Last season Oklahoma had the luxury of playing their first road game in Tulsa but no such luck this season. Oklahoma will travel to Seattle on September 13th to take on the Washington Huskies. The Huskies are 21-19-2 against the Big 12 and are even in their series against the Sooners at 1-1. Washington returns a 1,000 yard rusher and a 2,000 yard passer but they are the same person, sophomore quarterback Jake Locker. Behind him they return a tight end (Michael Gottlieb) who only caught 12 passes and a running back (Brandon Johnson) who had a total of 51 carries last season.

On defense the Huskies return all of their statistical leaders. The linebacker position will be the strength of Washington’s defense. They return their leading tackler (OLB EJ Savannah) from last season as well as Donald butler who had 52 tackles. In the secondary, cornerbacks Mesphin Forrester and Byron Davenport are both seniors. Forrester is also a run stopper who logged 93 tackles last season.

This could be a make or break season for Ty Willingham. The Huskies haven’t been to a bowl game since 2002 and a four win season last year showed some promise but narrow margin losses won’t cut it in 2008. U-Dub will have a lot to make up for on the offensive side of the ball and the defensive line but if they can get the right personnel this trip will be a long way from a cakewalk.

Over the weekend, the Big 12 held the inaugural Bass Fishing Championship at Lake Eufaula. Four anglers from OU took the championship with a combined total of 50.13 pounds of fish in the two-day tournament. OU and 7 other Big 12 schools competed in the Tournament that was held over the weekend. The OU Bass Fishing team took home a traveling Big 12 Bass Fishing Championship trophy and in beating OSU they brought home the first Bedlam Battle Bass Championship. Here are the complete standings from the weekend:

1. Oklahoma - 50.13 lbs
2. Texas Tech - 35.47 lbs
3. Oklahoma St. - 34.98 lbs
4. Texas - 29.62 lbs
   
5. Kansas St. - 12.63 lbs
6. Colorado - 9.68
7. Nebraska was unable to catch any keepers

Big 12 Bass Fishing Championship [Tulsa World]

Steve Owens 1968, 1969

Well, Steve Owens won in a predicted landslide for the period of 1963-1969 and now the easy decisions are done. In the next couple of days we have to decide who was the better All-American between Jack Mildren, Gregg Pruitt, Rod Shoate and Lucious Selmon. Yeah, and the next round won’t be any easier either but we’ll get there on Wednesday. Let me just say this, OU went without an All-American in 1970 but would make up for it with 10 players selected between 1971 and 1973 – three of them were named twice during that period and one of them would be a three time selection. Good luck with this lot! Let us know who you think was the greatest.

Greg Pruitt, HB - 1971, 1972
Greg Pruitt earned consensus All-America honors in 1971 and '72. He still owns school records for most yards in a game (294 against Kansas State in 1971) and all-purpose running yards in a game (374) and season (1,946). His 9.41 yards per rushing attempt in 1971 is an NCAA record.

Pruitt finished third in the Heisman voting in 1971 and second in 1972. He was chosen NCAA Football Player of the Year by the Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., in 1972. He rushed for 1,665 yards as a junior, but was injured with three games left in his senior year and was denied a second consecutive 1,000-yard season. Up to that point, Steve Owens was the only other conference player in history to accomplish this.

He was drafted in the second round by the Cleveland Browns in 1973. He became the 13th Sooner player in the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1999.

Jack Mildren, QB - 1971
When people talk about the powerful wishbone offenses of the 1970s at OU, Jack Mildren's name comes up every time. The 1971 All-American was the quarterback of one of the greatest offenses in college football history. During that year, the Sooners led the country in rushing, total offense and scoring.

Combining speed (4.6 in the 40) and a strong arm, Mildren was an exciting player to watch. An extremely accurate passer, Mildren owns the school record for passing efficiency with a rating of 207.1 during the 1970 season.

Mildren equaled his athletic accomplishments in the classroom. Some of his honors include the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, Graduate Fellowship Winner-National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, National Collegiate Athletic Association and GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American. He was inducted into the GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1998.

He was drafted in the second round by the Baltimore Colts in 1972. Mildren served as Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma from 1990 to 1994.

Tom Brahaney, C - 1971, 1972
Tom Brahaney was named a consensus All-American in 1971 and '72. In the 1971 "Game of the Century," which the Sooners lost to Nebraska 35-31, the Huskers' Outland Trophy winner Rich Glover called him the best center he had played against all year.

In 1972, Brahaney was a finalist for the Lombardi Award (Lineman of the Year). During the 1971 season, the Sooners led the nation in rushing, total offense and scoring, all brought about by the Brahaney-led offensive line. He was named to the all-conference squads in both 1971 and '72.

He was drafted in the fifth round by the Denver Broncos in 1973.

Rod Shoate, LB - 1972, 1973, 1974

In 1974, Rod Shoate became only the second Sooner three-time All-American. He also earned the honor in 1972 and '73. With the speed of a running back (4.5 in the 40) and extraordinary strength, the linebacker was a dominant force. His 420 career tackles placed him third on the all-time list.

It was clear early on in his career that Shoate was special, as he recorded 22 tackles during his sophomore year against Iowa State. The Associated Press designated him the National Lineman of the Week.

He was taken in the second round by the New England Patriots in 1975.

Derland Moore, DT - 1972
Derland Moore was named to the Associated Press and Gold Sheet All-America teams. During his career, he had several huge plays in big games. Against Nebraska in 1972, he blindsided Nebraska's QB, causing a fumble that set up the winning field goal.

He was named National Lineman of the Week after the Texas game, when he blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown. He scored a touchdown himself in that game when he recovered a fumble in the end zone. Moore was named all-conference in 1971 and '72.

He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round in 1973.

Lucious Selmon, NG - 1973
Lucious Selmon received consensus All-America honors in 1973. The oldest brother of perhaps the most famous trio of brothers in OU history, Lucious and his younger brothers, Lee Roy and Dewey, were all outstanding athletes.

Lucious compiled a long list of accomplishments and accolades during his career at OU. He was named the Big Eight Athlete of the Year in 1973-74 and was named the Top Defensive Player in the conference in 1973.

He was named the Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year in 1973 and finished second in the Outland Trophy balloting (Lineman of the Year). He was described by then head coach Barry Switzer as the best down lineman he had ever coached.

Selmon was drafted in the 16th round by the New England Patriots in 1974.

Eddie Foster, OT - 1973
Eddie Foster was named to the Family Weekly and Walter Camp All-America teams in 1973.

During that year, Foster scored for the first time since he was in high school. It was a lineman's dream scenario. With just a 7-0 lead against Baylor, OU quarterback Steve Davis was heading for the goal line when he fumbled the ball. As Foster waited near the end zone to block, he spotted the ball and pounced on it for a touchdown. Foster said that his roommate and he "had it all planned out how it would happen." The three-year letterman was a large part of what many consider to be one of OU's top offensive lines.

He was drafted in the 12th round by the New England Patriots in 1974.

 
Its not West Virginia but Oklahoma gets another crack at the Big East in this match-up. The Bearcats haven’t played a Big 12 opponent in the regular season since playing Kansas State in 1997. Cincinnati is 7-7-1 against the Big 12 conference but they have lost their last five games on the road against non-conference BCS teams. UC only returns 12 starters from last year’s squad and among those gone are their leading rusher, their leading passer and their leading tackler. What they do have returning is a talented trio of receivers that tallied 2,267 yards and 24 touchdowns led by sophomore Marcus Barnett’s 13 TD’s.

Defensively they return three of their four stat leaders for senior campaigns. The Bearcats allowed 114 yards on the ground and 254 through the air last season. They were +16 in turnovers and registered a total of 42 sacks including a season high 11 at Syracuse.

Cincinnati started last season 6-0 and were ranked in the Top 25 for the first time since 1976. They would finish the season 10-3 including a win over Southern Mississippi in the PapaJohns.com Bowl. They ranked 2nd in the Big East in scoring and 3rd in scoring defense.

via images.sportsline.com

Clendon Thomas 1957

In somewhat of an upset Clendon Thomas edged out Joe Don Looney by just one vote for the era of 1957-1962. He’ll move on to take on the winner of the 1963-1969 era. This period produced a war hero, 4 two-time All-Americans and Oklahoma’s second Heisman Trophy winner. Now you have the task of letting us know which one you believe to be the greatest.

Jim Grisham, FB/LB - 1963
Jim Grisham made an impression on a few people with his 107 yards rushing in his first bowl game.

The Sooners faced Paul "Bear" Bryant and his Alabama Crimson Tide. Most notably, Bryant was extremely impressed with his performance. "Grisham was as hard a runner as we've ever seen," the legendary coach commented.

The consensus All-American punished his opponents on defense as much as on offense. During his sophomore season, he was named defensive player of the game against Kansas and Syracuse. The three-time all-conference performer made Bud Wilkinson's final game as head coach memorable. With the Sooners trailing 10-7 in the second half to OSU, Grisham exploded for four touchdowns while setting a school record for rushing yards (218).

He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings during the sixth round in 1965.

Ralph Neely, T - 1963, 1964
When asked what his favorite thing about playing football was, Ralph Neely said playing against a real tough opponent. Anyone who watched the two-time All-American play knew this. Not many of his opponents challenged the 261-pound tackle who played both ways. He was named the Big Eight Sophomore Lineman of the Year.

With great quickness for a big man, Neely was a dominant performer on defense. After the 1963 Missouri game, Tiger QB Gary Lane said, "That big Ralph Neely, where did he keep coming from? I think he spent more time in our backfield than I did." Also an excellent blocker on offense, Neely was an all-conference selection in both 1963 and '64.

He was drafted in the second round by the Baltimore Colts in 1965.

Carl McAdams, C/LB - 1964, 1965
During his high school playing days, Carl McAdams played every position on the team except center. The OU coaches took care of that for the two-time All-American, as he helped out there for the Sooners. But his play at linebacker is what earned him national honors during his competitive career.

"He's as good as anybody we've ever had," said then-head coach Gomer Jones. "He's so quick that he can take two steps the wrong way backing the line, and still recover in time to make the play."

McAdams was all-conference in 1964 and '65. He was also named conference Lineman of the Year in 1965. He was drafted in the third round by the New York Jets in 1967.

Granville Liggins, NG - 1966, 1967
In 1967, Granville Liggins was honored as UPI's Lineman of the year. The two-time All-American ranks as one of the top defensive linemen in OU's history.

At 214 pounds, Liggins was the biggest man on the defense, but he usually had to face bigger centers. He could offset this with his incredible quickness.

"He moves so fast that he looks like he's offsides," said then-Texas head coach and former OU player Darrell Royal. "Many times he'll hit the center before the center can get the ball to the quarterback."

Liggins was also honored as the Lineman of the Year by the Pigskin Club of Washington, D.C., in 1967. He was drafted in the 10th round by the Detroit Lions in 1968.

Bob Kalsu, OT - 1967
Bob Kalsu earned All-America honors in 1967 for his outstanding play at offensive tackle. "Bob was our best offensive lineman, the best athlete we had," said-then offensive coach Barry Switzer. "Bob wasn't only a great player, he was a great leader. He had the maturity and leadership abilities we needed at that time with our program in transition."

Kalsu was also a member of the ROTC at OU. Kalsu was drafted in the eighth round by the Buffalo Bills in 1968.

After his first year, Kalsu was called to join the U.S. Army's highly decorated 101st Airborne Division. On July 21, 1970, he was killed by North Vietnamese mortar fire. He was the only professional football player to be killed during the Vietnam Conflict.

In 1977, Kalsu was recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The plaque in his honor reads: "No one will ever know how great a football player Bob might have been, but we do know how great a man he was to give up his life for his country." He also was memorialized by his teammates and the "O" Club with the Benien-Kalsu-Henderson Scholarship. It is presented annually to student-athletes who have completed their eligibility.

Steve Owens, TB - 1968, 1969
In 1969, Steve Owens became the second player in OU history to win the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

The two-time consensus All-American scored more touchdowns during his career than any other Sooner (56). He also holds records for most touchdowns in a season (23) and most points scored in a season (138), accomplishing both during the 1969 season.

He also broke several national records during his career: most rushing yards (3,867), most net yards rushing in one season (1,536 in 1968), most net yards rushing in two seasons (2,344) and the three-year record for touchdowns (56). After his incredible career, Owens was also awarded the Walter Camp Trophy and was honored by the Helms and Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation.

He was the 19th player taken in the 1970 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. He was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1991. Owens served as OU's Director of Athletics from 1996-98.

Steve Zabel, TE - 1969
Steve Zabel earned All-America honors as a tight end in 1969, but his play at other positions made him one of the most valuable players at OU. With his natural athletic ability, in 1968 the coaching staff decided to utilize him at defensive end and also as a punter.

He was named to the All-America blocking team by the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Times during his sophomore year. During his first season playing for the varsity, Zabel had his most memorable experience as a Sooner. "My greatest moment as an OU player has got to be catching the touchdown pass in '67 against KU from Bob Warmack with one minute left in the game. That clinched the Orange Bowl berth," Zabel said.

Also an excellent student, Zabel was a three-time academic all-conference selection. He was the sixth player taken in the 1970 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ken Mendenhall, C - 1969
Described as a devastating one-on-one blocker, Ken Mendenhall earned All-America honors in 1969 for his play at center. The Enid native was appreciated by his teammates. "He's always got the path cleared for you," said tailback Steve Owens. "He's fantastic coming off the ball on a man right in front of him. I'm glad we have him up there."

He cleared the way for Owens, who is OU's all-time leading scorer. An extremely versatile player, Mendenhall made the switch from guard to center during his sophomore year and excelled after the switch.

He was a fifth-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 1970.

This is a game that OU honestly shouldn’t be playing but you have to play your schedule and I’m sure that Michigan felt the same way before hosting Appalachian State, another Southern Conference team, in their season opener last year. Chattanooga, however, is a far cry from the mighty Mountaineers of Appalachian State and I wouldn’t expect anything like what we saw in the Big House last September.

The Mocs finished 2-9 last season with their wins coming in conference. They lose last season’s starting quarterback but retain their leading rusher and receiver. On the other side of the ball Chris Camacho is gone along with his 135 tackles. They also lose 10 sacks between Chris Johnson and Charles Profit who are also gone from last year’s squad. Linebacker Joseph Thornton does return after leading the team with 4 interceptions last year. 

Continue reading this post »