1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team

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
Big Eight champion Orange Bowl champion
Orange Bowl, W 24–7 vs. Florida State
Conference	Big 8 Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 3
AP	No. 3
1979 record	11–1 (7–0 Big 8)
Head coach	Barry Switzer (7th season)
Offensive coordinator	Galen Hall (7th season)
Offensive scheme	Wishbone
Defensive coordinator	Rex Norris (2nd season)
Base defense	5–2
Home stadium	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 71,187)

1979 Big Eight Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
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
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

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
September 15	Iowa*	No. 3	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ESPN	W 21–6	72,531[10]
September 22	Tulsa*	No. 3	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ESPN	W 49–13	72,451[10]
September 29	at Rice*	No. 3	Rice Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN	W 66–7	30,442[10]
October 6	Colorado	No. 3	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ESPN	W 49–24	72,512[10]
October 13	vs. No. 4 Texas*	No. 3	Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX (Red River Shootout)	ABC	L 7–16	72,032[10]
October 20	at Kansas State	No. 8	KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS	ESPN	W 38–6	27,257[10]
October 27	Iowa State	No. 7	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ESPN	W 38–9	72,069[10]
November 3	at Oklahoma State	No. 7	Lewis Field Stillwater, OK (Bedlam Series)	ABC	W 38–7	51,453[10]
November 10	Kansas	No. 6	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	ESPN	W 38–0	71,882[10]
November 17	at Missouri	No. 7	Faurot Field Columbia, MO (rivalry)	ABC	W 24–22	69,973[10]
November 24	No. 3 Nebraska	No. 8	Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK (rivalry)	ABC	W 17–14	72,516[10]
January 1, 1980	vs. No. 4 Florida State	No. 5	Miami Orange Bowl Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)	NBC	W 24–7	66,714[10]
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Iowa

Iowa Hawkeyes at #3 Oklahoma Sooners

1 2 3 4 Total Iowa 6 0 0 0 6 • #3 Oklahoma 0 7 0 14 21 Date: September 15 Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma Game attendance: 72,531

Scoring summary 1 IOWA Dennis Mosley 10-yard pass from Phil Seuss (kick failed) IOWA 6-0 2 4:00 OU Billy Sims 1-yard run (John Hoge kick) OU 7-6 4 OU Billy Sims 3-yard run (John Hoge kick) OU 14-6 4 OU J.C. Watts 1-yard run (John Hoge kick) OU 21-6

[11]

Tulsa

Rice

Colorado

Colorado Buffaloes at #3 Oklahoma Sooners

1 2 3 4 Total Colorado 7 0 3 14 24 • #3 Oklahoma 7 28 7 7 49 Date: October 6 Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

Scoring summary 1 Oklahoma Sims 1-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 7-0 1 Colorado Solomon 6-yard pass from Pugh (Field kick) Tie 7-7 2 Oklahoma Watts 11-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 14-7 2 Oklahoma Sims 1-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 21-7 2 Oklahoma Overstreet 1-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 28-7 2 Oklahoma Sims 6-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 35-7 3 Colorado Field 41-yard field goal Oklahoma 35-10 3 Oklahoma Sims 1-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 42-10 4 Colorado Davis 11-yard run (Field kick) Oklahoma 42-17 4 Oklahoma Winters 28-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 49-17 4 Colorado Green 1-yard run (Field kick) Oklahoma 49-24

[12]

Oklahoma faced its former coach Chuck Fairbanks for the first time since his departure following the 1972 season.

Texas (Red River Shootout)

Kansas State

1 2 3 4 Total • Oklahoma 3 0 14 21 38 Kansas St 0 6 0 0 6 Date: October 20 Location: KSU Stadium Game attendance: 31,480

Scoring summary Q1 OKLA Keeling 38 yard field goal OKLA 3–0 Q2 KSU Black 1 yard run (kick failed) KSU 6–3 Q3 OKLA Watts 1 yard run (Keeling kick) OKLA 10–6 Q3 OKLA Watts 18 yard run (Keeling kick) OKLA 17–6 Q4 OKLA Sims 5 yard run (Keeling kick) OKLA 24–6 Q4 OKLA Phelps 14 yard run (Keeling kick) OKLA 31–6 Q4 OKLA Phelps 36 yard run (Keeling kick) OKLA 38–6

• J.C. Watts 118 rush yds

[13]

Iowa State

Oklahoma State (Bedlam Series)

#7 Oklahoma at Oklahoma State

1 2 3 4 Total • #7 Oklahoma 24 7 7 0 38 Oklahoma State 0 0 0 7 7 Date: November 3 Location: Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Scoring summary 1 Oklahoma Sims 4-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 7-0 1 Oklahoma Overstreet 72-yard pass from Watts (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 14-0 1 Oklahoma Sims 1-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 21-0 1 Oklahoma Keeling 39-yard field goal Oklahoma 24-0 2 Oklahoma Sims 1-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 31-0 3 Oklahoma Sims 11-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 38-0 4 Oklahoma St Suellentrop 2-yard run (Ankerson kick) Oklahoma 38-7

[14]

Kansas

Missouri

• Oklahoma's 100th win of the 1970s (Alabama only other school to do so) [15]

Nebraska

#3 Nebraska Cornhuskers at #8 Oklahoma Sooners

1 2 3 4 Total #3 Nebraska 0 7 0 7 14 • #8 Oklahoma 0 3 7 7 17 Date: November 24 Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

Scoring summary 2 Oklahoma Keeling 31-yard field goal Oklahoma 3-0 2 Nebraska Redwine 11-yard pass from Quinn (Sukup kick) Nebraska 7-3 3 Oklahoma Valora 58-yard pass from Watts (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 10-7 4 Oklahoma Watts 3-yard run (Keeling kick) Oklahoma 17-7 4 Nebraska Schleusaner 15-yard run (Sukup kick) Oklahoma 17-14

[16]

Florida State (Orange Bowl)

Roster

1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class G 75 Terry Crouch So HB 11 Fred Nixon Sr HB 22 David Overstreet Jr WR 24 Steve Rhodes Sr HB 20 Billy Sims Sr C 73 Paul Tabor Sr QB 1 J. C. Watts Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB 28 George Cumby Sr DT 92 Keith Gary Jr DE 72 John Goodman Sr FS 33 Bud Hebert Sr DE 83 Mike Joyce Sr DB 3 Darrol Ray Sr DT 96 Richard Turner Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class	Head coach Barry Switzer Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

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]

1980 NFL Draft

See also: 1980 NFL Draft

The following Sooners were selected in the following year's NFL Draft.

Player	Position	Round	Overall Pick	NFL Team
Billy Sims	RB	1	1	Detroit Lions
George Cumby	LB	1	26	Green Bay Packers
Darrol Ray	S	2	40	New York Jets
John Goodman	DE	2	56	Pittsburgh Steelers
Fred Nixon	WR	4	87	Green Bay Packers
Paul Tabor	C	5	130	Chicago Bears
Darry Hebert	DB	5	179	New York Giants
Barry Burdet	LB	9	235	New England Patriots
Mike Babb	DB	11	284	Atlanta Falcons

References

1. "Memorial Stadium". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
2. "OU Football Tradition – 42 Conference Titles". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
3. "1979 Football Season". SoonerStats.com. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
4. "All-American: Billy Sims". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
5. "All-American: George Cumby". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
6. "Sooners Spoil Seminole Uprising". Orange Bowl Committee. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
7. "2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 47. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
8. "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. p. 175. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
9. "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. p. 166. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
10. http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?seasonid=1979
11. "Sluggish Oklahoma Downs Iowa." September 16, 1979
12. Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 October 7.
13. Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Oct 21. Retrieved 2018-Oct-28.
14. Palm Beach Post. 1979 Nov 4.
15. Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Nov 18.
16. Eugene Register-Guard. 1979 Nov 25.

External links

• 1979 season at SoonerStats.com