Undoubtedly the most famous aspect of Sooner athletics is its college football program, considered by many to be one of the all-time elite programs.Calling Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at Owen Field its home since the 1920s, the team has won numerous bowl games, 42 conference championships (including every Big Seven championship awarded), and seven Associated Press National Championships, making the Sooners the most decorated program in the Big 12.Oklahoma has scored more points than any other team in Division I-A football history despite the fact they have played over 60 games fewer than the second highest scoring school on that list. OU also has the highest winning percentage of any team since the start of the AP poll in 1936.The Sooners possess seven national championships in football, with the 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, and 2000 seasons featuring the top team in the Associated Press final poll, and the 2000 Bowl Championship Series National Championship as well. This ties Alabama for the most national titles of any Division I college football team after the end of World War II (which is commonly used as the division between eras in college football).Individual success is also a major part of Oklahoma football; five Heisman Trophy winners (Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, Billy Sims, Jason White and Sam Bradford), are surrounded by many other award winners, including Joe Washington, Brian Bosworth, Tony Casillas, Greg Pruitt, Josh Heupel, Jerry Tubbs, Rocky Calmus, Teddy Lehman, Lee Roy Selmon, Roy Williams, Tommy McDonald, Mark Clayton, Tommie Harris, J.C. Watts and Keith Jackson. More than a dozen Sooner players have been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.Legendary coaches Bennie Owen, Bud Wilkinson, and Barry Switzer have passed though the gameday tunnel for the Sooners, each on their way to the College Football Hall of Fame. Owen was the first highly successful coach at OU and was a major advocate of the forward pass, which at the turn of the century was not popular. The playing surface at Oklahoma's Memorial Stadium is popularly known as Owen Field in honor of his long tenure and devotion to the university. Wilkinson left many imprints on the game, such as the 5-2 defense with five linemen and two linebackers; the perfection of the Split-T, an early option offense; three national championships; and his teams set the NCAA Division 1 record for consecutive wins at 47. The record of 47 straight wins is widely regarded as one of the great achievements in sports, and a streak that is unlikely to be broken. Switzer won three national championships and forged arguably the fiercest rushing offense ever, the Oklahoma wishbone formation, throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Though the end of Switzer's tenure at Oklahoma was marked by controversy and poor player behavior, he is generally well-regarded by both his past players and Sooner fans. During his 16 years as the Sooner's head coach, Switzer led his team to 12 conference championships and never lost more than two games in a row. His winning percentage of .837 stands as the fourth highest in the entire history of 1-A football. Other Hall of Fame coaches whose tenure included stints at the University of Oklahoma are Lawrence "Biff" Jones and Jim Tatum.Success continues under the leadership of current head coach Bob Stoops, who has .835 winning percentage, a national championship and six conference championships during his head coaching career at Oklahoma.THERE'S ONLY ONE BABY!
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