Play Like a Champion Today

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Play Like a Champion Today is a saying written on a sign created by Coach Bud Wilkinson of the University of Oklahoma Sooners in the 1940s to inspire the players as they entered Owen Field. It is located overhead in the tunnel leading out to the field in the south end zone at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program later began using the saying as well.^[1]

University of Oklahoma

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The University of Oklahoma has used a sign with the phrase since the late 1940s, under coach Bud Wilkinson.^[1] Traditional during home games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Oklahoma players and coaches touch the "Play Like a Champion Today" sign posted above the locker room doors as they head into the tunnel that leads to the field before every home game.^[1] For away games a travel version is posted by equipment staff for the players to touch as they depart the locker room for the field.

As the team enters the field, the Sooners run under a crimson banner that displays 'Play Like a Champion' that is flanked by flags representing each of Oklahoma's seven national championships.

University of Notre Dame

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The term has been used by Notre Dame since at least 1986 when Lou Holtz came across a photo in a Notre Dame book with the sign “Play Like A Champion Today.” After asking around and coming up with no one remembering the sign and what had happened to it, he had a new sign painted and placed in a stairwell between the home team locker room and the tunnel to the field of Notre Dame Stadium.^[1] This original sign was painted by Laurie Wenger in the fall of 1986.^[2]

It is a tradition by players to touch it on their way out of the locker room. Above the sign is a listing of Notre Dame's eleven national championships.

In 1991, the University granted Wenger exclusive marketing rights to the phrase. In 2004, with the support of the University the sign became the registered trademark of Play Like a Champion Today, Inc. Since that time, the University and PLACT, Inc. jointly license companies to produce co-branded products.

References

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^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Tramel, Berry (October 22, 2012). "Oklahoma Football: Why the Sooners' 'Play Like a Champion' motto may be the original". The Oklahoman. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
^ Gray, Amanda (January 2, 2013). "Local Sign-painter Owns 'Play Like a Champion Today' Copyright". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved January 4, 2013.

External links

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v t e Oklahoma Sooners football
Venues	Boyd Field (1905–1923) Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (1923–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Missouri Nebraska Oklahoma State: Bedlam Series Texas: Red River Rivalry
Culture & lore	T formation Wishbone formation 1971 Nebraska game 2008 Big 12 South 3-way tie controversy 2016 Texas Tech game Oklahoma drill Sooner Schooner RUF/NEKS Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass Boomer and Sooner "Boomer Sooner" Marching band The Kick Play Like a Champion Today
People	Head coaches Starting quarterbacks All-Americans NFL draftees Statistical leaders
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National championship seasons in bold

v t e Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Venues	Brownson Hall field (1892?–1899) Cartier Field (1899–1928) Soldier Field (1929) Notre Dame Stadium (1930–present)
Bowls and rivalries	Bowl games Emerald Isle Classic Army Boston College Michigan Michigan State Navy Northwestern Pittsburgh Purdue Stanford USC
Culture and lore	History Band of the Fighting Irish Irish Guard Notre Dame Box Notre Dame Leprechaun "Notre Dame, Our Mother" "Notre Dame Victory March" Play Like a Champion Today Subway Alumni T formation Tall Grass Game 1946 "Game of the Century" 1966 "Game of the Century" Catholics vs. Convicts 30 for 30 film 1993 "Game of the Century" Bush Push Navy ends the drought Death of Lizzy Seeberg 2020 ACC Championship Game 2024 game vs. Northern Illinois The Spirit of Notre Dame Knute Rockne, All American Notre Dame Football on NBC Rudy
People	Head coaches Starting quarterbacks Four Horsemen NFL draftees Statistical leaders Team captains
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National championship seasons in bold