R.I.P. Jack Mildren.......

[Salt City Sooner]

just heard it on the animal. Cancer.

[Soonerus]

That's horrible...prayers to the family...

[Cam]

Damn.

[SoonerStormchaser]

I had the pleasure of meeting him about three years ago. So sad. Prayers to his family.

[snp]

Crappy

Always seemed like such a great guy. At least now he gets to run the Bone again.

[goingoneight]

God bless the Godfather of the Wishbone and may he rest in peace. One of the greatest sports personalities I've ever met.

[SoonerStormchaser]

TY_5Uy7_CQg

[Salt City Sooner]

http://www.newsok.com/article/3247406/

[GrapevineSooner]

R.I.P. Jack and prayers to the Mildren family and the entire Sooner family.

[goingoneight]

Any links to an extended story... I'm sure there will be a long one in the DOK tomorrow and all.

[Curly Bill]

Sad news. Prayers for the family, and the Sooner nation.

[OU-HSV]

Even though I wasn't alive yet during his playing years, I appreciate what he did on the field for OUr Sooners. Another loss of a Sooner great.
R.I.P. Jack

[okienole3]

Dang. Prayers sent.

He was on the radio earlier this week.

[r5TPsooner]

The good do die young.

RIP Mr. Wishbone.

[Sooner_75]

That is tough to hear. Altought I only knew him from his time on the radio it is a sad day. 58 is way to young to go.

[birddog]

dang, i didn't know he was that sick.

rip, jack.

[soonerfan28]

Way to young. My wifes dad just died of cancer at 53. It will take you young. Prayers for the family for sure.

[SwitzerIsMyKing]

I'm truly sad tonight. I was lucky enough to travel with him to the last few bowl games and what a great, great guy he was. This is hard news to take.

[Soonerus]

I'm truly sad tonight. I was lucky enough to travel with him to the last few bowl games and what a great, great guy he was. This is hard news to take.

I am truly sad too...

[BlondeSoonerGirl]

:(

*gulp*

[Civicus_Sooner]

http://yourspaceisbest.com/upload/icons/iconsmily4.gif
The best product of Abilene, Texas, EVAR!

[Rhino]

Really sucks. R.I.P. Jack.

lDsNyh4MMR0

[Rhino]

0AxulqVSWf0

[AMSooner]

This sucks. We'll miss you, Jack. :(

[OU-HSV]

Way to young. My wifes dad just died of cancer at 53. It will take you young. Prayers for the family for sure.

Yep, that damn cancer has no age cut off.
Jack was too young, your wife's dad was too young...and my wife's mother passed from cancer back in 2000..she didn't even make age 42 I don't think.
Awful, awful...my thoughts are with Jack's family and Sooner Nation who mourns his loss.

[Civicus_Sooner]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Mildren

Let's beef this up.

Easilly one of the greatist Sooners ever.

[Rhino]

fPL1KsFmepk

[OU-HSV]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/article.aspx?articleID=20080522_2__ByGue35833

[Rhino]

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/8549/mildrenjr6.jpg

[Rhino]

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/7640/mildren2iz9.jpghttp://img389.imageshack.us/img389/6537/mildren3gp3.jpg

[Rhino]

U91NHKRXlRU

[Sooner_Havok]

Damn, I was listening to him on the radio just a little while ago. I can't believe it. :(

[Rhino]

Legacy.com Guestbook (http://www.legacy.com/Oklahoman/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=110215240)

[Civicus_Sooner]

Damn, I was listening to him on the radio just a little while ago. I can't believe it. :(
He knew then. What a tough dude.

[sooneron]

Holy crap, that is sad news. Another great Sooner is gone.
RIP #11.

[Soonerpsycho]

R.I.P. Jack :(

[Curly Bill]

Legacy.com Guestbook (http://www.legacy.com/Oklahoman/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=110215240)

Thanks for posting this Rhino.

[olevetonahill]

He was Just a few Months Older than me .
Makes Me wonder why I bitch and complaine about My aches and Pains .
RIP Bro

[Collier11]

What a shame, by all accounts a great guy! I am truly saddened!

[RacerX]

****

I'll miss you Jack.

Prayers to all your loved ones.

[sooneron]

Time for a new avvie for you Jack....

[poke4christ]

All of Oklahoma, no matter what color we wear, is mourning Jack today. He will be missed. He was a wonderful man.

God Bless Jack, you're playing for the king's King now, and I bet he's a fan of the wishbone.

[sooneron]

All of Oklahoma, no matter what color we wear, is mourning Jack today. He will be missed. He was a wonderful man.

God Bless Jack, you're playing for the king's King now, and I bet he's a fan of the wishbone.

That right there is a class post.

[auto]

Godspeed Jack.

Even the horns are being classy on this one.

[Sooner98]

Wow, I had no idea he was even sick. :(

[olevetonahill]

Legacy.com Guestbook (http://www.legacy.com/Oklahoman/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=110215240)

I have a feeling it may take More than 24 hrs for Entrys to be approved .;)

[SOONER STEAKER]

Thanks Abilene TX HS for Jack Mildren. RIP Jack. I know you and Bud are talking about the wishbone rightr now!!

Jack Mildren=Best Wishbone QB, EVAR!!

[Fraggle145]

Thanks Jack. RIP.

[BoulderSooner79]

I became a sooner fan in 1971 when I moved to OKC right before 9th grade. That team, and especially #11, were an inspiration to me. I even insisted on playing wishbone QB in our play ground flag football games.

Tailwinds always, Jack

[Soonerpsycho]

http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/7670/jackmildren62wmsf6.jpg

[OU-HSV]

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=8369074

[OKC-SLC]

Dadgum, this is terrible news.

RIP, Jack.

[HateTheWhorns]

What a sad day in my life. The first home game I remember as a child was the 1971 OU-NU Game of the Century. I've never been one to idol worship anyone, but as a child I had two Sooner heroes -- Jack Mildren and Joe Wylie. Jack Mildren for putting OU back on the map (and being a class act) and Joe Wylie for being a great athlete, but student first (4.0 gpa in accounting).

I've sat just a few seats down from Jack at OU games these past 20-30 years and will miss him greatly. It makes me feel old and like a chapter of my life has closed.

God bless the Mildren family.

[Civicus_Sooner]

It makes me feel old and like a chapter of my life has closed. It has. Period.

[AllAboutThe'O']

Terrible news.

He will be greatly missed, and our thoughts go out to the Mildren family.

[Sooner24]

http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/8549/mildrenjr6.jpg

That's the second OU game I ever attended. It was the 1971 OU/KU game two weeks before the "Game of the Century".

R.I.P Jack you were the greatest. :(

[boomersooner28]

This absolutely breaks my heart. Jack was such a great Sooner and always will be. I LOVED hearing him on the SA. He was my favorite. Prayers to the family. So sorry. We love you Jack and you will be sorely missed.

[Mixer!]

Thoughts & prayers for the Mildren family.

[sshusker]

I am so sorry to hear this news. I loved Jack on the radio, he is actually one of my favorites. My prayers go out to his family and to all Sooner fans.

[stoopified]

Legacy.com Guestbook (http://www.legacy.com/Oklahoman/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=110215240)Thanks Rhino for posting the pics,vids and link to the guestbook.

I grew up watching Jack,I feel part of me is gone with his passing.

[85Sooner]

Thanks for the Memories RIP

[TUSooner]

I'm very sorry to hear that. I'll always remember his heroic performance vs Nebs in 1971 and the way he made the wishbone click. Sounds like he battled like a hero in life as well.

[Boomer.....]

Very sad news. Rest in peace JM.

[Mad Dog Madsen]

:( So sad, so sad. Prayers to his family. R.I.P

[olevetonahill]

I'm very sorry to hear that. I'll always remember his heroic performance vs Nebs in 1971 and the way he made the wishbone click. Sounds like he battled like a hero in life as well.

What I said Kev .
He makes me fell like wussy .

[insuranceman_22]

RIP & prayers to the family. A true Sooner & a good man has gone.

[Sooner Born Sooner Bred]

Somewhere I still have my "Let's Back Jack" t-shirt from the 1994 gubernatorial campaign.

Prayers for the entire Mildren family.

[soonersn20xx]

I hope they do something really special in memory of him at the first game this year. He is truly a cornerstone of the OU dynasty.

[SanJoaquinSooner]

Thank you Jack Mildren. RIP

[Mjcpr]

:(

You were a great Sooner and a great Oklahoman. RIP, Jack.

[12]

Sad news. Thanks for being amazing, Jack.

[Rhino]

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/5550/mildreniq6.jpg

[OUDoc]

'Sorry' to the Mildren family.
'Thanks' to Jack for being a Sooner and a class act.
You'll be missed.

[stoops the eternal pimp]

Prayers for his family...From his presence on the field to the political world to being on the radio, the guy brought a very personal touch to everything he did. His call-it-like-i-see- it mentality was refreshing, not afraid to hold back what he thought. The first election I was eligible to vote in was the 94 election and I remember being pumped up about being able to vote for him..

[Sooner_Havok]

Things will always be a little less interesting now that Jack is gone. I never got to see him play, but I was raised on a steady diet of OU football since I was a wee havok, so I grew up knowing what kind of player he was. He was a better man than he was a quarterback, and he was the best QB to ever grace Owen Field.

I vote first play from scrimmage this year ought to be ran out of the bone.

[NormanPride]

:( This sucks. RIP, Jack.

[buffalobill989]

rip jack you will be missed:(

[Hunyock]

He was outstanding in the game of the century against my Huskers. Truly one of the greatest QB's I have watched.

RIP.

[Sooner_Havok]

ESPN picks it up (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3408986)

[SteelClip49]

RIP indeed....I can still hear his voice on the radio quite well....stood out and always had a great voice for radio. I was born in 1983 so I never had the pleasure of seeing the legend perform but he sure did excel in other areas.

When they do honor him, perhaps the first game of the season would be the best but I was thinking they could honor and pay tribute to him when Nebraska comes to town. I know the Nebraska faithful would definitely take part in it, JMO.

[badger]

Goodbye, Jack. I hardly knew ye, but from what I've heard, it's all been positive from the wishbone, to the politics to the radio.

[SteelClip49]

I've never heard Switzer get this emotional before. You can tell how much Mildren meant to him.

[badger]

Since he's not a prospective athlete and all, can we do a memorial fund for him, or is there one set up?

[tommieharris91]

Wow. RIP Jack.

[Sooner_Havok]

Since he's not a prospective athlete and all, can we do a memorial fund for him, or is there one set up?

Something down here needs to be named for him! We need to raise funds to have something at the stadium named for Jack.

[SoonerJack]

Jack Mildren, along with Joe Wylie and Gregg Pruitt were my heroes when I was a kid. This is a very sad day indeed.

[OUmillenium]

I actually flipped over the the morning animal for the first time in a long time and heard the news this morn. I knew Jack had been battling cancer but did not know his condition was this severe. Wife works at Arvest(Tulsa) and a buddy formerly worked for them at Jack's location.

He will be missed.

[SteelClip49]

not sure if this was posted yet....Huskers chime in and are feeling the pain.

http://64.131.67.10/vbbs/showthread.php?t=53949

[Bama-Kin]

Here's a Tip of the Hat from EDSBS:

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2008/05/23/jack-mildren-oklahoma-wishbone-master-rip/


Sorry for your loss.

[soonerboomer93]

R.I.P. Jack

[Rhino]

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9532/mildren2wy7.jpg

[Rhino]

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3527/mildren3fb4.jpg
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/5076/mildren7qr6.jpg

[Rhino]

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8456/mildren5aa4.jpghttp://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4724/mildren6id2.jpg

[Rhino]

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/6760/mildren4nz6.jpg
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/425/mildren8tl7.jpg

[BlondeSoonerGirl]

'Game of the Century' still draws adulation

Brian Christopherson

Issue date: 10/26/01 - The Daily Nebraskan


It's just a football game. No game's worth an eternal nap six feet under a bed of roses.

That's what Don Bryant kept telling himself as he stood on the sidelines of Owen Field in Norman, Okla., one murky Thanksgiving Day 30 years ago.

"I remember standing on the sidelines during the final drive thinking, 'It's just a football game. Don't have a heart attack right here on the sideline,'" said Bryant, Nebraska's sports information director in 1971. With all due respect to Bryant, a heart attack over a football game? That seems a little extreme.

The thing is, this wasn't just a football game. Telling someone who witnessed the 1971 Nebraska-Oklahoma "Game of the Century" that it was just another football game is like telling a Porsche owner that his car resembles a Ford Pinto.

Every football game is as unique as a snowflake, and there is a list of games that could be argued as the greatest college football game ever. But ultimately, the 1971 Nebraska-Oklahoma game always moves its way from the dusty cobwebs of one's imagination until it rolls off the lips of fans and experts alike as the greatest college football game ever played.

Talk to Jeff Kinney, Nebraska's hard-nosed running back that Thanksgiving day, and you'll find out why.

"Mr. Kinney, what's your greatest memory of that game?"

As Kinney answers and tells you he remembers the 30,000 people greeting the victorious Cornhuskers at Lincoln Municipal Airport, it's easy to sense that maybe he is tired of talking about this game that happened 30 years ago. He's polite, but one has to wonder if he's thinking, "We won 35-31. Get over it."

But then Kinney begins to talk about his emotions leading up to that game and before you know it, you're discussing it like it was played last Saturday.
The 72-yard Johnny Rodgers punt return for a touchdown. The emotion in the Nebraska locker room as the Huskers trailed for the first time all season. The game-winning touchdown Kinney scored. You're talking about it and losing your senses at the same time.

The more Kinney talks, the more he extinguishes himself from his present lifestyle. He becomes a 21-year-old child again, one of the brightest stars in a game that was the center of the college football universe.

As he talks, it's easy to visualize the scene that Thanksgiving Day. You can feel the tension. You can hear the roar of the crowd. You can hear scalpers' voices bellowing on the street corners nestled beside OU's Memorial Stadium.
You can hear the drums take off and then that pure trumpet sound hits the air, surely similar to the sound Joshua's seven priests used to tumble down the walls of Jericho. And then those devilish words that cause Nebraskans to toss and turn at night ... "Boomer Sooner ... Boomer Sooner ... Boomer Sooner ... Boomer Sooner."


Nebraskans easily put Oklahoma's fight song to bed by drifting off into remembrance of "the play." To this day, the greatest play of that game in most minds is Rodgers' punt return that gave Nebraska a 7-0 lead. Rodgers splendidly stumbled and wove his way to the end zone. He all but won the next year's Heisman Trophy right then and there as he danced in the end zone and then he walked over to the sideline and puked to celebrate. What a tremendous tale.

To many Oklahomans though, that Rodgers return made them sick to their stomach.

"The game had some controversial plays," said Bob Barry, the voice of the Sooners since 1961. "There were two alleged clips around these parts on the Rodgers return."

Clips? This must be news to Nebraskans. Thirty years later and you're going to bring the clip theory into play? Still questioned in the southern plains is a block delivered downfield on OU running back and punter Joe Wylie and the touchdown springing block delivered by NU cornerback Joe Blahak.

"From my vantage point, I saw a clip or two," Oklahoma quarterback Jack Mildren said. "But as my father the philosopher always said, 'I didn't see a flag. Did you?'"

Not surprisingly, Kinney said the play was clean. Even Wylie admitted he was only "half-blocked" anyway. Wylie said his falling down on the play can be more attributed to a half-dive attempt to tackle the slippery Rodgers.
The clip theory would never stand in court, but Wylie can take solace from not being the last punter to give a half-hearted attempt at tackling a return man in order to save face.


Rodgers' return started the game off with a bang, but in reality, the bang had begun in Norman more than a week before it was played.

"I've never seen so much hype surround one football game," Barry said. "Obviously, there aren't the cable channels and everything there is now, but still I've never seen a game with such an enormous buildup."

With so much attention on this game and with the livelihood of an entire state hanging in the balance, Nebraska's football team wasn't taking any chances.

"We brought our own food," Bryant said. "We weren't going to risk being hit by a case of food poisoning."

So Husker players wolfed down Nebraska steaks that week and all was well aside from the disheartening thought that someone, either No. 1 Nebraska or No. 2 Oklahoma, was going to have a loss come Thursday evening.

By halftime, it was evident the mighty Huskers had met their match, as they trailed 17-14. Nebraska was behind thanks to the passing combination Jack Mildren to wide receiver Jon Harrison.

"Our coaches were actually coming down from the booth to the locker room and I told Jack, 'Hit me on a post,'" Harrison said.

Mildren did just that, hitting Harrison on two long passes, the second giving OU the halftime lead, causing euphoria to set in on the Sooner locker room.
Meanwhile, Kinney said the Nebraska locker room was a less cordial place to be. Nebraska Coach Bob Devaney hurled some unrepeatable material at his players.

Nebraska players must've taken Devaney's words to heart. The Huskers came out of the locker room ablaze.

"It was the first time we had been behind all season, but we felt pretty confident," Nebraska quarterback Jerry Tagge said. "We had been moving the ball at the end of the first half, and we were an experienced team."

Before Nebraska fans could go back for second helpings of turkey and dressing, NU had forged to a 28-17 lead behind Jeff Kinney.
But Oklahoma, of course, would come back.

Fittingly, OU regained a 31-28 lead on a Mildren touchdown. Oklahoma's wishbone attack would compile 467 total yards against Nebraska. Mildren would throw two touchdown passes and run for another two scores.

The only success story on the Nebraska defense that day belonged to Nebraska defensive tackle Rich Glover, who accumulated 22 tackles. Despite Glover's heroics, NU's offense took the field down by three with 7:10 to go but full of confidence.

Tagge knew where his boys were headed. The end zone.

"We were really moving the ball with Jeff on the off-tackle stuff," Tagge said. "We just didn't want to turn the ball over and didn't want to give Oklahoma the ball with too much time."

Conserving time was the last thing on Tagge's mind when NU faced a third-and-eight at OU's 46-yard line. On the play, Tagge scrambled away from the pressure and flipped a pass out to Rodgers, who was just beyond the first-down marker.

"That play was all helped by the experience I had with Johnny," Tagge said. "Everyone on that offense sensed where to go. I threw it where we had to get, and Johnny was there."

First down, Nebraska.

"Oh Lord, here they go again," Mildren thought. "You were just hoping for a turnover or anything."

No such luck. From there, Nebraska would go off-tackle with Kinney all the way down the field, into the end zone. With l:38 left, Kinney slammed in for a two-yard touchdown plunge that capped the century's finest game.
Kinney said the significance of that touchdown didn't really dawn on him until he sat in the team airplane that couldn't reach the terminal because of the overflow of fans at the airport.

"For what it was, just a touchdown ... It changed people's lives," Kinney said.

Tagge said it was as sweet as any win he had been a part of.

"I really don't feel Oklahoma lost the football game that day. We just happened to win the game. It epitomizes what college football is."

Go to Nebraska or Oklahoma, and to this day, people will still spark up a conversation about the "Game of the Century."

They will talk about the Rodgers run. They will talk about the Kinney game-winning touchdown. They will talk about how both teams left everything on the football field that day.

"People just seem to remember where they were that day," Kinney said.
How often does an event happen where people remember exactly what they were doing when it occurred? And how often does is it occur in sports?

Well, one of those rare events happened on a Thanksgiving Day 30 years ago.

A skeptic would say, 'Come on, it's just a football game.'

Yeah, and a Porsche is just a car.

[SoonerStormchaser]

Man...the King was almost bawling to BBJ this morning on the SA.

[Rhino]

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/8363/mildren9gr0.jpg
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1674/mildren9akt5.jpg

[OklahomaRed]

Jack Midren was QB'ing about the same time I became distinctly aware of a college football team named the Oklahoma Sooners in my early days. In my eyes he has been the measuring stick of OU QB greatness since then. Prayers to his family, and may he always be remembered as one of the greats of the SOONER NATION. :(

[SoonerStormchaser]

I'm almost dreading listening to the SA while Jim and Al are on.

[Sooner Born Sooner Bred]

I'm almost dreading listening to the SA while Jim and Al are on.

In typical Jim Traber fashion he turned it back to his colon problems. I have no doubt the guy is sincere in his grief, but come on.

[SoonerStormchaser]

Yah...I know, but he's royally giving it up to Jack right now.

[devOUt]

At the time it was a major coup to get Mildren out of Texas because the best player in Texas usually stayed in Texas. Thank you Jack for all you gave us.

[Rhino]

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7858/mildren11avi9.jpg
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/926/mildren11bro4.jpg

[Rhino]

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/2559/mildren11cpy0.jpg
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/525/mildren11dla6.jpg

[MyT Oklahoma]

I first became an OU football fan in the fall of 1971 so reading earlier today about Jack Mildren passing away is sad. Very sad.

Thanks for the memories and Rest In Peace Number 11.

My deepest sympathies to Jack's friends, family, former teammates and coaches.

In coelo quies est (In Heaven there is rest).

[GrapevineSooner]

Mildren made it into the Hardline Trifecta, BTW.

Thanks in large part to Corby, of course.

[MichiganSooner]

I was a college freshman at a little Division 3 college in Michigan in 1971. My 2favorite teams were Michigan and the Sooners with Jack Mildren. I watched OU whenever they got on TV back then to watch him run the wishbone.

This is so sad.

[StoopTroup]

Awesome guy.

RIP Jack.

Thanks for all the memories.

[winnard]

RIP. I'll miss him.

[SleestakSooner]

My favorite Jack Mildren quote came in the midst of yet another retarded right wing rant by Jim Traber. Jack finally got a word in edgewise and said "Just because you say it loud, Jim, doesn't make it right."

I will miss his voice but I pray his spirit lives on. There was already a severe shortage of free thinking men in our beautiful state and now we have one less.

Rest in peace my friend.

[PLaw]

In 1971, Jack Mildren was the starting QB the day I went to my very first game at Owen field. Billed as the Game of the Century, the Sooners went down in defeat that day, but they played to win and fought on every play. I always believed that team reflected the grit and toughness of their QB.

As a transplanted Okie reared in West Texas just South of Odessa, Jack Mildren was ledgendary among Sooners in that part of the world. He turned his back to to his Dad and the traitor from Hollis and decided to play for the Sooners. The whole state of texass was ready to hand the keys to the shorthorn offense to Jack, but Jack was a Sooner at heart and headed North of the Red River to play football.

Along with Steve Owens before him, Jack and his mates returned OU to the glory of the Wilkinson era and set the stage for Barry. Jack's gamer spirit and toughness took the Sooners to within eight minutes of a Big 8 championship and a National Championship.

God bless Jack Mildren, God bless his legacy, and God bless his family.

BOOMER SOONER
PLAW

[Sooner_75]

#11 should be retired forever before the first game this year.

[tulsaoilerfan]

This is the biggest loss to hit the Sooner family in a very long time; RIP Jack you were truly one of the all time greats. :(

[josh09]

Thanks for everything Jack, RIP.

[BlondeSoonerGirl]

I vote first play from scrimmage this year ought to be ran out of the bone.

Can you imagine?

That place would explode.

Please let this happen.

[Mjcpr]

Can you imagine?

That place would explode.

Please let this happen.

....by #11.

[12]

We lost a legend, guys.

[BlondeSoonerGirl]

I'm not kidding.

Stoops lines 'em up and first play's out of the 'bone in a tribute to Jack.

Half the stadium would be in tears. I'd probably be one of them.

[Sooner Born Sooner Bred]

I had forgotten this story, but my mom reminded me of it this evening. During the 94 election cycle, my mom was cleaning house when the doorbell rang. She went to the door and it was Jack Mildren's dad. He saw her "Let's Back Jack" shirt, chuckled and said "well it looks like my work here is already done." I ran into his family more than I ran into him over the years. A good friend of mine used to housesit for his brother. They all seem like good, good people. My heart still just aches for them.

[12]

not sure if this was posted yet....Huskers chime in and are feeling the pain.

http://64.131.67.10/vbbs/showthread.php?t=53949

I've always liked the Huskers. (sukit OdaNorth;))

[Blues1]

#11 should be retired forever before the first game this year.

Amen and Amen.....

At Half Time ....

God Bless to his Family...

[oudivesherpa]

I feel blessed to have been in the stands for the "game" in 1971. Hopefully, the University can find a fitting memorial for Jack. The only problem with running the first play from the bone is that it would probably go 80 yds for a TD and we'd be accused of running up the score.

[12]

I had the opportunity to meet Emory Bellard (former A&M coach) a few years ago. I asked him if he considered creating the Wishbone Offense was his greatest accomplishment. He said he may have created it, but Switzer perfected it.

His son is now coaching at the sister city to me... Bryan.

[Sabanball]

Truly sad to hear, especially considering that Jack was still relatively young, and our condolences to his close friends and family. My main memory of Jack was not his performance in the 'game of the century', but he and Greg Pruitt running all over us in the bluebonnet bowl at the end of the previous season when OU and Bama played to a 24-24 tie. I've always thought that performance was one of the main reasons Coach Bryant was persuaded to switch us to the wishbone the following season.

[Sooner_75]

Amen and Amen.....

At Half Time ....

God Bless to his Family...

As far as I know this would be the first number ever permanently retired. I see no one more worthy. Lindy Holmes is currently # 11 I think he should be the last to ever wear this number. I think it would be cool to see the team run the first play out of the wishbone, maybe without a qb to signify the missing man.

[olevetonahill]

I had the opportunity to meet Emory Bellard (former A&M coach) a few years ago. I asked him if he considered creating the Wishbone Offense was his greatest accomplishment. He said he may have created it, but Switzer perfected it.

His son is now coaching at the sister city to me... Bryan.

Bryan is a sister city to Moose jaw ?
whod a thunk it ?;)

[goingoneight]

I disagree with the retired number. I do think his jersey should hang proud in the Switzer Center with a big bio on him. Retiring numbers says to your fans and incoming athletes that "no one can top this." It's kind of aggy IMHO. Mildren was great, and I'm a huge Godfather fan, but we've had more than OUr share of complete and total class acts who gave it all and made good grades, etc. through the years who won't see a retired number, like Jacob Gutierrez. A statue? Maybe. A retired Jersey? No. A Memorial? Definitely.

Besides, the Godfather himself said a few years ago and I remember this being brought up every season that followed, that he did NOT like the idea of retiring numbers. Especially at great programs. It adds to the legend you have to live up to if you wear a Sooner jersey.

[12]

He helped create the greatest rushing machine in college football.
–Barry Switzer

That's about as good and true as it gets there.

[Sooner_75]

I disagree with the retired number. I do think his jersey should hang proud in the Switzer Center with a big bio on him. Retiring numbers says to your fans and incoming athletes that "no one can top this." It's kind of aggy IMHO. Mildren was great, and I'm a huge Godfather fan, but we've had more than OUr share of complete and total class acts who gave it all and made good grades, etc. through the years who won't see a retired number, like Jacob Gutierrez. A statue? Maybe. A retired Jersey? No. A Memorial? Definitely.

Besides, the Godfather himself said a few years ago and I remember this being brought up every season that followed, that he did NOT like the idea of retiring numbers. Especially at great programs. It adds to the legend you have to live up to if you wear a Sooner jersey.

First of all Jack would never want his own number retired or anyone else for that matter. That is how he was. It is a sign of respect. It is not out the realm of possibility that had Jack not chosen Oklahoma then the 70's could have been a complete different story. I am not taking anything away from the King, but what if Jack had not come to OU then maybe they don't make the switch to the Wishbone. Maybe Barry doesn't become the head coach and maybe he wins like he did at some other school. I think if anyone deservers a permanent memorial it is Jack. No disrespect to Gutierrez, but it is a bad comparison. If you don’t think prolific programs don’t retire numbers look at the Yankees.

[Sooner Born Sooner Bred]

Collected Wisdom from Jack Mildren (Oklahoman, 2006) http://newsok.com/article/2970369

[SicEmBaylor]

Here's a thread from baylorfans. I thought you all might like to see it.
http://www.baylorfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=150548

[SoonerStormchaser]

Any word on funeral/memorial?

[Rhino]

Any word on funeral/memorial? Today. 1pm. McFarlin. Norman. (http://newsok.com/mildren-funeral-today-in-norman/article/3248902/?tm=1211869505)

[SoonerStormchaser]

Oh man...downtown/campus area is probably gonna be mobbed. And I've gotta be at the CH at 1330 for a custody hearing. Ugh!

[Sooner_Havok]

I'm not kidding.

Stoops lines 'em up and first play's out of the 'bone in a tribute to Jack.

Half the stadium would be in tears. I'd probably be one of them.

I'd be with you on that. Hell, unless things have changed greatly from my days in the student section, a lot of them would go off when they saw the 'bone.

I would say about 50% of the students up there are OU fans from birth, and grew up hearing about the legends of OU football. I know I was well versed in "half a hundred" well before I took my place in the student section, as were a lot of others up there.

[Sooner Born Sooner Bred]

I don't know if we want to do a group thing, but here is the information for anyone who cares to make a memorial. This is from his obituary on newsok.com


In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jack Mildren Athletic Scholarship, payable to the OU Foundation, University of Oklahoma, 180 W. Brooks, Room 3575, Norman, OK, 73019.

[wishbonesooner]

Just heard the King on the radio. He was understandably broken up. He said the all time rushing record for a season of 472 yds per game will never be broken. That may be the tribute to Jack Mildren that is most fitting. God Speed to a humble, legendary Sooner.

[Rhino]

Friends remember Mildren (http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/may/24/friends-remember-mildren/)
By Carlton Stowers
Special to the Abilene Reporter-News

Late next month, the 1968 graduates of Cooper High School will gather in Abilene for their 40th class reunion.

They'll renew acquaintances and polish faded memories, no doubt reminding each other of that special fall long ago when the Cougars football team spent most of the season ranked as the No. 1 high school team not only in Texas but the United States and had no less than six players who would receive All-State recognition. On 13 consecutive weekends, they rolled past the opposition before suffering a heartbreaking 20-19 defeat at the hands of Austin Reagan High in the state championship game.

They'll remember old flames, old songs, after-school hangouts and fellow students who displayed great promise and special gifts, even as teenagers.

In doing so, they'll no doubt share warm recollections of a celebrated classmate who will be absent.

Jack Mildren -- high school All-American quarterback, standout forward in basketball, a member of a record-setting state championship mile relay, senior class vice president, student council officer, the youngster voted "Mr. CHS" in his senior year and friend to all -- died of cancer earlier this week at age 58.

He leaves behind an amazing resume.

At the University of Oklahoma, he became the first Wishbone quarterback ever named All-American, played in the National Football League with the Baltimore Colts and New England Patriots, and succeeded in the oil business and politics. His achievements ranged from being elected Oklahoma's lieutenant governor to being one of the early inductees into the Big Country Sports Hall of Fame.

For Jack Mildren, the triumphs never seemed to stop. And they began at an early age.

Little League to high school standout

Successful Highland Park High School football coach Randy Allen recalls that he and Mildren grew up just three blocks from each other, launching their athletic careers together in Little League baseball. Randy pitched, Jack caught.

At Madison Junior High, they played together on a football team that was undefeated and unscored-on.

"Even then," Allen recalls, "Jack could do amazing things. In a game against Lincoln, the score was 0-0 late in the fourth quarter, and Jack called a pass play. The defense rushed and was all over him, making it impossible for him to get the throw off right-handed. So, he just switched it to his left and threw for the touchdown that won the game."

In summer track and baseball, he excelled, winning gold medals and All-Star recognition.

And once he arrived at the newly opened Cooper High, Mildren was the point man of a group of gifted athletes who quickly marked their place in a sports environment wherein rival Abilene High had long ruled.

"He was," says former teammate Larry Stowers, now a teacher-coach at Cooper High in East Texas, "such an incredible competitor. People still talk of his days as a football player -- and rightfully so -- but, looking back, it was something he did in track in his senior year that amazed me. He was an outstanding quartermiler, but one day in the middle of the season, told the coach that he'd like to try running the 330-yard intermediate hurdles. He ran them once in practice, then the following weekend won the event in a meet. A month later, he had the best time in the state in the event and placed second at the state meet."

Mildren, Stowers says, was the finest all-around athlete he's ever seen.

"And he was my hero, even in junior high. I lived on the only block in (mid-)Abilene where you could choose to attend either Abilene High or Cooper. I knew Jack would be playing for Cooper, so that's why I decided to go there."

"For all his success and ability," says Dallas lawyer Kenny Stephens, a former All-State running back for the Cougars, "Jack was as modest and down-to-earth as anyone I've ever known. Great sense of humor. And a great leader. He had that kind of confidence that spilled over to all of us."

Even players on the opposite side of town admired him. Local oil and gas lobbyist Bill Stevens enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Mildren through junior high and high school. A middle linebacker for Abilene High, Stevens recalls a constant stream of good-natured chatter with Mildren during the course of their crosstown rivalry battles.

Says Stevens, "Jack had this incredible vision; he seemed able to see everything going on around him. In our junior year (1966), Cooper beat us 14-9 on a play that was all but impossible. He rolled out to his right to throw a pass, and I was in a perfect position to knock the ball down if he threw. But, just as he'd done to us back in junior high, he simply switched the ball to his left hand, completed the pass for the touchdown that won the game."

Ex-Cooper coach and current teacher Jon Harrison, who earned All-State honors as Mildren's leading receiver in high school and later at the University of Oklahoma, agrees.

"When you're a kid, you don't give much thought to one of your peers being a 'good example,' someone you look up to. They're just your buddy, your classmate, your teammate. But, looking back, there's no question that Jack Mildren served as a great example to all of us. He was someone you knew you could count on."

The quarterback sneak

While his former teammate had a remarkable gift to make things look easy on the playing field, Harrison points to his days as Mildren's roommate at OU as an example of the price his friend paid for the lofty plaudits that came his way.

"People had no idea what a physical pounding Jack took every Saturday. A Wishbone quarterback gets hit on every play. On Sunday mornings, I would literally have to help him out of bed and to the shower."

Yet he doesn't remember Mildren ever complaining.

Nor, for that matter, does he recall his old teammate ever questioning a goal line call that Cooper fans still insist cost the team a state title in their senior season. On fourth down, and the ball less than a foot from the goal, the Cougars trailed 20-19 with time left for one final play. The 190-pound Mildren, who had directed the offense on an 80-yard drive, called a quarterback sneak -- and failed to score.

"I was lined up at split receiver," Harrison says, "and looking right down the line of scrimmage. It looked to me as if his entire upper body got into the end zone."

The story told today, in fact, insists that there was lime dust across Mildren's torso, proof that he made it across the goal and actually scored the touchdown.

"Actually," remembers former running back Stephens, "I thought I had scored on the previous play, but the officials put the ball down at the six-inch line. And I certainly thought we scored on Jack's quarterback sneak.

"But, you know, over the years, I never once heard him criticize the referee's call. That's the kind of class Jack Mildren had." http://media.reporternews.com/abil/content/img/photos/2008/05/23/20080523-233255-pic-396116545_t220.jpghttp://media.reporternews.com/abil/content/img/photos/2008/05/23/20080523-233255-pic-366441212_t220.jpg
http://media.reporternews.com/abil/content/img/photos/2008/05/23/20080523-233255-pic-720407538_t220.jpghttp://media.reporternews.com/abil/content/img/photos/2008/05/23/20080523-233255-pic-464164889_t220.jpg

[tulsaoilerfan]

Jack's story should be required reading for all the Rhett Bomar's, JD Quinn's, and OJ Mayo's of the world so they can see what a true sports role model is

[Jacie]

I only got to see him from the stands once, that great game against saxet in 1971. There are two others I remember seeing on television that year, the GOTC and the Sugar Bowl. The Mildren-led Sooners were the last Oklahoma squad to beat USUC. The Oklahoma's 71 offense was unbelievable and for Sooners a joy to watch.

[Crimsontothecore]

There's only one......JACK MILDREN

[wishbonesooner]

Jack's story should be required reading for all the Rhett Bomar's, JD Quinn's, and OJ Mayo's of the world so they can see what a true sports role model is

Damn skippy! Best post I could ever imagine as a tribute to this great man.

[SoonerRecon]

I vote first play from scrimmage this year ought to be ran out of the bone.

i second that idea. a small tribute to a great man.

[opksooner]

Jack's story should be required reading for all the Rhett Bomar's, JD Quinn's, and OJ Mayo's of the world so they can see what a true sports role model is

http://www.soonerfans.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif http://www.soonerfans.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif http://www.soonerfans.com/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Sooner Born Sooner Bred]

This still just sucks. I hate cancer with the heat of a billion suns.

[Jay C. Upchurch]

This is the column I wrote for the Oklahoma Gazette this week (5-28-08). Thought I'd share it with those who don't see the Gazette regularly...


By Jay C. Upchurch

Like a lot of little boys growing up in Oklahoma during the late Sixties and early Seventies, my fall Saturdays revolved solely around Sooner football and the exploits of such players as Steve Owens, Greg Pruitt, Ray Hamilton and Jack Mildren.

Those days were spent listening to the weekly radio broadcasts or watching the occasional televised OU game. I hung on every word describing every play of every game of every season.

In 1971, when I was 11, I scoured the sports pages every morning in hopes of finding any morsel of news or information pertaining to OU football. On the way to school, I would work on my option pitch with every rock that crossed my path, doing my best to emulate the artistry Mildren displayed as the Sooners’ Wishbone quarterback.

Mildren had come to Oklahoma from Abilene Cooper High School, deep in the heart of Texas, and was billed as the guy who could lead the Sooners to the promised land. While he did not win a national championship during his four seasons in Norman, Mildren helped usher in -- and perfect -- the offense that would eventually be OU’s catalyst to two national titles in the mid-Seventies.

During that magical ’71 season, he was a key figure in what is still known as the “Game of the Century,” which pitted No. 2 Oklahoma against No. 1 Nebraska. In the contest, Mildren ran for two touchdowns and threw for two scores against the Huskers’ top-ranked defense in the country.

Although the Sooners lost that day, 35-31, Mildren’s performance was one for the ages. It helped earn him the title “Godfather of the Wishbone” and forever etched his name in OU football lore.

I remember watching an interview with Mildren in the moments after the Nebraska game and thinking how gracious he was even though the loss had to be eating away at him. That always stuck with me -- his sportsmanship and dignity.

Years later, I had become a sports writer and Mildren had graduated on to a successful life in politics and the business world. In covering the Sooners, I had the good fortune to meet and interview Mildren on several occasions.

Not surprisingly, I found him to be the same person face-to-face as I remembered from my childhood. He did not lack in confidence, but any brashness he displayed was always tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

Mostly, Jack was funny, witty and down-to-earth. His intellectual side always showed through when he did sports radio the last few years. He was passionate about his family, football and politics, and about helping people who were less fortunate than himself.

He was gracious enough to sit down with me for three hours one day back in 2002, when I was doing research on a book I was writing about OU football. He shared stories and jokes, and was a great resource for my project. After the book was published, he took time out of his schedule to do signings with me at local books stores.

Besides our OU ties, we shared similar political views, and there was rarely a time I saw Jack when we didn’t talk politics. I always came away from those conversations a little more informed and a little wiser than before.

When I initially heard he had been diagnosed with cancer two years ago, my first thought was “if anyone can beat it, Jack can.” I knew him to be a strong person with strong convictions, and he was someone who had so much more to give.

Over the last two years, Jack continued to work in radio and TV. He was active in politics and he remained passionate about Oklahoma football and proud of his role in the program’s overall success story.

Jack seemed to be winning his battle with cancer, but it came back recently. And sadly, on May 22, it took his life.

As I thought of his family and friends and the fact the world only had him for 58 years -- I cried.

Then remembering what Jack Mildren, the hero, had meant to me as a little boy, and what he had meant to so many people throughout his lifetime -- I smiled.

He will be missed, but his legacy lives on with all who knew him.

[King Crimson]

There's only one......JACK MILDREN

heck yeah!!!

[MyT Oklahoma]

"Then remembering what Jack Mildren, the hero, had meant to me as a little boy, and what he had meant to so many people throughout his lifetime -- I smiled.

He will be missed, but his legacy lives on with all who knew him."

Great write. Thanks for sharing.
_________________________________________
"This is the voice of The Sooner Football Network."

[SleestakSooner]

Jay C.,Wonderfully written. Wish more of us shared his political views. The man had it correct, from day one right down to the very end.

[Sooner Born Sooner Bred]

I drove through the IOOF cemetery today but I didn't see any graves that looked new enough. Does anyone know where in the cemetery it is?

[Jay C. Upchurch]

For those who would like to pay their respects, Jack's grave is located on the very back edge in southeast corner... just south of the little pond...