NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Oklahoma Sooners were the defending national runners-up, a team thirsty to take that one final step. After a dominating regular season the year before, they had lost to unranked Kansas in the national championship game. Instead of folding, however, the Sooners simply bounced back the next year, winning another Big 8 championship and earning another No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
The East Tennessee State Buccaneers were making just the second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history, the first since 1968, which was before many of its players were born. They could have been forgiven if they had slipped into "happy to be here" mode and gotten run off the court by the powerful Sooners.
So of course, it was East Tennessee State that had a 17-point lead in the first half.
It was a surprising scoreline, to be sure, but what followed was not surprising. It has happened so many times in past NCAA tournaments; maybe the pressure of the moment starts to get to the underdog holding the lead, and they start to watch the clock rather than pay attention to the game; or maybe the favorite realizes that they actually have a game on their hands and starts taking this upstart seriously. Whatever the cause, Oklahoma started the comeback, started chipping away at the East Tennessee lead.
But it took them a while. Well past halftime, deep into the second half, Oklahoma still hadn't come all the way back. Finally, with 1:21 left in the game, Oklahoma guard Mookie Blaylock scored on a baseline drive to give the Sooners a 72-71 lead. Order had been restored for the moment, but East Tennessee still had a chance at the lead, but two Buccaneer misses gave the ball back to Oklahoma, and eventually Blaylock ended up with a one-and-one situation.
Hoping to give the Sooners a three-point lead, the soon-to-be NBA point guard instead missed the first free throw with six seconds left, giving the Buccaneers one more shot at a miracle. It had to be a miracle, as Oklahoma's tight inbounds defense prevented East Tennessee from getting anything better than a near-halfcourt heave by Alvin West. When Mike Bell got his finger on the shot, the ball fell harmlessly away, and Oklahoma had averted the largest kind of upset.
Fresh off their great escape, the Sooners hoped to regroup for another Final Four run. Instead, their season ended after only one more victory, as they fell to Virginia in the Sweet 16.
Showing posts with label Oklahoma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oklahoma. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Thursday, November 25, 2010
November 25, 1971: Run, Johnny, Run
NORMAN, Okla. - It's one of the signature moments in college football history. Johnny Rodgers catching a punt on the fly, getting hit almost as soon as he caught the ball, dodging a few more tackles, then taking off, not stopping until he was dancing in the end zone.
It was the most exciting play of the 1971 college football season, indeed one of the most exciting plays of the entire decade. Rodgers' punt return did more than just give Nebraska a 7-0 lead, though. It helped kick off a rivalry that lasted throughout the rest of the decade and into the 80s, one that often helped determine the number 1 team in the country.
The Nebraska-Oklahoma rivarly wasn't always the biggest one on each school's schedule. Before the 1970s, neither school seemed to be good at the same time, so the game wasn't circled on the calendar too often. That changed in 1971. Nebraska, the defending national champions, entered their game against Oklahoma undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation. Oklahoma was ranked No. 2, the start of a climb back into national prominence. Both teams were undefeated on November 25, 1971, when they met for what was billed as the latest version of the Game of the Century.
Going into the game, the biggest intrigue was thought to come when Oklahoma had the ball, as the Sooners' dominant wishbone offense was going against Nebraska's devestating "blackshirts" defense. It was billed as the irresistable force battling the immoveable object. That matchup was thought to be the highlight of the game that would likely decide the national championship.
But it was Rodgers' punt return that got the game going. After stopping Oklahoma on the opening drive, Rodgers explosive run put Nebraska in the drivers' seat in the game of the year. The Cornhuskers had a 14-3 lead late in the second quarter, but they gave it back, as Oklahoma scored twice in the second, including once with just seconds left in the quarter. Nebraska's 17-14 halftime deficit marked the first time all season they had trailed in a game.
Nebraska's power running took over, and the Cornhuskers scored two straight touchdowns to take a 28-17 lead. Back again came Oklahoma, reclaiming the lead at 31-28. Nebraska got the ball back with seven minutes left with a chance to take the lead again. After driving to near midfield, Rodgers struck again, turning a short pass into a 33-yard gain to bring Nebraska to the 15. Runningback Jeff Kinney ran the ball on the next four plays, the last resulting in his fourth touchdown of the game, as Nebraska went back in front. They stopped Oklahoma's last drive, securing the victory.
Even more than the national championship the previous year, the Cornhuskers' victory in front of an estimate 55 million television viewers helped thrust Nebraska into the national spotlight, where it remains to this day. As the Cornhuskers wrapped up their second straight national championship in January, people from around the the country started following and cheering for the 'Huskers.
Oklahoma benefited from the game too, even in defeat. Their 1971 season was the beginning of their return to glory. Despite the loss to Nebraska, the Sooners finished the season ranked No. 2, defeating Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. Three years later, it was the Sooners' turn to win back-to-back national championships.
Rodgers' punt return:
It was the most exciting play of the 1971 college football season, indeed one of the most exciting plays of the entire decade. Rodgers' punt return did more than just give Nebraska a 7-0 lead, though. It helped kick off a rivalry that lasted throughout the rest of the decade and into the 80s, one that often helped determine the number 1 team in the country.
The Nebraska-Oklahoma rivarly wasn't always the biggest one on each school's schedule. Before the 1970s, neither school seemed to be good at the same time, so the game wasn't circled on the calendar too often. That changed in 1971. Nebraska, the defending national champions, entered their game against Oklahoma undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation. Oklahoma was ranked No. 2, the start of a climb back into national prominence. Both teams were undefeated on November 25, 1971, when they met for what was billed as the latest version of the Game of the Century.
Going into the game, the biggest intrigue was thought to come when Oklahoma had the ball, as the Sooners' dominant wishbone offense was going against Nebraska's devestating "blackshirts" defense. It was billed as the irresistable force battling the immoveable object. That matchup was thought to be the highlight of the game that would likely decide the national championship.
But it was Rodgers' punt return that got the game going. After stopping Oklahoma on the opening drive, Rodgers explosive run put Nebraska in the drivers' seat in the game of the year. The Cornhuskers had a 14-3 lead late in the second quarter, but they gave it back, as Oklahoma scored twice in the second, including once with just seconds left in the quarter. Nebraska's 17-14 halftime deficit marked the first time all season they had trailed in a game.
Nebraska's power running took over, and the Cornhuskers scored two straight touchdowns to take a 28-17 lead. Back again came Oklahoma, reclaiming the lead at 31-28. Nebraska got the ball back with seven minutes left with a chance to take the lead again. After driving to near midfield, Rodgers struck again, turning a short pass into a 33-yard gain to bring Nebraska to the 15. Runningback Jeff Kinney ran the ball on the next four plays, the last resulting in his fourth touchdown of the game, as Nebraska went back in front. They stopped Oklahoma's last drive, securing the victory.
Even more than the national championship the previous year, the Cornhuskers' victory in front of an estimate 55 million television viewers helped thrust Nebraska into the national spotlight, where it remains to this day. As the Cornhuskers wrapped up their second straight national championship in January, people from around the the country started following and cheering for the 'Huskers.
Oklahoma benefited from the game too, even in defeat. Their 1971 season was the beginning of their return to glory. Despite the loss to Nebraska, the Sooners finished the season ranked No. 2, defeating Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. Three years later, it was the Sooners' turn to win back-to-back national championships.
Rodgers' punt return:
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
November 16, 1957: Streak over
NORMAN, Okla. - It had been four years, 47 games, since Oklahoma had lost a college football game. It had been even longer, 123 games and 12 years, since the Sooners had been shut out in a game. So as their punt sailed into the Notre Dame end zone with about six minutes to play in the game, it was shocking to look up at the scoreboard to see a score of 0-0.
It was shocking not just because of Oklahoma's recent history, but also because of Notre Dame's. The Irish had lost to Oklahoma 40-0 the previous year and entered their game against on November 16, 1957, on a two-game losing streak, something to which Notre Dame was very unfamiliar. The Irish were 18-point underdogs to the mighty Sooners.
Throughout the game, the Irish defense held strong, letting Oklahoma get drive into Notre Dame territory before strengthening. Oklahoma's best scoring chance was a drive that stalled at the 3 yard line in the first quarter. Notre Dame's offense, though, rarely had a chance to capitalize, as Oklahoma punts kept pinning Notre Dame deep in its own territory. The closest the Irish came to scoring came in the second quarter, with another drive that stalled at the 3.
And so the game remained scoreless as Oklahoma punted away in the fourth quarter. Starting at the 20, Notre Dame started methodically marching up the field, never busting a big play but never getting stuffed, either. Soon, Notre Dame had first and goal without having thrown a pass. Seeing their streak in jeopardy, Oklahoma stiffened. The Irish were stuffed on three straight runs up the middle, setting up fourth and goal. Instead of kicking the field goal, the Irish went for it again, this time running around right end. Dick Lynch ran in untouched, and the ensuing conversion gave Notre Dame a 7-0 lead.
Now it was Oklahoma's last chance. The crowd, expecting the kind of last-minute touchdown that had become Oklahoma's trademark during its streak, watched in horror as Notre Dame intercepted a last-ditch drive. After being shocked into silence, the crowd rose to give a standing ovation, to Oklahoma in recognition of the two great streaks that ended that day, and to Notre Dame for a job well done.
With the loss, Oklahoma coach Bud Wilkinson saw his career record drop to 101-8-3. Oklahoma's streak of 47 straight wins remains the all-time college football record.
It was shocking not just because of Oklahoma's recent history, but also because of Notre Dame's. The Irish had lost to Oklahoma 40-0 the previous year and entered their game against on November 16, 1957, on a two-game losing streak, something to which Notre Dame was very unfamiliar. The Irish were 18-point underdogs to the mighty Sooners.
Throughout the game, the Irish defense held strong, letting Oklahoma get drive into Notre Dame territory before strengthening. Oklahoma's best scoring chance was a drive that stalled at the 3 yard line in the first quarter. Notre Dame's offense, though, rarely had a chance to capitalize, as Oklahoma punts kept pinning Notre Dame deep in its own territory. The closest the Irish came to scoring came in the second quarter, with another drive that stalled at the 3.
And so the game remained scoreless as Oklahoma punted away in the fourth quarter. Starting at the 20, Notre Dame started methodically marching up the field, never busting a big play but never getting stuffed, either. Soon, Notre Dame had first and goal without having thrown a pass. Seeing their streak in jeopardy, Oklahoma stiffened. The Irish were stuffed on three straight runs up the middle, setting up fourth and goal. Instead of kicking the field goal, the Irish went for it again, this time running around right end. Dick Lynch ran in untouched, and the ensuing conversion gave Notre Dame a 7-0 lead.
Now it was Oklahoma's last chance. The crowd, expecting the kind of last-minute touchdown that had become Oklahoma's trademark during its streak, watched in horror as Notre Dame intercepted a last-ditch drive. After being shocked into silence, the crowd rose to give a standing ovation, to Oklahoma in recognition of the two great streaks that ended that day, and to Notre Dame for a job well done.
With the loss, Oklahoma coach Bud Wilkinson saw his career record drop to 101-8-3. Oklahoma's streak of 47 straight wins remains the all-time college football record.
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