Which six Oklahoma football greats would you invite to the ideal dinner party?
By Chip Rouse
Prentice Gautt
Prentice Gautt played football for Oklahoma 60 years ago, from 1957-59. He was a local player who played his high school football in nearby Oklahoma City. He will be remembered as a talented running back, but even more so as the first African American player to play football at Oklahoma.
Oklahoma was 10-1 in both 1957 and 1958, Gautt’s sophomore and junior seasons, and undefeated in 13 games in Big Seven play. The Sooners’ had an off-year, for the Bud Wilkinson coaching era, in 1959, but Gautt had his best Oklahoma season, rushing for 674 yards and averaging over five yards per carry.
He was an All-Big Seven selection his junior and senior seasons and was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1959 Orange Bowl, leading the Sooners to a 21-6 victory over ninth-ranked Syracuse.
Gautt was the 19th overall pick in the 1960 NFL Draft, selected by the St. Louis Cardinals. He played six years in St. Louis and one season with the Cleveland Browns.
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Later he became assistant commissioner in the Big Eight Conference and was a special assistant to the commissioner in the Big 12 Conference. Gautt died in 2005. He was 67 years old.