1972 Oklahoma Sooners football team
Encyclopedia
The 1972 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma
in the college football
1972 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 a 11–1 overall record and a 6–1 conference record, which were later changed to 8–4 overall record and a 3–4. This was Chuck Fairbanks
' last season as Sooner head coach
.
There is actually a discrepancy as to the Sooners' record. The NCAA never officially forced Oklahoma to forfeit games, having only penalized scholarships, TV appearances, bowl appearances, etc. Oklahoma had used players (including Kerry Jackson, the teams first black quarterback
) with falsified transcripts and at one point volunteered to forfeit all its games. Eventually, the Big Eight conference asked them to forfeit three victories despite the fact that the NCAA still recognizes them.
The team was led by four All-Americans: Rod Shoate
(Oklahoma's second three-time All-American), Greg Pruitt
, Tom Brahaney
and Derland Moore
. This was the first season that the Selmon brothers Lucious
, Lee Roy
and Dewey
, who would all become All-Americans, anchored the defensive line for Oklahoma. The team played a schedule that included seven ranked opponents (In order, #10 , #9 , #14 , #14 , #5 Nebraska
, #20 , and #5 Penn State). Four of these opponents finished the season ranked. The team only loss on the field was in the fifth game against Colorado. The team concluded its season with a victory over Penn State in the .
Pruitt led the team in rushing with 1024 yards, D. Robertson led the team in passing yard for with 1136 yards, Tinker Owens
led the team in receiving for the first of what would become four consecutive seasons with 430 yards, Pruitt led the team in scoring with 86 points, Shoate led the team in tackles with 145, and Dan Ruster led the team in interceptions with 7.
The team twice posted 37 first downs, which was a school record that stood for 16 seasons.
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...
1972 NCAA Division I-A season. 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 a 11–1 overall record and a 6–1 conference record, which were later changed to 8–4 overall record and a 3–4. This was 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....
' last season as Sooner 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...
.
There is actually a discrepancy as to the Sooners' record. The NCAA never officially forced Oklahoma to forfeit games, having only penalized scholarships, TV appearances, bowl appearances, etc. Oklahoma had used players (including Kerry Jackson, the teams first black quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
) with falsified transcripts and at one point volunteered to forfeit all its games. Eventually, the Big Eight conference asked them to forfeit three victories despite the fact that the NCAA still recognizes them.
The team was led by four All-Americans: Rod Shoate
Rod Shoate
Rod Shoate is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was a 4 time All-Big 8 Conference Player and three time All-American at the University of Oklahoma...
(Oklahoma's second three-time All-American), 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...
, 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 Derland Moore
Derland Moore
Derland Paul Moore was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and the New York Jets. An All-American, he played college football at the University of Oklahoma and was selected in the second round of the 1973 NFL Draft...
. This was the first season that the Selmon brothers Lucious
Lucious Selmon
-Collegiate career :Selmon came to Oklahoma from Eufaula High School in 1970, and played nose guard for the Oklahoma Sooners for both Chuck Fairbanks and Barry Switzer. He was a consensus All-American in 1973, and was named Chevrolet/ABC National Defensive Player of the Year, Big 8 Conference...
, Lee Roy
Lee Roy Selmon
Lee Roy Selmon was a Hall of Fame NFL football defensive lineman.-Early life:Selmon was the youngest of nine children of Lucious and Jessie Selmon, raised on a farm near Eufaula, Oklahoma...
and Dewey
Dewey Selmon
Dewey Selmon is a former football linebacker. He played collegiate football at Oklahoma . He went on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League....
, who would all become All-Americans, anchored the defensive line for Oklahoma. The team played a schedule that included seven ranked opponents (In order, #10 , #9 , #14 , #14 , #5 Nebraska
1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1972 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1972 college football season. The team was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.-Schedule:-Roster:...
, #20 , and #5 Penn State). Four of these opponents finished the season ranked. The team only loss on the field was in the fifth game against Colorado. The team concluded its season with a victory over Penn State in the .
Pruitt led the team in rushing with 1024 yards, D. Robertson led the team in passing yard for with 1136 yards, Tinker Owens
Tinker Owens
Charles Wayne "Tinker" Owens is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for four seasons for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League. The younger brother of Heisman Trophy winner Steve Owens, Tinker was a two-time All-American during his college...
led the team in receiving for the first of what would become four consecutive seasons with 430 yards, Pruitt led the team in scoring with 86 points, Shoate led the team in tackles with 145, and Dan Ruster led the team in interceptions with 7.
The team twice posted 37 first downs, which was a school record that stood for 16 seasons.
Schedule
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...
, Rod ShoateRod ShoateRod Shoate is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was a 4 time All-Big 8 Conference Player and three time All-American at the University of Oklahoma...
, 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 Derland MooreDerland MooreDerland Paul Moore was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and the New York Jets. An All-American, he played college football at the University of Oklahoma and was selected in the second round of the 1973 NFL Draft...