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1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team

American college football season

American college football season

FieldValue
year1979
teamOklahoma Sooners
sportfootball
imageOklahoma Sooners Logo 1979-2000.png
conferenceBig Eight Conference
short_confBig 8
CoachRank3
APRank3
record11–1
conf_record7–0
head_coachBarry Switzer
hc_year7th
off_coachGalen Hall
oc_year7th
off_schemeWishbone
def_coachRex Norris
dc_year2nd
def_scheme[5–2](5-2-defense)
captainGeorge Cumby
captain2Darrol Ray
captain3Billy Sims
captain4Paul Tabor
captain5Sherwood Taylor
stadiumOklahoma Memorial Stadium
championBig 8 champion
Orange Bowl champion
bowl[Orange Bowl](1980-orange-bowl)
bowl_resultW 24–7 vs. [Florida State](1979-florida-state-seminoles-football-team)

Orange Bowl champion

The 1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1979 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted an 11–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference title outright under head coach Barry Switzer who took the helm in 1973. This was Switzer's seventh conference title and fourth undefeated conference record in seven seasons.

The team was led by All-Americans Billy Sims and George Cumby.

Sims led the nation in scoring with 138 points (based on per game average of 12.0, which includes 132 in 11 games). Sims led the team in rushing with 1670 yards, Watts led the team in passing with 821 yards, Freddie Nixon led the team in receiving with 293 yards, Cumby led the team with 160 tackles and Bud Hebert posted 4 interceptions. Billy Sims set numerous Oklahoma offensive records that still stand including career 200-yard games, single-season rushing touchdowns (tied)

Schedule

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Personnel

  • Galen Hall (OC)
  • Warren Harper (LB)
  • Merv Johnson (OL)
  • Wendell Mosley (RB)
  • Rex Norris (DC)
  • Lucious Selmon (DL)

Season summary

Iowa

First quarter

  • IOWA – Dennis Mosley 10-yard pass from Phil Seuss (kick failed). ''Iowa 6–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
  • OU – Billy Sims 1-yard run (John Hoge kick). ''Oklahoma 7–6. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
  • No scoring 'Fourth quarter
  • OU – Billy Sims 3-yard run (John Hoge kick). ''Oklahoma 14–6. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – J.C. Watts 1-yard run (John Hoge kick). ''Oklahoma 21–6. '''Drive:'''''

Tulsa

At Rice

Colorado

First quarter

  • OU – Billy Sims 1-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 7–0. '''Drive:'''''
  • CU – Solomon 6-yard pass from Pugh (Field kick). ''Tie 7–7. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
  • OU – J.C. Watts 11-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 14–7. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – Billy Sims 1-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 21–7. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – David Overstreet 1-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 28–7. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – Billy Sims 6-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 35–7. '''Drive:'''''' Third quarter
  • CU – Field 41-yard field goal. ''Oklahoma 35–10. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – Billy Sims 1-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 42-10. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
  • CU – Davis 11-yard run (Field kick). ''Oklahoma 42–17. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – Winters 28-yard run (Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 49–17. '''Drive:'''''
  • CU – Green 1-yard run (Field kick). ''Oklahoma 49–24. '''Drive:''''' Oklahoma faced its former coach Chuck Fairbanks for the first time since his departure following the 1972 season.

vs Texas

At Kansas State

First quarter

  • OU – Mike Keeling 38-yard field goal. ''Oklahoma 3–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
  • KSU – Black 1-yard run (kick failed). ''Oklahoma 7–6. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – J.C. Watts 1-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 14–6. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
  • OU – J.C. Watts 18-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 21–6. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
  • OU – Billy Sims 5-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 28–6. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – Phelps 14-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 35–6. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – Phelps 36-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 42–6. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
  • OU –
  • KSU – ;Top rushers
  • OU – J.C. Watts – 118 yards, 2 TD
  • KSU – ;Top receivers
  • OU
  • KSU –

Iowa State

At Oklahoma State (Bedlam Series)

First quarter

  • OU – Billy Sims 4-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 7–0. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – David Overstreet 72-yard pass from J.C. Watts (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 14–0. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – Billy Sims 1-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 21–0. '''Drive:'''''
  • OU – Mike Keeling 39-yard field goal. ''Oklahoma 24–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
  • OU – Billy Sims 1-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 31–0. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
  • OU – Billy Sims 11-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 38–0. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
  • OSU – Sullentrop 2-yard run (Anderson kick). ''Oklahoma 38–7. '''Drive:'''''

Kansas

At Missouri

;Top passers

  • OU –

  • MIZ – ;Top rushers

  • OU – Billy Sims – 282 yards

  • MIZ – ;Top receivers

  • OU –

  • MIZ –

  • Oklahoma's 100th win of the 1970s (Alabama only other school to do so)

Nebraska

First quarter

  • No scoring Second quarter
  • OU – Mike Keeling 31-yard field goal. ''Oklahoma 3–0. '''Drive:'''''
  • NEB – Jarvis Redwine 11-yard pass from Jeff Quinn (Dean Sukup kick). ''Nebraska 7–3. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
  • OU – Forrest Valora 58-yard pass from J.C. Watts (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 10–7. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
  • OU – J.C. Watts 3-yard run (Mike Keeling kick). ''Oklahoma 17–7. '''Drive:'''''
  • NEB – Randy Schleusaner 15-yard run (Dean Sukup kick). ''Oklahoma 17–14. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
  • NEB
  • OU ;Top rushers
  • NEB
  • OU – Billy Sims – 28 rushes, 247 yards ;Top receivers
  • NEB
  • OU

Orange Bowl (vs Florida State)

Main article: 1980 Orange Bowl

Rankings

Awards and honors

  • All-American: Billy Sims, and George Cumby,
  • Big 8 rushing champion: Sims
  • NCAA DI scoring champion: Sims
  • Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year: Cumby

NFL draft

Main article: 1980 NFL draft

The following players were selected in the National Football League draft following the season.

Sooners who were picked in the 1980 NFL Draft:

11284Mike BabbDefensive backAtlanta Falcons

References

References

  1. "Memorial Stadium". [[CBS Interactive]].
  2. "OU Football Tradition – 42 Conference Titles". [[CBS Interactive]].
  3. "1979 Football Season". SoonerStats.com.
  4. "Sooners Spoil Seminole Uprising". Orange Bowl Committee.
  5. "2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records". [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]].
  6. "2009 Football Record Book". Big 12 Conference.
  7. "2009 Football Record Book". Big 12 Conference.
  8. (September 16, 1979). "Oklahoma survives scare from Iowa". Springfield Leader and Press.
  9. (September 23, 1979). "Sooners' Julius Caesar conquers Tulsa, 49–13". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
  10. (September 30, 1979). "Sooners clobber Rice". Lincoln Journal Star.
  11. (October 7, 1979). "Oklahoma downs Colorado...". The Grand Island Independent.
  12. (October 14, 1979). "Texas defense stifles Sooners". The Columbian.
  13. (October 21, 1979). "OU rallies to dance over K-State". The Kansas City Star.
  14. (October 28, 1979). "Sims crushes Cyclones". The Grand Island Independent.
  15. (November 4, 1979). "Sooners triumph, 38–7". Wisconsin State Journal.
  16. (November 11, 1979). "Oklahoma too much for Kansas". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
  17. (November 18, 1979). "Sooners escape Missouri". St. Petersburg Times.
  18. (November 25, 1979). "Oklahoma does it again, spoils NU title hopes, 17–14". Lincoln Journal Star.
  19. (January 2, 1980). "Oklahoma ends Florida State's streak". The Palm Beach Post.
  20. "1979 OU Football Season Schedule - SoonerStats - Historical scores, records, and stats for Oklahoma Sooners football, basketball, baseball, and softball".
  21. "Sluggish Oklahoma Downs Iowa." September 16, 1979
  22. Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 October 7.
  23. Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Oct 21. Retrieved 2018-Oct-28.
  24. Palm Beach Post. 1979 Nov 4.
  25. Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Nov 18.
  26. Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Nov 25.
  27. [https://dataomaha.com/huskers/history/game/1979-11-24-oklahoma DataOmaha.com] {{Webarchive. link. (October 19, 2020 . Retrieved 2020-Dec-06.)
  28. "All-American: Billy Sims". [[CBS Interactive]].
  29. "All-American: George Cumby". [[CBS Interactive]].
  30. "1980 NFL Draft Listing".
  31. "Oklahoma Drafted Players/Alumni".
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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