The First OSU Football Team

In the fall of 1901, Oklahoma A&M College, now known as Oklahoma State University, embarked on its inaugural football season, setting the stage for a legacy that would grow into one of the most storied athletic traditions in collegiate sports. With a team of determined young men, the college's athletic identity began to take shape, marking the start of what would become a proud and enduring legacy in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Formation of the Team

For a decade, students had been fiercely competing in inter-class sports. However, with the formation of the football team, they were encouraged to set aside class rivalries and unite under a common banner. The students chose the Tigers as their mascot and adopted the orange and black colors, inspired by the tradition of Princeton University. This led to Oklahoma A&M being affectionately dubbed the “Princeton of the Prairie.” Despite lacking a paid coach, 14 determined young men made up the Tiger squad for their first season.

First Football Team The 1901 Oklahoma A&M football team

First Game: A Tough Start

The team faced a formidable opponent in their opening game against Kingfisher College, a well-established territorial power in football. Although Kingfisher had defeated an earlier campus-and-community team in 1899, the Tigers were hopeful. The game was played on a challenging, slanted field, and Kingfisher took full advantage, winning 12-0 and dashing the new Tiger team’s hopes.

First Victory: A Historic Win in Perry

Oklahoma A&M’s first football victory came in their second game against Northwestern Normal from Alva on October 12, 1901. In those days, transportation presented great challenges and games were frequently played in a central location which was easier for both teams to reach, so this game was played in Perry. A.W. Flower scored the first-ever touchdown for the Tigers, followed by two more touchdowns by Charles Morrow, and Arthur Tarr successfully kicked two goals, leading the Tigers to a 17-0 win. This victory was celebrated with a lively, if somewhat rowdy, night in a Perry hotel, where the team enjoyed their first taste of success.

The Heartbreaker: A Narrow Loss to Chilocco

The third game of the season was the first intercollegiate football game ever played on the Oklahoma A&M campus, where the Tigers faced the Chilocco Indian School Braves. The game was a nail-biter, with the Tigers initially leading after a 40-yard run by Rex Shively and a touchdown by Ralph Kratka. However, a critical misunderstanding of the rules led to a heartbreaking 6-5 loss. In those days, the ball carrier had to yell out “Down!” when there was no hope of more forward progress and then the referee would call the play dead. On the play in question, the Tigers’ ball carrier forgot to yell “Down” on a successful play that moved them near the end zone. A Chilocco player stripped the ball out of his hands and ran it back the length of the field for a touchdown and the winning score.

Chilocco Indian School Football Team

Season Conclusion: Mixed Results and a Tragic End

The Tigers played two more games that season. They faced Kingfisher College again, suffering another defeat, 11-5, but ended the season on a high note with a 12-0 victory over a team of ex-football players and Indians from Pawnee on Thanksgiving Day. Overall, the team finished with a 2-3 record, scoring 39 points while allowing 29.

The excitement and momentum of the season were cut short by tragedy. In an unscheduled game, a powerful play known as the flying wedge led to a severe injury for star player Joe Houska, who tragically passed away the following day. This heartbreaking event led the college faculty to suspend intercollegiate football for the 1902 season and it didn’t return until 1903.

Legacy of the 1901 Team

Though the 1901 season ended in tragedy, it laid the foundation for Oklahoma State University’s football program. The courage, determination, and unity demonstrated by these early players set the stage for the future of the sport at the university, paving the way for generations of athletes who would follow in their footsteps. Today the OSU Cowboys have one of the top college football programs in the nation and Boone Pickens Stadium hosts sold out crowds who visit Stillwater to be part of this rich history! Explore the storied past of OSU athletics at the Heritage Hall Museum in the Gallagher-Iba Arena next time you visit Stillwater.