Oklahoma’s Greatest Football All-American: Frank "Pop" Ivy or Jason White

In another unfair match-up of past vs. present era You’d have to live on the moon to not know how great Jason White was but not many people are around to tell us how good Frank “:Pop” Ivy was in 1939. Ivy played on both sides of the ball and he never missed a game due to injury and led the Sooners to an undefeated season.

Frank "Pop" Ivy, E - 1939
Frank "Pop" Ivy earned All-America honors in 1939. Grantland Rice, the famous sports writer, called Ivy one of the greatest defensive ends he had ever seen.

With great athletic ability, Ivy was one of the top cover men in the conference, named to the All-Big Six team in 1939. During 1938, the defense allowed only two touchdowns the entire year, while opposing offenses averaged only 43.3 yards per game.

After going undefeated during the regular season, the Sooners made their first bowl appearance in school history, facing Tennessee in the Orange Bowl. The game had fights and penalties throughout, and the Sooners lost, 17-0.

Jason White, QB - 2003
Jason White brought home Oklahoma's fourth Heisman Trophy in 2003 with a record-setting campaign. He became the first Sooner QB to win the trophy and was named Associated Press, Sporting News and CNNSI.com College Player of the Year.

White was a consensus All-American, consensus Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and Davey O'Brien Award winner along with Sports Illustrated and Sporting News Player of the Year honors.

White set Oklahoma school records for touchdown passes (40) and consecutive completions (16) and ranks No. 2 for passing yards in a season and No. 4 for passing yards in a career. He exceeded 200 passing yards in 12 games and was over 300 yards in four including a season-high 394 yards at Texas Tech.

White completed 17-of-21 passes in Oklahoma's 65-13 win over Texas and was 16-of-18 for 263 yards and five touchdowns while playing just the first half against Texas A&M. He ranked No. 1 in the nation in passing efficiency.

White's accomplishments stand alone but are even more amazing considering he battled back from two season-ending injuries. The NCAA granted White's request to return to OU for the 2004 season.