Orange Bowl
1976
Oklahoma 14
Michigan 6
MIAMI
(UP1) - The Oklahoma Sooners may have won a lot more than a bowl game.
The Sooners, ranked second behind Ohio State in the last national
football college rankings, could wind up No. 1 today when the final
ballots are counted.
The reason?
Oklahoma beat 4th-ranked Michigan, 14-6, Thursday night in the Orange Bowl just a few hours after UCLA upset Ohio State, 23-10 in the Rose Bowl.
"I'd like to think we're No. 1," said Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer. "But, I don't know how the polls are going to come out."
Oklahoma quarterback Steve Davis, who pitched off for one touchdown and scored another himself, said knowing about Ohio State's Rose Bowl loss "gave us more incentive. "This was the Super Bowl for us," said Davis. "We knew we had to perform well. I think we deserve to be No. 1."
Oklahoma, losing only to Kansas in an upset in an 11-1 season, was making its first bowl appearance in three years and its first television appearance in more than two because of NCAA probation. Their return to the national spotlight made the Sooners tense at first. With 1:47 left in the first period, they were backed up lo their own 1 yard line and had gained a net of only three yards.
But Davis, who wound up with 118 yards total offense, finally got them moving with a string of successful keepers and directed an 80-yard scoring march midway through the second period that put them ahead for keeps.
A 40-yard pass from Davis to Tinker Owens was followed by a pitchout lo Billy Brooks on a 39-yard end-around and Oklahoma was on its way to victory and that probable national championship.
"We knew we could run it (the end around)," said Brooks who had the ball only that one time all night. "We just didn't know when."
Davis, a senior who directed Oklahoma to a 32-1-1 record during his three years at quarterback, keyed the Sooners’ other scoring drive. That was a 68-yard march in which he ran 8, 12, 16 and 10 yards he last for a touchdown on the opening play of the final period.
Michigan's six points were a gift from Oklahoma. Backed up to their 2 by Michigan punter John Anderson, who put four kicks inside the Oklahoma 10, the Sooners fumbled and Gordon Bell scored on a two yard plunge with 7:06 left in the game. Michigan tried to run for two points, but didn't succeed.
The Sooner defense really shut down Michigan's passing game. The Wolverines, in the Orange Bowl as Big Ten runners-up to Ohio State, completed only two of 20 passes and had three intercepted. Their first completion came with 44 seconds left to play.
"The trouble with our passing was their rush," said Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. "We had people open, we just didn’t hit them. You've got to understand, they've got a tremendous front four."(video)
All-America Leroy Selmon, who anchored that front four along with his brother Dewey, said the Sooners had "a tough time" with Michigan's running attack early in the game. "Then we began to see what they were doing and made them pass."(video)
Michigan lost only to Ohio State, 21-14, and Oklahoma while winding up 8-2-2 and Schembechler refused lo say which he felt should be No. 1. "Oklahoma's a great team, one of the really great teams," he said. "We just weren't good enough to beat a team of Oklahoma's caliber tonight. But, I emphasize tonight.”
"I'm not voting in the poll." he said. "I don't have any opinions."
Steve Smith can't hang onto a pass, Billy Brooks on 39 yard run (inset)
Oklahoma tries to move out deep in their own territory.
The Wolverines get Davis.
A Selmon in their face all night.
Steve Davis scores
Attendance- 80,307
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
OU- Brooks 39 run (DiRienzo kick)
Fourth Quarter
OU- Davis 9 run (Dirienzo kick)
UM- Bell 2 run (Leach kick)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
UM- Leach 13-62, Bell 18-53, Lytle 10-32
OU- Washington 17-73, Culbreath 11-63, Davis 19-55
Passing
UM- Leach 2-15-33
OU- Davis 3-5-63
Receiving
UM- Bell 1-16, Johnson 1-16
OU- Owens 3-63
