Barry Switzer says, 'I'd Never recruit a White QB'!

[nighttrain12]

http://msn.foxsports.com/buzzer/story/former-oklahoma-coach-barry-switzer-says-he-d-never-recruit-a-white-quarterback-022714?cq_ck=1393552326138

Actually I think he did quite a few times.

[Mazeppa]

Deano?

[FaninAma]

Correct me if I am wrong but 2 of his 3 national title teams were QB'd by a white QB and his best team to not win a title, the 1971 team, was also.

I think Barry's age is catching up to him.

[sendbaht]

How about that QB guy who transferred from OU to UCLA? He became famous....:))

[Eielson]

He's kinda like Magic is to the Lakers organization right now...needs to STFU.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

He also recently said Johnny Manziel is a fool or something like that, and then went on to say what a great and talented athlete Manziel is...of course the reporting Media focused on the negative comments made by Switzer..

[EatLeadCommie]

He was right about Manziel. Said he's an arrogant prick, but enormously talented.

We all know how Barry is when he gets on his rants. He's very ADD and just says what pops into his head. From the mid 70s on, I think the only QB of note that he recruited who was white was Aikman, and Aikman wasn't brought in to run an option offense. In fact, the offense was changed to better fit him. So Barry isn't completely off his rocker in saying what he said. Barry didn't become the head coach until when, 1973? It's quite possible he didn't recruit a white option QB while head coach.

[Salt City Sooner]

Phone call from Kelly Phelps on line 1.......

[swardboy]

I think Barry has been doing too many Downstream Casino promotions. And speaking of that, have you seen Billy Sims outrageous hairpiece in those commercials? That place is affecting their brain cells I tell ya.

[birddog]

ahh, the elderly. God bless em all. if you don't ask quick follow up questions to the King, he will continue to ramble and eventually say something hilarious.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

ahh, the elderly. God bless em all. if you don't ask quick follow up questions to the King, he will continue to ramble and eventually say something hilarious.He's always been kinda that way, though. He's always written his own music. I'm still thinking it was a bit of a surprise he landed the job as HC, so long ago.

[rock on sooner]

Wonder who the actual recruiter for Steve Davis was?

[rock on sooner]

Wonder who the actual recruiter for Steve Davis was?

To answer my own question, Leon Cross apparently was. It should be noted that good
ol Barry installed Davis to run the 'Bone...the rest, as it is said, is history.

[King Crimson]

Phone call from Kelly Phelps on line 1.......

yup. Phelps wasn't great for us, but he did start some games in the early 80's and was a big-time recruit.

[stoopified]

To answer my own question, Leon Cross apparently was. It should be noted that good
ol Barry installed Davis to run the 'Bone...the rest, as it is said, is history.

YEAH BUT ONLY AFTER A BLACK QB(KERRY JACKSON) WAS DECLARED INELIGIBLE.I took that Barry was referring to this day and age though,not just what he did at OU. As with a lot of things Barry has said,I would like to have seen his face when he made the comment.He often has said outlandish things while having that sh!t- eating,I'm screwing with you grin on his face.Barry always said he played the best player regardless of color and if Johnny Gotbucks was the best availible,Barry would take him.

[King Crimson]

i think Barry as much as anything is trying give himself credit for recruiting (and starting) the black QB when no one else in the SWC and most of the Big 8 wasn't.

[EatLeadCommie]

Forgot about Kelly Phelps. Easy to overlook, as he played during some of Barry's leanest years...

[rock on sooner]

Forgot about Kelly Phelps. Easy to overlook, as he played during some of Barry's leanest years...

REALLY easy to overlook since he said that he enjoyed hunting more than
Sooner football....

[EatLeadCommie]

i think Barry as much as anything is trying give himself credit for recruiting (and starting) the black QB when no one else in the SWC and most of the Big 8 wasn't.

as he should

[SoonerorLater]

Anybody notice the lack of media outrage on a statement like this?

[8timechamps]

i think Barry as much as anything is trying give himself credit for recruiting (and starting) the black QB when no one else in the SWC and most of the Big 8 wasn't.

YEP. He brings it up anytime he's asked about recruiting in general. There's no question that Barry had a connection to black players before it was commonplace. However, I think he's beaten the skin off of that drum.


Barry is (and will always be) the King, but he's getting up there in years, and that can lead to some odd comments and conflicting memories. It's still fun to listen to him talk though.

[rock on sooner]

Anybody notice the lack of media outrage on a statement like this?

Not sure why....lessee, on FOXsports, so mainstream would prolly ignore
it, and it's REDNECK Oklahoma, after all. And, since it's Oklahama ESPN
wouldn't want to give it wheels, lest someone wants to give OU any undue
attention and, besides all that, why wouldn't you put that question on the
PO-litical board? :devilish: Rattle, rattle..stir, stir...

[SoonerorLater]

Not sure why....lessee, on FOXsports, so mainstream would prolly ignore
it, and it's REDNECK Oklahoma, after all. And, since it's Oklahama ESPN
wouldn't want to give it wheels, lest someone wants to give OU any undue
attention and, besides all that, why wouldn't you put that question on the
PO-litical board? :devilish: Rattle, rattle..stir, stir...

Because this thread is on the football board.

[SoonerForLife92]

I hope Trevor Knight ends up being the best dual threat QB to ever play the game after seeing those comments.

[70sooner]

I'm guessing a lot of you making the disparaging comments about Barry are too young to have ever seen any of his teams play, but maybe I'm wrong. dude was a helluva a coach and recruiter.

I also tend to agree with the poster who said he'd like to have seen Barry's face when he made the comment.....

[rock on sooner]

I'm guessing a lot of you making the disparaging comments about Barry are too young to have ever seen any of his teams play, but maybe I'm wrong. dude was a helluva a coach and recruiter.

I also tend to agree with the poster who said he'd like to have seen Barry's face when he made the comment.....

The only time that I haven't watched/listened to Sooner football since 1952
was a three year stretch in the late 60's, and then I read about them in Stars
and Stripes. No question about Switzer being a great coach and an even greater
recruiter, especially of young African-Americans.. he was/is brash, arrogant,
supremely confident and an inordinately astute judge of football talent, of any
color. Age does allow some leeway, so to mention wanting to see his facial
expressions as some of these comments are made is worthwhile.

TK best dual threat QB ever? Don't know about that, but if he'll continue improving
on the Sugar Bowl performance, he'll certainly be in the discussion....

[HateTheWhorns]

Phone call from Kelly Phelps on line 1.......


Yep, Phelps is the only white option QB that I can remember Switzer recruiting to be a starter (as head coach). I think Deano was recruited to give OU some QB depth and to serve as a passing threat.

Mildren was recruited during the Fairbanks era. Pretty sure Davis and Mark Harmon were, too.

Lott, Watts, Shepherd, Bradley, Hollieway, and Thompson are the black QBs that I remember Switzer targeting.

[OUmillenium]

Glenn Sullivan?

[HateTheWhorns]

Glenn Sullivan?

I know Glenn very well. We worked together two summers serving an internship at Enserch Exploration and were good friends. Glenn was NOT recruited to be a starter for the King's wishbone offense. He was recruited for QB depth and also as a baseball player.