Texas great Earl Campbell once said he was heading to Oklahoma, per Barry Switzer

A casual NFL Sunday turned into a day of quick reflection. One of Texas’ great running backs said he was originally going to Oklahoma.

A casual NFL Sunday turned into a day of quick reflection.

The College Football Playoff national championship game is Monday night. Former Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer is down in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the game between LSU and Clemson and ran into an old commit.

Kind of … I think.

Texas great Earl Campbell is also down in the Big Easy for the game. He and Switzer ran into each other, and the legendary Oklahoma coach made it a chance for a photo opportunity. As well as a chance to tell an old, yet fascinating, story.

“Earl told me when he left Norman on his official visit he was going to be a Sooner!,” Switzer tweeted. “Next time I saw him he was across the field from me in the Cotton Bowl(emoji)!”

Do … what?

Campbell rushed for 4,443 yards and 40 touchdowns during his four years at the Univetrsity of Texas. During his senior season in 1977, he rushed for 1,744 yards on 6.4 yards per carry and 18 touchdowns. Campbell also won the Heisman Trophy in 1977 before becoming the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 1978 NFL Draft.

The former Texas great is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame after being a five-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro selection and winning the NFL MVP award in his rookie season in 1978. Campbell rushed for 9,407 yards and 74 touchdowns in his short seven-year NFL career.

He is named after the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award given to the top offensive player in NCAA Division I from the state of Texas.

But what if the tables were turned as Switzer says?

The former Oklahoma coach would have had a nine-year stretch of Greg Pruitt (No. 30 overall NFL Draft selection), Joe Washington (No. 4 overall NFL Draft selection), Campbell (No. 1 overall NFL Draft selection) then Billy Sims (No. 1 overall NFL Draft selection). Pruitt and Washington were Heisman finalists with Sims winning the Trophy in 1978.

Switzer’s recruiting ability was second to none, and it appears as if a silent commitment flipped elsewhere during his tenure. One of the caliber of the great Earl Campbell, who ended up going 1-2-1 against Oklahoma in his Texas career.

Guess him heading to Texas now makes the loss of Adrian Peterson out of the state of Texas for the Longhorns even.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]