50 Years Ago - Texas vs OU

[Dolphorn]

1976 - my first OU game - I was a senior at UT. This iconic game is best described as a fist-fight in a phone booth - most physical game I have ever witnessed.  There were several side-stories leading up to the game:  (1) It was not on TV cuz OU was on NCAA probation (again). (2) DKR vs Switzer - real animosity that carried over to the fan bases.  (3) Just before the game, President Ford (running for election vs Carter) awkwardly escorted them down the tunnel out to midfield, much like a boxing referee. (4) OU QB Dean Blevins was out with mono, and they had to go with 1st time starter Thomas Lott - he was handcuffed with a limited playbook by the OU staff. (4) OU was 4-0 and ranked #3 and UT was 2-1 at #16.

Very conservative offensive play - each team had stout D's and both teams ran the Wishbone.  Seemed like players were carried off or limped off the field every other play - brutal physicality.   Texas led 3-0 at half thx to an Erxleben FG; and he made another FG early in the 4th Q to go up 6-0.....we were cautiously optimistic.  OU had just 1 first down going into the 4th Q - and that was on a halfback pass!  Texas gave the ball to Fullback Earl Campbell 27 times for 91 yards and UT managed 10 first downs for the game, OU had 5 total.  There were 21 punts in the game, 9 by Texas and at least 2 were kicked on 3rd down!

But alas, UT fumbled with less than 6:00 left in the game on their own 37.  OU's offense came alive and they punched it in 10 plays later to tie the game with about 3 minutes left.  What a bummer!  The Sooner side was jubilant, and we were demoralized, because it looked like an L.  Not so fast! On the extra point, OU's deep snapper hiked the ball over the head of the holder and the Sooner fans went silent and sat, as we rose up cheering and laughing. It ended in a 6-6 tie and DKR walked out of the Cotton Bowl (stopping along the way with dry heaves) for the last time as a coach.  72,000 fans witnessed it, no TV, no ESPN, no internet, no film on YouTube that I can find....but I have a lasting memory of the sights, sounds, smells of the fairgrounds....had my first Fletcher's corndog (with mustard, not mayo) and drank beer out of wax-coated paper cups (outside the stadium).   It would be cool to speak to some of the combatants on both sides, who participated in the game to get their perspective.....even Switzer.