1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team

1979 Oklahoma Sooners football
Big 8 champion
Orange Bowl champion
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 3
APNo. 3
Record11–1 (7–0 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGalen Hall (7th season)
Offensive schemeWishbone
Defensive coordinatorRex Norris (2nd season)
Base defense5–2
Captains
Home stadiumOklahoma Memorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1978
1980 →
1979 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Oklahoma $ 7 – 0 – 0 11 – 1 – 0
No. 9 Nebraska 6 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
Oklahoma State 5 – 2 – 0 7 – 4 – 0
Missouri 3 – 4 – 0 7 – 5 – 0
Colorado 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Iowa State 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Kansas 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Kansas State 1 – 6 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1979 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football 1979 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.[1] The team posted an 11–1 overall record and a 7–0 conference record to earn the Conference title outright under head coach Barry Switzer who took the helm in 1973.[2][3] This was Switzer's seventh conference title and fourth undefeated conference record in seven seasons.[2]

The team was led by All-Americans Billy Sims and George Cumby.[4][5] After winning the conference title outright, it earned a trip to the Orange Bowl for a bout with Florida State. During the season, it faced three different ranked opponents (In order, #4 Texas, #3 Nebraska and #4 Florida State). All three of these opponents finished the season ranked. It endured its only defeat of the season against Texas in the Red River Shootout.[3] The Sooners started the season with a four consecutive wins before losing to Texas and then won their remaining seven games.[3] Sims and J.C. Watts both posted for 100-yard games in the Orange Bowl.[6]

Sims led the nation in scoring with 138 points (based on per game average of 12.0, which includes 132 in 11 games).[7] Sims led the team in rushing with 1670 yards, Watts led the team in passing with 821 yards, Freddie Nixon led the team in receiving with 293 yards, Cumby led the team with 160 tackles and Bud Hebert posted 4 interceptions.[8] Billy Sims set numerous Oklahoma offensive records that still stand including career 200-yard games, single-season rushing touchdowns (tied)[9]

  1. ^ "Memorial Stadium". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "OU Football Tradition – 42 Conference Titles". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 22, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "1979 Football Season". SoonerStats.com. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference AABS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference AAGC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Sooners Spoil Seminole Uprising". Orange Bowl Committee. Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  7. ^ "2009 Division I Football Records Book: Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 47. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  8. ^ "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. p. 175. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  9. ^ "2009 Football Record Book" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. p. 166. Retrieved June 30, 2010.