1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team
Encyclopedia
The 1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma
in the college football
1971 NCAA University Division 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 and 6–1 conference record to under head coach
Chuck Fairbanks
. The Sooners finished the season ranked #2, losing only once, 35–31 to eventual national champion Nebraska in the 1971 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game
, which has become known as Game of the Century
.
In 1971, offensive coordinator
Barry Switzer
perfected the wishbone
offense as it led the nation in both scoring (45 points average) and total yards (563 total yards average), and set a NCAA record by averaging over 472.4 (5196 in 11 games) rushing yards. The team holds the current school record with 7.07 yards per rushing attempt and 7.6 yards per play as well as the records for 469.6 rushing yards (5635 in 12 games counting bowl game) and 566.83 yards of total offense
per game. The team also holds the single-season rushing touchdowns record of 62 and rushing touchdowns per game record of 5.17. The team's records of 711 single-game rushing yards and 785 total yards stood for nine seasons. Jack Mildren's single-season record for yards rushing by a quarterback of 1140 would be broken three seasons later by Freddie Solomon
.
Greg Pruitt
set the current national single-season record with 8.98 yards per attempt, the school's single-game records of 294 rushing yards and 374 all-purpose yards. Meanshile, Jon Harrison set the single-season and career yards per reception
with 29.1 and 27.0. His 2066 single-season all-purpose yards record stood until Quentin Griffin
broke it in 2002. Joe Wylie
's kickoff return average record of 28.5 stood for 27 years.
The team was led by three All-Americans: Pruitt, Tom Brahaney
and Jack Mildren
. The team won its first nine games on a schedule that included five ranked opponents (In order, #17 USC, #3 , #6 Colorado
, #1 Nebraska
and #5 Auburn
). All five of these opponents finished the season ranked. The only loss was to Nebraska. At opposed Auburn in the and won 40–22.
Pruitt led the team in rushing with 1760 yards, Mildren led the team in passing yards for the third straight season for with 889 yards, Harrison led the team in receiving with 494 yards, Mildren led the team in scoring with 124 points, Mark Driscoll led the team in tackles with 134, and John Shelly led the team in interceptions with 5.
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
1971 NCAA University Division season
1971 college football season
The 1971 college football season saw Coach Bob Devaney's Nebraska Cornhuskers repeat as national champions. After being ranked 2nd in the preseason poll, Nebraska captured first place the following week and remained there for the rest of 1971 and won the Orange Bowl 38–6 in a #1 vs...
. Oklahoma Sooners football
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
participated in the former Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
The Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is the on-campus football facility for the University of Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. The official capacity of the stadium, following recent renovations, is 82,112, making it the 16th largest college stadium in the United States and the third...
where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted an 11–1 and 6–1 conference record to under head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Chuck Fairbanks
Chuck Fairbanks
Chuck Fairbanks is a former American football coach, a head coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. The offensive and defensive systems he introduced and helped develop have proven influential in the NFL....
. The Sooners finished the season ranked #2, losing only once, 35–31 to eventual national champion Nebraska in the 1971 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game
1971 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game
On Thursday, November 25, 1971, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, defending national champions, ranked #1 with a 20-game winning streak played the Oklahoma Sooners, ranked #2. The Cornhuskers defeated the Sooners 35–31.-Background:...
, which has become known as Game of the Century
Game of the Century (college football)
The phrase "Game of the Century" is a superlative that has been applied to several college football contests played in the 20th century, the first full century of college football in the United States...
.
In 1971, offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
Barry Switzer
Barry Switzer
Barry Switzer is a former football coach, active in the college and professional ranks between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a...
perfected the wishbone
Wishbone formation
The wishbone formation, also known simply as the ’bone, is an offensive formation in American football. The style of attack to which it gives rise is known as the wishbone offense...
offense as it led the nation in both scoring (45 points average) and total yards (563 total yards average), and set a NCAA record by averaging over 472.4 (5196 in 11 games) rushing yards. The team holds the current school record with 7.07 yards per rushing attempt and 7.6 yards per play as well as the records for 469.6 rushing yards (5635 in 12 games counting bowl game) and 566.83 yards of total offense
Total offense
Total offense is an American football and Canadian football statistic representing the total number of yards rushing and yards passing by a team or player...
per game. The team also holds the single-season rushing touchdowns record of 62 and rushing touchdowns per game record of 5.17. The team's records of 711 single-game rushing yards and 785 total yards stood for nine seasons. Jack Mildren's single-season record for yards rushing by a quarterback of 1140 would be broken three seasons later by Freddie Solomon
Freddie Solomon
.Freddie Solomon , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2nd round of the 1975 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 184-lb. wide receiver from the University of Tampa, Solomon played in 11 NFL seasons for the Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers from 1975 to 1985...
.
Greg Pruitt
Greg Pruitt
Gregory Donald Pruitt is a former American football running back in the NFL from 1973 through 1984. He was selected to five Pro Bowls, four as a member of the Cleveland Browns and one as a member of the Los Angeles Raiders, the last one as a kick returner...
set the current national single-season record with 8.98 yards per attempt, the school's single-game records of 294 rushing yards and 374 all-purpose yards. Meanshile, Jon Harrison set the single-season and career yards per reception
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
with 29.1 and 27.0. His 2066 single-season all-purpose yards record stood until Quentin Griffin
Quentin Griffin
Quentin LaVell Griffin is an American football running back.-Early years:Griffin started his football career as a youth playing in the Humble Area Football League.-High school:Griffin starred at Nimitz High School in Houston....
broke it in 2002. Joe Wylie
Joe Wylie
Joseph Jay Wylie, Sr., born February 2, 1968 in Washington, DC, is a retired professional basketball player. He is listed at 6'9" and weighed 220 lbs. Wylie played collegiate ball with the University of Miami Hurricanes . He entered the 1991 NBA Draft and was picked 38th in the second round...
's kickoff return average record of 28.5 stood for 27 years.
The team was led by three All-Americans: Pruitt, Tom Brahaney
Tom Brahaney
Thomas Brahaney is a former American football center who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals.He played college football at Oklahoma, where he was an All-American...
and Jack Mildren
Jack Mildren
Larry Jack Mildren a native Texan, was an All-American quarterback at The University of Oklahoma in his college years, and professional football player with the Baltimore Colts and New England Patriots, an oil company owner, was elected as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, and enjoyed a...
. The team won its first nine games on a schedule that included five ranked opponents (In order, #17 USC, #3 , #6 Colorado
1971 Colorado Buffaloes football team
The 1971 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the 1971 college football season. The Buffaloes offense scored 245 points while the defense allowed 113 points. Led by head coach Eddie Crowder, the Buffaloes competed in the Bluebonnet...
, #1 Nebraska
1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1971 college football season. Nebraska was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln...
and #5 Auburn
1971 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1971 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1971 college football season. The Tigers offense scored 335 points while the defense allowed 182 points.-Season:In the Iron Bowl, Auburn lost to Alabama, 31–7.-Schedule:...
). All five of these opponents finished the season ranked. The only loss was to Nebraska. At opposed Auburn in the and won 40–22.
Pruitt led the team in rushing with 1760 yards, Mildren led the team in passing yards for the third straight season for with 889 yards, Harrison led the team in receiving with 494 yards, Mildren led the team in scoring with 124 points, Mark Driscoll led the team in tackles with 134, and John Shelly led the team in interceptions with 5.
Schedule
Team players drafted into the NFL
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL Club |
| Jack Milldren | Defensive Back | 2 | 46 | Baltimore Colts 1972 Baltimore Colts season The 1972 Baltimore Colts season was the 20th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1972 season with a record of 5 wins and 9 losses, and finished third in the AFC East.-Offseason:... |
| Al Quallis | Linebacker | 8 | 191 | Baltimore Colts 1972 Baltimore Colts season The 1972 Baltimore Colts season was the 20th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1972 season with a record of 5 wins and 9 losses, and finished third in the AFC East.-Offseason:... |
| Roy Bell Roy Bell (Canadian football) Roy Bell was a running back who played five seasons in the Canadian Football League for the Edmonton Eskimos. In his career, Bell ran for 4667 yards and was a two time CFL All-Star.-References:... |
Running Back | 9 | 234 | Dallas Cowboys 1972 Dallas Cowboys season The 1972 Dallas Cowboys season was their 13th in the league. The team failed to improve their previous output of 11–3, winning only ten games. They qualified for the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season but settled for the wildcard spot... |
Awards & Honors
- All-American: Greg PruittGreg PruittGregory Donald Pruitt is a former American football running back in the NFL from 1973 through 1984. He was selected to five Pro Bowls, four as a member of the Cleveland Browns and one as a member of the Los Angeles Raiders, the last one as a kick returner...
, Tom BrahaneyTom BrahaneyThomas Brahaney is a former American football center who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the St. Louis Cardinals.He played college football at Oklahoma, where he was an All-American...
and Jack MildrenJack MildrenLarry Jack Mildren a native Texan, was an All-American quarterback at The University of Oklahoma in his college years, and professional football player with the Baltimore Colts and New England Patriots, an oil company owner, was elected as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, and enjoyed a... - Academic All-American: Mildren