1976 Oklahoma Sooners football team
Encyclopedia
The 1976 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma
in the college football
1976 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football
participated in the former Big Eight Conference
at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted a 9–2–1 overall record and a 5–2–0 conference record to earn a share of the Conference title under head coach
Barry Switzer
who took the helm in 1973. This was Switzer's fourth conference title in four seasons.
The team was led by two All-Americans: Zac Henderson
and Mike Vaughan. After tying with and for the conference title, it earned a trip to the where it came out victorious against the . During the season, it faced five ranked opponents (In order, #16 , #15 , #19 Colorado, #11 and #10 Nebraska
). Four of its opponents finished the season ranked. It tied with Texas in the Red River Shootout and lost to Oklahoma State and Colorado. The Sooners started the season with a 5–0–1 record. They also began and ended the season with four game winning streaks. Sophomore Daryl Hunt
's 177 tackles
that season would stand as the school record for five years and continues to be the second highest total behind Jackie Shipp
's 189 in 1981.
Kenny King
led the team in rushing with 839 yards, Dean Blevins
led the team in passing with 384 yards, Steve Rhodes led the team in receiving with 160 yards, Uwe von Schamann
and Horace Ivory
led the team in scoring with 72 points, Hunt led the team in tackles with a record-setting 177 as well as interceptions with 4.
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
1976 NCAA Division I-A season. Oklahoma Sooners football
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
participated in the former Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
at that time and played its home games in Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
The Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is the on-campus football facility for the University of Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, Oklahoma. The official capacity of the stadium, following recent renovations, is 82,112, making it the 16th largest college stadium in the United States and the third...
where it has played its home games since 1923. The team posted a 9–2–1 overall record and a 5–2–0 conference record to earn a share of the Conference title under head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Barry Switzer
Barry Switzer
Barry Switzer is a former football coach, active in the college and professional ranks between 1962 and 1997. He has one of the highest winning percentages of any college football coach in history, and is one of only two head coaches to win both a college football national championship and a...
who took the helm in 1973. This was Switzer's fourth conference title in four seasons.
The team was led by two All-Americans: Zac Henderson
Zac Henderson
Zachary Ryall Henderson was a football player in the CFL for four years. Henderson played defensive back for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Toronto Argonauts from 1978-1983. Henderson also played one season in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles...
and Mike Vaughan. After tying with and for the conference title, it earned a trip to the where it came out victorious against the . During the season, it faced five ranked opponents (In order, #16 , #15 , #19 Colorado, #11 and #10 Nebraska
1976 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1976 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska in the 1976 college football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
). Four of its opponents finished the season ranked. It tied with Texas in the Red River Shootout and lost to Oklahoma State and Colorado. The Sooners started the season with a 5–0–1 record. They also began and ended the season with four game winning streaks. Sophomore Daryl Hunt
Daryl Hunt
Daryl Lynn Hunt was a professional American football player, a linebacker for six seasons for the Houston Oilers appearing in 78 career regular season games after being selected by Houston during the 6th round of the 1979 NFL Draft.-University:Hunt is considered one of the best University of...
's 177 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
that season would stand as the school record for five years and continues to be the second highest total behind Jackie Shipp
Jackie Shipp
Jackie Renardo Shipp is a former American football linebacker who played in the National Football League. He is currently the defensive line coach for the Oklahoma Sooners football team. He has been on the Sooners' coaching staff since the arrival of Bob Stoops in 1999.Shipp played high school...
's 189 in 1981.
Kenny King
Kenny King (running back)
Kenneth Leon King is a former American football running back who played seven seasons in the National Football League, mainly with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. He was a starter for the Raiders in Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XVIII....
led the team in rushing with 839 yards, Dean Blevins
Dean Blevins
Dean Blevins is an American sportscaster. He is the main sportscaster for KWTV, the CBS affiliate in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also is a co-host of an afternoon radio show on the Sports Animal called "The Total Dominance Hour."...
led the team in passing with 384 yards, Steve Rhodes led the team in receiving with 160 yards, Uwe von Schamann
Uwe von Schamann
Uwe Detlef Walter von Schamann is a former professional American football placekicker. He played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League, from 1979 to 1984.-Early life:...
and Horace Ivory
Horace Ivory
Horace Ivory is a former American football running back in the NFL from 1977 through 1982. He attended Nolan Catholic High School from 1968 to 1972 where he was a TCIL All-State Running Back...
led the team in scoring with 72 points, Hunt led the team in tackles with a record-setting 177 as well as interceptions with 4.
Schedule
External links
- 1976 season at SoonerStats.com