It’s a fierce rivalry between the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. It’s defined by a heated rivalry between the two teams and their respective fan bases.
We all know them as the Sooners and Cowboys, but there’s another name for this rivalry: Bedlam. But why is it called Bedlam? If you’ve ever wondered why OU-OSU is called Bedlam, let’s explore the history and origin of this storied battle.
Why is OU OSU Called Bedlam?
Bedlam is a term frequently used to describe sporting events between the two in-state rivals, the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU).So why is OU OSU called Bedlam? The term “Bedlam” actually dates back to an old English word for “uproar” or “chaos”, and is an apt description for the wild atmosphere of the Red River rivalry between the two teams.
History of the Rivalry
The rivalry between the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys dates back to 1904, when then high school football teams from Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) and the University of Oklahoma first took the field together.The first Bedlam game was played in 1915, and has been played every year since then, except for 1943 and 1944 due to World War II.
The Bedlam Series
The rivalry between OU and OSU has become so intense that it has come to be known as the “Bedlam Series”. This rivalry is one of the oldest and most intense in college football, and has been a source of bragging rights for in-state teams since its inception.The Oklahoma Sooners hold the all-time lead in the series 1961-2014, with a total of 123 wins, 83 losses, and 8 ties. The newest addition to the series was the addition in 1999 of the annual Bedlam Bowl, a game between the two teams played in Oklahoma City.
The Tradition of the School Colors
The Bedlam rivalry is also famous for its display of school colors on either side. Oklahoma State fans wear orange and black, while Oklahoma Sooners fans don the color crimson.This tradition dates back to the early 20th century, when crimson and cream were adopted as the official colors of the University of Oklahoma in 1905, and orange and white were adopted by Oklahoma State in 19
Conclusion
In conclusion, the term “Bedlam” is an apt description for the intense rivalry between the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys, which dates back to 190 This rivalry is one of the oldest and most intense in college football, and is marked by the annual Bedlam Bowl, a game between the two teams played in Oklahoma City.The school colors of orange and black for OSU, and crimson for OU, only add to the pageantry and tradition of the rivalry. Citations: https://oklahomarivals. com/about/https://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Oklahoma–Oklahoma_State_football_rivalryhttps://www. ou. edu/traditions/campus-traditions/ou-colors-and-symbols