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The Return
Los Angeles, September 29, 1973
Joe Washington made
himself legendary with this
punt return in OU's 7-7 tie against USC in 1973. He took
the ball and faded back, and back, and back. He finally
circled and found a crease and darted up the sideline before
one bewildered Trojan tackler finally brought him down for a
minus-9 yard net return.
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The Return II
Norman, November 30, 1974
The Sooners ended
their undefeated 1974 season with a 44-13 rout of Oklahoma
State. Joe Washington's spectacular 57-yard punt return for
a touchdown sparked OU from a 13-10 deficit in the third
quarter. Barry Switzer narrates the clip....
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The "Go, Joe!"
Columbia, November 15, 1975
The week after Kansas handed OU it's first loss in
three years, the Sooners were struggling. Mizzou led 27-20
late in the game, and OU faced 4th and 1 from their own
29-yard line. Barry Switzer told QB Steve Davis to make
sure Little Joe got the ball. Davis pitched to Washington,
who cut between two blocks, broke two tackles, and made an
unbelievable 71-yard touchdown run. The Sooners had to go
for the win to make sure they had a shot at the Big 8
Championship, and again, Little Joe's number was called.
Washington took the pitch, was hit at the 2-yard line, then
leaped and fell on the goal line. OU won 28-27 and went on
to the 1975 national title.
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The Face
Norman/Lincoln, December 1978
After
Nebraska stunned the unbeaten and number one ranked
Sooners after a Billy Sims fumble in 1978, The
Huskers, not the Sooners, were given the automatic
berth in the Orange Bowl. But hold everything. The
Orange Bowl selection committee decided that a rematch
with OU in the Orange Bowl would be the best game
possible. The
look on Tom Osbourne's face as he was being
informed of their decision speaks for it itself.
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The Tacos
Lincoln, November 22, 1980
One unique quality about a rivalry as intense and
emotional as Nebraska and Oklahoma's, is the level of
respect shared by the coaches .......along with a good
sense of humor. During the week leading up to the OU/NU
game in 1980, Husker fans, predicting a Nebraska win,
were saying that the Sooners would enjoy the Mexican
food when in El Paso for The Sun Bowl while Nebraska
enjoyed Miami and the Orange Bowl. Bob Devaney felt the
same and offered The Sooners a gift on his weekly TV
show to ease their upcoming pain, not knowing that Barry
Switzer was hiding backstage with a gift of his own for
Bob.......
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The Two
Miami, January 1, 1981
In the Orange Bowl against Florida State, OU
trailed 17-10 with 2:37 left, but QB J.C. Watts took the
Sooners on a
76-yard drive. He hit fifth-year senior Steve Rhodes
with a 42-yard gain and then with an 11-yard touchdown
pass 1:27 before the end. Watts' two-point pass to
Forrest Valora gave the Sooners an 18-17 victory.
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The Stand
Lincoln, November 17, 1984
In 1984,
the Sooners reached the November 17 showdown at
Nebraska with a chance to reach the Orange Bowl,
though the unbeaten Huskers were ranked No. 1 in the
nation. Tim Lashar's 32-yard field goal two plays
into the 4th quarter gave the Sooners a 10-7 lead,
then a magnificent Sooner goal-line stand
stonewalled Nebraska. On 4th down from the Sooners'
1-yard line, cornerback Brain Hall snuffed
out tailback Jeff Smith's sweep. A fumbled punt
by the Huskers setup QB Danny Bradley's 29-yard TD
run with 56 seconds left, and OU achieved an
exciting 17-7 victory.
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The Oklahoma Territory opened with
the Land Run of 1889. Settlers from across the globe,
seeking free land, made their way to the prairies of the
plains to stake their claim to a new life. One of the few
rules to claiming a lot of land was that all participants
were to start at the same time. Those who went too
soon were called "Sooners."
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