The 1973 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. Oklahoma participated as members of the Big Eight Conference and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted a 10–0–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference outright title under first-year head coach Barry Switzer. This would be the first of eight consecutive Big Eight Conference championships for the Sooners with Switzer as head coach.
The team was led by three All-Americans: Rod Shoate (Oklahoma's second three-time All-American) the oldest of the Selmon brothers, Lucious, and Eddie Foster. The Selmon brothers Lucious, Lee Roy and Dewey started on the defensive line. The team went undefeated on a schedule that included seven ranked opponents (In order, #1 USC, #17 Miami, #13 Texas, #13 Colorado, #10 Missouri, #18 Kansas, and #10 Nebraska). Five of these opponents finished the season ranked. The team tied with USC in the second game of the season before winning nine consecutive contests. It began the season ranked number 11 and steadily climbed in the polls as the season progressed.
Joe Washington led the team in rushing with 1173 yards, Steve Davis led the team in passing yard for with 934 yards, Tinker Owens led the team in receiving with 472 yards, Davis led the team in scoring with 108 points, Shoate led the team in tackles with 126, and Randy Hughes led the team in interceptions with 5.
Prior to the season in August, the Sooners were put on probation by the Big Eight Conference, which included a two-year ban on bowl appearances, and a two-year ban on television appearances (1974, 1975).
Schedule
Rankings
Awards and honors All-American: Rod Shoate, Eddie Foster and Lucious Selmon Big Eight Athlete of the Year: Selmon Big Eight Defensive Player: Selmon Chevrolet Defensive Player of the Year: Selmon
Game summaries At Baylor
"Powerful Sooners Rip Baylor in 42-14 Game." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Sept 16.
At USC
Miami (FL)
Palm Beach Post. 1973 Oct 7.
vs Texas
Worst loss in Darrell Royal's coaching career "Sooners Slam Texas, 52-13." Palm Beach Post. October 14, 1973
Colorado
At Kansas State
"Sooners Crush Wildcats." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Oct 28.
Iowa State
Joe Washington 136 Rush Yds "Sooners Get Past Cyclones." Palm Beach Post. 1973 Nov 4.
At Missouri
"Powerful Sooners Rip Missouri, 31-3." Palm Beach Post. November 11, 1973
Kansas
Nebraska
At Oklahoma State
"Sooners Corral Cowboys." Palm Beach Post. December 2, 1973
Personnel
NFL draft Seven Sooners were selected in the 1974 NFL draft.
485Durwood KeetonDefensive backSt. Louis Cardinals5110Gary BaccusLinebackerNew York Giants5119Clyde PowersDefensive backNew York Jets9227Ken PopeDefensive backOakland Raiders12296Eddie FosterTackleNew England Patriots14349David SmithLinebackerPhiladelphia Eagles16399Lucious SelmonDefensive tackleNew England Patriots
References
External links Sports Reference – 1973 Oklahoma football season