1950 Oklahoma Sooners football team

The 1950 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 1950 college football season, the 56th season of Sooner football. Led by fourth-year head coach Bud Wilkinson, they played their home games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, and competed in the Big Seven Conference.

1950 Oklahoma Sooners football
Consensus national champion
Big Seven champion
Sugar Bowl, L 7–13 vs. Kentucky
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
1950 record10–1 (6–0 Big 7)
Head coachBud Wilkinson (4th season)
Home stadiumOklahoma Memorial Stadium
(Capacity: 55,647)
1950 Big Seven Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 1 Oklahoma $ 6 –0 –0  10 –1 –0
No. 17 Nebraska 4 –2 –0  6 –2 –1
Missouri 3 –2 –1  4 –5 –1
Kansas 3 –3 –0  6 –4 –0
Iowa State 2 –3 –1  3 –6 –1
Colorado 2 –4 –0  5 –4 –1
Kansas State 0 –6 –0  1 –9 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The Sooners finished the regular season 10–0 (6–0 in Big 7), and won their fifth consecutive conference championship, and eleventh overall. Both major polls (AP writers, UP coaches) awarded the Sooners with their first national championship at the end of the regular season. They were invited to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year's Day,[1] but were upset 13–7 by the Kentucky Wildcats, halting their winning streak at 32 games.[2]

Five Sooners received All-American honors following the season: Frankie Anderson, Buddy Jones, Leon Heath, and Jim Weatherall. In addition, eight sooners won all conference honors, Anderson, Claude Arnold, Tom Catlin, Heath, Norman McNabb, Harry Moore, Billy Vessels, and Weatherall.[3]

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 30at Boston College*No. 6
W 28–036,049
October 7Texas A&M*No. 5
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
W 34–2836,586
October 14vs. No. 4 Texas*No. 3
W 14–1375,959
October 21Kansas StateNo. 2
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
W 58–038,546
October 28at Iowa StateNo. 3
W 48–016,883
November 4at ColoradoNo. 3
W 27–1830,001
November 11at KansasNo. 3
W 33–1337,621
November 18MissouriNo. 2
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK (Tiger–Sooner Peace Pipe)
W 41–746,463
November 25No. 16 NebraskaNo. 1
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK (rivalry)
W 49–3553,066
December 2Oklahoma A&M*No. 1
W 41–1428,530
January 1, 1951vs. No. 7 Kentucky*No. 1
L 7–1380,206
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster
  • QB Eddie Crowder, So.
  • QB Claude Arnold, Sr.
  • HB Billy Vessels, So.
  • T Jim Weatherall

Game summaries

Texas (Red River Shootout)

Late in the contest, a low punt snap gives Oklahoma the ball at the Texas 11. Billy Vessels dashes around right end for the touchdown while Texas native Jim Weatherall kicks the game-winning extra point for the 14-13 victory. Minutes earlier, Longhorns defensive back Bobby Dillon had returned at interception 50 yards for a touchdown and a 13-7 Texas lead. Twice during the contest Texas had goal-line scoring opportunities, once stopped by Oklahoma's defense at the one-yard line and another ended with a fumble at the five.[4]

NFL Draft

The following players were drafted into the National Football League following the season.[5]

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
Leon HeathBack14Washington Redskins
Clair MayesGuard895Chicago Bears
Nolan LangBack9107Los Angeles Rams
Frankie AndersonEnd11128Detroit Lions
Ed LisakBack19229Chicago Bears

References
  1. "Oklahoma choice to grab 32nd grid win". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 1, 1951. p. 4, part 2.
  2. "Kentucky passes upset Oklahoma, 13-7". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. January 2, 1951. p. 3, part 2.
  3. "2014 Oklahoma Football Records Supplement" (PDF). University of Oklahoma. 2014. pp. 90–5. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  4. Palm Beach Post
  5. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1951.htm
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