Pioneer Milestone: Native Woman at the Helm of Sooner Schooner

In an historic first, the University of Oklahoma’s well-loved Sooner Schooner—an emblematic covered wagon—has been commandeered by the first Native American woman. This marks a significant moment in the half-century history of this university tradition.

Brianna Howard, who is a junior at the university and belongs to a Native American nation, took control of the wagon for the first time during the football season kick-off against Illinois State.

A Moment in Time

“I barely had a moment to climb aboard, grab the reins, and spur into action,” she shared during a pregame chat before the Missouri match in Norman. Such was her concentration; the roar of the crowd faded into the background.

Responsible for the upkeep of the Schooner and its equine pair, ‘Boomer’ and ‘Sooner’, are the RUF/NEKS and Lil’ Sis spirit groups. They rotate the role of driver during games.

Symbolic Representation

The wagon mascot, harking back to the late 19th-century pioneer wagons, conveys varied symbolism. While some criticize it as a symbol of historic oppression, Howard views her role as transformative, a reclamation of cultural mastery.

“For me, driving symbolizes reclaiming and redefining what once symbolized our undoing. It’s empowering,” she remarked. However, she acknowledged this view might not be universally shared.

An Unparalleled Tradition

Jack Roehm, another senior deeply invested in the tradition, described the experience: “Witnessing the ponies charge across the field after every score is unparalleled in college sports.”

Such longstanding customs threaded with new meanings illustrate the dynamic nature of collegiate traditions.