What Is 1928 Oklahoma Sooners football team

Overview

The 1928 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1928 college football season. Led by head coach Bennie Owen in his 22nd and final year, the team competed as an independent and compiled a 6–3 overall record. This season marked the end of an era, closing the longest coaching tenure in school history at the time.

The Sooners played their home games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, which had opened just five years earlier. Though not ranked in the final AP Poll (which did not exist until 1936), the team showed resilience, outscoring opponents 144 to 73 over nine games. The season concluded with a decisive loss to rival Oklahoma A&M, foreshadowing future shifts in the program’s leadership and performance.

• Record: The team finished with a 6–3 overall record, winning six of nine games during the 1928 season.
• Head coach: Bennie Owen served as head coach for the 22nd consecutive year, making it his final season at Oklahoma.
• Scoring: The Sooners scored 144 points total while allowing 73, resulting in a positive point differential of +71.
• Schedule: Played as an independent, facing regional opponents without conference affiliation or postseason bowl participation.
• Final game: Lost 19–0 to Oklahoma A&M on November 24, 1928, in what was a significant rivalry matchup.

How It Works

The 1928 season operated under the rules and structure of early 20th-century college football, with no formal playoff system or national ranking. Teams scheduled games independently, and success was measured by win-loss records and regional dominance rather than national polls.

• Season structure: The 1928 season consisted of nine games, all played between October and November without a postseason bowl.
• Coaching tenure: Bennie Owen, who began in 1905, retired after 1928, holding the record for longest-serving Oklahoma coach until Barry Switzer.
• Player recruitment: Rosters relied on local and regional talent, with limited national scouting compared to modern standards.
• Game rules: The game featured a 10-man line, no forward pass restrictions like later eras, and minimal protective gear.
• Stadium capacity: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium held approximately 16,000 fans in 1928, expanding significantly in later decades.
• Rivalry focus: Games against Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) were central to the team’s schedule and fan interest.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1928 Oklahoma Sooners with later notable seasons in program history:

The table highlights the evolution of the Oklahoma program from modest early success to national dominance. While the 1928 team laid foundational traditions, later eras under coaches like Wilkinson and Switzer achieved greater statistical and competitive success. Nevertheless, the 1928 season remains significant as the final chapter of Bennie Owen’s influential tenure.

Why It Matters

The 1928 season holds historical importance for the Oklahoma football program, symbolizing both the end of an era and the transition toward modern college football. As Bennie Owen’s farewell season, it marked the close of 22 years of leadership that helped establish Oklahoma as a competitive force in the Southwest.

• Legacy of Bennie Owen: His 122 wins were a school record until surpassed by Bud Wilkinson in the 1950s.
• Program transition: Owen’s retirement led to the hiring of L. C. Cole, beginning a new chapter for the Sooners.
• Rivalry continuity: The annual game with Oklahoma A&M solidified one of college football’s fiercest in-state rivalries.
• Historical context: The 1928 team played just before the Great Depression, a time of growing college sports popularity.
• Stadium development: Games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium helped grow fan engagement and revenue for the university.
• Foundation for success: The team’s performance contributed to Oklahoma’s growing reputation in national college football.

Though overshadowed by later national championships, the 1928 Oklahoma Sooners remain a key part of the program’s legacy, representing perseverance and tradition during a formative period in college athletics.