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American college football season
The 1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season . Oklahoma participated as members of the Big Eight Conference and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923.[1] The team posted a 10–0–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference outright title under first-year head coach Barry Switzer .[2] [3] This would be the first of eight consecutive Big Eight Conference championships for the Sooners with Switzer as head coach.[2]
The team was led by three All-Americans: Rod Shoate (Oklahoma's second three-time All-American)[4] the oldest of the Selmon brothers, Lucious ,[5] and Eddie Foster .[5] The Selmon brothers Lucious, Lee Roy and Dewey started on the defensive line .[6] The team went undefeated on a schedule that included seven ranked opponents (In order, #1 USC , #17 Miami , #13 Texas , #13 Colorado , #10 Missouri , #18 Kansas , and #10 Nebraska ). Five of these opponents finished the season ranked. The team tied with USC in the second game of the season before winning nine consecutive contests. It began the season ranked number 11 and steadily climbed in the polls as the season progressed.[3]
Joe Washington led the team in rushing with 1173 yards, Steve Davis led the team in passing yard for with 934 yards, Tinker Owens led the team in receiving with 472 yards, Davis led the team in scoring with 108 points, Shoate led the team in tackles with 126, and Randy Hughes led the team in interceptions with 5.[7]
Prior to the season in August, the Sooners were put on probation by the NCAA , which included a two-year ban on bowl appearances.[8]
Schedule
Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 15 at Baylor * No. 11 W 42–1441,573[9]
September 29 at No. 1 USC * No. 8 ABC T 7–783,986[9]
October 6 No. 17 Miami * No. 6 W 24–2062,040[9]
October 13 vs. No. 13 Texas * No. 6 ABC W 52–1372,032[9]
October 20 No. 16 Colorado No. 3 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK W 34–762,580[9]
October 27 at Kansas State No. 3 W 56–1429,523[9]
November 3 Iowa State No. 3 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK W 34–1761,876[9]
November 10 at No. 10 Missouri No. 3 W 31–365,515[9]
November 17 No. 18 Kansas No. 3 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK W 48–2060,961[9]
November 23 No. 10 Nebraska No. 3 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK (rivalry ) ABC W 27–062,257[9]
December 1 at Oklahoma State No. 2 W 45–1850,964[9]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[3]
Personnel
1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
OL
Jerry Arnold
RB
Bob Berg
WR
82
Billy Brooks
Jr
RB
Grant Burget
RB
Waymon Clark
OL
Kyle Davis
QB
Steve Davis
OT
77
Eddie Foster (C)
Sr
RB
Jerry Foster
RB
Randy Harris
QB
Scott Hill
WR
Wayne Hoffman
RB
David James
RB
Steve Jenkinson
RB
Jim Littrell
QB
Jeff Mabry
RB
Danny McClure
RB
Joe McReynolds
WR
11
Tinker Owens
So
OL
John Roush
RB
Clyde Russell
RB
Joe Washington
OL
Terry Webb
RB
Tim Welch
RB
Gary Young
Defense
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
Tony DiRienzo
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster
Game summaries
Baylor
#11 Oklahoma Sooners at Baylor Bears
1
2 3 4 Total
• #11 Oklahoma
21
14 0 7
42
Baylor
0
0 6 8
14
Scoring summary 1 Oklahoma Davis 3-yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 7-0
1 Oklahoma Foster recovered fumble in end zone (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 14-0
1 Oklahoma Washington 7-yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 21-0
2 Oklahoma Washington 13-yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 28-0
2 Oklahoma Clark 50-yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 35-0
3 Baylor Dancer 6-yard pass from Jeffries (run failed) Oklahoma 35-6
4 Oklahoma Davis 27-yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 42-6
4 Baylor Kent 28-yard pass from Armstrong (Kent run) Oklahoma 42-14
[10]
Miami (FL)
1
2 3 4 Total
Miami (FL)
7
13 0 0
20
• Oklahoma
7
0 14 3
24
Scoring summary 1 OKLA Davis 6 Yard Run (Fulcher Kick) Oklahoma 7–0
1 MIA Thompson 5 Yard Run (Huffman Kick) Tie 7-7
2 MIA Mitchell 79 Yard Pitchout Interception (Huffman kick) Miami (FL) 14-7
2 MIA Thompson 4 Yard Run (kick failed) Miami (FL) 20-7
3 OKLA Davis 13 Yard Run (Fulcher Kick) Miami (FL) 20-14
3 OKLA Owens 52 Yard Pass from Davis (Fulcher Kick) Oklahoma 21-20
4 OKLA Fulcher 30 Yard Field Goal Oklahoma 24-20
[11]
Texas
#6 Oklahoma Sooners (2–0) vs. #13 Texas Longhorns (2–1)
at Cotton Bowl , Dallas, Texas
Date : October 13Game time : 12:30 p.m.Game weather : 68 °F (20 °C)Game attendance : 72,204TV : ABCBox Score
The most points Oklahoma had scored against Texas to date.[12]
Scoring summary
Quarter
Time
Drive
Team
Scoring information
Score
Plays
Yards
TOP
OU
TEX
1
10:05
6
82
2:37
Oklahoma
Owens 40-yard touchdown reception from Washington , Fulcher kick good
7
0
1
3:25
14
79
6:40
Texas
36-yard field goal by Schott
7
3
2
11:14
12
90
5:17
Texas
44-yard field goal by Schott
7
6
2
10:46
2
68
0:28
Oklahoma
Owens 63-yard touchdown reception from Davis , Fulcher kick good
14
6
2
0:29
3
47
0:31
Oklahoma
Brooks 47-yard touchdown reception from Davis, Fulcher kick good
21
6
3
11:26
8
77
3:34
Oklahoma
Davis 15-yard touchdown run, Fulcher kick good
28
6
3
1:09
2
7
0:46
Oklahoma
Davis 2-yard touchdown run, Fulcher kick good
35
6
4
13:35
4
9
1:15
Oklahoma
25-yard field goal by Fulcher
38
6
4
11:59
1
11
0:07
Oklahoma
Hill 11-yard touchdown run, Fulcher kick good
45
6
4
7:05
7
80
2:55
Texas
Presley 31-yard touchdown run, Schott kick good
45
13
4
1:39
11
81
5:26
Oklahoma
McReynolds 11-yard touchdown run, Fulcher kick good
52
13
"TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football .
52
13
Colorado
1
2 3 4 Total
Colorado
7
0 0 0
7
• Oklahoma
7
7 7 13
34
Scoring summary 1 COL Matthews 3-yard run (Lima kick) Colorado 7–0
1 OKLA Hoffman 37-yard pass from Davis (Fulcher kick) Tie 7–7
2 OKLA Hughes 90-yard interception return (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 14–7
3 OKLA Davis 1-yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 21–7
4 OKLA Clark 9-yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 28–7
4 OKLA Russell 12-yard run (kick failed) Oklahoma 34–7
[13]
Kansas State
1
2 3 4 Total
• Oklahoma
21
14 14 7
56
Kansas St
0
7 7 0
14
Date: KSU StadiumLocation: October 27Game attendance: 34,500
Scoring summary 1 OKLA Welch 1 yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 7–0
1 OKLA Hoffman 13 yard pass from Davis (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 14–0
1 OKLA Davis 22 yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 21–0
2 KSU Holman 4 yard pass from Grogan (Brumley kick) Oklahoma 21–7
2 OKLA Davis 27 yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 28–7
2 OKLA Washington 1 yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 35–7
3 OKLA Washington 6 yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 42–7
3 OKLA Brooks 34 yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 49–7
3 KSU Grogan 2 yard run (Brumley kick) Oklahoma 49–14
4 OKLA Berg 9 yard run (Fulcher kick) Oklahoma 56–14
[14]
Iowa State
1
2 3 4 Total
Iowa St
14
3 0 0
17
• Oklahoma
7
13 7 7
34
Scoring summary Q1 OKLA Washington 30 yard run (Fulcher kick) OKLA 7–0
Q1 ISU Krefple 16 yard pass from Stanley (Goedjen kick) Tie 7–7
Q1 ISU Krefple 9 yard pass from Stanley (Goedjen kick) ISU 14–7
Q2 ISU Goedjen 22 yard field goal ISU 17–7
Q2 OKLA Jones 2 yard run (kick failed) ISU 17–13
Q2 OKLA Brooks 68 yard pass from Davis (Fulcher kick) OKLA 20–17
Q3 OKLA Hoffman 5 yard pass from Davis (Fulcher kick) OKLA 27–17
Q4 OKLA Washington 1 yard run (Fulcher kick) OKLA 34–17
Joe Washington 136 Rush Yds
[15]
Missouri
#3 Oklahoma Sooners at #10 Missouri Tigers
1
2 3 4 Total
• #3 Oklahoma
7
3 12 9
31
#10 Missouri
3
0 0 0
3
Scoring summary 1 MU Hill 42-yard field goal MU 3-0
1 OU Waymon Clark 14-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) OU 7-3
2 OU Rick Fulcher 39-yard field goal OU 10-3
3 OU Joe Washington 26-yard run (kick failed) OU 16-3
3 OU Billy Brooks 63-yard pass from Steve Davis (pass failed) OU 22-3
4 OU Rick Fulcher 30-yard field goal OU 25-3
4 5:51 OU Joe Washington 80-yard punt return (kick failed) OU 31-3
[16]
Nebraska
#10 Nebraska Cornhuskers at #3 Oklahoma Sooners
1
2 3 4 Total
#10 Nebraska
0
0 0 0
0
• #3 Oklahoma
14
0 6 7
27
Scoring summary 1 6:55 OU Waymon Clark 2-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) OU 7-0
1 0:01 OU Steve Davis 47-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) OU 14-0
3 2:37 OU Steve Davis 1-yard run (pass failed) OU 20-0
4 2:11 OU Steve Davis 8-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) OU 27-0
[17]
Oklahoma State
#2 Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma State Cowboys
1
2 3 4 Total
• #2 Oklahoma
7
14 7 17
45
Oklahoma State
0
3 3 12
18
Scoring summary 1 OU Steve Davis 7-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) OU 7-0
2 OU Waymon Clark 7-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) OU 14-0
2 OSU Daigle 50-yard field goal OU 14-3
2 2:52 OU Steve Davis 9-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) OU 21-3
3 OSU Daigle 36-yard field goal OU 21-6
3 OU Steve Dodd recovered punt in end zone (Rick Fulcher kick) OU 28-6
4 OU Rick Fulcher 38-yard field goal OU 31-6
4 OU Steve Davis 8-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) OU 38-6
4 OU Scott Hill 10-yard run (Rick Fulcher kick) OU 45-6
4 OSU Charlie Weatherbie 8-yard run (pass failed) OU 45-12
4 OSU Charlie Weatherbie 5-yard run (pass failed) OU 45-18
[18]
Awards and honors
Postseason
NFL draft
The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.[23]
References
^ "Memorial Stadium" . CBS Interactive . Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010 .
^ a b "OU Football Tradition – 42 Conference Titles" . CBS Interactive . Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010 .
^ a b c "1973 Football Season" . SoonerStats.com. Retrieved June 30, 2010 .
^ a b "All-American: Rod Shoate" . CBS Interactive . Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ a b c d e f "All-American: Lucious Selmon" . CBS Interactive . Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ Seays, Lillian (2005). "LEE ROY SELMON: Small Town Boy-Next-Door Makes Good" . Onyx Magazine . Archived from the original on October 30, 2006. Retrieved July 2, 2010 .
^ "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF) . Big 12 Conference. p. 164. Retrieved July 2, 2010 .
^ "Oklahoma on probation for 10 grid infractions" . Nashua Telegraph . New Hampshire. Associated Press. August 9, 1973. p. 15.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?seasonid=1973
^ "Powerful Sooners Rip Baylor in 42-14 Game." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Sept 16.
^ Palm Beach Post. 1973 Oct 7.
^ "Sooners Slam Texas, 52-13." Palm Beach Post. October 14, 1973
^ "Sooners cruise by Colorado; Buckeyes, Michigan triumph." Eugene Register-Guard . 1973 Oct 21.
^ "Sooners Crush Wildcats." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Oct 28.
^ "Sooners Get Past Cyclones." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Nov 4.
^ "Powerful Sooners Rip Missouri, 31-3." Palm Beach Post. November 11, 1973
^ [1]
^ "Sooners Corral Cowboys." Palm Beach Post. December 2, 1973
^ "All-American: Eddie Foster" . CBS Interactive . Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ http://archive.newsok.com/olive/apa/oklahoman/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DOK%2F1972%2F09%2F29&id=Ar01901&sk=230ADA61
^ http://archive.newsok.com/olive/apa/oklahoman/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DOK%2F1973%2F11%2F02&id=Ar07900&sk=FB13B917
^ http://archive.newsok.com/olive/apa/oklahoman/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DOK%2F1973%2F09%2F09&id=Ar22405&sk=39B5B8BD
^ "1974 NFL Draft Listing" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved November 29, 2020 .
External links
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