“We compete, not so much against an opponent, but against ourselves. The real test is this: Did I make my best effort on every play?” Think about that for a moment. “We compete, not so much against an opponent, but against ourselves. The real test is this: Did I make my best effort on every play?” These profound words were spoken by one of college’s greatest coaches of all time, Bud Wilkinson.
Charles Burnham Wilkinson or later known as “Bud” Wilkinson didn’t start his relentless pursuit towards perfection when he became head coach for the University of Oklahoma in 1947. No, it started when he attended the Shattuck Military Academy in Minnesota where he was exceptional not only in one sport but five. From the Military Academy he advanced to the University of Minnesota where he played quarterback and guard. For those of you who may be confused by this, back then when you played football you did not play exclusively defense or offense, you played both. While playing for the Golden Gophers (University of Minnesota), he led them to three national championships in a row. You would think that would be the Holy Grail for a college athlete and the pinnacle of his career at the time, but not “Bud”. His graduating year he beat the defending NFL champions, the Green Bay Packers while playing for the College All-Stars.
Bud Wilkinson did a short stint working for his father’s mortgage company but ultimately returned to what he loved and was great at, football. He worked as an assistant coach for Syracuse and the University of Minnesota until he joined the Navy in 1943. After World War II and serving on the USS Enterprise, Jim Tate (OU football coach at the time) convinced Bud to become part of Oklahoma University’s coaching staff. In just one year Bud Wilkinson became the Oklahoma Sooners head coach at the age of 31. Coach Wilkinson was a master of organization. His practice routines were so meticulous that he had timed down to the minute. Not only did...
