1974 Oklahoma Sooners football team

Last updated

1974 Oklahoma Sooners football
Oklahoma Sooners Logo 1966-79.png
AP Poll national champion
Big 8 champion
Conference Big Eight Conference
Ranking
APNo. 1
Record11–0 (7–0 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Galen Hall (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Wishbone
Defensive coordinator Larry Lacewell (5th season)
Base defense 5–2
Captains
Home stadium Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Seasons
←  1973
1975  →
1974 Big Eight Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Oklahoma $ 7 –0 –011 –0 –0
Missouri 5 –2 –07 –4 –0
No. 9 Nebraska 5 –2 –09 –3 –0
Oklahoma State 4 –3 –07 –5 –0
Colorado 3 –4 –05 –6 –0
Iowa State 2 –5 –04 –7 –0
Kansas 1 –6 –04 –7 –0
Kansas State 1 –6 –04 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1974 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. This was the first of three national championship squads for head coach Barry Switzer. Only one opponent played the Sooners within 14 points and four failed to score a touchdown. At the same time, OU led the nation in scoring offense with an average of 43 points per game to finish the season as the only undefeated team in the country at 11–0.

Contents

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 14 Baylor *No. 1
W 28–1162,375
September 28 Utah State *No. 3
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
W 72–362,065
October 5 Wake Forest *No. 2
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
W 63–061,191–61,826 [1]
October 12vs. No. 17 Texas *No. 2
W 16–1372,032
October 19at Colorado No. 2
W 49–1448,447–51,777
October 26 Kansas State No. 2
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
W 63–062,460
November 2at Iowa State No. 2
W 28–1033,580
November 9 Missouri No. 2
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK (rivalry)
W 37–062,600
November 16at Kansas No. 1
W 45–1443,974
November 23No. 6 Nebraska No. 1
W 28–1474,504
November 30 Oklahoma State No. 1
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK (Bedlam)
W 44–1362,619
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[2]

Season summary

Oklahoma was loaded with talent, evidenced by its eight All-Americans, the most of any season to that point. OU's wishbone offense, triggered by running back Joe Washington, fullback Jim Littrell, and quarterback Steve Davis, averaged 73.9 rushing attempts per game, which still stands as an NCAA single-season record, [3] as does its 21.4 rushing first downs per game. [4]

Oklahoma also featured a tough defense led by senior All-American Rod Shoate, a swift and punishing linebacker, and a defensive front consisting of brothers Lee Roy and Dewey Selmon, and Jimbo Elrod.

Because Oklahoma was on NCAA probation for recruiting violations, it was ineligible for ranking in the Coaches Poll and could not appear on network television or appear in a postseason bowl game. [5] Nevertheless, the Sooners opened the '74 season as the top-ranked team in the AP Poll, the first time since 1957 that OU debuted at #1 and the first time in 11 years that Oklahoma sat atop the poll. Despite being a 43-point favorite against Baylor, the Sooners struggled in their season opener, needing three fourth-quarter touchdowns to secure a 28–11 victory. Baylor recovered from this loss and enjoyed a stellar season, winning the Southwest Conference championship under third-year coach Grant Teaff.

The win didn't impress AP voters, and OU dropped to #3 behind Ohio State and Notre Dame. The Sooners quickly rebounded by destroying Utah State and Wake Forest in back-to-back weeks by a combined score of 135–3. Eight Sooners scored touchdowns against Utah State, while nine players found the end zone against the Demon Deacons.

Next up for the Sooners was the Red River Shootout, and the Texas Longhorns presented Oklahoma's toughest challenge yet. Trailing 13–7 in the fourth quarter, OU dug into its bag of tricks with a reverse to split end Billy Brooks, who scampered 40 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. The ensuing extra point attempt by Sooner kicker John Carroll was ruled no good, leaving the game tied at 13–13. Oklahoma's defense rose to the challenge, led by Shoate, who finished the game with 21 tackles, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The last statistic was the critical one, as the Sooners forced a Texas fumble on the next possession, which Shoate recovered at the 50. A 37–yard field goal from Tony DiRienzo minutes later was the difference. "This was as close as a game can be", coach Switzer said afterward. A testament to how hard the game was fought, OU offensive tackle Mike Vaughan reportedly passed out from exhaustion following the game.

The Sooners followed their victory over Texas with a pair of blowouts over #16 Colorado, 49-14, and Kansas State, 63–0. Joe Washington rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns against the Buffaloes, while eight players found the end zone versus the Wildcats. After a sloppy performance on a soggy field in a 28–10 win at Iowa State, Oklahoma shutout a tough Missouri squad 37–0, a team that had beaten Nebraska and scored 82 points in its previous two games. OU's third shutout of the season ran its record to 8–0 as top-ranked Ohio State was upset by Michigan State, 16–13.

Oklahoma regained the #1 ranking and, following a 45–14 win over Kansas, traveled to Lincoln with a Big Eight Conference title on the line. OU changed its defense for the game against Nebraska, using man-to-man coverage instead of zone. The move paid dividends as the Sooners intercepted four passes, including three by Randy Hughes, while the offense rolled up 482 yards on the ground despite not completing a single pass in the contest. The victory earned Oklahoma its second straight Big Eight Championship with one game remaining against Oklahoma State. Against the Cowboys, OU faced a 13–10 deficit late in the third quarter before scoring five touchdowns during a seven–and–a–half–minute span. The 44–13 victory marked OU's 20th consecutive win and 29th straight game without a loss.

When Alabama fell to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, the Sooners were left as the nation's only unbeaten team. With a #1 ranking in the final AP Poll, OU laid claim to its fourth national championship and first since 1956. To date, the 1974 Sooners are the last NCAA Division I-A team to claim an AP national title without benefit of a postseason bowl win.

Game summaries

Wake Forest

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at #2 Oklahoma Sooners
1234Total
Wake Forest00000
•#2 Oklahoma142871463
Scoring summary
1OUBurget 18-yard run (Carroll kick)OU 7-0
1OUWashington 65-yard run (Carroll kick)OU 14-0
2OUHoffman 7-yard pass from Davis (Carroll kick)OU 21-0
2OUPeacock 55-yard run (Carroll kick)OU 28-0
2OUOwens 32-yard pass from Davis (Carroll kick)OU 35-0
2OUBerg 1-yard run (Carroll kick)OU 42-0
3OUBrooks 42-yard pass from Blevins (Carroll kick)OU 49-0
4OUBlevins 1-yard run (Carroll kick)OU 56-0
4OURussell 70-yard run (Carroll kick)OU 63-0

[6]

Texas (Red River Shootout)

#2 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #17 Texas Longhorns
1234Total
#17 Texas037313
•#2 Oklahoma070916
Scoring summary
2OKLADavis 22-yard run (Carroll kick)Oklahoma 7-0
2TEXSchott 21-yard field goalOklahoma 7-3
3TEXCampbell 12-yard run (Schott kick)Texas 10-7
4TEXSchott 38-yard field goalTexas 13-7
4OKLABrooks 40-yard run (kick failed)Tie 13-13
4OKLADiRienzo 37-yard field goalOklahoma 16-13

[7]

Colorado


Personnel

1974 Oklahoma Sooners football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
OT 73Drake AndarakesSr
OT 74Jerry ArnoldSr
RB 20Bob BergSr
WR 82 Billy Brooks Jr
RB 25Grant BurgetSr
RB 33Waymon ClarkSr
C 50 Kyle Davis Sr
QB 7Steve DavisJr
RB 29 Horace Ivory Jr
WR 11 Tinker Owens Jr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DL 54 Jimbo Elrod Jr
LB 41 Gary Gibbs Sr
DB 19 Randy Hughes Sr
DB 16 Tony Peters Sr
DT 91 Dewey Selmon Jr
DT 93 Lee Roy Selmon Jr
LB 43 Rod Shoate Sr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 3Tony DiRienzoJr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked ( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213Final
AP 1 (23)1 (22)3 (18)3 (8)2 (24.2)2 (24)2 (5)2 (8)2 (10)2 (14)1 (48)1 (45)1 (49)1 (49)1 (51)
Coaches Poll ———————————————

After the season

NFL draft

The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season. [8] [9]

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Team
241 Rod Shoate Linebacker New England Patriots
482 Tony Peters Defensive back Cleveland Browns
496 Randy Hughes Defensive back Dallas Cowboys
5113 Kyle Davis Center Dallas Cowboys
6134John Carroll Wide receiver San Diego Chargers
8189Wayne Hoffman Tackle Kansas City Chiefs
10239Clyde Russell Guard Miami Dolphins
14355Jerry Arnold Running back Denver Broncos
15370 John Roush Running backSan Diego Chargers
15372Grant BurgetGuard New Orleans Saints

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References

  1. ↑ "Oklahoma shows no mercy, slaughters Wake Forest 63–0". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. October 6, 1974. Retrieved January 26, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "1974 OU Football Season Schedule - SoonerStats - Historical scores, records, and stats for Oklahoma Sooners football, basketball, baseball, and softball".
  3. ↑ "Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 27. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  4. ↑ "2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 28. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  5. ↑ "The Best Team You'll Never See". Sports Illustrated .
  6. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. October 6, 1974
  7. ↑ Eugene Register-Guard. 1974 Oct 13.
  8. ↑ "1975 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Oklahoma Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
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