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View Full Version : Was OU the rightful National Champion of 1978?


SteelClip49
10/13/2009, 03:42 PM
USC and Alabama shared the national title with both having 1 loss (Bama's to USC). Oklahoma lost to Nebraska then later beat Nebraska in the Orange.

IMO...the 2 best teams that year were Oklahoma & Nebraska and OU wound up being left out...should have at least shared the title with USC.

In 1996...Florida loses to FSU then a few games later in the Sugar Bowl after some crazy games that ended others hopes...UF crushes FSU and wins the national title.

OU loses to NU then gets revenge on them and gets nothing out of it while Bama does considering they lost to the other champion USC.

UF loses to FSU then beats them and wins the consensus 1996 title.

Damn polls!!!

But I think OU deserved at least a share of 1978 considering they had to play Nebraska again and won.
Jacie
10/13/2009, 03:46 PM
If the situation in 1978 had excluded Alabama, and your question had been from the perspective of a 'bama fan, the answer would be "yes".
badger
10/13/2009, 03:46 PM
Nobody's rightful champion till there's playoffs. Just sayin'
OKLA21FAN
10/13/2009, 03:46 PM
don't fumble Billy :gary:
Leroy Lizard
10/13/2009, 03:48 PM
You play under the rules in place. The wire services voted USC and Alabama #1, so they were the rightful national champions for that year.

Just like OU was the rightful contender for the MNC last year. It's whatever the rules say.
Howzit
10/13/2009, 03:49 PM
I remember the look on Dr Tom's and the team's faces when they heard (as many had suspected) that their opponent in the Orange Bowl would be OU for a rematch.

Priceless.
SteelClip49
10/13/2009, 03:52 PM
what led to the OU/NU rematch? Were there no other opponents for either?
Partial Qualifier
10/13/2009, 04:16 PM
I remember the look on Dr Tom's and the team's faces when they heard (as many had suspected) that their opponent in the Orange Bowl would be OU for a rematch.

Priceless.

O8tcxfQ3_bs
humblesooner
10/13/2009, 04:25 PM
what led to the OU/NU rematch? Were there no other opponents for either?

Best match up available.
The major conferences were still tied in to the major bowls, so no USC, BAMA, OU, Penn St match ups.

If you consider that OU was the only team to defeat every team they played that year, then, yes, OU should have won the championship.
Sooner04
10/13/2009, 04:32 PM
Of course we were. We were the only team in America to beat every team on our schedule.

But there's one stone truth in college football: it's not who you lose to, it's WHEN you lose.
tulsaoilerfan
10/13/2009, 04:48 PM
OU should have never lost in Lincoln; they were 2 TD's better than Nebraska in 78
PLaw
10/13/2009, 09:22 PM
Stoops is approaching Barry's mark for championships left on the table. Bob's left three out there, Barry could have had at least 3 more (OB vs. Hogs, OB vs. Washington, 78 Nebbish)

Boomer
devOUt
10/13/2009, 09:26 PM
Nebraska did about everything right in that game and we couldn't hold onto the ball. We still almost won the game. The '78 team was one of the best OU teams of all time.
VA Sooner
10/13/2009, 09:48 PM
Yes.

Tougher to win national championships than it was back then. Look at the number of studs playing for a lot of other teams. I watched Donald Brown as a rookie on the Colts run like a madman. Maurice Jones-Drew, another runner, tearing it up. And so on...
Soonerus
10/13/2009, 09:50 PM
'78 may have been OU's best team ever...
MyT Oklahoma
10/14/2009, 12:52 AM
We were the better team but we lost at the wrong time of the season.. November.

P.S. That loss hurts me more than any other since 1971 because of what we lost with it.

P.S.S. The King left Championships on the table in 1977.. 1978.. 1984.. and 1987.. although 1986 could also be thrown in there. Still I wouldn't trade the King or the memories for anything.
PDXsooner
10/14/2009, 12:56 AM
just do like USC and retro-claim it.
RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!
10/14/2009, 01:35 AM
We handled Nebs in the bowl game like we should have earlier in Lincoln. I thought we were screwed by the voters, and should have at least had a shared title that year. The only worse screw jobs I can think of were 1954(undefeated) and 1971(screwed by the officials against Nebs IN NORMAN, fergodssakes)
Lott's Bandana
10/14/2009, 01:45 AM
don't fumble Billy :gary:



^^^this^^^

We would have 8 except for 3 yards.

Three.

Barry "accepted" fumbles from his team similar to how we now "accept" giving up 8 yard passes.

That team was so incredibly good. Amazingly good.

MyT is right. That loss hurts to this day.
OKLA21FAN
10/14/2009, 07:41 AM
'78 may have been OU's best team ever...

this
hellogoodbye
10/16/2009, 10:44 AM
Billy crushing that nebbish dback ... that dude crumpled like tinfoil...
boomermagic
10/16/2009, 11:29 AM
We were the better team but we lost at the wrong time of the season.. November.

P.S. That loss hurts me more than any other since 1971 because of what we lost with it.

P.S.S. The King left Championships on the table in 1977.. 1978.. 1984.. and 1987.. although 1986 could also be thrown in there. Still I wouldn't trade the King or the memories for anything.



Barry was the very best INO...