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jthomasou78
6/26/2011, 07:19 AM
Im in a debate with a Notre Dame friend of mine. I dont think Notre Dame adopted "Play Like a Champion today" sign until after Bud Wilkinson had it in the OU locker room.

Does anyone know the answer and have some kind of evidence to support one way or another.
Frozen Sooner
6/26/2011, 07:27 AM
They started using it under Lou Holtz: http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111204aac.html

Holtz claims he saw it in an old picture, but nobody can remember it ever being there or where it was: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=2586394

We started using it under Wilkinson.

My guess? Holtz saw it in a picture from one of their games at OU, and thought it was neat, not realizing it was OU's sign.
olevetonahill
6/26/2011, 07:38 AM
You have a ND friend ?:confused:
Flagstaffsooner
6/26/2011, 07:40 AM
Their sign used to read "BEND OVER AN ALTAR BOY TODAY".
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4518627891_93d2d94b0d.jpg
cleller
6/26/2011, 07:52 AM
As Holtz was coming up the ranks, I'm sure he would see Wilkinson, and say,
"Sthat guy is smood." So he tried to emulate him whenever possible.
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww14/cs6000/yR1yXYoGUgwfMxTSatwL7d.jpg
swardboy
6/26/2011, 08:15 AM
Dude was ultra-suave....damn, it's good to be a Sooner!
kelloggOUballa
6/26/2011, 11:07 AM
Wish we had some old pictures of the sign!
yermom
6/26/2011, 11:17 AM
i've seen a better one, but it gets the point across :D

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt298/Granandshan/PLAC.jpg
BigTip
6/26/2011, 11:45 AM
As Holtz was coming up the ranks, I'm sure he would see Wilkinson, and say,
"Sthat guy is smood." So he tried to emulate him whenever possible.


:D
olevetonahill
6/26/2011, 11:59 AM
Their sign used to read "BEND OVER AN ALTAR BOY TODAY".
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4518627891_93d2d94b0d.jpg

You Sick Bastage
Must be why I love ya Long time.:hot: :D
SunnySooner
6/26/2011, 01:05 PM
Wish we had some old pictures of the sign!

Like this one?

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/okla/sports/m-footbl/auto_wide/2652986.jpeg

It's in the Switzer Center, no?
sooneron
6/26/2011, 08:23 PM
Wilkinson brought it with him from Minnesota, I believe. The catholics stole it from us.
SoonerofAlabama
6/26/2011, 08:28 PM
Wilkinson brought it with him from Minnesota, I believe. The catholics stole it from us.

Okay, cool because somebody on the OU-Nebraska sportsnation poll was saying how their sign was from 1922. :confused:
sooneron
6/26/2011, 08:33 PM
Okay, cool because somebody on the OU-Nebraska sportsnation poll was saying how their sign was from 1922. :confused:

Not that wiki is all truth, but...


The original sign that hangs in the Notre Dame Tunnel was painted by Laurie Wenger for Coach Lou Holtz.

The University of Oklahoma has also used a sign with the phrase since the 1940s, under coach Bud Wilkinson.


Take that FWIW:texan:

It's hilarious that the wiki article is all about the notre damn version of the sign, but it points out that OU has been using it since the ****ing 40's!
SoonerofAlabama
6/26/2011, 08:36 PM
Not that wiki is all truth, but...



Take that FWIW:texan:

It's hilarious that the wiki article is all about the notre damn version of the sign, but it points out that OU has been using it since the ****ing 40's!

Well, thank you for the research. Some of them were mentioning the Four Horsemen and about how they got the sign back then and then I think there was one guy that said they got the sign under Holtz and had it before Oklahoma.
finster
6/26/2011, 08:58 PM
Every thing from N.D. is flapper era ****,Outlined against a blue, gray October sky I saw the play like a champion poster. Take it at face value.
http://www.soonersports.com/trads/play-like-champion.html
Bxbysooner
6/27/2011, 10:38 AM
Where can i find that picture of sam walking out for the baylor game? The one where he is hitting the play like a champion today sign?
Thanks!
mavsfan31
6/27/2011, 11:00 AM
Funny that everyone thinks that sign is awesome when we had it first.
soonerloyal
6/27/2011, 11:44 AM
As Holtz was coming up the ranks, I'm sure he would see Wilkinson, and say,
"Sthat guy is smood." So he tried to emulate him whenever possible.


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/KevAndLori/holtz_worcestershire.jpg
Easting
6/27/2011, 11:51 AM
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/KevAndLori/holtz_worcestershire.jpg


/thread won
nativesooner
6/27/2011, 02:00 PM
Where can i find that picture of sam walking out for the baylor game? The one where he is hitting the play like a champion today sign?
Thanks!

you mean this one? :) I bought one too... very cool

http://pictures.replayphotos.com/images/OK/xlg/university-of-oklahoma-football-2009-season-play-like-champion-sam-bradford-ok-f-2009-00160xlg.jpg

http://www.replayphotos.com/oklahomaphotostore/football-print/play-like-champion-sam-bradford_98736.cfm
vtsooner21
6/28/2011, 06:13 AM
There is a "Play Like A Champion Today" sign in the Switzer Center. Have pics of it, but can't upload for some reason. The sign has to be ancient. (Way before Holtz ever dreamed of it) How is it said? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? lol
Boomer
Bxbysooner
6/28/2011, 09:58 AM
NativeSooner,
That is definitely the one i was talking about. That is probably one of my favorite pictures!
cleller
6/28/2011, 04:44 PM
Here's a link to a story and picture of Wilkinson's "play like a champion" sign that now hangs in the Switzer Center.

http://www.soonersports.com/trads/play-like-champion.html
jumperstop
6/28/2011, 05:32 PM
Here's a link to a story and picture of Wilkinson's "play like a champion" sign that now hangs in the Switzer Center.

http://www.soonersports.com/trads/play-like-champion.html


Away from Norman, the OU equipment staff faithfully posts a travel version of the sign for the Sooners to touch as they depart the locker room for the field.


This is sure interesting, never knew this.
IndySooner
6/28/2011, 05:41 PM
So, if Wilkinson brought it from Minnesota, isn't it possible that Holtz ALSO brought it from Minnesota, and therefore, they both originate from the same beginnings?

Why is this such a big deal?
PrideTrombone
6/28/2011, 05:51 PM
So, if Wilkinson brought it from Minnesota, isn't it possible that Holtz ALSO brought it from Minnesota, and therefore, they both originate from the same beginnings?

Why is this such a big deal?

Because **** Notre Dame, that's why.
cleller
6/28/2011, 06:49 PM
Because **** Notre Dame, that's why.

I'm on board with that. Notre Damer's are the college football be-all, look at me, nancy-boys that have been riding on a cinemascope dreamscape for the last 30 years. They're has-beens and don't know it.
Soonerfan88
6/28/2011, 06:55 PM
So, if Wilkinson brought it from Minnesota, isn't it possible that Holtz ALSO brought it from Minnesota, and therefore, they both originate from the same beginnings?

Why is this such a big deal?

Because ND & Holtz don't say that he brought it from Minnesota. Even Minnesota doesn't try to claim it was theirs. Holtz says he was reading up on ND history and saw the sign in a book. He then stated it was old ND tradition and should be brought back. So he had the sign made and hung in the stairwell.

Holtz can't tell you what book he was reading and no one else has been able to produce it. No former players or coaches at ND have gone on record remembering the sign ever being at ND before Holtz. Yet, somehow, ND gets full credit for this tradition and the woman who painted the sign for Holtz was allowed to copyright it.
finster
6/28/2011, 08:01 PM
Because **** Notre Dame, that's why.

Exactly.Cause if it ain't Notre Dame,It ain't history. Too hell with the Gipper, Win one for Charlie Weis you pretentious has-been's.
Wayne Jarvis
6/28/2011, 08:16 PM
I just know that Oklahoma State has a sign above their doorway as well.

It says: Don't forget your helmet.
picasso
6/29/2011, 01:11 PM
I just know that Oklahoma State has a sign above their doorway as well.

It says: Play like you're playing Oklahoma today.

fixed.
LakeRat
6/29/2011, 02:14 PM
pic, wayne had it best.