1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team
American college football season
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The 1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1979 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.[1] The team posted an 11–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference title outright under head coach Barry Switzer who took the helm in 1973.[2][3] This was Switzer's seventh conference title and fourth undefeated conference record in seven seasons.[2]
| 1979 Oklahoma Sooners football | |
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Big 8 champion Orange Bowl champion | |
Orange Bowl, W 24–7 vs. Florida State | |
| Conference | Big Eight Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 3 |
| AP | No. 3 |
| Record | 11–1 (7–0 Big 8) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Galen Hall (7th season) |
| Offensive scheme | Wishbone |
| Defensive coordinator | Rex Norris (2nd season) |
| Base defense | 5–2 |
| Captains |
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| Home stadium | Oklahoma Memorial Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Oklahoma $ | 7 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 1 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 Nebraska | 6 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oklahoma State | 5 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Missouri | 3 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 5 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa State | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kansas | 2 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kansas State | 1 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The team was led by All-Americans Billy Sims and George Cumby.[4][5] After winning the conference title outright, it earned a trip to the Orange Bowl for a bout with Florida State. During the season, it faced three different ranked opponents (In order, #4 Texas, #3 Nebraska and #4 Florida State). All three of these opponents finished the season ranked. It endured its only defeat of the season against Texas in the Red River Shootout.[3] The Sooners started the season with a four consecutive wins before losing to Texas and then won their remaining seven games.[3] Sims and J.C. Watts both posted for 100-yard games in the Orange Bowl.[6]
Sims led the nation in scoring with 138 points (based on per game average of 12.0, which includes 132 in 11 games).[7] Sims led the team in rushing with 1670 yards, Watts led the team in passing with 821 yards, Freddie Nixon led the team in receiving with 293 yards, Cumby led the team with 160 tackles and Bud Hebert posted 4 interceptions.[8] Billy Sims set numerous Oklahoma offensive records that still stand including career 200-yard games, single-season rushing touchdowns (tied)[9]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 15 | Iowa* | No. 3 | W 21–6 | 72,531 | [10] | ||
| September 22 | Tulsa* | No. 3 |
| W 49–13 | 72,451 | [11] | |
| September 29 | at Rice* | No. 3 | W 63–21 | 30,442 | [12] | ||
| October 6 | Colorado | No. 3 |
| W 49–24 | 72,512 | [13] | |
| October 13 | vs. No. 4 Texas* | No. 3 | ABC | L 7–16 | 72,032 | [14] | |
| October 20 | at Kansas State | No. 8 | W 38–6 | 27,257 | [15] | ||
| October 27 | Iowa State | No. 7 |
| W 38–9 | 72,069 | [16] | |
| November 3 | at Oklahoma State | No. 7 | W 38–7 | 51,453 | [17] | ||
| November 10 | Kansas | No. 6 |
| W 38–0 | 71,882 | [18] | |
| November 17 | at Missouri | No. 7 | W 24–22 | 69,973 | [19] | ||
| November 24 | No. 3 Nebraska | No. 8 |
| ABC | W 17–14 | 72,516 | [20] |
| January 1, 1980 | vs. No. 4 Florida State* | No. 5 | NBC | W 24–7 | 66,714 | [21] | |
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Personnel
| 1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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Season summary
Iowa
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
- Date: September 15
- Game attendance: 72,531
- [23]
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
'Fourth quarter
|
Tulsa
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
| Oklahoma | 21 | 7 | 0 | 21 | 49 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
- Date: September 22
- Game attendance: 72,451
At Rice
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 21 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 63 |
| Rice | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
at Rice Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: September 29
- Game attendance: 30,442
Colorado
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 7 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 24 |
| Oklahoma | 7 | 28 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
- Date: October 6
- Game attendance: 72,512
- [24]
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Oklahoma faced its former coach Chuck Fairbanks for the first time since his departure following the 1972 season.
vs Texas
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Texas | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
- Date: October 13
- Game attendance: 72,032
- TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson & Frank Broyles
At Kansas State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 3 | 0 | 14 | 21 | 38 |
| Kansas State | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at KSU Stadium, Manhattan, Kansas
- Date: October 20
- Game attendance: 27,757
- [25]
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Iowa State
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Oklahoma | 7 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 38 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
- Date: October 27
- Game attendance: 72,069
At Oklahoma State (Bedlam Series)
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 24 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 38 |
| Oklahoma State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma
- Date: November 3
- Game attendance: 51,453
- [26]
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Kansas
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 7 | 7 | 21 | 38 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
- Date: November 10
- Game attendance: 71,882
At Missouri
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 7 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
| Missouri | 3 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 22 |
at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
- Date: November 17
- Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,973
- Box Score
Nebraska
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
- Date: November 24
- Game attendance: 71,180
- TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson & Frank Broyles
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Orange Bowl (vs Florida State)
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida State | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Date: January 1, 1980
- Game attendance: 66,714
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui, John Brodie, and Bob Trumpy
Rankings
| Week | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
| AP | 3 (4) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Coaches Poll | 2 (2) | 3 (3) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 (1) |
Awards and honors
- All-American: Billy Sims,[4] and George Cumby,[5]
- Big 8 rushing champion: Sims[4]
- NCAA DI scoring champion: Sims[4]
- Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year: Cumby[5]
NFL draft
The following players were selected in the National Football League draft following the season.[30][31]
Sooners who were picked in the 1980 NFL Draft:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Billy Sims | Running back | Detroit Lions |
| 1 | 26 | George Cumby | Linebacker | Green Bay Packers |
| 2 | 40 | Darrol Ray | Safety | New York Jets |
| 2 | 56 | John Goodman | Defensive end | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 4 | 87 | Fred Nixon | Wide receiver | Green Bay Packers |
| 5 | 130 | Paul Tabor | Center | Chicago Bears |
| 5 | 179 | Darry Hebert | Defensive back | New York Giants |
| 9 | 235 | Barry Burdet | Linebacker | New England Patriots |
| 11 | 284 | Mike Babb | Defensive back | Atlanta Falcons |