Bud Wilkinson Statue Unveiled and Dedicated

In a special game day ceremony, the legendary OU coach was honored with a statue unveiling.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:02 pm

By: News On 6

Bud Wilkinson Statue Unveiled and Dedicated

Originally Published: Nov 13, 2010 3:5 PM CDT

Oklahoma Sports Staff

NORMAN, Oklahoma—Legendary Oklahoma coach Bud Wilkinson was honored with a statue unveiling and dedication Saturday outside the Barry Switzer Center.

Several members of Wilkinson’s family were in attendance for the ceremony including Wilkinson’s granddaughter Kristen Griffin and her husband David Griffin.
Wilkinson’s great-grandchildren, Grace and Jack, children of Kristen and David, unveiled the statue at the ceremony.

A reunion of the Sooners’ first and second national championship teams, 1950 and ’55 under Wilkinson, was also held before kickoff.

During his time at Oklahoma from 1947 to 1963, Wilkinson’s teams had an .826 winning percentage and won 14 league and three national championships as well as six of eight bowl games.

Wilkinson attended Shattuck Military Academy in Faribault, Minn., where he played football, baseball, basketball, hockey and track and took part in dramatics.

He graduated in 1933, and then went to Minnesota where he played football under renowned coach Bernie Bierman.

There he played guard and quarterback and the Gophers won three national titles. In the summer of 1937, he was quarterback on the College All-Star team that beat the NFL champion Green Bay Packers 6-0.

As a senior, he won the Big Ten Conference's medal for all-around performance in athletics and scholarship.

He received an English degree and then dedicated his time to focusing on his coaching career.

In 1965, just two years after leaving the Sooners, Wilkinson began a career as a network football analyst with ABC.