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1972 Oklahoma Sooners football team

1972 Oklahoma Sooners football
Big 8 co-champion
Sugar Bowl champion
Sugar Bowl, W 14–0 vs. Penn State
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 2
Record11–1 (6–1 or 3–4 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBarry Switzer (7th season)
Offensive schemeWishbone
Defensive coordinatorLarry Lacewell (3rd season)
Base defense5–2
Captains
Home stadiumOklahoma Memorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1971
1973 →
1972 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Oklahoma $ 6 – 1 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 4 Nebraska $ 5 – 1 – 1 9 – 2 – 1
No. 16 Colorado 4 – 3 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Oklahoma State 4 – 3 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
Missouri 3 – 4 – 0 6 – 6 – 0
Iowa State 2 – 4 – 1 5 – 6 – 1
Kansas 2 – 5 – 0 4 – 7 – 0
Kansas State 1 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • The Big 8 Conference mandated Oklahoma forfeits in three conference games, giving Nebraska the title. Oklahoma reverted this record at a later date; hence, both Oklahoma[1] and Nebraska[2] claim this title.
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1972 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1972 NCAA University Division football season. Oklahoma was a member of the Big Eight Conference and played its home games in Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where it has played its home games since 1923.[3] The team posted an 11–1 overall record and were 6–1 in conference, later changed to 8–4 and 3–4.[4][5] This was Chuck Fairbanks' last season as Sooner head coach;[4] he left for the New England Patriots of the NFL.

The Sooners' 1972 record is marred by the use of an ineligible player. In self-reporting the violations to the NCAA, Oklahoma voluntarily forfeited eight games.[6][7][8] The NCAA later penalized the program by reducing scholarships, TV appearances and bowl appearances. In 2008 a blogger for Washington, DC TV station WJLA stated, "The NCAA claims that according to a now-retired statistician of the era, and a review of its database (which the NCAA admits might not be totally complete) that forfeits were NOT [sic] part of the NCAA sanctions levied against the Sooners." A commenter stated, "The 1972 forfeits by Oklahoma were sanctioned by The Big Eight. As such Oklahoma's conference record was adjusted, while their overall record was not. In older Oklahoma media guide ... Oklahoma would show their record as 11-1 with a 3-4 conference record (reflecting 3 forfeits, despite the original 7 or 8 forfeited. ...) Also, if you check the media guides of the teams Oklahoma "forfeited" to, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma State, you'll not[e] similar adjustments. Each team didn't change their overall record, but changed their conference record."[9] Oklahoma had used players (including Kerry Jackson, the team's first black quarterback) with falsified transcripts and on April 18, 1973, voluntarily forfeited eight games.[10] Eventually, the Big Eight sanctioned the forfeit of three conference victories (Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma State),[11] but Oklahoma now recognizes these as wins and claims the 1972 conference title.[12]

Oklahoma was led by four All-Americans: Rod Shoate (OU's second three-time All-American),[13] Greg Pruitt,[14] Tom Brahaney[15] and Derland Moore.[16] This was the first season that the Selmon brothers Lucious, Lee Roy and Dewey, all eventual All-Americans,[17] anchored the defensive line. The Sooners played seven ranked opponents (In order, #10 Texas, #9 Colorado, #14 Iowa State, #14 Missouri, #5 Nebraska, #20 Oklahoma State, and #5 Penn State), and four of these opponents finished the season ranked. Oklahoma's only loss on the field was in the fifth game against Colorado. The team concluded its season with a 14–0 victory over Penn State in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Eve.[5]

Pruitt led the Sooners in rushing with 1024 yards, Dave Robertson led in passing with 1136 yards, and Tinker Owens led in receiving (for the first of four consecutive seasons) with 430 yards. Pruitt led in scoring with 86 points, Shoate in tackles with 145, and Dan Ruster in interceptions with seven.[18]

The 1972 Sooners twice posted 37 first downs, which was a school record that stood for 16 seasons.[19]

  1. ^ "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). soonersports.com. Oklahoma Athletics. p. 6. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "2018 Media Guide" (PDF). huskers.com. Nebraska Athletics. p. 206. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  3. ^ "Memorial Stadium". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "OU Football Tradition – 42 Conference Titles". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "1972 Football Season". SoonerStats.com. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  6. ^ White, Gordon S. Jr. (April 19, 1973). "OKLAHOMA AGREES TO FORFEIT GAMES Gives Up Eight Victories in Football in Case Involving Player's Altered Record". New York Times. New York. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  7. ^ Gems, Gerald R.; Pfister, Gertrud (2017). Touchdown: An American Obsession. Berkshire Publishing Group. p. 74. ISBN 9781614728238. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  8. ^ Dozier, Ray (2013). The Oklahoma Football Encyclopedia: 2nd Edition. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781613216200.
  9. ^ Brant, Tim (January 11, 2008). "After Further Review...The NCAA Weighs In". WJLA/NewsChannel 8. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  10. ^ Cronley, Jay (April 30, 1973). "Oklahoma Penalty: Illegal Procedure: Admitting that Quarterback Kerry Jackson's high school transcript was altered, the Sooners forfeited eight of their 1972 wins". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  11. ^ Edwards, Mark (June 13, 2009). "Forfeits, Voids, Vacations Make Mess of Records". Decatur Daily. Archived from the original on June 16, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  12. ^ "1972 season". soonersports.com. Sooner Sports Properties. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference AARS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference AAGP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference AATB was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference AADM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ "OU Football Tradition – All-Americans". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  18. ^ "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF). Big12sports.com. p. 164. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  19. ^ "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. p. 164. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
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