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F r o m W i k i p e d i a , t h e f r e e e n c y c l o p e d i a
American college football season
The 1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season . Oklahoma was a member of the Big Eight Conference and played its home games in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923.[1] head coach Chuck Fairbanks .[2] [3] 1971 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game , which has become known as Game of the Century .
In 1971, offensive coordinator Barry Switzer perfected the wishbone offense as it led the nation in both scoring (45 points average) and total yards (563 total yards average), and set an NCAA record by averaging over 472.4 (5196 in 11 games) rushing yards in a season.[4] total offense per game. The team also holds the single-season rushing touchdowns record of 62 and rushing touchdowns per game record of 5.17. The team's records of 711 single-game rushing yards and 785 total yards stood for nine seasons.[5] Freddie Solomon .[6]
Greg Pruitt set the current national single-season record with 8.98 yards per attempt,[7] all-purpose yards . Meanwhile, Jon Harrison set the single-season and career yards per reception with 29.1 and 27.0.[8] Quentin Griffin broke it in 2002. Joe Wylie's kickoff return average record of 28.5 stood for 27 years.[9]
The team was led by three All-Americans: Pruitt,[7] Tom Brahaney [10] Jack Mildren .[11] USC , #3 Texas , #6 Colorado , #1 Nebraska and #5 Auburn ). All five of these opponents finished the season ranked. The only loss was to Nebraska. They played Auburn in the Sugar Bowl and won 40–22.[3]
The top three teams in the final AP poll for the 1971 season were from the Big Eight: Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Colorado. The top two teams had never been from the same conference, and this year had three.[12]
Pruitt led the team in rushing with 1760 yards, Mildren led the team in passing yards for the third straight season with 889 yards and also in scoring with 12 points, Harrison led the team in receiving with 494 yards, Mark Driscoll led the team in tackles with 134, and John Shelly led the team in interceptions with 5.[13]
Schedule
[ edit ]
Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 18 SMU * No. 10
Norman, OK
W 53,545 September 25 at Pittsburgh * No. 11
Pittsburgh, PA
W 34,916 October 2 No. 17 USC * No. 8
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Norman, OK
W 62,351 October 9 vs. No. 3 Texas * No. 8
Dallas, TX (Red River Shootout )
ABC W 72,032 October 16 No. 6 Colorado No. 2
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Norman, OK
W 62,501 October 23 at Kansas State No. 2
Manhattan, KS
W 37,198 October 30 Iowa State No. 2
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Norman, OK
W 60,477 November 6 at Missouri No. 2
Columbia, MO (rivalry )
W 55,098 November 13 Kansas No. 2
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Norman, OK
ABC W 54,347 November 25 No. 1 Nebraska No. 2
Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Norman, OK (rivalry )
ABC L 31–35 62,884 December 4 at Oklahoma State No. 3
Stillwater, OK (Bedlam Series )
W 36,571 January 1, 1972 vs. No. 5 Auburn * No. 3
New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl )
ABC W 84,031 [14]
Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[15]
Game summaries
[ edit ]
SMU
[ edit ]
1 2 3 4 Total
SMU
0
0 0 0
0
• Oklahoma
3 17 7 3 30
Pittsburgh
[ edit ]
1 2 3 4 Total
• Oklahoma
21 21 6 7 55
Pittsburgh
11 6 0 12 29
Date: September 25
Location: Pitt Stadium
Game attendance: 34,916
USC
[ edit ]
1 2 3 4 Total
USC
7 7 0 6 20
• Oklahoma
13 6 14 0
33
Date: October 2
Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Game attendance: 62,351
Texas
[ edit ]
#8 Oklahoma Sooners vs. #3 Texas Longhorns
1 2 3 4 Total
• #8 Oklahoma
14 17 7 10 48
#3 Texas
14 7 6 0
27
Scoring summary 1 10:29 TEX Donnie Wigginton 5-yard run (Steve Valek kick) TEX 7-0 1 7:59 OU Greg Pruitt 1-yard run (John Carroll kick) Tied 7-7 1 5:04 TEX Donnie Wigginton 44-yard run (Steve Valek kick) TEX 14-7 1 2:04 OU Roy Bell 3-yard run (John Carroll kick) Tied 14-14 2 10:33 OU Greg Pruitt 4-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 21-14 2 9:09 OU Gregg Pruitt 20-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 28-14 2 4:53 TEX Jim Bertelsen 3-yard run (Steve Valek kick) OU 28-21 2 0:01 OU John Carroll 26-yard field goal OU 31-21 3 7:17 OU Jack Mildren 7-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 38-21 3 2:16 TEX Jim Bertelsen 15-yard run (kick failed) OU 38-27 4 3:29 OU John Carroll 27-yard field goal OU 41-27 4 2:10 OU Jack Mildren 1-yard run (John Carroll kick) OU 48-27
[16] [17]
Colorado
[ edit ]
#6 Colorado Buffaloes at #2 Oklahoma Sooners
1 2 3 4 Total
#6 Colorado
0
0 17 0
17
• #2 Oklahoma
14 10 7 14 45
Scoring summary 1 OU Pruitt 66-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 7-0 1 OU Harrison 54-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) OU 14-0 2 OU Carroll 36-yard field goal OU 17-0 2 OU Mildren 3-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 24-0 3 COL Nichols 64-yard pass from Johnson (Dean kick) OU 24-7 3 OU Pruitt 14-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 31-7 3 COL Davis 16-yard run (Dean kick) OU 31-14 3 COL Dean 32-yard field goal OU 31-17 4 OU Wylie 68-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) OU 38-17 4 OU Bell 3-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 45-17
[18]
Kansas State
[ edit ]
1 2 3 4 Total
• Oklahoma
14 27 13 21 75
Kansas St
7 7 7 7 28
Scoring summary 1 KSU Butler 2 yard run (Goerger kick) Kansas St 7–0 1 OKLA Mildren 1 yard run (kick failed) Kansas St 7–6 1 OKLA Pruitt 15 yard run (Chandler pass from Mildren) Oklahoma 14–7 2 OKLA Bell 24 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 21–7 2 KSU Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick) Oklahoma 21–14 2 OKLA Pruitt 38 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 28–14 2 OKLA Pruitt 15 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 35–14 2 OKLA Bell 5 yard run (kick failed) Oklahoma 41–14 3 OKLA Bell 6 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 48–14 3 KSU Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick) Oklahoma 48–21 3 OKLA Mildren 42 yard run (kick failed) Oklahoma 54–21 4 OKLA Chandler 15 yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 61–21 4 KSU Butler 1 yard run (Goerger kick) Oklahoma 61–28 4 OKLA Bell 11 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 68–28 4 OKLA Marshall 6 yard run (Carroll kick) Oklahoma 75–28
[19]
Iowa State
[ edit ]
1 2 3 4 Total
Iowa St
6 0 6 0
12
• Oklahoma
17 12 7 7 43
Date: October 30
Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Game attendance: 60,477
Missouri
[ edit ]
1 2 3 4 Total
• Oklahoma
6 14 0 0
20
Missouri
0
3 0 0
3
Date: November 6
Location: Faurot Field
Game attendance: 55,098
Kansas
[ edit ]
1 2 3 4 Total
Kansas
0
0 0 10 10
• Oklahoma
14 35 7 0
56
Date: November 13
Location: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Nebraska
[ edit ]
#1 Nebraska at #2 Oklahoma
1 2 3 4 Total
• #1 Nebraska
7 7 14 7 35
#2 Oklahoma
3 14 7 7 31
Oklahoma and Nebraska battled back and forth in the Game of the Century in front of a sold-out crowd in Norman and over 55 million viewers on ABC on Thanksgiving Day . Nebraska struck first with a 72-yard Johnny Rodgers punt return, but Oklahoma pulled ahead by 3 by halftime. The Cornhuskers came back strong in the third quarter with two more touchdowns, but the Sooners responded with two of their own to retake the lead with only 7:10 remaining. Down by 3 points, the Huskers went on a final drive and with only 1:38 remaining, Jeff Kinney scored his fourth touchdown of the day for the lead and the win.[20] [21] [22]
Oklahoma State
[ edit ]
#3 Oklahoma Sooners at Oklahoma State Cowboys
1 2 3 4 Total
• #3 Oklahoma
17 20 7 14 58
Oklahoma State
0
7 0 7 14
Scoring summary 1 OU Carroll 26-yard field goal OU 3-0 1 OU Mildren 4-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 10-0 1 OU Harrison 77-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 17-0 2 OU Mildren 1-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 24-0 2 OU Pruitt 1-yard run (kick failed) OU 30-0 2 OSU Garrett 38-yard run (Pruss kick) OU 30-7 2 OU Chandler 18-yard pass from Mildren (Carroll kick) OU 37-7 3 OU Pruitt 7-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 44-7 4 OSU Graham 7-yard pass from Pounds (Pruss kick) OU 44-14 4 OU Bell 4-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 51-14 4 OU Dodd 5-yard run (Carroll kick) OU 58-14
[23]
Sugar Bowl
[ edit ]
1 2 3 4 Total
• Oklahoma
19 12 3 6 40
Auburn
0
0 7 15 22
Passing: AUB Sullivan 20/44, 250 Yds, TD, INT, OU Mildren 1/4, 11 Yds
Rushing: AUB Unger 6 Rush, 38 Yds, 2 TD, OU Mildren 30 Rush, 149 Yds, 3 TD
Receiving: AUB Beasley 6 Rec, 117 Yds, OU Chandler 1 Rec, 11 Yds
OU Crosswhite 4 yd run (kick failed)
OU Mildren 5 yd run (Carroll kick)
OU Mildren 4 yd run (kick failed)
OU Mildren 7 yd run (kick failed)
OU Wylie 71 yd punt return (kick failed)
AUB Unger 1 yd run (Jett kick)
OU Caroll 53 yd FG
AUB Unger 1 yd run (Jett kick)
OU Pruitt 2 yd run (kick failed)
AUB Cannon 11 yd pass from Sullivan (run good)
[24]
Rankings
[ edit ]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final AP 10 10 11 8 8 2 (8 ) 2 (18 ) 2 (21 ) 2 (17 ) 2 (6 ) 2 (8 ) 2 (8 ) 3 3 2
Roster
[ edit ]
Awards and honors
[ edit ]
After the season
[ edit ]
NFL draft
[ edit ]
The following players were selected in the National Football League draft following the season.[25] [26]
References
[ edit ]
^ "OU Football Tradition – 42 Conference Titles" . CBS Interactive . Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010 .
^ a b "1971 Football Season" . SoonerStats.com. Retrieved July 2, 2010 .
^ "Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . National Collegiate Athletic Association . p. 27 . Retrieved July 2, 2010 .
^ "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF) . Big 12 Conference. p. 164. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ "2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records" (PDF) . National Collegiate Athletic Association . p. 35 . Retrieved July 9, 2010 .
^ a b c "All-American: Greg Pruitt" . CBS Interactive . Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010 .
^ "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF) . Big 12 Conference. p. 166. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF) . Big 12 Conference. p. 173. Retrieved July 1, 2010 .
^ a b "All-American: Tom Brahaney" . CBS Interactive . Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010 .
^ a b c "All-American: Jack Mildren" . CBS Interactive . Archived from the original on May 25, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010 .
^ "Huskers solid No. 1" . Reading Eagle . Pennsylvania. Associated Press. January 4, 1972. p. 20.
^ "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF) . Big 12 Conference. p. 164. Retrieved July 2, 2010 .
^ "Sooners smack Auburn in Sugar Bowl matchup" . The Daily Advertiser . January 2, 1972. Retrieved October 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ "1971 Oklahoma Sooners Schedule" . Soonerstats.com. 2008. Retrieved September 27, 2008 .
^ "Sooners thunder past favored Longhorns, 48-27." Eugene Register-Guard . October 10, 1971
^ 1971 Oklahoma vs. Texas recap - SoonerStats.com
^ "Oklahoma Routs Buffs." Palm Beach Post. October 17, 1971
^ "Sooners Romp, 75-28." Palm Beach Post. 1971 Oct 24.
^ " . Eugene Register-Guard . Oregon. Associated Press. November 26, 1971. p. 3B.
^ "Kinney leads Nebraska triumph" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. November 26, 1971. p. 42.
^ Jenkins, Dan (December 6, 1971). "Nebraska rides high" . Sports Illustrated . p. 22.
^ "Oklahoma Ropes Cowboys, 58-14." Palm Beach Post. December 5, 1971
^ 2018 Oklahoma football media guide . Retrieved 2019-Jan-15.
^ "1972 NFL Draft Listing" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved November 29, 2020 .
^ "Oklahoma Drafted Players/Alumni" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved April 23, 2023 .
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[ edit ]
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R e t r i e v e d f r o m " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1971_Oklahoma_Sooners_football_team&oldid=1200712533 " C a t e g o r i e s : ● 1 9 7 1 B i g E i g h t C o n f e r e n c e f o o t b a l l s e a s o n ● O k l a h o m a S o o n e r s f o o t b a l l s e a s o n s ● S u g a r B o w l c h a m p i o n s e a s o n s ● 1 9 7 1 i n s p o r t s i n O k l a h o m a H i d d e n c a t e g o r i e s : ● A r t i c l e s w i t h s h o r t d e s c r i p t i o n ● S h o r t d e s c r i p t i o n i s d i f f e r e n t f r o m W i k i d a t a ● U s e m d y d a t e s f r o m J a n u a r y 2 0 2 2 ● P a g e s u s i n g C F B s c h e d u l e w i t h n a m e d p a r a m e t e r s ● A r t i c l e s w i t h h C a r d s
● T h i s p a g e w a s l a s t e d i t e d o n 3 0 J a n u a r y 2 0 2 4 , a t 0 3 : 0 2 ( U T C ) . ● T e x t i s a v a i l a b l e u n d e r t h e C r e a t i v e C o m m o n s A t t r i b u t i o n - S h a r e A l i k e L i c e n s e 4 . 0 ;
a d d i t i o n a l t e r m s m a y a p p l y . B y u s i n g t h i s s i t e , y o u a g r e e t o t h e T e r m s o f U s e a n d P r i v a c y P o l i c y . W i k i p e d i a ® i s a r e g i s t e r e d t r a d e m a r k o f t h e W i k i m e d i a F o u n d a t i o n , I n c . , a n o n - p r o f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n . ● P r i v a c y p o l i c y ● A b o u t W i k i p e d i a ● D i s c l a i m e r s ● C o n t a c t W i k i p e d i a ● C o d e o f C o n d u c t ● D e v e l o p e r s ● S t a t i s t i c s ● C o o k i e s t a t e m e n t ● M o b i l e v i e w
