. It wasn’t just me. They put my name up there on that building, because somebody’s name had to be on it, but it represents everybody. "I think we have some of the greatest fans in the world. Now I sit up there and watch the games and I am one of them. They support Oklahoma, win, lose, or draw. "Sooners are proud people. "Like the song says, ‘I am Sooner born and Sooner bred, and when I die, I’ll be Sooner dead.’" —from the Foreword by Barry Switzer Some have affectionately called it "the Monster." Bud Wilkinson created it in the late forties, and it instantly threw fear into the college football world, continuing to stake its claim to the nation s greatest college football program throughout the fifties. Then Barry Switzer fed it in the seventies and eighties as it grew into a dominating legend that relied on talent, speed, preparation, hard work, and a little "Sooner Magic" when needed. And today, Bob Stoops nurtures it as a perennial national championship contender. The University of Oklahoma football program has always been loved by folks in the Sooner state and for good reason. It has produced seven national championships, 39 conference championships, 141 All-Americans, the NCAA s record winning streak, and a standard of excellence matched by very few college football programs. What It Means to Be a Sooner delivers many of the greatest and most compelling players and coaches in University of Oklahoma history, remembering with reverence that special time in their lives when they wore the crimson and cream. From Steve Owens to Billy Sims to Jason White, many Sooners included in this book arrived in Norman, Oklahoma, struggling with self-doubt and feeling apprehensive about their futures. Most wondered if they would ever succeed on the football field or in the classroom. They figured they were either too slow, too small, or too timid to ever make a mark on Oklahoma s tradition-rich football program. Many considered leaving OU to return to the comfort of their parents homes, whether they were from Ada, Enid, Midwest City, Muskogee, or Miami, Oklahoma. Most failed at first but refused to quit and ultimately achieved individual and more importantly team success. These pages bring readers the ingenuity of Jack Mitchell and the burly toughness of Buddy Burris; the sweat and sacrifice of the men behind the legendary 47-game winning streak, men such as Bill Krisher, Bob Harrison, and Jerry Thompson; the unwavering drive through adversity of Prentice Gautt, considered by many to be OU s own Jackie Robinson; the intensity of Steve Zabel; the endurance of Steve Owens; the grittiness of Jack Mildren; the elusiveness of Joe Washington; the creativity of Brian Bosworth; and the intelligence of Josh Heupel. This book also provides fresh insights into the three men most responsible for continuing the tradition of success at Oklahoma: coaches Bob Stoops, Barry Switzer, and the legendary Bud Wilkinson. What It Means to Be a Sooner is unlike any book ever written about Oklahoma football. It reveals the feeling that comes with wearing the Sooners uniform on a Saturday afternoon and the pride associated with becoming an enduring part of the OU legacy. Two words summarize the players and coaches feelings toward Oklahoma s cherished football tradition: Boomer Sooner! Jeff Snook is an author and a freelance writer who has covered college football for more than 20 years. He lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. Barry Switzer is the former head football coach with the University of Oklahoma. The team won three National Championships under his leadership and participated in post-season bowl games nearly every year he was head coach. He is an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Jim Thorpe Lifetime Achievement Award. Bob Stoops is the head football coach for the University of Oklahoma. He led the team to a National Championship in 2000 and has been recognized for several Coach of the Year awards. They both live in Norman, Oklahoma. Used Book in Good Condition