I was impressed with the top ten all time OU football moments that our site host put up this summer to get some football excitement going.  But many of his choices really showed his youthfulness.  One of my biggest complaints when people talk "history" is they are really only talking THEIR history.  And history is much, much longer, then our own personal experience.  Just cause we weren't there, doesn't mean it didn't happen, or isn't important.  As the saying goes, "we stand on the shoulders of giants".  I've grown up hearing tales of old football memories, and I love seeing what came before.  So I though I'd help this site out by listing "My all time OU football moments"  Is this list THE definitive list? I don't think there is such a thing.   I noticed the prior list had both amazing individual plays AND big games.  Mine will too, but I'm going to focus on big games, or big plays that sent OU to victories or memorable losses.  Also my great moments won't include hiring of coaches, or signing of recruits, those only become great with time and accomplishments. (Hiring Stoops big moment, Hiring John Blake, not so much)

Today I'm going to start with the honorable mentions.  Great moments one and all, but just not big enough for the top 10 for what ever reason.  (Hope I don't screw this up too much, going by memory)

1895 OU plays first Game "the Rough Riders" lost 34-0 to Oklahoma City and never even scored a first down in 1895, 12 years before Oklahoma would be a state.  But every team has a first game.

1939 Orange Bowl.  OU's 1st Bowl Game vs Tennessee.  While OU lost, both teams were undefeated going into this game and OU the Big 6 Champions are put on the national scene.

1959 @ Nebraska.  A 25-21 squeaker markers the 1st time the Sooners have lost a conference game since 1946! 12 seasons! Over that time the conference goes from the Big 6 to the Big 7 to the Big 8. Sooners still win the conference marking 15 conference wins in a row!

1967 Kansas Game: KU comes to Norman, trying to derail the Sooners Run to the Big 8 title.  Last minute drive led by Bobby Warmack and a nice run by Steve Owens pulls out a come from behind victory 14-10.

71 USC @ Norman.  Gregg Pruitt has TD runs of 75, 42, 7 yards with 205 yards on only 16 carries as the Wishbone shocks then ranked # 5 USC as OU wins 33-14!

1971 Texas @ Dallas Texas hadn't lost since 2nd week of 1968, where national champs in 69, & 70 and ranked 3rd coming into this game, one week after the OU-USC game. #8 OU beat the `Horns handily, 48-27.  Darryl Royal coined the phrase, " Their backs look like they are running downhill,." after the game.

1973 @ USC.  The game ended in a 7-7 tie.  OU won the Big 8 but could go to a bowl game because of probation.  So why this game? Well one of the great punt returns of all time...a 3 yard loss by Little Joe Washington.  You have to see it to understand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNQvFQM2yrE

1978 Orange Bowl vs Arkansas.  Needing a victory and maybe a big one to get enough votes for a National Championship, OU goes in favorites over the Hogs.  However Rollon Sales, is still running up and down the field to this day, as Arkansas beat OU 31-6.  Switzer calls this "the most disappointing loss of his career" to this day.

1978 OU Nebraska and the 79 Orange Bowl....vs Nebraska.  These are connected at the hip. Weird turn of events after Nebraska upsets OU when Billy Sims fumbles on the 3 yard line going in for a TD hand's Nebraska a 17-14 win and derails the Sooners bid for another national championship.  The following week NU lost to Missouri, the Sooners now Co-Big 8 champs get a rematch to play the Huskers in Miami.  The 2nd time was a charm, OU wins 31-24

1984 OU-Texas 15-15 loss (Yes, you read that right)  These were 2 teams in the top 10 at the same time, for the first time in several years. A controversial call (at best) cost the Sooners an interception allowing the `Horns to kick a tying field goal.  When Switzer asked the ref how far the defender was out of bounds on the interception, the ref reportedly raised his hand in the "hook `em horns" symbol and said," This far coach, this far"

1984 OK. State, in Norman, #2 v #3 and Switzer's team beat Jimmy Johnson's team on national TV.  OU goes on to the Orange Bowl to play Washington with a shot at the National Championship.

1985 the "Ice Bowl" Road trip to Stillwater. An old fashion Oklahoma ice storm hits right at game time. The game went on. No one can stand up, but Sooners won, and go on to a national championship.  A game no Oklahoman will forget.

1987 Game of the Century II  Number 1 Nebraska vs #2 OU in Lincoln for the 2nd straight year to shake up home and away match up.  OU pulls out a nice victory on the road.  OU goes on to loose the National Championship in the 88 Orange bowl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m813Ccd09GA

88 Orange Bowl Game vs. Miami  For the 3rd time in 3 years, this one for the National Championship.  A beat up OU team couldn't find the "Sooner Magic" and lost for the 3rd time 20-14.  This game also marked the point where defenses and individual speed had caught up to the Wishbone, and arguably marked an end of an era.

2000 Big 12 championship game vs Kansas State. A close game, and 4th down conversion by Quinton Griffin gives OU the victory to send the Sooners to the National Championship game

2003 OU blows out Texas 65-13 and sets new record for margin of victory in the series