1987 Oklahoma Sooners football team
Encyclopedia
The 1987 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma
in the college football
1987 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 7–0 conference record to the Conference title outright under head coach
Barry Switzer
who took the helm in 1973. This was Switzer's twelfth conference title, fourth consecutive conference title and eighth undefeated conference record in fifteen seasons.
The team was led by All-Americans Rickey Dixon
(who won the Jim Thorpe Award
, Mark Hutson
, Keith Jackson, Danté Jones
, and Darrell Reed
After going undefeated in its eleven regular season games, it earned a trip to the for an appearance against the Miami Hurricanes
. During the season, it faced three ranked opponents (In order, #12 Oklahoma State
, #1 Nebraska
, and #2 Miami). Both of its last two games were #1 vs. #2 matches with the last being a national title game in which it endured its only loss to the resulting national champion Hurricanes. The game marked the third Miami victory over Oklahoma in three seasons to former Switzer assistant coach Jimmy Johnson
.
Jamelle Holieway
led the team in rushing for the second season with 807 yards and in passing for the third of four times with 548 yards, Jackson led the team in receiving for the third straight season with 403 yards, Placekicker
R.D. Lashar led the team in scoring with 91 points, Reed posted 8 quarterback sack
s, Jones led the team with 125 tackles
and Dixon posted 9 interceptions. The defense set a school record that would only be eclipsed by the 1986 team when it allowed only 2.2 yards per rush over the course of the season. Dixon established the current school record total of 9 single-season interceptions. He set the school record for single-season interception return yards
with 232 that season and the career record with 303, which was broken by Derrick Strait
in 2003.
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...
1987 NCAA Division I-A season
1987 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Miami winning its second national championship during the 80s in an Orange Bowl match-up featuring a rare #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 a 11–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to the Conference title outright 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...
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...
who took the helm in 1973. This was Switzer's twelfth conference title, fourth consecutive conference title and eighth undefeated conference record in fifteen seasons.
The team was led by All-Americans Rickey Dixon
Rickey Dixon
Rickey Dixon was a defensive back and special teams player for the Oklahoma Sooners and later the National Football League’s Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Raiders.-College football career:...
(who won the Jim Thorpe Award
Jim Thorpe Award
The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986...
, Mark Hutson
Mark Hutson
Mark Hutson is an American football college coach and a former All-America offensive lineman for the Oklahoma Sooners in the 1980s and among the top players in school history.-Playing career:...
, Keith Jackson, Danté Jones
Dante Jones
Dante Jones is a former linebacker in the NFL who played for the Chicago Bears from 1988–1994 and Denver Broncos in 1995. As a Sooner, Jones was an All Big 8 selection at linebacker in 1987.He is from Skyline High School in Dallas, TX, Class of 1983....
, and Darrell Reed
Darrell Reed
Darrell Reed is a former American football defensive end who played for the Oklahoma Sooners. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1988 NFL Draft.-External links:*...
After going undefeated in its eleven regular season games, it earned a trip to the for an appearance against the Miami Hurricanes
1987 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1987 Miami Hurricanes were the national champions of the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. The national championship was the second of five won by the University of Miami in football.-Pre-Season:...
. During the season, it faced three ranked opponents (In order, #12 Oklahoma State
1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team
The 1987 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented the Oklahoma State University in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A college football season. Thurman Thomas was in his senior year for the Cowboys.-Schedule:...
, #1 Nebraska
1984 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1984Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
, and #2 Miami). Both of its last two games were #1 vs. #2 matches with the last being a national title game in which it endured its only loss to the resulting national champion Hurricanes. The game marked the third Miami victory over Oklahoma in three seasons to former Switzer assistant coach Jimmy Johnson
Jimmy Johnson (American football coach)
James William "Jimmy" Johnson is an American former NCAA and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, the Fox network's NFL pregame show. He was the first football coach whose teams won both an NCAA Division 1A National Championship and a...
.
Jamelle Holieway
Jamelle Holieway
Jamelle Holieway is a former quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners football team from 1985 to 1988. He is considered one of the greatest option quarterbacks in NCAA Division I-A history. Highly recruited from Banning High School under longtime head coach Chris Ferragamo, Holieway attracted...
led the team in rushing for the second season with 807 yards and in passing for the third of four times with 548 yards, Jackson led the team in receiving for the third straight season with 403 yards, Placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
R.D. Lashar led the team in scoring with 91 points, Reed posted 8 quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s, Jones led the team with 125 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
and Dixon posted 9 interceptions. The defense set a school record that would only be eclipsed by the 1986 team when it allowed only 2.2 yards per rush over the course of the season. Dixon established the current school record total of 9 single-season interceptions. He set the school record for single-season interception return yards
Return yards
Return yards is an American football and Canadian football statistical measure that takes several forms. In American and Canadian football, progress is measured by advancing the football towards the opposing team's Goal line...
with 232 that season and the career record with 303, which was broken by Derrick Strait
Derrick Strait
Derrick Strait is a professional American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. Strait was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
in 2003.
Schedule
Awards and honors
- All-American: Rickey DixonRickey DixonRickey Dixon was a defensive back and special teams player for the Oklahoma Sooners and later the National Football League’s Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Raiders.-College football career:...
, Mark HutsonMark HutsonMark Hutson is an American football college coach and a former All-America offensive lineman for the Oklahoma Sooners in the 1980s and among the top players in school history.-Playing career:...
, Keith Jackson, Danté JonesDante JonesDante Jones is a former linebacker in the NFL who played for the Chicago Bears from 1988–1994 and Denver Broncos in 1995. As a Sooner, Jones was an All Big 8 selection at linebacker in 1987.He is from Skyline High School in Dallas, TX, Class of 1983....
, and Darrell ReedDarrell ReedDarrell Reed is a former American football defensive end who played for the Oklahoma Sooners. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1988 NFL Draft.-External links:*... - Jim Thorpe AwardJim Thorpe AwardThe Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986...
: Dixon
External links
- 1987 season at SoonerStats.com