Oklahoma State has decided that it was the 1945 national champion. It even has the photo to prove it.
🏆😍🏆😍 #okstate @CowboyFB @WeAreAFCA pic.twitter.com/GZNZcwfoBw
— Oklahoma State Athletics (@OSUAthletics) August 16, 2017
While it is strange to name yourself a national champion more than seven decades after the fact, it is especially strange considering the banner comes significantly after Oklahoma State announced it is now the 1945 national champion. If you remember, Oklahoma State accepted the AFCA’s naming of the Pokes as the 1945 champions last year.
“After gathering all the pertinent information and doing our due diligence, it is the pleasure of our Blue Ribbon Commission of coaches to officially recognize Oklahoma State’s 1945 championship season with the AFCA Coaches’ Trophy,” AFCA executive director Todd Berry said at the time.
Known as Oklahoma A&M at the time, that ’45 Cowboys team was extremely good. They finished 9-0 on the year, opening with a 19-14 win at Arkansas, trucking Utah 46-6 in Salt Lake City, spanking Oklahoma 47-0 -- the largest of OSU’s 18 wins over OU -- and concluding with a 33-13 win over St. Mary’s in the Sugar Bowl.
The problem, though, is that the 1945 Army team hasn’t gotten any worse in the 72 years since. Led by College Football Hall of Famers Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, the Black Knights allowed a sum of 35 points in their run to a 9-0 mark -- and never more than seven points in any one game -- with wins over four top-20 teams, including legacy programs in Eastern markets such as No. 9 Michigan, No. 6 Penn and No. 2 Notre Dame.
Oklahoma State doesn’t care, though. The signage is up, and you’ll have to bring your bayonets to take it down.