1976 Oklahoma Sooners football team

1976 Oklahoma Sooners football
Big 8 Co-Champions
Fiesta Bowl, W 41–7 vs. Wyoming
Conference Big 8 Conference
Ranking
Coaches #5
AP #6
1976 record 9-2-1 (5-2-0 Big 8)
Head coach Barry Switzer
Offensive scheme Wishbone
Defensive coordinator Larry Lacewell
Base defense 5-2
Home stadium Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Seasons
« 1975 1977 »
1976 Big 8 football standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#5 Oklahoma 5 – 2 – 0     9 – 2 – 1
#14 Oklahoma State 5 – 2 – 0     9 – 3 – 0
#16 Colorado 5 – 2 – 0     8 – 4 – 0
#9 Nebraska 4 – 3 – 0     9 – 3 – 1
#19 Iowa State 4 – 3 – 0     8 – 3 – 0
Missouri 3 – 4 – 0     6 – 5 – 0
Kansas 2 – 5 – 0     6 – 5 – 0
Kansas State 0 – 7 – 0     1 – 10 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1976 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1976 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football participated in the former Big Eight Conference at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923.[1] The team posted a 9–2–1 overall record and a 5–2–0 conference record to earn a share of the Conference title under head coach Barry Switzer who took the helm in 1973.[2][3] This was Switzer's fourth conference title in four seasons.[2]

The team was led by two All-Americans: Zac Henderson[4] and Mike Vaughan[5]. After tying with Oklahoma State and Colorado for the conference title, it earned a trip to the Fiesta Bowl where it came out victorious against the Wyoming Cowboys.[3] During the season, it faced five ranked opponents (In order, #16 Texas, #15 Kansas, #19 Colorado, #11 Missouri and #10 Nebraska). Four of its opponents finished the season ranked. It tied with Texas in the Red River Shootout and lost to Oklahoma State and Colorado.[3] The Sooners started the season with a 5–0–1 record. They also began and ended the season with four game winning streaks.[3] Sophomore Daryl Hunt's 177 tackles that season would stand as the school record for five years and continues to be the second highest total behind Jackie Shipp's 189 in 1981.[6]

Kenny King led the team in rushing with 839 yards, Dean Blevins led the team in passing with 384 yards, Steve Rhodes led the team in receiving with 160 yards, Uwe von Schamann and Horace Ivory led the team in scoring with 72 points, Hunt led the team in tackles with a record-setting 177 as well as interceptions with 4.[7]

Contents

Schedule

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 11 at Vanderbilt* #5 Dudley Field • Nashville, TN W 24–3   34,171[8]
September 18 California* #4 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK W 28–17   72,026[8]
September 25 Florida State* #4 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK W 24–9   71,343[8]
October 2 at Iowa State #3 Cyclone Stadium • Ames, IA W 24–10   47,186[8]
October 9 vs. #16 Texas* #3 Cotton Bowl • Dallas, TX (Red River Rivalry) ABC T 6–6   72,032[8]
October 16 at #15 Kansas #6 Memorial Stadium • Lawrence, KS W 28–10   49,085[8]
October 23 Oklahoma State #5 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK (Bedlam Series) L 24–31   72,041[8]
October 30 at #19 Colorado #13 Folsom Field • Boulder, CO L 31–42   52,000[8]
November 6 Kansas State #14 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK W 49–20   70,987[8]
November 13 #11 Missouri #14 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK (Tiger-Sooner Peace Pipe) W 27–20   71,620[8]
November 26 at #10 Nebraska #8 Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE (OU-Nebraska) ABC W 20–17   74,284[8]
December 25 Wyoming #8 Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, AZ (Fiesta Bowl) CBS W 41–7   48,714[8]
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll.

Awards & Honors

Notes

  1. ^ "Memorial Stadium". CBS Interactive. http://www.soonersports.com/facilities/memorial-stadium_history.html. Retrieved 2010-06-30. 
  2. ^ a b "OU Football Tradition". CBS Interactive. http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-conf-titles.html. Retrieved 2010-06-30. 
  3. ^ a b c d "1976 Football Season". SoonerStats.com. http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?SeasonID=1976. Retrieved 2010-06-30. 
  4. ^ a b "All-American: Zac Henderson". CBS Interactive. http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-zac-henderson-1976-77.html. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  5. ^ a b "All-American: Mike Vaughan". CBS Interactive. http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/aa-mike-vaughan-1975-76.html. Retrieved 2010-06-29. 
  6. ^ "2009 Football Record Book". Big12sports.com. p. 175. http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/record_book.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=10410. Retrieved 2010-06-30. 
  7. ^ "2009 Football Record Book". Big12sports.com. p. 175. http://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/pdfs/football/record_book.pdf?&DB_OEM_ID=10410. Retrieved 2010-06-30. 
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l http://www.soonerstats.com/football/seasons/schedule.cfm?seasonid=1974

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