I had not seen this video, about Barry and the Selmon brothers.
- Thread starter Plainosooner
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Good stuff.
OU vs USC. 7-7 Tie. As Switzer stated once, "ties are like kissing your sister". I had an AM radio with a single ear plug speaker in mono. I listened to it on Armed Forces Radio & Television Services (AFRTS) while on duty.
Ironic that Switzer mentioned Mike Thomas being NFL Offensive MVP when talking about the RB room. Switzer cut Mike's scholly without explanation when he took over for Fairbanks. Mike went to UNLV.
OU vs USC. 7-7 Tie. As Switzer stated once, "ties are like kissing your sister". I had an AM radio with a single ear plug speaker in mono. I listened to it on Armed Forces Radio & Television Services (AFRTS) while on duty.
Ironic that Switzer mentioned Mike Thomas being NFL Offensive MVP when talking about the RB room. Switzer cut Mike's scholly without explanation when he took over for Fairbanks. Mike went to UNLV.
Mike wasn't eligible because of grades. Then his soph year, we had this loaded RB room where he was third string. He wasn't allowed to play on the Boomers, because of the eligibility issues, and he was more of a tailback type than a wishbone halfback. Not the most willing or capable blocker. Wishbone halfbacks had to block. Switzer did cut his ship. Mike wasn't eligible.
When he went to UNLV, he got to play tailback. Another guy he mentioned was Dexter Bussey who was a good runner, but he wasn't going to play over Greg Pruitt, Joe Wylie, Joe Washington or even Bob Berg. Fumbled too much. He left after the 1971 season. Transferred to UT-Arlington and ended up having a decent NFL career in Detroit. Boy, they drafted a bunch of Sooner running backs. Off the top of my head, Steve Owens, Leon Crosswhite, Bussey, Billy Sims. I think there was on other, but I can't think of who it was.
I was marginally in the program through the spring on 1973, and we all heard that Mike was transferring, not that Switzer took away his scholarship. In '72, he did make that one very long run against Oregon, when we beat Dan Fouts, Russ Francis and the Ducks 68-3 in game 2. I think it was 90 yards. It was a very warm day in Norman. Oregon wasn't used to the heat, and we were pretty good. That year, we gave up two field goals total in the first four games, including the shutout of Texas when Darrell Royal later accused us of spying his team, about four years later.
That triggered the incident when in '76, Gerald Ford was the President, a month before his election campaign and escorted Switzer and DKR down the ramp in Dallas, and it was tense between them. I read later, that some OU alum sitting in the stands said, "who's that sumbitch between Royal and Switzer. The shutout in 1972 was 27-0. The 1976 game when the accusations emerged, four years later, was Royal's last against his alma mater. It was the most boring OU-Texas game I've ever watched. It was a 6-6 tie, where we screwed up the snap on the extra point at the end, and settled for a tie.
When he went to UNLV, he got to play tailback. Another guy he mentioned was Dexter Bussey who was a good runner, but he wasn't going to play over Greg Pruitt, Joe Wylie, Joe Washington or even Bob Berg. Fumbled too much. He left after the 1971 season. Transferred to UT-Arlington and ended up having a decent NFL career in Detroit. Boy, they drafted a bunch of Sooner running backs. Off the top of my head, Steve Owens, Leon Crosswhite, Bussey, Billy Sims. I think there was on other, but I can't think of who it was.
I was marginally in the program through the spring on 1973, and we all heard that Mike was transferring, not that Switzer took away his scholarship. In '72, he did make that one very long run against Oregon, when we beat Dan Fouts, Russ Francis and the Ducks 68-3 in game 2. I think it was 90 yards. It was a very warm day in Norman. Oregon wasn't used to the heat, and we were pretty good. That year, we gave up two field goals total in the first four games, including the shutout of Texas when Darrell Royal later accused us of spying his team, about four years later.
That triggered the incident when in '76, Gerald Ford was the President, a month before his election campaign and escorted Switzer and DKR down the ramp in Dallas, and it was tense between them. I read later, that some OU alum sitting in the stands said, "who's that sumbitch between Royal and Switzer. The shutout in 1972 was 27-0. The 1976 game when the accusations emerged, four years later, was Royal's last against his alma mater. It was the most boring OU-Texas game I've ever watched. It was a 6-6 tie, where we screwed up the snap on the extra point at the end, and settled for a tie.
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That game vs Oregon in 1972 I remember well.
Dan Fouts was a senior and sophomore Russ Francis was his great tight end, but the game was never close as OU built a 35-0 halftime lead. OU ran for 609 yards and passed for 122 more while gaining 37 first downs.
I was sitting in the north end zone when Thomas made his 90-yard run and as QB Stokely pitch the ball to him, I told my wife that he's going all the way. I did not see an Oregon player in front of him.
When Oregon kicked a 4th quarter field goal to avoid a shutout for its only points, I heard much of the crowd booing.
Dan Fouts was a senior and sophomore Russ Francis was his great tight end, but the game was never close as OU built a 35-0 halftime lead. OU ran for 609 yards and passed for 122 more while gaining 37 first downs.
I was sitting in the north end zone when Thomas made his 90-yard run and as QB Stokely pitch the ball to him, I told my wife that he's going all the way. I did not see an Oregon player in front of him.
When Oregon kicked a 4th quarter field goal to avoid a shutout for its only points, I heard much of the crowd booing.
Mike and I were good friends for many years until his death in 2019. I was with Mike at an OU Club of Houston fund raiser at River Oaks Country Club in 1984 when Switzer admitted that cutting his scholly was one of his 5 biggest player mistakes in his coaching career. Say what you want but poor grades in the early 70s was an easy fix if desired. A player only became ineligible when an excuse was needed. Mike felt he was railroaded by Switzer and Switzer pretty much admitted it. You might not be "in the know" as much as you think on this particular subject.
I never heard that version. Mike was at OU for two seasons before Switzer took over in the spring of 1973. Mike sitting out his freshman season had nothing to do with Barry. His hs performance in the classroom was very substandard, and he didn't care about grades. Don't know why Barry 'cut him loose' because Barry was more lenient in those matters than maybe any OU coach ever.
I do know that many players blamed coaches, when they needed to look in the mirror. And that after Mike left, that we lost one game in three years.
Your version is much more informed than mine. But Mike was likely much better off at UNLV where he got to be the man and play tailback, than just another rb at OU, and second fiddle to Joe Washington.
Mike had the attitude that is more prevelent these days, than in the early 70's. His brothers played in the NFL and that was his apparent goal. Being a good teammate wasn't a big priority.
He was obviously quite talented. I'm sure you were a great friend.
I do know that many players blamed coaches, when they needed to look in the mirror. And that after Mike left, that we lost one game in three years.
Your version is much more informed than mine. But Mike was likely much better off at UNLV where he got to be the man and play tailback, than just another rb at OU, and second fiddle to Joe Washington.
Mike had the attitude that is more prevelent these days, than in the early 70's. His brothers played in the NFL and that was his apparent goal. Being a good teammate wasn't a big priority.
He was obviously quite talented. I'm sure you were a great friend.
I don't think freshmen were eligible in 71. I think your opinion of his attitude is completely wrong. You obviously did not know him. He was quite shy and introverted. He lived in Earl and Jimmy's shadow.
Mike was not an academia for certain. Mike was a lazy student not stupid. I was a family friend and knew his brothers. I visited his family in Greenville on a few occasions. I met the Thomas family in the late 70s in Houston. Mike had just left San Diego and moved to Houston.
Switzer openly stated that Port Roberson told him that he was wrong about Mike and it was a mistake to let him go. Rod Shoate and Mike were good friends long after football. Rod Shoate told me that Mike was a part of the team that could not survive after Fairbanks was gone. I took that to mean that Switzer had "his guys" and then there were the "others". I was always of the impression that Mike was not the only one to part ways with OU football when Switzer took the HC job. I assume Mike always accepted the fact that he was on the outside looking in at OU under Switzer. I knew of no grudge or ill feelings Mike held towards Switzer or OU. Mike spoke very highly of OU with little mention of any staff other than Port. Mike never once told me about the circumstances of his departure until Switzer admitted he was wrong.
Mike and I attended many OU games in Norman. I was always amazed at how many recognized and acknowledged him for having spent only two years at OU with some pretty special RBs at the same time.
Mike knew he was better off at UNLV. Ron Meyer recruited Mike in HS and was HC at UNLV. They went undefeated in the regular season in 1974. BTW, Mike graduated with a Bus Ad degree and held some pretty lofty positions in the oil & gas business in Houston. The Thomas Brothers owned a small refinery in south Louisiana. Their government contract was cancelled by Clinton before they sold the refinery.
Freshman weren't eligible for the varsity his freshman year, but he wasn't allowed to play for the Boomers, because of his poor performance in the classroom in high school. He was very quiet, and as a black kid growing up in Greenville, one can only imagine what he went through in a redneck town, although Greenville integrated sooner than most Texas schools back in the day.
I first saw him as a JV player in Greenville. They were in AAA. We at Plano were still in AA. He ran up and down the field as the Lions trounced the Wildcats' JV team. by more than 40 points. He was an amazing talent. Obviously, if he got a bus ed degree, he was pretty smart. But many black kids of his age, had very inferior elementary educations, and had a hard time doing high school work and college stuff even more. To overcome that, took some doing.
He spent six seasons in the NFL. Was named NFL rookie of the year in 1975 and made the Pro Bowl in 1976. So he was a quality player. I was sad when I heard about his death, which as of six days ago, was three years back. I'm glad you were his friend.
I first saw him as a JV player in Greenville. They were in AAA. We at Plano were still in AA. He ran up and down the field as the Lions trounced the Wildcats' JV team. by more than 40 points. He was an amazing talent. Obviously, if he got a bus ed degree, he was pretty smart. But many black kids of his age, had very inferior elementary educations, and had a hard time doing high school work and college stuff even more. To overcome that, took some doing.
He spent six seasons in the NFL. Was named NFL rookie of the year in 1975 and made the Pro Bowl in 1976. So he was a quality player. I was sad when I heard about his death, which as of six days ago, was three years back. I'm glad you were his friend.
Russ Francis, stellar three sport athlete at Kailua high school in Hawaii which I attended as a sophomore in 1969-70. I think Francis was a year ahead of me. As a military kid, it was my third of four schools in four years. I'm pretty sure Francis later became an all-pro TE for the Patriots.
Now that I've dropped that name LOL, this is a great Sooner history thread of which I was completely unaware. I appreciate the facts and commentary from all who have contributed.
Now that I've dropped that name LOL, this is a great Sooner history thread of which I was completely unaware. I appreciate the facts and commentary from all who have contributed.
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