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2013 Countdown To Kickoff: 60 Days!

Looney was the only junior college player that Bud Wilkinson ever accepted.

USA Today Sports

Joe Don Looney was the ninth player selected in the 1964 NFL draft (New York Giants) after only playing one full season of football for Oklahoma. His first carry for the Sooners was a touchdown run, but that's just a small part of the legendary story.

On September 22, 1962 Syracuse had a 3-0 lead on Oklahoma late in the fourth quarter. Looney approached legendary coach Bud Wilkinson and said that if the coach would put him in then he'd score a touchdown. Thinking that Looney was a bit full of himself, Wilkinson put him in to watch him eat some crow but instead he scampered 60 yards to pay dirt to lead the Sooners to a 7-3 victory.

He went on to lead Oklahoma to a Big Eight championship that season by rushing for a team high 852 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns. He also led the nation with a 43.4 punting average.

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