Sentimentally it's the 1971 Game of the Century because i was with my dad...but i was only 8 so don't remember much except the Johnny Rogers punt return and dad and his buddy yelling "Clip! Clip!". First time i heard him be really mad about something. As i got older i went to many more great OU games, including the '84 classic at a cold, rain-soaked Cotton Bowl. Remember when Boz and the Boys stoned em' at the goal-line late in the game. In the ensuing frenzy i nearly jumped into the rows below but was restrained by a fellow sooner who grabbed me by the shoulders and firmly placed me back in my spot. Lol! What a screw job that game turned out to be, but so exciting to be there! I guess at the very top would be the '85 Nebraska game in Norman, when Keith Jackson took the end around for a 70 yd TD and we never looked back. Meanwhile my roommate was totally making out with this chick he just met from the row behind us. The vibe had a rock concert feel and apparently nothing makes a sooner girl horny like an ou *** whipping on a rival lol. What about ya'll?
FAVORITE OU GAME IN PERSON
- Thread starter Tollboothmgr
- Start date
I had the same game experience with my dad in 1971, an OU win, 48-27.
Ironically, my first OU game was the Texas game in 1958, also with my dad, in which Royal used the new 2-point conversion rule to beat OU 15-14. Texas scored first, went for two to go up 8-0. OU answered but failed in its 2-point try making it 8-6. Then OU scored and made the 2-pointer and led 14-8. Texas scored on a sustained drive, kicked the PAT and held off the Sooners in the last 4 minutes.
So I saw the game that started OU’s 13 year drought and the 1971 game that ended it.
Ironically, my first OU game was the Texas game in 1958, also with my dad, in which Royal used the new 2-point conversion rule to beat OU 15-14. Texas scored first, went for two to go up 8-0. OU answered but failed in its 2-point try making it 8-6. Then OU scored and made the 2-pointer and led 14-8. Texas scored on a sustained drive, kicked the PAT and held off the Sooners in the last 4 minutes.
So I saw the game that started OU’s 13 year drought and the 1971 game that ended it.
Toss up between Red October vs. Nebraska in 2000 and the 2001 Orange Bowl for the MNC vs. FSU. Honorable mention are the 1985 RRS, the 2016 game at Tennessee in Knoxville and 2017 RRS.
11/23/85 against the Cornfvckers. Intense atmosphere before we became National Champs. Lost my voice for 3 days. Keith Jackson you madman...
Orange Bowl against Penn State. Bought my Natty hat before the game. Still have it.
Maybe the BigXII Championship in cold KC vs Mizzou because my 3 sons were with me and Sam pounded boogs for lots of records. Too bad Stoops had DeMarco take the opening k/o; cost us a Natty (probably)
Got to be OU and Tennessee. Was hard to sit in that stadium. Heard rocky top a thousand times. Crowd was real loud till our magic showed up. "Good ole Mayfield, Mayfield beat Tennessee".
Those Vol fans were thinking that "Tennessee football had returned" at the end of the third quarter. Baker, Samaje and Shepard broke their hearts in the 4Q and OT. You could just feel the energy leave the stadium like air from a balloon when Sanchez made the INT in OT to seal if for OU.
2008 *** stomping of Nebraska. It was 35-0 after 1st quarter.
Headed back to the tailgate just in time to see "the catch" by Crabtree against Texas. Sooner and Nebraska fans celebrated together.
Headed back to the tailgate just in time to see "the catch" by Crabtree against Texas. Sooner and Nebraska fans celebrated together.
Mine too. I was a student manager for the 1971 Sooners. We had ten managers, but only one or two managers made the trip with the team. This was my trip. I still have the team intinerary, that included all the hotel room assignments. Two of us made that trip.
Most of the managers made the trip to Dallas and worked the game. But most of the guys wanted to party the night before, maybe spend the night with their girlfriend in Dallas. Then get to the Cotton Bowl independently the next day. I did that the other three years.
That was Jack Mildren's senior year. Jack scored OUr final touchdown, which kind of settled the issue. We hadn't got the defense figured out by the second Saturday of October, but we scored a lot, and Greg Pruitt's run on the counter dive, where he left the jock strap of Longhorn safety Alan Lowry on the turf around the 20, was a highlight. 48-27.
After the game, Chuck Fairbanks was pumped. It was his first win as OU head coach over Texas. We'd beaten USC the previous game. This game showed we were truly back. Chuck was so pumped, he said, "Everybody who made the trip, gets a game ball!" That meant every player and coach. And a couple of managers. I had to do a little lobbying with Jack Baer, the old OU baseball coach, who had been the longtime football equipment guy, into making sure I got my autograph ball. Had it autographed personally myself.
2. for me would be the win over the Huskers in 2000.
3 KState in the 2000 CCG.
4. The GOTC. If only that last pass to Jon Harrison had a little more air under it.
5. One of the 2000 era wins over Texas. Probably 2013. 65-13 I think. That was fun.
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Top 10:
1. '08 Tech; easy #1 for me. Most electric atmosphere I've ever been in.
2. '02 @ Mizzou. Talk about letting the air out of the stadium when Chester caught that TD; BOY did we encounter some torqued off MU fans leaving that one....
3. '07 Miami. They weren't very good, but that one got out 20+ years of frustration in a big way.
4. 2010 vs. Florida St.; Greg Reid came in talking trash 6 ways to Sunday. He left completely owned.
5. '16 Ok. St. They flat stoned him in the first half, but Samaje popped 200 yards on the 'pokes in the 2nd half to win the B12 title.
6. '15 TCU. The 2nd half was painful sans 1 long TD from Samaje, but the good guys held on when Steven Parker batted away TCU's try for 2 & the win.
7.'18 Army. Not for the game itself (wayyyy too close for comfort obviously), but just for the respect given to the opposition leading up to it. They did & do deserve every bit of it. Go ahead & throw '10 AFA in this category as well (even the close game thing too, lol).
8. '07 Mizzou. Thank you Mr. Lofton. 'Nuff said.
9. '09 Ok. St. A beat up with injuries everywhere you could look in the lineup (OL being the obvious leader there) plays some rousing defense & gets the shutout (thank you Trent Ratterree).
10. '08 Nebraska. My one & only NU game; I'd obviously have it much higher had it been closer. Sam & co. could have given Germany blitzkrieg lessons that night.
1. '08 Tech; easy #1 for me. Most electric atmosphere I've ever been in.
2. '02 @ Mizzou. Talk about letting the air out of the stadium when Chester caught that TD; BOY did we encounter some torqued off MU fans leaving that one....
3. '07 Miami. They weren't very good, but that one got out 20+ years of frustration in a big way.
4. 2010 vs. Florida St.; Greg Reid came in talking trash 6 ways to Sunday. He left completely owned.
5. '16 Ok. St. They flat stoned him in the first half, but Samaje popped 200 yards on the 'pokes in the 2nd half to win the B12 title.
6. '15 TCU. The 2nd half was painful sans 1 long TD from Samaje, but the good guys held on when Steven Parker batted away TCU's try for 2 & the win.
7.'18 Army. Not for the game itself (wayyyy too close for comfort obviously), but just for the respect given to the opposition leading up to it. They did & do deserve every bit of it. Go ahead & throw '10 AFA in this category as well (even the close game thing too, lol).
8. '07 Mizzou. Thank you Mr. Lofton. 'Nuff said.
9. '09 Ok. St. A beat up with injuries everywhere you could look in the lineup (OL being the obvious leader there) plays some rousing defense & gets the shutout (thank you Trent Ratterree).
10. '08 Nebraska. My one & only NU game; I'd obviously have it much higher had it been closer. Sam & co. could have given Germany blitzkrieg lessons that night.
My 1st game in person was 1972 against Oregon. We won something like 65-3. Dan Fouts was the Duck QB. 1985 and 2000 Orange Bowls are high on my list due the intense celebrations after the games. I lived overseas for most of 1980 to 2012 but took part of my vacation during football season every year just to get to games. I got to attend the April OU coaching clinics in 84-86 and games of those years were special to me. I became good friends with Jimbo Elrod at these clinics. My wife's first trip to the USA was to OU/Texas.
With me watching in person every home game in the 2000 season with OU's 31-14 win over #1 Nebraska & beating texas 63-14 are my 2 favorites games that I was present at in 2000. .I have been to 25 RRRs and every Sooner win was memorable and were very satisfying. On most of my 25 Red River Rivalry games my dad and I took the OU football train from OKC to Dallas which was a lot of fun.
The '85 win over Nebraska 27-7 was fantastic with Keith Jackson's 88 yard end around TD. I was sitting with my dad on Row 7 Section 7 on the opposite side of the field of Jackson's run and I and everyone one sitting near us could not figure out how Jackson got the ball. We just saw him running free.
I watched that play on TV after I got home that evening to see Jamelle Holieway pitching him the ball on a reverse. It was a great play.
I have witnessed many great OU wins in the many years that I have watched
OU in Norman and many memorable losses like John Elway of Stanford dominating us.
The 1966 game vs. Notre Dame with Allan Page was memorable. Notre Dame made our players look like midgets compared to them. OU was 4-0 under head coach Jim Mackenzie including a 18-9 win over texas with Mike Vachon kicking 4 FGs.going into the ND game. Notre Dame who tied with Michigan State for the National Championship in 1966. beat us 38-0..
Jim Mackenzie who died at age 38 of a heart attack is credited with starting the Chuck Fairbanks and Barry Switzer eras, who were two of Mackenzie's assistant coaches he brought to Norman with him.
The year after Mackenzie died OU and Chuck Fairbanks were 10-1 losing only to texas 9-7 and beating Tennessee in the Orange bowl.
The '85 win over Nebraska 27-7 was fantastic with Keith Jackson's 88 yard end around TD. I was sitting with my dad on Row 7 Section 7 on the opposite side of the field of Jackson's run and I and everyone one sitting near us could not figure out how Jackson got the ball. We just saw him running free.
I watched that play on TV after I got home that evening to see Jamelle Holieway pitching him the ball on a reverse. It was a great play.
I have witnessed many great OU wins in the many years that I have watched
OU in Norman and many memorable losses like John Elway of Stanford dominating us.
The 1966 game vs. Notre Dame with Allan Page was memorable. Notre Dame made our players look like midgets compared to them. OU was 4-0 under head coach Jim Mackenzie including a 18-9 win over texas with Mike Vachon kicking 4 FGs.going into the ND game. Notre Dame who tied with Michigan State for the National Championship in 1966. beat us 38-0..
Jim Mackenzie who died at age 38 of a heart attack is credited with starting the Chuck Fairbanks and Barry Switzer eras, who were two of Mackenzie's assistant coaches he brought to Norman with him.
The year after Mackenzie died OU and Chuck Fairbanks were 10-1 losing only to texas 9-7 and beating Tennessee in the Orange bowl.
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That 38-0 loss to Notre Dame in 1966, from what I have read, went a long way in getting Mackenzie to realize he had to recruit speed AND size.
Against Notre Dame, OU was outweighed around 35 lbs per man and Parseghian's team's speed equaled that of the Sooners.
All of Notre Dame's points were scored in just the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
Against Notre Dame, OU was outweighed around 35 lbs per man and Parseghian's team's speed equaled that of the Sooners.
All of Notre Dame's points were scored in just the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
I recall the 1975 OU-Pittsburgh game in Norman, a 46-10 win over a good Pitt team lead by Tony Dorsett. Scott Hill's flying hit on Dorsett happened right in front of the section my brother and I were seated.
Dorsett had 17 yards in 14 carries that day.
We drove up from Houston that morning. Leaving at midnight and we figured we could take a nap at my aunt's house before the game. As we entered the area around Purcell, my brother decided to pull over to take a picture of the sunrise. We pulled off on a back road, turned the motor off, and took some photos.
When we got back into the car, the engine was dead. After two hours, we flagged down a driver who went up the road and called a tow truck. The tow truck driver charged the battery to resolve the issue. (These were the days before cell phones.)
Anyway, we finally arrived at our aunt's house, then made the game in plenty of time to see a major ***-whipping.
Dorsett had 17 yards in 14 carries that day.
We drove up from Houston that morning. Leaving at midnight and we figured we could take a nap at my aunt's house before the game. As we entered the area around Purcell, my brother decided to pull over to take a picture of the sunrise. We pulled off on a back road, turned the motor off, and took some photos.
When we got back into the car, the engine was dead. After two hours, we flagged down a driver who went up the road and called a tow truck. The tow truck driver charged the battery to resolve the issue. (These were the days before cell phones.)
Anyway, we finally arrived at our aunt's house, then made the game in plenty of time to see a major ***-whipping.
Nebraska 2000. Going from down 14, thinking nothing much has changed, to scoring 31 unanswered points.
I don't think my hearing has been the same since.
I don't think my hearing has been the same since.
Another game, one I have mentioned several times over the years here, was the 1961 OU-Army game at Yankee Stadium.....won on a no-huddle play in which Mike McClellan ran a sweep for 75 yards as Army was just breaking from its defensive huddle. Pretty good scouting by Wilkinson and his coaches to notice how Army's defense always huddled up between plays.
OU ran a "decoy" play off right tackle for 3-4 yards, then immediately got into formation so Carpenter's lateral to McClellan gave him all the room he needed down the left sideline. 14-8, OU.
OU ran a "decoy" play off right tackle for 3-4 yards, then immediately got into formation so Carpenter's lateral to McClellan gave him all the room he needed down the left sideline. 14-8, OU.
So many great Sooner moments. Let’s hope we run together a string of them this year. I would love to see us get into the National Championship by beating both Bama and Clemson. But we have to get there and stomp those before them into a mud puddle...
This will happen when OU plays well on both sides of the ball.
OU at Notre Dame Oct 2,1999. Although we blew a lead and lost, there was no doubt that Stoops and crew were building something special that day. Also the day itself was perfect. About 50 degrees, mist, cloudy, the fall colors were already out in Indiana. Other than losing the game,,it was a great day.
Nothing will top my first OU game in Norman...1958 home opener vs WVU. Same to be said for my first OU vs UT game in 1963 and my first witnessed UT victory in 1966. Other notables...NC game vs FSU in 2000, Kansas in 1962 in Lawrence watching Gayle Sayers. T A&M in 2000, 2 road SEC games...Tuscaloosa & Knoxville, FSU in Tallahassee. First conference game in Morgantown...the near disaster with Tavon Auston. Pitt in '75, Baylor in '73. All these games had a special meaning to me.
I watched the KU game from 1962, won (13-7) on a long run by Looney. It's on YouTube.
1970 OU-Texas, the first time OU ever lined up in the Wishbone T. Texas scored the most points ever against OU at the time. I walked out of the Cotton Bowl all giddy. I saw the writing on the wall.
At UT's December football banquet, a sports writer asked a UT player about OU adopting the wishbone. The UT player said, "I think we've been telling Aggie jokes about the wrong school."
Royal never beat OU again.
At UT's December football banquet, a sports writer asked a UT player about OU adopting the wishbone. The UT player said, "I think we've been telling Aggie jokes about the wrong school."
Royal never beat OU again.
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Oklahoma vs Florida State in Norman in 2010, it was supposed to be Florida States big chance to show the Country they were back. OU won 47-17 and I saw lots of sad faces on the FSU fans faces and that was at halftime, game was over by then. I also saw many Cars on the highway on Sunday that had Florida tags as we were headed back to Arkiesaw and thought, damn thats a long ride home for those guys.
Had I gone to any games prior to then it probably would have been a different game but my first games to ever attend started in 2010.
Had I gone to any games prior to then it probably would have been a different game but my first games to ever attend started in 2010.
Great post.
While I wasn't "all giddy" over losing to Texas 41-9, I did believe at that time there would be better days ahead with the wishbone.
Having watched OU's freshman teams in 1968 and 1969, which reflected Fairbanks' rejuvenated recruiting, I could see a potentially bright future.....with both speed and size represented, as well as jump starting recruiting in Texas.
Like the 1966 Notre Dame loss, the 1970 Texas loss, I believe, ultimately served the Oklahoma program greatly in terms of changing the recruiting philosophy (1966) and the introduction of the wishbone (1970). It was like "losing a battle so you could win a war".
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That Oregon game was Sooner fan's first opportunity to see Mike Thomas, star recruit from Greenville, TX. show his stuff. First time he touched the ball he went all the way for a TD ( 70 plus I think ). Our LH depth chart was Pruitt, Washington, and Thomas. I should have mentioned the '72 CU game in Boulder as a memorable game. We lost to J.V. Cain and the Buffs.
Attended that game. Thomas ran 90 yards out of the north end zone, right in front of me. I knew he was gone as he took Stokley's pitchout.
Oregon had Dan Fouts at QB and TE Russ Francis.
68-3 final with the fans booing when Oregon kicked its FG in the 4th quarter.
ND in '66 & Miami '85 were the 2 best teams I've ever seen on Owen Field other than OU. That Baylor game in '73 was an eye opener. Coming off '72 with a QB not suited to the triple-option and starting an unknown QB and new players like Grant Burget and Waymon Clark, no one knew what we had. After one half of football the questions were answered. Unfortunately, Burget was injured in that game.
I can't just go with one, I have three.
1984 at Nebraska. My first Sooner game ever in person. Great goal line stand down in the south endzone. 2006 Big XII Championship Game against Nebraska. Nebraska fans thought they were back in a big way. OU destroyed them and the greatest fans in the country started to leave early. My other one is my first game in Norman against Oklahoma State in 2009. Nobody thought the Sooners had a chance against the Cowboys that day. OU held their offense down and Ryan Broyles had one of the best punt returns for a TD that I have ever seen.
1984 at Nebraska. My first Sooner game ever in person. Great goal line stand down in the south endzone. 2006 Big XII Championship Game against Nebraska. Nebraska fans thought they were back in a big way. OU destroyed them and the greatest fans in the country started to leave early. My other one is my first game in Norman against Oklahoma State in 2009. Nobody thought the Sooners had a chance against the Cowboys that day. OU held their offense down and Ryan Broyles had one of the best punt returns for a TD that I have ever seen.
1984 reminded me a bit of 1970, where I could see signs of a better future ahead with the young talent coming in.
I'll never forget the '73 Baylor game. The Friday night before the copperhead bite. I attended the game with my left foot 2 times the size of the right. No shoe for the left foot. A crimson sock only.
So I am glad I kicked this off to get a chance to read your faves and for you to tell and of course re-live your favorite OU experiences. I bet we all have mental snapshots of those moments we can recall with crystal clear clarity.. the hopes and the nerves before the game.....the father or friend along for the ride....the weather that day either sunny and nice, or low clouds and cool or blazing sun with stifling muggy warmth....and of course the highs and lows during the game.
That's dedication SBI
Well, I also don't believe I can narrow it down to 1...it would probably be a 3 way tie among games in the 2000 season. One, beating texass 63-14 was simply unforgettable. After thinking we were going to win in '99 after taking a 17 point lead, only to lose in the end...no way did I think we were going to annihilate them so badly the following season. That was the most enjoyable OU-ut game I've seen, even though we beat them worse in 2003 and Brodney Pool made one of the most impressive INTs I've ever seen. If forced at gunpoint, I might choose this one over the other two...maybe.
Next, of course, was the Nebraska game. I thought we had a chance to beat both texass and KSU, but I didn't believe we could beat Nebraska just yet. I let my mom and sister sit in my seats and bought extras for the rest of the family in the south end zone, surrounded by Huskers. Down by 14, my dad despaired we were about to get rolled. Something inside of me, at that moment, said we'd come back. We did in a big way, highlighted by that ridiculously good catch from Denver Jefferson product Andre Woolfolk. I also can't forget Derrick Strait's INT for TD...the crowd was so loud and just kept getting louder as he ran. People talk about the 2008 Texas Tech game for atmosphere. I was there in 2008, but I still say we were even louder for the 2000 Nebraska game.
Then there was the Orange Bowl. I turned to my Dad at the end of the first half and said we were going to win because FSU could not score a point on this defense, even though we only led 3-0. I was right. Only Jeff Ferguson's intentional safety gave them any points. That was the most incredible display of defense I've ever seen. Seeing OU win the national championship was the icing on the cake.
Venables and M. Stoops did too. Down by 14, they were laughing on the sidelines when they knew they had finally made the defensive adjustments needed.
I agree.
I walked in on the Choctaw Indians at halftime at Calera. I told them OU was leading. They called me a liar. They gave up and had turned the radio off when OU got down 14-0.
Can't narrow down to just one.....
1985 Nebraska, OU had a shutout until late fumble return TD. Boz wanted to come off the sideline to make the tackle.
2000 Texas, I think the point everyone realized OU was pretty good again. Saw best rivalry shirt ever......"Don't mess with Texas, they're OUr bitches"
2002 Rose Bowl, not because of game, but location and atmosphere
2010 Bedlam, shootout in Stillwater. Great night to be there!
1985 Nebraska, OU had a shutout until late fumble return TD. Boz wanted to come off the sideline to make the tackle.
2000 Texas, I think the point everyone realized OU was pretty good again. Saw best rivalry shirt ever......"Don't mess with Texas, they're OUr bitches"
2002 Rose Bowl, not because of game, but location and atmosphere
2010 Bedlam, shootout in Stillwater. Great night to be there!
"honorable mentions" for me; the 77 game in Norman vs Colo & the next week vs Nebby cuz I was there for both with my wing/Schoonerman
could do least favorite too....ou-tx 2013....HUGE vegas point spread favors undefeated ou...snag a cheap ticket on the tx side right before the game cuz they know t-sips know they're gonna get killed. what happens? we play like dogsh*t and i have to listen to bevo bob behind me say "i cant believe we're beating you!" 150 times.