Brianna Howard Makes History as OU’s First Native American Woman to Drive Sooner Schooner
By Troy Littledeer | @kituwahpunk
NORMAN, Okla. — Long before kickoff, the University of Oklahoma’s RUF/NEK and Lil’ Sis teams gather at “the farm,” a training area just outside Norman, to bathe the ponies and polish the Sooner Schooner in preparation for the roar of 80,000 fans.
For Brianna Howard, a 21-year-old junior from Tuttle, Oklahoma, these quiet moments are a grounding ritual. In the Schooner’s 100-year history, she is the first Native American woman to drive the wagon and only the seventh female driver.
Carrying Tradition and Inspiration
Howard’s journey reflects both tradition and progress. Her role as the Schooner driver is not just about carrying a historic symbol onto the field—it is a visible representation of Indigenous presence and inspiration at one of college football’s most storied programs.
She credits her family for her love of OU games. “Growing up, attending OU games with my family made me fall in love with the tradition, the energy, and the community,” Howard said. That enthusiasm carried her through cheer, dance, basketball and school spirit activities until friends and family encouraged her to try out for the RUF/NEK and Lil’ Sis programs.
Howard had limited experience with horses. “I had maybe two lessons when I was 10, and that was the extent of any knowledge I had about horses, except maybe from movies,” she said. “When I applied, I had no prior knowledge about anything. It was all learning from the start. I learned how to take care of the ponies, what they need, and how to take care of everything else around here.”
More than 140 students applied, 12 were interviewed, and five were ultimately selected. Howard said the weight of being the first Native American woman in the role was intense. “People are going to be looking at me and seeing me differently,” she said. “I was really nervous that I would mess up, and it would be horrible for Native Americans. I don’t want to be known as the Native driver who messed up.”
On game day, Howard sits atop the box as Boomer and Sooner prepare to move. She described the mental preparation as mapping out every turn and angle while feeling nerves in her stomach. “By the time I actually start driving, it’s silence. I know there are people watching me, but that’s the last thing on my mind. I’m just thinking about looking at the field and making my drive,” she said.
Despite her high-profile role, Howard is still a typical college student. She recently spent evenings binge-watching Smallville, enjoying downtime away from the stadium. “It’s just a way to relax and feel like a normal person,” she said.
Balancing her 3.77 GPA in OU’s education program with her spirit duties has taught her a deeper lesson about presence. “Sometimes, you don’t have to constantly think about what this means or what you should do,” she said. “You just gotta enjoy what you’re doing and live in the moment. Not every experience is a learning moment.”
“Even if it’s just one person who thinks, ‘She can do it, then I can do this,’ that’s something I really care about as well,” she said. “We can do whatever we want.”
By the time the stadium lights blaze, and the first touchdown sends Boomer and Sooner across the field, Brianna Howard embodies both a living tradition and a vision for the future — carrying her tribe, her family, and the next generation of dreamers along with her.
