Brianna Howard shattered a college football barrier, becoming the first Native American woman to drive the Oklahoma Sooner Schooner—reshaping one of NCAA’s most beloved yet debated traditions in a single historic moment.
Brianna Howard made history on November 22, 2025, commanding the Sooner Schooner—the covered wagon that symbolizes the University of Oklahoma—onto Owen Field. As the first Native American woman to ever drive this storied mascot, Howard didn’t just mark a personal achievement; she upended the broader narrative surrounding one of college football’s oldest and most recognizable traditions [AP News].
The Sooner Schooner: A Symbol Intertwined with Oklahoma’s Identity
First introduced in 1964, the Sooner Schooner has become synonymous with Oklahoma football. Pulled by the matching white ponies, “Boomer” and “Sooner,” the wagon thunders across the field before kickoffs and after every home team score. Members of the RUF/NEKS (the university’s longstanding male spirit group) and their all-female counterparts, Lil’ Sis, are responsible for caring for and driving the wagon through the pandemonium of college football Saturdays.
For six decades, the wagon has united fans, symbolized pride, and encapsulated the wild spirit of Oklahoma. Yet, its imagery—a downsized Conestoga wagon—directly references settlers crossing into what was historically Native land. For many, this has complicated the tradition’s legacy. The sight of the wagon barreling across the field can evoke both nostalgia and controversy, underscoring the tension between college pageantry and complex regional history.
Breaking Barriers: Brianna Howard’s Unprecedented Drive
Howard, a junior at OU and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation, made her ground-breaking debut driving the Schooner at the season opener against Illinois State. The moment was high-pressure and fleeting: “I only had a minute to get on the Schooner, get the reins and go. I didn’t have enough time to get too nervous. When I went out there, it was amazing. I could not even hear the audience I was so zoned into driving.”
The magnitude of that run wasn’t lost on the Sooner faithful or the broader Native community. By taking the reins, Howard turned a symbol sometimes viewed as exclusionary into a moment of reclamation and pride. She articulated this duality: “I know that for me, it’s a representation of taking back something that was used to oppress my people and my culture, and now that I’m in charge, it’s giving us the power. Not everyone’s going to see it that way, and that’s OK.”
Redefining a Tradition That Runs Deep
The Sooner Schooner is celebrated for its unfiltered spectacle—its thunder across the end zone after touchdowns is a scene unique to Norman. Jack Roehm, president of the RUF/NEKS, calls the tradition “one of college football’s most unusual. There’s nothing like it in college football.” But Howard’s run serves as a reminder that the meaning of tradition isn’t static. Saturday’s atmosphere against Missouri—the Sooners beating Missouri 17-6 [AP News game report]—took on added resonance, uniting generations of fans under a new, more inclusive narrative.
- Schooner’s debut: 1964, pulled by Boomer and Sooner
- Tradition stewards: RUF/NEKS & Lil’ Sis rotate driving duties
- Historic moment: Brianna Howard, Choctaw Nation, first Native American woman driver
Why This Milestone Matters: Impact Far Beyond One Game
Howard’s milestone carries deep significance for Native fans who have historically felt marginalized by collegiate representations. For the first time, a beloved tradition visibly embraced Native participation, not merely as symbolic inclusion but as true leadership. It’s a statement about the evolving face of college sports—and about the power fans and institutions have to redefine their rituals for a new generation.
The national conversation around mascots and traditions has often focused on what should change. OU’s move demonstrates that traditions can expand without erasing their essence. Howard’s run invites both alumni and student fans to re-examine what pride and participation can—and should—look like on fall Saturdays.
The Oklahoma Fan Community Reacts
Online discussion boards and social channels buzzed with support and admiration for Howard. For some, her ride encapsulates the spirit of the Sooner Nation: pride rooted in history, yet open to renewal. For others, it offers a hopeful blueprint for collegiate sports—one where cherished icons can be sources of unity rather than division.
Even as some debate the wagon’s place in university lore, Howard’s turn at the helm signals a willingness to face complex histories head-on and chart a new, more inclusive future for organizations steeped in tradition.
What’s Next for the Sooner Schooner—and College Traditions Everywhere?
Brianna Howard’s achievement is proof that college sports symbols can evolve without losing their awe. As OU fans and the wider college football world process this milestone, it’s clear that tradition and progress are not mutually exclusive—and that rewriting who gets to participate in the rituals we love is itself a form of celebration.
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