Who Were the Oklahoma Rough Riders?

Mega-Blockbuster movies like Independence Day have tried the overdone patriotic action of having a President join the war personally. Take a spot in combat right next to the individual that went to the polls to vote him in. Though he wasn't President just yet, Teddy Roosevelt's voluntary entrance into the Spanish-American War was something right out of the movies.

In 1898, Roosevelt was known as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, just three years before he would become William McKinley's Vice President and eventually, when McKinley was assassinated, President in that same year of 1901. Roosevelt repeatedly urged the President to wage war with Spain and when he finally did so, Teddy left his post in the Navy to join the front lines. By forming an all-volunteer group to fight honorably in the war, Roosevelt became an instant legend. His popularity soared as a result of this all-volunteer combat squad known only as "The Rough Riders".

On October 12, 1899, the boys from Norman took on a new nickname, honoring Theodore Roosevelt's volunteer squad by playing as the "Rough Riders". The Rough Riders pounded Kingfisher College in Norman 39-6. Vernon Parrington's crew came out in the newest Harvard innovation, the "tackle back".

This nearly unstoppable concoction consisted one of the tackles stepping into the backfield just a step in front of the running backs. The quarterback would then take the snap and give it to the tackle who would hit the line with tremendous force. The fact that his line was already moving and he was a moving tackle was intimidating enough, but the fact that there was no rule at that time about pushing from behind made the play really take off. The tackle would be moving with speed and power while being back pushed by members of the backfield. This set could also be used by sending the tackle around the corner as an extra lead back to obliterate the unsuspecting linebacker. Oklahoma destroyed Kingfisher with this set and Parrington again showed his prowess as a football innovator.

Twelve days later the Rough Riders rode again, this time in Shawnee, beating the University of Arkansas for the first time in what must have been a thriller, 11-5. Oklahoma trailed at the half 5-0 in what was a very controversial play where Oklahoma believed Arkansas was punting, but the ball went through the goalposts for a drop-kick style field goal. The refs signaled a score and Oklahoma was livid. At that time the field goal was worth as much as a touchdown, making halftime a hornets nest for the Rough Riders. Harold Keith got an explanation from Razorback, Colonel McAndrew nearly a half-century later.

(Chester) Sloan's outstanding feature as a football player was an uncanny ability to punt. At 30 or 40 yards he could put a ball over the goal posts with deadly accuracy. For some unknown reason he was unable to dropkick effectively. Nature seemed to have centered everything of football excellence in his punting ability.
Our style of scoring play then, as frequently is the case now, was built around one player. In our case it was Sloan. And the play was punting the ball over the goal posts under the guise of a dropkick. This scoring play of ours could only be used when the two officials were in a position difficult to observe its execution. Officials in those days did not have fixed positions. Sloan punted without moving from his position and our halfbacks and quarterback could frequently aid in screening him from official observation. After executing the punt, Sloan would vociferously explain that the particular flight of the ball, resembling that of a punt, was due to his toe catching it on the side instead of dead center.

This particular play had two great disadvantages. First, it could only be employed once, for thereafter the officials were on the watch. Second, this play could not be hidden from the spectators. The spectators usually came out on the field and took part in the inevitable discussion incident to the kick. If the discussion got out of control, our team was wont to form a modification of a hollow square which has many times and on more historic battlefields furnished protection to a numerical inferiority.

The football program at Oklahoma was rolling and Vernon Parrington was feeding the monster through infancy as well as anybody could hope. However, just around the corner the University boys were facing a situation that they hadn't had to endure in almost four years, the agony of defeat.

Sources

1. Oklahoma Kickoff by Harold Keith
2. The Daily Oklahoman Archives
3. Rites of Autumn: The Story of College Football by Richard Whittingham