DALLAS — Call it tradition, swagger or plain old confidence. The University of Oklahoma has it. Texas wants to reclaim it and Oklahoma State is building it.

The Sooners have the championship tradition. Seven consensus national titles under three coaches — Bud Wilkinson in the 1950s, Barry Switzer in the 1970s and 1980s and Bob Stoops in 2000.

Oklahoma football player are surrounded by championship tradition every day. Most players work hard to live up to the tradition, Stoops said. Although at times, a recruiting class can start thinking a national title is its birthright — something they are entitled to receive without having to work for it.

When Stoops’ Sooners won the national title in 2000, the players wanted to add a championship to Oklahoma’s lore.

“We had something to prove, and we were bound and determined to do, to live up to what we’re supposed to do at Oklahoma,” Stoops said.

This edition of the Sooners is talented enough to win a national championship, Stoops said. It’s Stoops and the assistant coaches jobs to convince OU’s players that this is the year.

“The work is what gets it done. You have to have the attitude of something to prove, to get it done, to finish it off,” Stoops said.

The Texas Longhorns have a national championship history, too. Consensus titles in 1963, 1969 and 1970 under Darrell Royal and a BCS title in 2005 with Mack Brown as the skipper.

The Longhorns stumbled badly this past season. After compiling a 25-2 record in the two previous seasons, Texas bumbled its way to a 5-7 record. Bumbled is an apt word because turnovers — 30 of them — cost the Longhorns five or six victories, Brown said.

This year, Brown isn’t talking about national championships or the Longhorn championship legacy. He’s is talking swagger.

“The number one thing we want is leadership. We want somebody that can get that swagger back, and make sure the rest of the kids know that this person’s going to lead them to victory,” Brown said.

The Longhorns have a lot of decisions to make. Texas has new coordinators and assistant coaches. The Longhorns have new offenses and defenses to teach to the players.

“We’ve got a lot of decisions to make,” Brown said “I think with the changes and the new and the uncertainty, the guys have to compete harder to get a job. So, they’re on edge a little bit,” Brown said.

Oklahoma State has a rich bowl history. They’ve appeared in 21 bowl games and won 15. The Cowboys haven’t won a national championship in football, and really haven’t even knocked on the championship door.

The talent is here this year to utter national title and Oklahoma State in the same breath.

“The expectations are high,” coach Mike Gundy said. “That’s the way we want it to be. ... If we play well and take care of the football, I believe we can win every game.”

The Cowboy players think they can compete for a national title.

“Absolutely, that’s our goal. ... We truly feel we have the talent to get it done. We have some tough obstacles in our way as far as the schedule goes, but the pieces of the puzzle are there. We just have to go out execute and make plays,” OSU quarterback Brandon Weeden said.

A championship tradition starts with that first national title. Oklahoma State’s coaches and players believe they can start a tradition this year.

Chris Day is sports editor for the Stillwater NewsPress.