Rickey Dixon
Encyclopedia
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.
at Wilmer-Hutchins High School
in Dallas, Dixon came to Norman
to play for the Sooners
in 1984. He played in the 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988 Orange Bowls, in two National Championship games, and was a key figure in Oklahoma's 1985 National Championship win over Penn State in the 1986 Orange Bowl.
A consensus All-American in 1987, Dixon was the first Sooner to win the Jim Thorpe Award
, given to the top defensive back in the country. He shared the Award with Miami's
Bennie Blades
. He won all-conference honors in 1986 and 1987.
The defining game of Dixon's collegiate career was the 1987 contest against the Nebraska Cornhuskers
. Hyped as the "Game of the Century II", playing on the moniker given the 1971
contest between Oklahoma and Nebraska, Nebraska was favored at home in Lincoln
, boasting the #1 offense
in the country.
The Sooners came in ranked #2 in the nation, and sporting the #1 defense
in the country. Nebraska quarterback Steve Taylor
came into the game boasting that the Sooners could not compete against the Cornhuskers. It was Dixon's two interceptions of Taylor in the game (one to set up a short touchdown drive, and one late in the fourth quarter to seal the win) that put the Cornhuskers away and guaranteed Oklahoma a shot at the Miami Hurricanes
in the 1988 Orange Bowl. In the Orange Bowl, Dixon had another key interception to set up a Sooner touchdown drive in a game that Miami eventually won, 20-14.
Dixon finished his career with 170 total tackles and 17 interceptions (second only to Darrell Royal
for the school record). During his senior year he had nine interceptions for 232 yards which remain school records for the Sooners.
. He had one interception during his first season with the Bengals. Although relegated to special teams, Dixon played in Super Bowl XXIII
against the San Francisco 49ers
.
Dixon was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders prior to the 1993 season.
After retiring from the NFL, Dixon coached for W.T White High School and Paul Qunn College, and retired from being a physical education
teacher at Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas
in May 2007.
Dixon is now a Junior High Football Coach for Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, Texas.
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and special teams player for the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
and later the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
’s Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
and Los Angeles Raiders.
College football career
A standout defensive backDefensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
at Wilmer-Hutchins High School
Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District
Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District was a school district in southern Dallas County, Texas serving the cities of Wilmer and Hutchins, a portion of Dallas , and a small portion of Lancaster. The district served urban, suburban, and rural areas...
in Dallas, Dixon came to Norman
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
to play for the Sooners
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...
in 1984. He played in the 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988 Orange Bowls, in two National Championship games, and was a key figure in Oklahoma's 1985 National Championship win over Penn State in the 1986 Orange Bowl.
A consensus All-American in 1987, Dixon was the first Sooner to win 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...
, given to the top defensive back in the country. He shared the Award with Miami's
Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
Bennie Blades
Bennie Blades
Horatio Benedict "Bennie" Blades Sr. is a former American football cornerback and safety in the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Miami.-University of Miami:...
. He won all-conference honors in 1986 and 1987.
The defining game of Dixon's collegiate career was the 1987 contest against the Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
. Hyped as the "Game of the Century II", playing on the moniker given the 1971
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...
contest between Oklahoma and Nebraska, Nebraska was favored at home in Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, boasting the #1 offense
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
in the country.
The Sooners came in ranked #2 in the nation, and sporting the #1 defense
Defense (sport)
In many team sports, defense or defence is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. The term may also refer to the tactics involved in defense, or a sub-team whose primary responsibility is defense...
in the country. Nebraska quarterback Steve Taylor
Steve Taylor
Roland Stephen Taylor , is an American Christian singer, songwriter, record producer and film director.-Early life:Taylor, the eldest of three children, was born in Brawley, California. Taylor's father, Roland Taylor, was a Baptist minister. When Taylor was six years old, the family relocated to...
came into the game boasting that the Sooners could not compete against the Cornhuskers. It was Dixon's two interceptions of Taylor in the game (one to set up a short touchdown drive, and one late in the fourth quarter to seal the win) that put the Cornhuskers away and guaranteed Oklahoma a shot at the Miami Hurricanes
Miami Hurricanes
The Miami Hurricanes, of Coral Gables, Florida, are the varsity sports teams of the University of Miami. They compete in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The university fields 15 athletic teams for 17 varsity sports...
in the 1988 Orange Bowl. In the Orange Bowl, Dixon had another key interception to set up a Sooner touchdown drive in a game that Miami eventually won, 20-14.
Dixon finished his career with 170 total tackles and 17 interceptions (second only to Darrell Royal
Darrell Royal
Darrell K Royal is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Mississippi State University , the University of Washington , and the University of Texas at Austin , compiling a career college football record of 184–60–5...
for the school record). During his senior year he had nine interceptions for 232 yards which remain school records for the Sooners.
Career college statistics
| Season | UT | AT | TT | INT | PBU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 17 | 11 | 29 | 2-41 | 4 |
| 1985 | 20 | 4 | 29 | 3-28 | 1 |
| 1986 | 33 | 16 | 52 | 3-2 | 6 |
| 1987 | 42 | 13 | 60 | 9-232 | 12 |
| Totals | 112 | 44 | 170 | 17-303 | 23 |
NFL career and current work
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Dixon with the fifth pick of the 1988 NFL Draft1988 NFL Draft
The 1988 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24–25, 1988. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
. He had one interception during his first season with the Bengals. Although relegated to special teams, Dixon played in Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII
Super Bowl XXIII was an American football game played on January 22, 1989 at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1988 regular season. This was the first Super Bowl hosted in the Miami area in 10 years, and the first in Miami not held...
against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
Dixon was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders prior to the 1993 season.
After retiring from the NFL, Dixon coached for W.T White High School and Paul Qunn College, and retired from being a physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
teacher at Red Oak High School in Red Oak, Texas
Red Oak, Texas
-External links:* * * * * *...
in May 2007.
Dixon is now a Junior High Football Coach for Trinity Christian School in Cedar Hill, Texas.