Just A Fan with Good Intentions
One of my favorite OU football players was Steve Davis, OU's Quarterback '73-'74. Remembering Steve Davis generates a story.
I went to the Kansas game in ’75, the one OU lost that, prior to the game, was judged to be “impossible” for OU to lose. My student seats were right behind the OU bench. In those days, the NCAA had ruled that visiting teams should not be seated on the student side of the stadium, so our Sooners were right there in front of me.
By the 3rd quarter, things had gone awry….too many lost fumbles. Wishbone was good for that. Anyway, the team had lost their edge and their leadership. When they got the ball, they would “hang dog it” onto the field, acting like whipped curs, as if the outcome was a foregone issue. Just a couple of weeks before, they had scored 14 points in 53 seconds; so the game was not really over, but they weren't thinking of that, I guess.
Some luck and some leadership was needed. My seat was on row 5 on about the 38 yard line. They could hear me when I yelled, so I was trying to pump them up; but they ignored me and all the other fans who were trying as well. They acted like beaten dogs and didn't even have the wherewithal to look at us....except for one in particular. I started yelling at Steve Davis. I told him he was the leader and that he should run onto the field when they got the ball. He heard me. He looked at me and I screamed again, “Run! Run onto the field! Don’t hang your head. Be a leader! He looked at me and I could read his lips. “I will” he said. “I will.” Just then, Kansas fumbled and OU recovered. Steve and the rest of his team just walked onto the field, helmets in hand. No energy. No hope. It was as if they had completely given up. I got mad as Hell. I started screaming loudly at Switzer to get Davis out of there and put in a leader. He heard me, but did not appreciate what was going on or my tantrum. I became even more assertive. At one point, Billy Brooks, All American tight end, jumped up on the edge of the stadium and pointed at me. “Shut your f+#*in’ mouth or I’m comin’ up!” I responded, “That will be the end of your career.” He stood tall on the wall and said, “You’re worth it!” I sat down. OU lost.
Years later, Barry was on the Tonight show with Johnny Carson. During their conversation, Johnny asked Barry if fans had ever gotten ugly with him. Barry said he did remember some bumper stickers that said “Bury Barry” in the early 80s. I still have one of those. Bought one just to own a piece of history. Johnny pressed him a little. Barry laughed and said, “Well, there was this one jerk at the Kansas game in ‘75” I knew that was me.
I was alone in the room and I was ashamed.
Finally, in ’85 or ’86, there was an Alum game at Owen Field. Now, Alum games pitted previous OU players with current OU players. The backfield for the Alums on the first possession of the game included, Steve Davis, Joe Washington, Steve Owens, and Billy Sims. They were on their own 28 yard line. Davis handed off to Joe. Joe made a cut and a juke and went 72 yards for a TD. The stadium erupted. I have always believed it was a set up play, that the defense was instructed to “miss” tackles. It was all about crowd pleasing. Barry was like that. Joe Washington is well remembered and well respected, possibly one of Top 5 Favorite Players in all of OU football annals. He had made a similar run against Missouri in ’75 with the game on the line; then ran for the winning 2 point conversion. Final OU 29 Mizzou 28. Led to a National title and Barry gave credit to Sooner Magic for the win. This was the very first time EVER that Sooner Magic was given credit for a victory. I believe this was the last Alum game, however, since one of the Alum linemen died in the next couple of days.
Anyway, Barry and players were on the field, available for fans to get autographs and talk to them briefly. I approached Barry and told him I owed him an apology. I told the story and he gave me a hug. “It’s okay. I understand. The guy you really hurt and really deserves your apology is right over there. Your criticism got to him for a couple of games.” He gave me a handshake and pointed to Steve Davis. I approached Steve Davis and told him the story. He also gave me a hug and thanked me for the belated apology. “Your words hurt me. I knew you were right about running onto the field, but it just wasn’t in me that day.”
I have since collected a fair amount of OU memorabilia, including a newspaper announcing Barry’s sad departure from OU. It is autographed, as are a couple of VCR tapes, a hat, and a copy of Bootlegger’s Boy. Since then, I have written several OU football poems, including one (Sooner Magic) that is dedicated to Coach St. Barry Switzer. One of those (attached) has not only his autograph, but those of a number of players and Bob Barry Sr., voice of the Sooners for several years. Bob Barry, after reading four of the poems, once referred to me as the “poet laureate of Sooners football”. I felt honored. I have a copy of this poem that has FOUR Heisman winners’ autographs on it (Steve Owens, Billy Simms, Jason White, Sam Bradford) along with many other autographs, including Bob Stoops and Bob Barry Sr. I would almost bet serious money that it is the only one page document in existence with 4 Heisman winners’ autographs.
BECAUSE THEY PLAY THE GAME
Over sixty years, boy and man, I have been a Sooners fan;
And always hoped to be among the truest in the stands.
And while I don’t know all the players’ names,
They’re my heroes, each and every one, because they play the game.
When they’re on the field of battle, my Sooners surely give their all;
And when they’re on the sidelines, just waiting for a coach’s call;
Visions of glory must be dancing in their heads;
The glory of the moment and our cheers, the glory of playing for
the mighty Big Red.
And for those Sooners who rarely played, whose names were
known only by a few,
Make no mistake my friend, each of them is my hero too.
Like soldiers waiting in the ranks, but never called to fight,
They ‘re ready and they’re willing. Their spirit and their sacrifice
add to Big Red’s might.
I stand in awe of Sooner Magic. No, I never doubt it.
My Sooners could have never won so many Championships
without it.
But don’t misunderstand when I say Sooner Magic won those games;
It was Sooner players who, once again, rose to the occasion and
glorified their names.
Sixty years of college football and my Sooners have won the most.
Their fierce pride and performance inspire this simple toast:
“My Sooners Team goes on and on, different faces, different names;
But my heroes, each and every one, for win or lose…
they play the game.
Comments