New OU Campus Sculpture is a Longhorn Wearing Boots, And It’s Hideous

Have you ever wondered what the result would be if, say, a college kid with horrific taste was charged with erecting a sculpture on a college campus?

Behold, the Covered Wagon — a new sculpture placed on OU’s campus that depicts, well, a covered wagon being pulled by a bull — oh wait, or is that a longhorn? — wearing boots.

You really could not make this up if you tried. It is spectacularly hideous and perplexing. Needless to say, even OU fans aren’t pleased with the new hardware.

umm no offense OU, but I’m not sure that sculpture fits the vibe of OU’s campus… https://t.co/zz4tR62vSD

— Amelia Brown (@ameliabrownm) October 18, 2018

Whi is the artist? I need an explanation pic.twitter.com/DkwP6UTTJL

— J (@TheReal_JDough) October 18, 2018

pic.twitter.com/yrOKPht3Ei

— SOONERbred (@tailwatergolf) October 19, 2018

Pretty wrong that OU fired Mike Stoops but whoever picked this sculpture is still walking around campus and not behind bars where they belong pic.twitter.com/vxQBZQLCwz

— Tumbleweeds All the Way Down to Hell (@TumbleweedsSpy) October 19, 2018

Making matters even more worse (better?) is that this piece of art is easily the second most hilarious on the OU campus, behind, well, this second thing.

i had to stop and see this for myself.

but still not the worst statue on Oklahoma’s campus. pic.twitter.com/PzSQzWUFtC

— Kegan Reneau (@KeganReneau) October 18, 2018

Adding to the comedy of it, the OU Daily did a story on the new art and people instantly recognized the fact that the bull — again, as I suggested, longhorn — actually looks like a lonhorn. News flash: OU’s biggest rival is Texas! It’s like OSU putting a Sooner Schooner right in front of Edmon Low Library!

“I didn’t expect the connection with Texas, it wasn’t something I was conscious of,” said Tom Otterness, who created the sculpture. “But I’d like to remind people that the longhorns are all strapped up pulling the wagon, and the gal’s the one in control. So don’t worry about Texas.”

Others, like Molly Kruse, were less upset about the Texas connection and generally confused about its purpose.

“It’s a little odd, actually, it feels kind of like a kid thing,” Kruse said. “The cow is wearing boots? I like it but, I feel like it maybe doesn’t go with the aesthetic of the other statues here.”

No, no it doesn’t. But on the upshot: I’ve never been more entertained by a statue since Bob Stoops’ 10-foot bust was spotted in an oopsie more than two years before it was officially unveiled as a fixture on OU’s campus.