The VIIIth
2/20/2006, 08:02 PM
I hope some of you remember Bill Connors, the best sports writer I have ever read, bar none. His style always had historical references and was written elegantly and without malice.
BILL CONNORS
BILL CONNORS
06/29/1989
TULSA WORLD (FINAL HOME EDITION Edition), Page B5 of SPORTS
IF BARRY SWITZER gets around to ranking the "bests" of
his 16 football years at Oklahoma, Billy Sims and Lee Roy
Selmon will top the individual charts.
Teams and games will not be as easy to select. From opener
to finale, the 11-0 national champions of 1974 were probably
Switzer's best team, the ex-coach is inclined to think.
But he will listen to arguments that his first team was
his best. The unsuspecting 1973 Sooners were tied in their
second game by Southern California, the defending national
champion and ranked No. 1 at the time, when their field
goal kicker missed short attempts.
But beginning with the Texas game, the '73 team was magnificent,
bulletproof on defense (with the three Selmons side by side
in the line) and overpowering on offense (Joe Washington
rushed for 1,173 yards; Waymon Clark for 1,014 and Steve
Davis for 980).
The '73, '78 and '86 teams were as good or better than the
national championship teams of 1975 and 1985. The '78 team
was clearly the best team in the nation but lost the national
championship on Sims' goal line fumble at Nebraska.
The best-played big game, Switzer thinks, was a 52-13 smashing
of Texas in 1973 when the Sooners had 508 yards, including
225 passing, and only one turnover.
Another game he would consider was the 17-7 victory over
Nebraska in 1987, a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown at Lincoln
that the Sooners dominated more than the score suggests
with Charles Thompson making his second start.
The uncontested low-point, Switzer said, was a 31-6 loss
to Arkansas in the 1978 Orange Bowl when the Sooners were
runaway favorites and had a chance to be No. 1.
The top achievement would probably be a 17-7 upset of Nebraska
in 1984 when, Switzer said, "They were the best team and
deserved to be national champions."...
Incidentally, Switzer wants it known that he has no health
problems. "I am just tired," he said. "I am behind in
my rehabilitation of my (operated) knee, but my health is
fine."...
Correction: A reference to Switzer's generosity in this
space mentioned the untold five and six-figure checks he
has given to the needy and charitable causes. It should
have been three and four-figure checks. He is generous,
but not THAT generous...
Gary Gibbs said he did not seek head coaching jobs because
he would rather be an assistant at OU than head coach "at
a school where there is no chance to win." His strategy,
he admitted, may have taxed the patience of his wife.
"I never set a timetable or deadline for becoming a head
coach," Gibbs said. "Jeanne may have, but I never felt
frustrated."...
Like Switzer, Gibbs endorsed plans for OU to play at TU
again, tentatively scheduled for 1996. "I thought the '87
game at Tulsa was good for everyone," Gibbs said...
Among the NFL players profiting by free agency was former
OU fullback Lydell Carr. He was not protected by New Orleans,
which in 1988 paid him an $80,000 salary and $65,000 signing
bonus. He was scheduled to be raised to $100,000 this year
and receive a $10,000 roster bonus and would rise to $125,000
in 1990.
Phoenix picked Carr up when he became available and gave
him a $50,000 signing bonus, raised his salary to $155,000
with a $15,000 roster bonus, and agreed to raises in 1990
to $190,000 salary plus a $20,000 roster bonus...
Dick Foster, OU's new recruiting coordinator, was succeeded
as football coach at Coffeyville (Kan.) Junior College by
his 28-year-old son Skip...
Bud Wilkinson was 47 when he resigned at OU. Darrell Royal
was 52 when he burned out at Texas. Frank Broyles was three
weeks shy of his 52nd birthday when he retired at Arkansas.
Frank Leahy was 44 when Notre Dame officials, convinced
that the job was going to kill him, persuaded him to resign.
Leahy speculated that the time would come when there would
be no coaches over 40.
Royal thinks how long a man coached, not his age, is a more
accurate barometer of his fitness.
"If you become a head coach at 30 or 31 or 32 like Coach
Wilkinson and Frank and I did, I don't think you are going
to go much beyond 50, if that long," Royal said. "Twenty
years as a head coach is about all a man can stand. So,
you are cooked at 50. But if you don't become a head coach
until you are 40, I think you can coach well past 50."
Royal was head coach for 24 years, 20 at Texas; Broyles
20 years, 19 at Arkansas; Wilkinson 17 years, all at OU.
Woody Hayes was 65 when Ohio State fired him following his
32nd year as a head coach, 28 for the Buckeyes.
Bear Bryant coached 38 years and had his greatest success
after turning 50. He coached until he was 69. But, Bryant
was an exception to every rule.
BILL CONNORS
BILL CONNORS
06/29/1989
TULSA WORLD (FINAL HOME EDITION Edition), Page B5 of SPORTS
IF BARRY SWITZER gets around to ranking the "bests" of
his 16 football years at Oklahoma, Billy Sims and Lee Roy
Selmon will top the individual charts.
Teams and games will not be as easy to select. From opener
to finale, the 11-0 national champions of 1974 were probably
Switzer's best team, the ex-coach is inclined to think.
But he will listen to arguments that his first team was
his best. The unsuspecting 1973 Sooners were tied in their
second game by Southern California, the defending national
champion and ranked No. 1 at the time, when their field
goal kicker missed short attempts.
But beginning with the Texas game, the '73 team was magnificent,
bulletproof on defense (with the three Selmons side by side
in the line) and overpowering on offense (Joe Washington
rushed for 1,173 yards; Waymon Clark for 1,014 and Steve
Davis for 980).
The '73, '78 and '86 teams were as good or better than the
national championship teams of 1975 and 1985. The '78 team
was clearly the best team in the nation but lost the national
championship on Sims' goal line fumble at Nebraska.
The best-played big game, Switzer thinks, was a 52-13 smashing
of Texas in 1973 when the Sooners had 508 yards, including
225 passing, and only one turnover.
Another game he would consider was the 17-7 victory over
Nebraska in 1987, a No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown at Lincoln
that the Sooners dominated more than the score suggests
with Charles Thompson making his second start.
The uncontested low-point, Switzer said, was a 31-6 loss
to Arkansas in the 1978 Orange Bowl when the Sooners were
runaway favorites and had a chance to be No. 1.
The top achievement would probably be a 17-7 upset of Nebraska
in 1984 when, Switzer said, "They were the best team and
deserved to be national champions."...
Incidentally, Switzer wants it known that he has no health
problems. "I am just tired," he said. "I am behind in
my rehabilitation of my (operated) knee, but my health is
fine."...
Correction: A reference to Switzer's generosity in this
space mentioned the untold five and six-figure checks he
has given to the needy and charitable causes. It should
have been three and four-figure checks. He is generous,
but not THAT generous...
Gary Gibbs said he did not seek head coaching jobs because
he would rather be an assistant at OU than head coach "at
a school where there is no chance to win." His strategy,
he admitted, may have taxed the patience of his wife.
"I never set a timetable or deadline for becoming a head
coach," Gibbs said. "Jeanne may have, but I never felt
frustrated."...
Like Switzer, Gibbs endorsed plans for OU to play at TU
again, tentatively scheduled for 1996. "I thought the '87
game at Tulsa was good for everyone," Gibbs said...
Among the NFL players profiting by free agency was former
OU fullback Lydell Carr. He was not protected by New Orleans,
which in 1988 paid him an $80,000 salary and $65,000 signing
bonus. He was scheduled to be raised to $100,000 this year
and receive a $10,000 roster bonus and would rise to $125,000
in 1990.
Phoenix picked Carr up when he became available and gave
him a $50,000 signing bonus, raised his salary to $155,000
with a $15,000 roster bonus, and agreed to raises in 1990
to $190,000 salary plus a $20,000 roster bonus...
Dick Foster, OU's new recruiting coordinator, was succeeded
as football coach at Coffeyville (Kan.) Junior College by
his 28-year-old son Skip...
Bud Wilkinson was 47 when he resigned at OU. Darrell Royal
was 52 when he burned out at Texas. Frank Broyles was three
weeks shy of his 52nd birthday when he retired at Arkansas.
Frank Leahy was 44 when Notre Dame officials, convinced
that the job was going to kill him, persuaded him to resign.
Leahy speculated that the time would come when there would
be no coaches over 40.
Royal thinks how long a man coached, not his age, is a more
accurate barometer of his fitness.
"If you become a head coach at 30 or 31 or 32 like Coach
Wilkinson and Frank and I did, I don't think you are going
to go much beyond 50, if that long," Royal said. "Twenty
years as a head coach is about all a man can stand. So,
you are cooked at 50. But if you don't become a head coach
until you are 40, I think you can coach well past 50."
Royal was head coach for 24 years, 20 at Texas; Broyles
20 years, 19 at Arkansas; Wilkinson 17 years, all at OU.
Woody Hayes was 65 when Ohio State fired him following his
32nd year as a head coach, 28 for the Buckeyes.
Bear Bryant coached 38 years and had his greatest success
after turning 50. He coached until he was 69. But, Bryant
was an exception to every rule.