Tag: Barry Switzer

Oklahoma Sooners ranked as a top 5 college football program of all-time by Sports Illustrated

The Sooners are considered apart of the elite in college football. So much so they are ranked in the top 5 according to Sports Illustrated.

The Oklahoma Sooners have long been thought to be among the elite in college football. Where they rank exactly depends on who you ask, but nonetheless, they are a true “blue blood” of the sport.

Sports Illustrated created a list of the top 10 college football programs of all-time, and the Sooners came in at No. 3.

OU is also 1st all-time with 7 Heisman Trophy winners in addition to a record 50 conference championships, while posting the 3rd most weeks in the AP poll (898), and 4th most NFL Draft selections (414), and is 5th in win percentage and 6th in all-time wins and All-Americans. – James Parks

But even still, Oklahoma has been great historically. They’ve only had one down decade since the 1950s. Outside of that, they’ve been a team near the top just about every single season.
That doesn’t mean they aren’t susceptible to a bad season, but overall, they are a model of consistency within the sport. Now, we’ll see if they can get back to the top of the mountain.

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The Boz among those who would have benefitted the most from NIL

With NIL being as massive as it is now, CBSSports looks back at what former players could have benefitted the most.

The name, image and likeness (NIL) era has taken over college football. Some fans love it but others hate it and are ready for it to be gone.

Unfortunately for those fans, NIL appears to be here for the long haul. This offseason particularly proved to be a wild ride with NIL. You are seeing teams like [autotag]Ole Miss[/autotag] or [autotag]Missouri[/autotag] using NIL heavily to plug some holes to try to make a deep run next year.

We know about the stars today and can usually get a rough estimate about how much they are getting from NIL but that got CBSSports thinking. What former stars would have benefitted the most from NIL? One of those is Oklahoma Sooners legend, [autotag]Brian Bosworth[/autotag].

The conversation mostly focused on those years in the 1990s and 2000s that tracked with college football’s explosion in the national consciousness, but Tom Fornelli delivered an excellent assessment of how the two-time All-American from Oklahoma could have benefited from the NIL era. “Brian Bosworth was a social media superstar 40 years before social media existed,” Tom Fornelli said. Yes, with wild hair and vocal opposition to the NCAA, you could say that “The Boz” created trending topics before we were tracking such things. He controlled the conversation, created intrigue in his off-field endeavors as well his on-field success, and he would have gotten plenty of financial opportunities through NIL throughout the state of Oklahoma. – Chip Patterson CBSSports

Bosworth was a marketing genius. He knew exactly what to say and when to say it. I’d argue he might have benefitted the most from NIL because we really haven’t seen anyone be able to market themselves as well as he did. He would have been in just about every local commercial as would have had a number of public appearances. Just think about the amount of “the sight of burnt orange makes me puke” shirts that would be sold.
I know I’d buy one.

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Oklahoma is the second winningest Power Five program this century

Since Oklahoma won the 2000 national championship, they’ve been one of the most successful programs in the nation.

It is no secret, the Univesity of Oklahoma is a true blue blood in the college football landscape.

They’ve been that way since Bennie Owen led them to its first 10-win season in 1915. It was then followed by Bud Wilkinson, who took it to another level, including winning three national championships and having an NCAA record 47-game winning streak.

Barry Switzer then created the “monster” that is Oklahoma football in the 1970s and 1980s, winning three more national championships.

Then at the turn of the century, Bob Stoops, in his second season in Norman, reminded the college football world that Oklahoma is back and here to stay after a pedestrian 1990s decade.

Since Oklahoma won the 2000 national championship, they’ve been one of the most successful programs in the nation.

They’ve dominated the conference, winning 14 Big 12 championships. Whether it was Stoops or Lincoln Riley leading the way, Oklahoma has been a perennial powerhouse this century.

They’ve been so dominant that only one other program has a higher winning percentage than the Sooners, Ohio State.

Brent Venables played a big part in that success when he was a defensive coordinator under Stoops and hopes to continue that success after a poor first season in 2022. There’s no doubt it’s going to be different going to the SEC. However, it’s a move the administration is ready for, believing they have the right guy to lead them there.

Why does it matter that the Sooners are one of the most successful programs since 2000. Because they can tout it to prospects on the recruiting trail. Oklahoma is in some heated battles for several big-time recruits, including two five-star defensive linemen in David Stone and Williams Nwaneri.

With commitment dates for both coming in August, the time is now to turn up the heat on the recruiting trail.

If they’re able to land the pair of top 10 players, Stone and Nwaneri will play a big role in reminding everyone, “There’s only one Oklahoma.”

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Where did Oklahoma Sooners land in ESPN’s decade rankings since 1920?

ESPN’s Bill Connelly took a look back over the last 100 years using SP+ to determine the teams of each decade. How did the Sooners fair?

A new offseason ranking is just another example of how good Oklahoma’s football program has been each decade since the 1920s.

ESPN’s Bill Connelly went back and ranked the top 10 programs (ESPN+) of each decade and the Sooners faired fairly well, finishing in the top 10 six out of the 11 decades.

Starting with the 1920s, I looked at which teams most thoroughly dominated the sport from decade to decade, using SP+ percentile averages for each team and each decade. How much do these lists change over the decades? What can these averages tell us about how things have evolved over the past 100 years and how much things are evolving now? – Connelly, ESPN

But where did they finish in each decade?

Oklahoma vs. Texas: Red River Rivalry through the years in incredible photos

A photographic look back at the Red River Rivalry through the years.

The Red River Showdown has a way of creating magical moments between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns.

In last year’s edition in the Cotton Bowl, it was Oklahoma coming back from 28-7 and 38-18 deficits to beat Texas. Kennedy Brooks, Caleb Williams, and Marvin Mims were fantastic in the second half to help the Sooners storm back and pick up the win to stay undefeated.

It’s a game that creates incredible highlights like the Superman Play, CeeDee Lamb running around and through Texas defenders, and Trey Millard’s hurdle. It never seems to matter which team is the favorite or how the two teams are playing, the game routinely creates incredible drama in Dallas.

What will we be in store for tomorrow?

To help you get ready for the game, we’ve collected some stunning still images dating back to 1971 to relive the magic of the Red River Rivalry.

Texas cannot afford to take Oklahoma lightly

The Longhorns can all but eliminate Oklahoma from Big 12 contention with a win Saturday.

The Texas Longhorns have their biggest game of the season on Saturday. They face their Red River rival, Oklahoma, who will be desperate to get their first conference win.

On paper, the Longhorns face a team that got blown out 55-24 by TCU. In reality, it’s much more complex than that one performance.

Oklahoma is 10-3 against the Longhorns since 2010 and currently owns a four-game winning streak in the series.

Brent Venebles is the same defensive play caller that held Colt McCoy and the 2009 offense to 16 points in a 16-13 loss to Texas. Steve Sarkisian and company need to prepare for the Sooners’ best game.

The Sooners are known for prioritizing the Texas game on their schedule. Barry Switzer famously donned a “Beat Texas,” hat when facing his biggest rival. Bob Stoops certainly prioritized the game winning 63-14 in 2000 and 65-13 in 2003.

The Longhorns must view the Sooners as the highly touted team they were made to be in preseason. If they take them seriously, Texas can virtually eliminate the Sooners from Big 12 contention by handing Oklahoma its third conference loss.

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A look back at Oklahoma-Nebraska through the years in fantastic still images

A look back at the Oklahoma-Nebraska matchup through some fantastic still photos.

It’s a rivalry that, at one point in time, was as big as any in college football. Though conference realignment put a damper on the once-great matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and Nebraska Cornhuskers, the fervor and excitement are still strong.

The two teams, along with several other Big 8 members, joined forces with the Texas Longhorns and a contingent from the old Southwest Conference to form the Big 12. The Sooners and Cornhuskers went from playing annually (from 1921 to 1997) to a rotating schedule as the two teams were placed in different divisions.

The Sooners and Cornhuskers renew a rivalry that dates back to the first matchup, a 12-9 Nebraska win in 1912. From 1919 to 1941, the Cornhuskers held a commanding edge in the rivalry with a record of 15-3-3. Oklahoma’s gone 42-23 since 1943, which happened to be the start of the longest win streak in the series. Overall, Oklahoma holds a 46-38-3 record.

2021 saw the renewal of one of the great rivalries in all of college football with Oklahoma’s 23-16 win over the Cornhuskers. Now, Oklahoma makes its first trip to Lincoln since a 10-3 loss in Bo Pelini’s second season as the Cornhuskers head coach.

Get set for Oklahoma’s return trip to Lincoln as we go Behind Enemy Lines with Cornhuskers Wire to learn more about Nebraska and take a look through these fantastic photos below.

Darrell Royal, Barry Switzer among top college football coaching rivalries

“Royal accused Switzer of spying on the Longhorns’ practice.” Here’s a look at Paul Myerberg’s top 10 college football coaching rivalries.

What makes college football rivalries so exciting isn’t just the banter between opposing fan bases. Continue reading “Darrell Royal, Barry Switzer among top college football coaching rivalries”

1Oklahoma in partnership with Barry Switzer launch NIL Collective to benefit Oklahoma non-profits

1Oklahoma, a NIL Collective benefitting Oklahoma non-profits is partnering with legendary Sooners Head Coach Barry Switzer.

The era of NIL has certainly had a rocky jumping-off point. Providing players an opportunity to earn income off of their Name, Image, and Likeness was long overdue, but without much guidance from the NCAA, it hasn’t been smooth sailing.

But that’s not to say it hasn’t had its positives. Nick Evers, freshman quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners opted to pledge 100% of the earnings from his first NIL deal to Make-A-Wish.

Like Evers work with Make-A-Wish, the 1Oklahoma Collective hopes that it can have a similar impact in Oklahoma communities. And partnered with legendary head coach Barry Switzer, there’s little doubt that 1Oklahoma will make a significant impact.

From the 1Oklahoma website:

A group of Oklahoma businessmen, community leaders, alumni, and leaders in the faith-based community have partnered alongside Hall of Fame Coach Barry Switzer to form a one-of-a-kind NIL collective doing business as 1Oklahoma Foundation. 1Oklahoma Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to collaborating with and serving some of the most impactful non-profits throughout the state of Oklahoma through the Name, Image, and Likeness of OU athletes. 1Oklahoma Collective will deliver one of the most comprehensive and impactful NIL offerings in the country. – 1Oklahoma Collective

The collective is partnering with local non-profits like Oklahoma City’s City Center and Tulsa’s Lindsey House. Other partners of the collective are Ground Zero, Fight for the Forgotten, Heart and Home Makeovers, and Hope is Alive.

1Oklahoma Foundation Athletes will have the opportunity to earn NIL Revenue while contributing to the greater good of their community. This impact will come via partnerships with 1Oklahoma partner non-profits in various communities throughout Oklahoma. The spirit of making a difference aligns with the high standards for student-athletes set forth by the OU athletic programs. It aligns with the statewide “Oklahoma Standard” initiative of preserving and promoting a culture of citizens making a difference through Acts of Service. 1Oklahoma Foundation is excited to partner with OU athletes from the Football, Men’s Basketball, and Softball Programs. – 1Oklahoma Collective

1Oklahoma is a 501(c)3 organization. Fans and businesses can donate to the organization and set up recurring monthly payments to help support the above organizations.

In a release from 1Oklahoma, Switzer said, “We changed the game in 1981 at the University of Oklahoma by being a pioneer for schools to negotiate their own contracts and generate additional revenue. We are changing the game again with 1Oklahoma Collective. Through NIL, every OU football player will have an opportunity to earn between $40,000 to $50,000 a year while positively impacting the community.”

Scott Williams will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the 1Oklahoma Collective. “Making a difference and positively impacting the community has been the vision of our entire team of founders since day one,” said Williams per the release. “As the father of a recent OU graduate who will be attending OU Dental School this summer, I’m fully aware of the university’s commitment to making a difference in the community. That spirit aligns with the standards set forth by the university, the athletic programs, and aligns with the statewide ‘Oklahoma Standard’ initiative of preserving and promoting a culture of citizens making a difference through Acts of Service.”

Williams went on to add, “The earning potential varies between sports and among athletes.”

It’s a new day in the NIL world and Barry Switzer and 1Oklahoma are finding an avenue to make NIL work not only for the players but for the State of Oklahoma.

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Washington Super Bowl Coach stands alone

As Sean McVay and Zac Taylor look to win their first Super Bowl Sunday, we shall never forget Joe Gibbs won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks.

How is it that one coach stands out in contrast to all Super Bowl champion coaches?

Vince Lombardi won the first two Super Bowls with Bart Starr as the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback. Don Shula and Miami won two with Bob Griese. Tom Landry steered Dallas to two Super Bowl trophies with Roger Staubach at the helm. Chuck Noll and the Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s with Terry Bradshaw behind center.

Tom Flores and the Raiders won two with Jim Plunkett as the leader of the offense. Bill Walsh was the head coach with Joe Montana the field general for three Super Bowl crowns for the 49ers. The 49ers won two more with head coach George Seifert coaching and Montana and Steve Young as signal-callers.

Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer both coached the Cowboys to Super Bowl rings with Troy Aikman taking the snaps from center. Denver’s Mike Shanahan as head coach and John Elway in the pocket for the Broncos won it all twice.

Tom Coughlin’s NY Giants took the crown twice with Eli Manning the on-field general. Last but certainly not least, New England’s Bill Belichick won six rings with Tom Brady as the quarterback.

Seifert is the only one above to win a second Super Bowl with a second quarterback (Montana and Young).

There is also Marv Levy and the Bills who went to multiple Super Bowls with Jim Kelly under center — and lost. Likewise, Dan Reeves led Elway and the Broncos to three Super Bowl appearances — they also lost all three.

Yet, there is one other coach to win more than multiple Super Bowls with more than one quarterback, Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins. Gibbs not only won more than one Super Bowl with more than one quarterback, he accomplished the feat three times!

Gibbs led Washington to Super Bowl trophies with Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien winning Super Bowls XVII, XXII and XXVI.

Starr, Griese, Staubach, Bradshaw, Montana, Young, Aikman and Elway are already in the Hall of Fame. Without question Brady will be in the HOF and Eli Manning a 2-time SB MVP is likely to be elected to the HOF. Only Jim Plunkett is likely to not make the HOF.

By contrast, Theismann was only an All-Pro once (1983), and Williams and Rypien were never All-Pro. Rypien had a great year only in 1991. Williams though never even a pro-bowler, was a veteran leader and had huge moments like the playoff win at Chicago (1987) and a nearly perfect 2nd quarter in Super Bowl XXII, earning the MVP.

Joe Gibbs is distinctive among Super Bowl coaches with multiple wins, doing so with three non-Hall of Fame quarterbacks.  Hats off to Coach Joe, who is remarkably now age 81. The Washington franchise and fans were certainly blessed to have enjoyed Joe Jackson Gibbs as head coach.