Charles W. Wantland Explained

Charles Wantland
Birth Date:22 February 1888
Birth Place:Purcell, Oklahoma, U.S.
Death Place:Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Player Sport1:Football
Player Years2:1907–1908
Player Team2:Oklahoma
Player Sport3:Basketball
Player Years4:1907–1910
Player Team4:Oklahoma
Player Positions:Halfback
Coach Sport1:Football
Coach Years2:1910
Coach Team2:Lindsay HS (OK)
Coach Years3:1911
Coach Team3:Oklahoma (assistant)
Coach Years4:1912–1919
Coach Team4:Central State Normal/Teachers
Coach Years5:1921–1930
Coach Team5:Central State Teachers
Coach Sport6:Basketball
Coach Years7:1921–1928
Coach Team7:Central State Teachers
Coach Sport8:Track
Coach Years9:1912
Coach Team9:Oklahoma
Admin Years1:1912–1931
Admin Team1:Central State Normal/Teachers
Overall Record:102–42–16 (college football)
36–57(college basketball)
Championships:Football
6 OIC (1914–1915, 1921, 1923–1924, 1929)

Charles William Wantland (February 22, 1888 – March 31, 1964)[1] was an American athlete and coach. Wantland served as a sports coach and athletic director, and dean at Central State Teachers College in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Early life and education

Wantland grew up in Purcell, Oklahoma. He attended Purcell High School and graduated in 1906.[2] He attended the University of Oklahoma where Wantland participated on the football, baseball, track, and basketball teams.[3] [4] In football, he played right halfback, was the kick returner and placekicker. He is perhaps best known for the 1908 game against Texas in which he returned a kick for 90 yards and a touchdown, part of a four touchdown performance to defeat the Longhorns.[5] During the 1909–10 season he was the captain of the Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team.[6]

Coaching career

Early positions

After graduation from Oklahoma in 1910 with a B.A in economics, Wantland coached at Lindsay High School in 1910.[7] [8] After that year coach Bennie Owen tasked Wantland to be an assistant for the football team, and to coach the track squad.[9] During this time Wantland was also a baseball umpire.[10] [11]

Central State

In 1912 Wantland was hired to lead the athletic program at Central State Normal School (later renamed Central State Teachers College, now the University of Central Oklahoma.) While at CSN he coached the football and basketball teams, and was also the dean of men at the college. It was during this time that he led Central into what would be known as the Golden Age of Central Football. He was instrumental in founding the first Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference in which all normal schools in the state participated. He is known for defeating Oklahoma Methodist, (now Oklahoma City University) by a score of 183–0. During the 1924 season, Wantland had his greatest success, after a season opening loss to Southwestern (KS), he led the Bronchos to their only win over his alma mater the Oklahoma Sooners, shortly thereafter the Bronchos defeated eventual Southwest Conference champion Baylor in Dallas, on the way to a 9–1 record and the OIC crown.[8]

Fired by Governor Murray

In 1930 former representative Alfalfa Bill Murray was campaigning to be governor. During this time he urged public officials to actively support his candidacy. However, college president John Gorden Mitchell and Wantland refused to do so. Wantland chose to support Murray's rival, Frank Buttram. Mitchell claimed Murray "was his third choice for governor". Murray responded that Mitchell was his second choice for the presidency of Central State.[12] [13] When Murray was successful in his gubernatorial bid he swiftly fired both President Mitchell and Wantland. Wantland never returned to the coaching ranks.[14]

Personal life

In 1922 Mrs. Wantland chose the Broncho as the mascot for CSTC.[15] [16] After being fired by Governor Murray, Wantland entered the oil supply business until his retirement in 1953. He died in 1964. Wantland was the namesake for two buildings on Central Oklahoma's campus, the former field house and current physical education building Wantland Hall, and the now Chad Richison Stadium the home for Broncho football was named Wantland Stadium in his honor from 1965–2021.[17] In 1998 Wantland was named by the Purcell Register to the Purcell High School all-century team, the earliest player to make the list.[8] [18]

Head coaching record

College football

[19]

College basketball

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Charles W. Wantland . ancientfaces.com . May 21, 2015.
  2. Web site: McClain County, Oklahoma Schools Purcell High School Graduates 1901-1915 . Ancestry.com . May 21, 2015.
  3. Web site: All-Time LetterWinners . Soonersports.com . May 21, 2015.
  4. Web site: 2008 Track & Field Media Guide. University of Oklahoma Athletics. 2008. May 21, 2015.
  5. Web site: Maisel . Ivan . The top 100 in 100 years of Texas-OU . espn.com . 2005 . May 21, 2015.
  6. Web site: Basketball at Oklahoma University for Press and Radio. University of Oklahoma. 1947. May 21, 2015.
  7. Web site: Catalog .... google.com. 1912.
  8. News: Oklahoman Digital Archives. Sports Scene Has Lost Great Friend. The Oklahoman. April 2, 1964. April 7, 2015. ?. registration .
  9. Book: The Oklahoma Football Encyclopedia. 9781613216200. Dozier. Ray. October 2013. Sports .
  10. Web site: Sports Review . https://web.archive.org/web/20110910114058/http://digital.libraries.ou.edu/sooner/articles/p14-15_1938v11n10_OCR.pdf . 2011-09-10.
  11. Web site: RootsWeb: WANTLAND-L [Wantland] Charles W WANTLAND obit 1964 OK]. ancestry.com.
  12. Book: Loughlin . Patricia . Burke . Bob . Building Traditions, Educating Generations:A History of the University of Central Oklahoma. Oklahoma Heritage Association . 2007 . 57. 978-1-885596-60-4.
  13. Hoig . Stanley . 1971 . A History of the Development of Institutions of Higher Education in Oklahoma . Ph.D. . Chapter VI. State-Supported Teachers Colleges in Oklahoma,1908–1941 . University Microfilms University of Michigan . https://shareok.org/handle/11244/3053. 133–4 . June 4, 2015.
  14. Book: Fisk, David Randall. Legendary Locals of Edmond. 22. Arcadia Publishing. 2014. 9781467101233. May 30, 2015.
  15. Web site: UCO: Division of Student Affairs at the University of Central Oklahoma . 2015-05-22 . 2015-05-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150522065857/http://www.uco.edu/student-affairs/traditions/ . dead .
  16. Web site: Mascot name carries history. NewsOK.com.
  17. Web site: UCO to rename football facility as Chad Richison Stadium, unveils extensive stadium improvements. KOCO. October 20, 2021. October 21, 2021.
  18. Web site: Purcell High School Football All-Century Team (1900-1999). The Purcell Register.
  19. Web site: 2013 UCO Media Guide. Mike Kirk. 2013. May 21, 2015.
  20. Web site: Seminole Nation, OK: Anglican Bishop Becomes First Chief Justice of the Seminole Nation Supreme Court. Virtue Online.org. May 21, 2015.