Oklahoma football: Sooners to unveil new alternate “Unity” uniform for Kansas game

It isn’t often that an Oklahoma football team departs from its classic crimson helmet with the interlocking OU logo.

Versions of the crimson football helmet have been in place at Oklahoma since the 1966 season. In 2014, following the recent trend in college football to have alternate uniforms and helmets for occasional use (I believe Nike was the trend setter for all of this at Oregon), the Sooners revealed new “Bring the Wood” alternate uniforms and helmets, which pay homage to the team’s historic past.

On Saturday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, during the Homecoming game with No, 19 Kansas, the Sooners will unveil an all-new alternate uniform. The new Oklahoma football “Unity” uniform features anthracite-colored jerseys, pants and helmets with crimson trim and lettering.

The helmet included a crimson stripe from front to back and a crimson OU logo. The word “Together” is sewn on the jersey collar and the word “Unity” is on the back of the jersey wear the name would ordinarily appear.

The new alternate uniform is made even more special because it was designed by a group of OU student-athletes to emphasize the importance of togetherness and building relationships to better society. The new uniform also honors former Sooner football star Prentice Gautt, who was the first black scholarship football player at Oklahoma.

Gautt played at Oklahoma in the late 1950s on Bud Wilkinson’s teams from 1957 through 1959. The former OU running back was twice an All-Big Eight selection and was an Academic All-American in 1958. He received his undergraduate degree from OU in 1960 and later earned a doctorate degree in counseling psychology from the University of Missouri.

Gautt played in the National Football League for eight seasons (1960-67) with the Cleveland Browns and St. Louis Cardinals.

After leaving professional football, Gautt went on to become assistant commissioner and associate commissioner in the Big Eight office.

Gautt’s widow, Sandra Gautt, who lives in Lawrence, Kansas, and his son, Roger, will represent him during a first-half ceremony on the field at the Kansas game.

Perhaps the new alternate uniforms and a homecoming crowd will provide the spark the Sooners’ need to get back in the win column and keep that momentum rolling.