1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team

1979 Big Eight Conference football standings
	$ – Conference champion; Rankings from AP Poll

Oklahoma Sooners football
1979 Oklahoma Sooners football
Big Eight champion; Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 24–7 vs. Florida State
Conference	Big 8 Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 3
AP	No. 3
1979 record	11–1 (7–0 Big 8)
Head coach	Barry Switzer (7th season);
Offensive coordinator	Galen Hall (7th season)
Offensive scheme	Wishbone
Defensive coordinator	Rex Norris (2nd season)
Base defense	5–2
Home stadium	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 71,187)

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.[1] 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.[2][3] This was Switzer's seventh conference title and fourth undefeated conference record in seven seasons.[2]

The team was led by All-Americans Billy Sims and George Cumby.[4][5] After winning the conference title outright, it earned a trip to the Orange Bowl for a bout with Florida State. During the season, it faced three different ranked opponents (In order, #4 Texas, #3 Nebraska and #4 Florida State). All three of these opponents finished the season ranked. It endured its only defeat of the season against Texas in the Red River Shootout.[3] The Sooners started the season with a four consecutive wins before losing to Texas and then won their remaining seven games.[3] Sims and J.C. Watts both posted for 100-yard games in the Orange Bowl.[6]

Sims led the nation in scoring with 138 points (based on per game average of 12.0, which includes 132 in 11 games).[7] 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.[8] Billy Sims set numerous Oklahoma offensive records that still stand including career 200-yard games, single-season rushing touchdowns (tied)[9]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 15	Iowa*	No. 3	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ESPN	W 21–6	72,531[10]
September 22	Tulsa*	No. 3	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ESPN	W 49–13	72,451[10]
September 29	at Rice*	No. 3	Rice Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN	W 63–21	30,442[10]
October 6	Colorado	No. 3	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ESPN	W 49–24	72,512[10]
October 13	vs. No. 4 Texas*	No. 3	Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (Red River Shootout)	ABC	L 7–16	72,032[10]
October 20	at Kansas State	No. 8	KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS	ESPN	W 38–6	27,257[10]
October 27	Iowa State	No. 7	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ESPN	W 38–9	72,069[10]
November 3	at Oklahoma State	No. 7	Lewis Field Stillwater, OK (Bedlam Series)	ABC	W 38–7	51,453[10]
November 10	Kansas	No. 6	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ESPN	W 38–0	71,882[10]
November 17	at Missouri	No. 7	Faurot Field Columbia, MO (rivalry)	ABC	W 24–22	69,973[10]
November 24	No. 3 Nebraska	No. 8	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK (rivalry)	ABC	W 17–14	72,516[10]
January 1, 1980	vs. No. 4 Florida State	No. 5	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)	NBC	W 24–7	66,714[10]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Personnel

1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
OG	`75`	Terry Crouch	So
HB	`11`	Fred Nixon	Sr
HB	`22`	David Overstreet	Jr
WR	`24`	Steve Rhodes	Sr
HB	`20`	Billy Sims	Sr
C	`73`	Paul Tabor	Sr
QB	`1`	J.C. Watts	Jr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
LB	`28`	George Cumby	Sr
DT	`92`	Keith Gary	Jr
DE	`72`	John Goodman	Sr
S	`33`	Bud Hebert	Sr
DE	`83`	Mike Joyce	Sr
S	`3`	Darrol Ray	Sr
DT	`96`	Richard Turner	Jr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K		John Hoge
K		Mike Keeling	Fr

Head coach

Barry Switzer

Coordinators/assistant coaches

Galen Hall (OC)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster

Season summary

Iowa

Iowa Hawkeyes at #3 Oklahoma Sooners

	1	2	3	4	Total
Iowa	6	0	0	0	6
Oklahoma	0	7	0	14	21

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

Date: September 15
Game attendance: 72,531
[11]

Game information

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

Tulsa Golden Hurricane (2–1) at #3 Oklahoma Sooners (1–0)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tulsa	0	3	10	0	13
Oklahoma	21	7	0	21	49

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

Date: September 22
Game attendance: 72,451

at Rice

#3 Oklahoma Sooners (2–0) at Rice Owls (1–2)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oklahoma	21	21	14	7	63
Rice	0	0	0	21	21

at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas

Date: September 29
Game attendance: 30,442

Colorado

Colorado Buffaloes (1–3) at #3 Oklahoma Sooners (3–0)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colorado	7	0	3	14	24
Oklahoma	7	28	7	7	49

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

Date: October 6
Game attendance: 72,512
[12]

Game information

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

#3 Oklahoma Sooners (4–0) vs. #4 Texas Longhorns (3–0)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oklahoma	7	0	0	0	7
Texas	3	7	0	6	16

at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas

Date: October 13
Game attendance: 72,032

at Kansas State

#8 Oklahoma Sooners (4–1) at Kansas State Wildcats

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oklahoma	3	0	14	21	38
Kansas State	0	6	0	0	6

at KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas

Date: October 20
Game attendance: 27,757
[13]

Game information

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

Iowa State Cyclones at #7 Oklahoma Sooners (5–1)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Iowa State	0	0	0	9	9
Oklahoma	7	10	14	7	38

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

Date: October 27
Game attendance: 72,069

at Oklahoma State (Bedlam Series)

#7 Oklahoma Sooners (6–1) at Oklahoma State Cowboys

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oklahoma	24	7	7	0	38
Oklahoma State	0	0	0	7	7

at Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Date: November 3
Game attendance: 51,453
[14]

Game information

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

Kansas Jayhawks at #6 Oklahoma Sooners (7–1)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Kansas	0	0	0	0	0
Oklahoma	3	7	7	21	38

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

Date: November 10
Game attendance: 71,882

at Missouri

#7 Oklahoma Sooners (8–1) at Missouri Tigers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oklahoma	7	0	14	3	24
Missouri	3	6	7	6	22

at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri

Date: November 17
Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C)
Game attendance: 69,973
Box Score

Oklahoma's 100th win of the 1970s (Alabama only other school to do so) [15]

Nebraska

#3 Nebraska Cornhuskers at #8 Oklahoma Sooners (9–1)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Nebraska	0	7	0	7	14
Oklahoma	0	3	7	7	17

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

Date: November 24
Game attendance: 71,180

Game information

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

[16] [17]

Orange Bowl (vs Florida State)

Orange Bowl: #4 Florida State Seminoles (11–0) vs. #5 Oklahoma Sooners (10–1)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Florida State	7	0	0	0	7
Oklahoma	0	17	0	7	24

at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

Date: January 1, 1980
Game attendance: 66,714

Awards and honors

All-American: Billy Sims,[4] and George Cumby,[5]
Big 8 rushing champion: Sims[4]
NCAA DI scoring champion: Sims[4]
Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year: Cumby[5]

1980 NFL Draft

The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.[18]

Player	Position	Round	Pick	Franchise
Billy Sims	RB	1	1	Detroit Lions
George Cumby	LB	1	26	Green Bay Packers
Darrol Ray	S	2	40	New York Jets
John Goodman	DE	2	56	Pittsburgh Steelers
Fred Nixon	WR	4	87	Green Bay Packers
Paul Tabor	C	5	130	Chicago Bears
Darry Hebert	DB	5	179	New York Giants
Barry Burdet	LB	9	235	New England Patriots
Mike Babb	DB	11	284	Atlanta Falcons

References

"Memorial Stadium". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
"OU Football Tradition – 42 Conference Titles". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
"1979 Football Season". SoonerStats.com. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
"All-American: Billy Sims". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
"All-American: George Cumby". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
"Sooners Spoil Seminole Uprising". Orange Bowl Committee. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
"2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 47. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
"2009 Football Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. p. 175. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
"2009 Football Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. p. 166. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?seasonid=1979
"Sluggish Oklahoma Downs Iowa." September 16, 1979
Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 October 7.
Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Oct 21. Retrieved 2018-Oct-28.
Palm Beach Post. 1979 Nov 4.
Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Nov 18.
Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Nov 25.
DataOmaha.com. Retrieved 2020-Dec-06.
"1980 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.

External links

1979 season at SoonerStats.com

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "Memorial Stadium". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.

[OFT42CT-2] "OU Football Tradition – 42 Conference Titles". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.

[79FS-3] "1979 Football Season". SoonerStats.com. Retrieved June 30, 2010.

[AABS-4] "All-American: Billy Sims". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.

[AAGC-5] "All-American: George Cumby". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.

[6] "Sooners Spoil Seminole Uprising". Orange Bowl Committee. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.

[7] "2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 47. Retrieved July 9, 2010.

[8] "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. p. 175. Retrieved June 30, 2010.

[9] "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. p. 166. Retrieved June 30, 2010.

[stats-10] ttp://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?seasonid=1979

[11] "Sluggish Oklahoma Downs Iowa." September 16, 1979

[12] Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 October 7.

[13] Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Oct 21. Retrieved 2018-Oct-28.

[14] Palm Beach Post. 1979 Nov 4.

[15] Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Nov 18.

[16] Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Nov 25.

[17] DataOmaha.com. Retrieved 2020-Dec-06.

[18] "1980 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.

Oklahoma Sooners football
Venues	Boyd Field (1905–1923) Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (1923–present) Barry Switzer Center
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Missouri Nebraska Oklahoma State: Bedlam Series Texas: Red River Showdown
Culture & lore	T formation Wishbone formation 1971 Nebraska game 2016 Texas Tech game Oklahoma drill Sooner Schooner Black 41 Flash Reverse Pass Boomer and Sooner "Boomer Sooner" Marching band The Kick The Oklahoma Heismen Play Like a Champion Today
People	Head coaches Starting quarterbacks All-Americans NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
National championship seasons in bold

Big Eight Conference football champions
MVIAA	Iowa & Nebraska (1907) Kansas (1908) Missouri (1909) Nebraska (1910) Iowa State & Nebraska (1911) Iowa State & Nebraska (1912) Missouri & Nebraska (1913) Nebraska (1914) Nebraska (1915) Nebraska (1916) Nebraska (1917) Missouri (1919) Oklahoma (1920) Nebraska (1921) Drake & Nebraska (1922) Nebraska (1923) Missouri (1924) Missouri (1925) Oklahoma A&M (1926) Missouri (1927)
Big Six	Nebraska (1928) Nebraska (1929) Kansas (1930) Nebraska (1931) Nebraska (1932) Nebraska (1933) Kansas State (1934) Nebraska (1935) Nebraska (1936) Nebraska (1937) Oklahoma (1938) Missouri (1939) Nebraska (1940) Missouri (1941) Missouri (1942) Oklahoma (1943) Oklahoma (1944) Missouri (1945) Kansas & Oklahoma (1946) Kansas & Oklahoma (1947)
Big Seven	Oklahoma (1948) Oklahoma (1949) Oklahoma (1950) Oklahoma (1951) Oklahoma (1952) Oklahoma (1953) Oklahoma (1954) Oklahoma (1955) Oklahoma (1956) Oklahoma (1957) Oklahoma (1958) Oklahoma (1959)
Big Eight	Missouri (1960) Colorado (1961) Oklahoma (1962) Nebraska (1963) Nebraska (1964) Nebraska (1965) Nebraska (1966) Oklahoma (1967) Kansas & Oklahoma (1968) Missouri & Nebraska (1969) Nebraska (1970) Nebraska (1971) Nebraska (1972) Oklahoma (1973) Oklahoma (1974) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1975) Colorado, Oklahoma, & Oklahoma State (1976) Oklahoma (1977) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1978) Oklahoma (1979) Oklahoma (1980) Nebraska (1981) Nebraska (1982) Nebraska (1983) Nebraska & Oklahoma (1984) Oklahoma (1985) Oklahoma (1986) Oklahoma (1987) Nebraska (1988) Colorado (1989) Colorado (1990) Colorado & Nebraska (1991) Nebraska (1992) Nebraska (1993) Nebraska (1994) Nebraska (1995)
National championships in bold