Question: OT: Why is the University of Oklahoma "OU" and not "UO"?

[colbysullivan]

anyone?

 

[Bamaboda1]

Happy New Year...it'll be better when we play again.

 

[TideEngineer08]

One of those old Big 8 things.

Kansas is KU
Colorado is CU
I'm not sure but I think Nebraska is NU
Missouri is MU or Mizzou

Even though each one is The University of...

 

[cuda.1973]

Because it is short for Zero U.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

One of those old Big 8 things.

Kansas is KU
Colorado is CU
I'm not sure but I think Nebraska is NU
Missouri is MU or Mizzou

Even though each one is The University of...

Not just B12. The Kentucky fans refer to their school as "KU."

 

[TiderMan]

Not just B12. The Kentucky fans refer to their school as "KU."

You may be right but I have never heard anybody ever call Kentucky, KU. I have always heard UK from their fans and others.

 

[cuda.1973]

I asked some Oklahoma fans this once back when Bama played them. They look totally confused. I don't think they had ever thought about it before. Suffice it to say, I didn't get much of an answer.

What? You asked an Okie an question and expected an answer? Gee, might as well go to Starkville.

 

[silentsam74]

I hadn't ever heard that about Kentucky either, though I don't personally know any of their fans. It isn't just a Big 12 thing though its more prevalent there. I believe that Indiana goes by IU.

OT but has anyone ever typed a search term in google and noticed the suggested searches it brings up bases on the frequency of the searches I think? I typed in 'why is the university' and Alabama came up three times in the nine suggested searches.

why is the university of alabama called the crimson tide
why is the university of alabama's mascot an elephant
why is the university of alabama called the capstone
The others:
why is the university of mississippi called ole miss
why is the university of miami called the u
why is the university of missouri called mizzou
why is the university of vermont called uvm
why is the university of oklahoma called ou
why is the university of tulsa called the golden hurricane

The best one though was when I had typed 'why is the'
why is there a dead pakistani on my couch :rofl:

 

[TideEngineer08]

Not just B12. The Kentucky fans refer to their school as "KU."

I did not know that. You learn something new everyday.

 

[deTejas]

as someone said above, it is an old big 8 thing. OU, CU, MU, NU, KU etc. In fact the only big 8 schools not like that are the "state name schools" ie OSU, KSU and ISU.

no idea why.

 

[deTejas]

You may be right but I have never heard anybody ever call Kentucky, KU. I have always heard UK from their fans and others.

you sure? i have never heard that.

KU was only Kansas i though.

 

[Cheaha1]

Its not the University of Oklahoma. Its Oklahoma University.

 

[CrimsonSEC]

Its not the University of Oklahoma. Its Oklahoma University.

Somebody needs to tell them that.
The University of Oklahoma

 

[Relayer]

Kentucky is KU? I don't think that's correct.

University of Kentucky Official Athletic Site - ukathletics.com

University of Kentucky :: athletics

I've wondered about OU (and the others) also.

 

[OreBama]

I always think of Kentucky as UK. However, when I'm reading something and UK comes up I think of the United Kingdom. So maybe, KU would be better. Also never noticed the trend of former Big 8 schools being X university. For some reason, the Oregon Ducks are U of O. It sounds pretentious to me.

 

[AlabamaSooner]

What? You asked an Okie an question and expected an answer? Gee, might as well go to Starkville.

We like Oklahoma better than you.

It's all good. He's a newbie and doesn't know any better. :wink:

Most of the state schools in that region years ago often referred themselves as Oklahoma U, Nebraska U, Kansas U, etc. Being the state schools, it was just a way to describe themselves as the flagship university of their state. At least that's how I've always interpreted it. :tongue:

 

[Bamaman-n-KS]

never heard Kentucky called KU always UK...

 

[TIDE-HSV]

I can only speak for the lawyers who graduate from Kentucky. When I've been in KY and they're talking about the basketball prospects (do they ever discuss anything else?), they say KU. Kansas, I already knew about. There are many Kansans in HSV, including our next-door neighbors and close friends of 25 years. They are both Kansas grads and refer to it as KU. The KY thing was a surprise to me. As I said, maybe it's not universal...

 

[Bama-94-00]

Somebody asked O U want to be different, do U?

 

[Roll Tide Roll 17]

My wife is a Kansas grad. I just asked her about this she looked at me like I was stupid. Then she asked if I was ready for bed.