Bennie Owen

Bio

Benjamin G. "Bennie" Owen was Fielding Yost's quarterback for the undefeated Kansas team of 1899. The next year he was head coach at Washburn College. Then came years as head coach at Bethany College in Kansas and Oklahoma. In 1907, he lost an arm in a hunting accident. He stayed on the job and carved a career coaching record of 155-60-19 over 27 seasons. He had high scoring teams and was an early exponent of the forward pass. He was known for sportsmanship; his teams were always lectured on fair play. His 1911 team went 8-0 and outscored the enemy 282-15. In 1914 Oklahoma went 9-1-1 and led the nation in scoring with 435 points. Forest Geyer threw 25 touchdown passes that year. The 1915 team went 10-0 and scored 370 points. In 1918, the record was 6-0 and the scoring edge 278-7. Oklahoma won championships in the Southwest Conference in 1915 and 1918 and the Missouri Valley Conference in 1920. Owen served as director of athletics 1927-34. Owen Field, where Oklahoma plays its home games, is named for him. He was born July 24, 1875 in Chicago; he died February 26, 1970, in Houston at age 94. He was a charter member of the College Football Hall of Fame, elected in 1951.