The Hideout

Benjamin "Bennie" Gilbert Owen

Bennie Owen's OU Stats Sport Football 1905-1926 Basketball 1909-1921 Record at OU Football 122-54-16 Basketball 104-48 Overall Record Football 155-60-19 (70.3%) Basketball 113-49 (69.8%)

Bennie Owen was born in Chicago, IL on July 24, 1875.  When he was twelve his family moved to St. Louis, Mo.  While in St. Louis, Bennie completed school.

After graduating high school in St. Louis, Bennie's family again moved. This time they relocated in Arkansas City, Kansas. After serving as an apprentice to a local doctor, Bennie left Ark City, KS to pursue a medical degree at the Univeristy of Kansas. While at KU, Bennie fell in love with the sport of football.

In 1899, Bennie Owen was the Jayhawks star quarterback. He led the Jayhawks, coached at the time by Fielding Yost, to an undefeated season.

His coaching career would lead him from Washburn College to Michigan. From Michigan to Bethany College. From Bethany to the University of Oklahoma.

In 1905, Bennie Owen took over a fledgling program. He turned the program around within his first year at OU. A turn that was boosted by the first ever win over Texas, 2-0.

While at Oklahoma, Bennie Owen lead the Sooner football program to 122 wins, 54 losses, and 16 ties. He coached OU football from 1905-1926.

Bennie Owen was also responsible in bringing the forward pass to the Southwestern United States. It allowed his teams to score quickly on lesser foes. In fact in 1911, Oklahoma beat Kingfisher College 104-0.

Bennie Owen also coached the Men's Basketball team from 1909-1921. He amassed a 104-48 record as the OU basketball coach.

To this day, the football field where the Sooners play is named after Benjamin Gilbert Owen, the Father of OU Athletics. Without the contributions of this one armed man (he lost his right arm in a hunting accident in 1907), OU would probably rank near the middle or lower when it comes to traditions and history of college football. Without Bennie Owen, OU football would not be what it is today.

On February 26, 1970, Benjamin Gilbert Owen passed from this world, at the age of 94, knowing that the foundation he left at the University of Oklahoma blossomed into something bigger than even he imagined.