Chatting with old Sooners
The deaths of Jack Mildren and Tom Catlin the last couple of weeks has given me the opportunity to do something I really ought to do more of, and not just when an OU football legend dies.
I love chatting with old Sooners about their youthful days. Yesterday, in about 20 minutes of time, I talked with Buddy Leake, Chuck Bowman and J.D. Roberts. They aren’t the three most prominent Bud Wilkinson-era players of all time — I suppose that would be Jerry Tubbs, Tommy McDonald, Darrell Royal, uh, I better stop, this could turn into a debate — but all were good in their own way, and all were splendid to talk with.
We’re slowly losing the 1950s Sooners. There remains a bunch of them, but think about it. A guy who was a 1949 freshman, as Tom Catlin was, is 78 or so now. Some people live to 78, but some don’t. A guy who was a 1953 freshman, and played on those unbeaten teams, is 74 or so now.
In the next 10 years, we’re going to lose most of our living history when it comes to the Wilkinson era. I’m going to make it a point to talk with those guys as much as possible. And not just when someone dies.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Comments
GREAT IDEA. IF THEY ARE LIKE ME, THEY REMEMBER THINGS FROM THEIR PLAYING DAYS BETTER THAN WHAT THEY HAD FOR SUPPER LAST NIGHT.
That’s a great idea, Berry. I think you should compile all your interviews into a book. I know I would buy it. What do you think guys?
Believe you are correct that you should talk to outstanding athletics while they are still alive. Some good people that were 1950 athletes from OU were two time all american Kurt Burris, and Max Boyston. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to players from OSU and Tulsa U.
Good for you Berry, I hope you write stories about them when they are alive, so they can read about how much people appreciated them. When they are dead it is too late, to say nice things about them!!