1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team
Encyclopedia
The 1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma
in the college football
1973 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 10–0–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference outright title under first-year head coach
Barry Switzer
. This would be the first of eight consecutive Big Eight Conference championships for the Sooners with Switzer as head coach.
The team was led by three All-Americans: Rod Shoate
(Oklahoma's second three-time All-American) the oldest of the Selmon brothers, Lucious
, and Eddie Foster. The Selmon brothers Lucious, Lee Roy
and Dewey
started on the defensive line. The team went undefeated on a schedule that included seven ranked opponents (In order, #1 USC
, #17 , #13 , #13 , #10 , #18 , 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.
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.
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...
1973 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 10–0–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference outright title under first-year 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...
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...
. This would be the first of eight consecutive Big Eight Conference championships for the Sooners with Switzer as head coach.
The team was led by three 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) the oldest of 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...
, and Eddie Foster. The Selmon brothers Lucious, 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....
started on the defensive line. The team went undefeated on a schedule that included seven ranked opponents (In order, #1 USC
1973 USC Trojans football team
The 1973 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 1973 college football season.-Schedule:-Roster:*Booker Brown, ol*Marvin Cobb, db*Anthony Davis, tb*Pat Haden, qb*Gary Jeter, dl...
, #17 , #13 , #13 , #10 , #18 , and #10 Nebraska
1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1973 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1973 college football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln.-Schedule:-Roster:...
). 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.
Joe Washington
Joe Washington
Joe Dan Washington, Jr is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons.-Early career:...
led the team in rushing with 1173 yards, Steve Davis
Steve Davis (quarterback)
Steve Davis was a quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners from 1972–1976. He was named the Offensive Most Valuable Player of the 1976 Orange Bowl, when the Sooners won their 5th National Championship. Davis led the Sooners to a 32–1–1 record as their starting quarterback...
led the team in passing yard for with 934 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 with 472 yards, Davis led the team in scoring with 108 points, Shoate led the team in tackles with 126, and Randy Hughes
Randy Hughes
James Randell Hughes is a former American football safety who played six seasons in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys...
led the team in interceptions with 5.
Schedule
Awards & Honors
- All-American: 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...
, Eddie Foster and Lucious SelmonLucious 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... - Big Eight Athlete of the Year: Selmon
- Big Eight Defensive Player: Selmon
- Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year: Selmon
External links
- 1973 season at SoonerStats.com