Updates: ‘Bama Ousts Oklahoma And Other

Some updates: Last night was not a good sports night in Oklahoma, as Alabama down (17-0) rallied to become the first “road” winner in what was the fifth 12 teams/’offs game (all 4 home teams prevailed last year, all at least fairly sizable “faves”), (34-24) as a slight underdog.

In the NBA, (no alarm but I warn Ok City, taken to 7 by both Denver and Indiana before winning the title after a superb (68-14) reg, is not unbeatable and they play in the so much tougher Western Conference), Minnesota Timberwolves 5’d out by the Thunder in last year’s semis won at home leaving the Thunder with a still great (25-3) record.

In all likelihood they will not break the Warriors’ (73-9) record and are better off not doing so. Recall those Warriors were denied in a 7 game final by the Cleveland Cavaliers, speaking of whom, these 9 years later, as top East odds choice, are a pretty bad (15-14) and have lost 8 of their last 11 tilts.

Below– read an account of the first ever Alabama/Oklahoma clash, which took place on 1/1/1963 the 1962 season Orange Bowl, attended by John F. Kennedy and in many ways introducing Joe Namath. Two charismatic figures to say the least.

Kennedy was at midfield for the coin toss in front of 73,380 in the stadium, while millions more watched on television. In the first quarter, Namath directed the Tide 61 yards in ten plays, and from the Oklahoma 25, he faked a handoff and a short pass, whirled, and sailed a long pass into end Richard Williamson’s hands in the end zone. Tim Davis kicked the extra point, and Alabama had a quick 7-0 lead.

The Sooners came right back and worked the ball down the field against the vaunted Tide defense, thanks in no part to a 56-yard pass play from Ron Fletcher to Allen Bumgardner. With the ball sitting at the Alabama seven-yard line, they had their best scoring opportunity. Unfortunately, Grisham fumbled, and Oklahoma was turned away.

Jordan was all over the field as a defensive battle began to take shape. But the Tide struck again in the second period. In the second period, Alabama’s Billy Piper returned a Looney punt to the Oklahoma 34. First, Namath threw a pass to Williamson that was good for 20 yards, and then two plays later, a pitchout to halfback Cotton Clark resulted in a 15-yard scoring sprint, his 16th of the season. Davis again converted the extra point, and Alabama had a 14-0 lead, which is how the teams headed to the locker rooms.

After intermission, the Tide was again presented with another opportunity. This one arose when Looney, the nation’s leading punter with a 43.4 yard average, was hurried by ‘Bama guard Frankie McClendon’s rush and got off a kick of only seven yards. Namath moved the offense from the Oklahoma’s 33 to the two-yard line, where they faced a fourth down. Bryant opted for a field goal attempt, and Davis’ 19-yarder made it 17-0. It closed out the scoring.

Both teams compiled exactly 260 yards of total offense, but Oklahoma was unable to get into the end zone. Despite his fumble, Grisham earned 107 tough yards on the ground for the Sooners, but it was too much Jordan, as he almost single-handedly turned Oklahoma away, and finished the game with an Alabama bowl record of 31 tackles. Namath completed nine of 17 passes for 86 yards and picked up another 24 yards rushing. The Alabama seniors finished with a school-best 29-2-2 three-year record, and once again, it was Bryant who had beaten Wilkinson.

In the Alabama dressing room after the game, a photographer asked Bryant to spell the name of a player whose picture he had just taken. “That’s Namath, so – N-A-M-A-T-H,” he said. “But don’t worry about it. You’ll learn how to spell it in the next couple of years.

Left to right Joe Namath and legendary coach, especially with Alabama, where he won 5 A.P. mythical titles, Paul “Bear” Bryant.

The “Jordan” cited above is Leroy Jordan, who went on to a great career with the Dallas Cowboys.