No OU quarterback ever showed the patience Claude Arnold showed. No OU quarterback was ever so rewarded with such patience.
Arnold, who quarterbacked the 1950 Sooners to their first national championship, died Friday in Oklahoma City at age 92. He spent two years as the backup QB to Jack Mitchell and Darrell Royal on Bud Wilkinson's early teams but finally got the starting nod in 1950, with a star-studded backfield that included All-American fullback Leon Heath and halfback Billy Vessels, a future Heisman Trophy winner.
Arnold was an excellent passer, differing from Wilkinson's split-T run-first quarterbacks. He threw four touchdowns against Oklahoma A&M in 1950 and had monster numbers for the day — 50 percent completion percentage, 1,048 passing yards and 13 touchdowns with only one interception.