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View Full Version : Back in the beginning...Bennie Owen



Duke o Brewery
3/21/2006, 09:31 PM
Just thought I'd share:

http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/owenbennie.shtml

http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=10070

Owen, "Bennie" (Benjamin G.)
b. July 24, 1875, Chicago, IL
d. Feb. 26, 1970, Houston, TX.

Owen was quarterback of the University of Kansas team that went undefeated in 1899 under legendary coach Fielding "Hurry Up" Yost. After coaching Washburn College in Kansas in 1900, he rejoined Yost as an assistant coach at Michigan for a year and then became head coach at Bethany College in Kansas from 1901 through 1904, compiling a 22-2-2 record.

In 1905, two years before Oklahoma became a state, Owen began coaching at the University of Oklahoma. Like Yost, he created a fast-paced offense, with the quarterback calling signals for a play while players were still lying on the ground after the previous play.

His 1911 team was the first undefeated team to play a full schedule in Oklahoma history with a 8-0-0 record. After the 1913 season, Owen lost all of his starters and in desperation he created what he himself called "a wide open, reckless game." Oklahoma had a 9-1-1 record, led major colleges in scoring with 435 points, and completed 25 touchdown passes.

Averaging more than 30 passes a game, the 1915 team went undefeated. Owen also produced undefeated teams in 1918 and 1920. He retired as coach after the 1926 season but remained as athletic director through 1934 and oversaw construction of a new football stadium, a fieldhouse, a golf course, tennis courts, and a baseball field.

Owen, who lost his right arm in a 1907 hunting accident, became director of intramural athletics at the school in 1935. He retired in 1938. In his 27 seasons, Owen's teams won 155 games while losing 60 and tying 19. The Oklahoma football field is named for him.

sooneron
3/22/2006, 10:31 AM
Just thought I'd share:

http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/owenbennie.shtml

http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=10070

Owen, "Bennie" (Benjamin G.)
b. July 24, 1875, Chicago, IL
d. Feb. 26, 1970, Houston, TX.

Owen was quarterback of the University of Kansas team that went undefeated in 1899 under legendary coach Fielding "Hurry Up" Yost. After coaching Washburn College in Kansas in 1900, he rejoined Yost as an assistant coach at Michigan for a year and then became head coach at Bethany College in Kansas from 1901 through 1904, compiling a 22-2-2 record.

In 1905, two years before Oklahoma became a state, Owen began coaching at the University of Oklahoma. Like Yost, he created a fast-paced offense, with the quarterback calling signals for a play while players were still lying on the ground after the previous play.

His 1911 team was the first undefeated team to play a full schedule in Oklahoma history with a 8-0-0 record. After the 1913 season, Owen lost all of his starters and in desperation he created what he himself called "a wide open, reckless game." Oklahoma had a 9-1-1 record, led major colleges in scoring with 435 points, and completed 25 touchdown passes.

Averaging more than 30 passes a game, the 1915 team went undefeated. Owen also produced undefeated teams in 1918 and 1920. He retired as coach after the 1926 season but remained as athletic director through 1934 and oversaw construction of a new football stadium, a fieldhouse, a golf course, tennis courts, and a baseball field.

Owen, who lost his right arm in a 1907 hunting accident, became director of intramural athletics at the school in 1935. He retired in 1938. In his 27 seasons, Owen's teams won 155 games while losing 60 and tying 19. The Oklahoma football field is named for him.
I say we pull a bama and claim titles for 11,15,18 and 20!:texan:

NickZeppelin
3/22/2006, 01:27 PM
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5476/bennieowen30ey.jpg
Here's the best photo I have of him.

Also to add on some facts.

His basketball coaching record 104-48

His baseball coaching record 142-102

NickZeppelin
3/22/2006, 01:31 PM
By the way. I'm pretty sure that photo was on Owen Field. It was a bit smaller then.

12
3/22/2006, 01:33 PM
With coach Bennie Owen confined to a hospital bed due to a hunting accident that resulted in the amputation ofhis right arm, team captian Bill Cross guided Oklahoma to a 29-0 victory over Epworth University on Oct. 25, 1907. The Sooner quarterback led his team on three scoring drives, while making sure al aspects of the OU game plan ran smoothly in Owens absence. Nine days earlier, Owen had gone guail hunting with drugist John Barbour near Adkins Ford, just south of Norman on the South Canadian River. While loading thier dogs and weapons onto Barbour's horse-drawn wagon, Owens 12-gauge Winchester pump automatic shotgun accidentally discharged. The blast struck Owen in the arm, servering an artery below his right shoulder.

In the ensuing hours, a local phisician was unable to restore the circulatian, and the arm had to be removed. During his time in the hospital, it was reported that Owen expressed more concern about his absence from the OU football team than about the loss of his arm.

Shocked by the stunning news, Owens squad dropped a 15-0 decision to Kansas three days affter the accident. It was the only game OU on its home field in Norman during Owen's first seven years at the helm.
Amazingly, within two weeks Owen was back on the fied coaching.

Taken From: Tales from The SOONER SIDELINE.

Boomer freakin' Sooner, fellas.

12
3/22/2006, 01:35 PM
By the way. I'm pretty sure that photo was on Owen Field. It was a bit smaller then.

No, I'm pretty sure it was 100 yards.

NickZeppelin
3/22/2006, 01:37 PM
No, I'm pretty sure it was 100 yards.

LMAO. There were only about 5,000 seats available though compared to about 85,000 of today.

SkipTracer
3/22/2006, 04:01 PM
Can we call him "Lefty"?

Remembering Tom Stidham
3/22/2006, 05:09 PM
Where did Bennie coach basketball and baseball? Not at OU. His brother, Bill, coached our baseball team to the Missouri Valley championship in 1926. My dad pitched the championship game, I believe against Nebraska.

NickZeppelin
3/22/2006, 06:06 PM
Tom, he coached Baseball here from 1906-1922. His brother took over as baseball coach in 1923. He coached Basketball from 1909-1921. He was also the Sooner athletic director after his coaching days were over.

Remembering Tom Stidham
3/22/2006, 06:50 PM
I stand corrected. Thank you.

NickZeppelin
3/22/2006, 08:13 PM
I haven't seen the mural in a while. It's probably just a mistake by the artist.