Oklahoma to honor its first black football player

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ University of Oklahoma officials say OU will not issue jersey number 38 this football season as part of the university's plans to honor the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the

Sunday, August 20th 2006, 8:51 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ University of Oklahoma officials say OU will not issue jersey number 38 this football season as part of the university's plans to honor the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Sooners' first black player, Prentice Gautt.

Members of Oklahoma's team will wear decals with the number 38 on the back of their helmets this season to commemorate Gautt, who died in March 2005 at age 67.

Fullback J.D. Runnels wore number 38 last season for the Sooners, when he was a senior.

OU President David Boren says the decision to honor Gautt was made to remind people of Gautt's influence, moral courage and strength of character.

Gautt attended Douglass High School in Oklahoma City and played in the first integrated high school football game in Oklahoma.

He first played for the Sooners in 1956, the season in which Oklahoma won the third of its seven national championships.

Gautt later played for seven seasons in the NFL and became an assistant commissioner of the Big Eight Conference.