An Autumn Remembered: Bud Wilkinson's Legendary's 56 Sooners

By Gary T. King

Book Overview

In 1956, a group of young men--sons of the Great Depression--were now student athletes in every sense of the phrase. Their young coach was on the verge of an unprecedented winning streak, and Bud Wilkinson's '56 Sooners formed the touchstone of the University of Oklahoma's football dynasty. This team was the heart and soul of OU's record 47-straight victories. An Autumn Remembered traces the details of the remarkable '56 season and follows the team into the present through revealing interviews with the principal players. In this stirring account, Gary T. King brings to life a journey filled with memories, triumph, and glory--an autumn truly to be remembered, and an experience not to be missed.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 080613786X
• ISBN13: 9780806137865
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Length: 314 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Great story of the undefeated 1956 NC Sooner Footbal team!

I have been an Oklahoma Sooner Football fan all of my life, but never knew most of the stories told in this well-written history of the undefeated 1956 National Champion Sooner Football team. The bulk of this team were part of the 47 victories in a row that still stands as the NCAA record for most consecutive wins without a tie or loss. They shut out 6 opponents that season including Texas (45-0) and Notre Dame (40-0) and held Nebraska to only 6 points (OU scored 54 pts in that one). OU's 40-0 score that year stands as the worst defeat for ND ever at home and they had Paul Hornung at QB who somehow won the Heisman Trophy that year. This book is a lot of fun to read and has some nice stories and pictures of former players and coaches that made that season so special including head coach Bud Wilkinson, All-American Jerry Tubbs and the story of OU's first black football player, Academic All-American, Dr. Prentice Gautt.

The Legend of Bud

I saw thsi in the Norman Union bookstore two summers ago. I had to have it, because i have to have everything on the Sooners. I loved it and so will you. It gets into details and has a great Foreword by Barry Switzer. I also picked up a copy of UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports (Sports By the Numbers) when i was there and it was awesome. 1,000 facts about OU football. Both are great books.

A retro-look at an incomparable football team and coach.

The author's style is superior to that of most writers who are not professional writers but merely take up writing about their favorite team out of loyalty to a program. The tone is one of nostalgia and is enhanced by excerpts from historical events in and out of sports from the year in question, 1956. It is a look at the character of one of the all-time great football coaches and what made him exceptional and how he motivated and trained players--often to play beyond their talent but always to win. The 1956 players harken back to an era when college players were better behaved both on and off the field. This view alone makes the work worth reading.

An interesting history of the Oklahoma Sooners' 1956 national champion football team

This book chronicles the history of the 1956 Oklahoma Sooners football team and their quest for a national title. The writing style is quite engaging, particularly considering the author is a professor of psychology. This book is worth seeking out if you're a football fan, or if you're looking for a gift for a fan of college sports in general.