1971 #1 Nebraska @ #2 Oklahoma No Huddle

[@JohnHillman-xp7zr]

This year was a great football game

[@mikeyshouseofbrakes8463]

Growing up in Nebraska the Thanksgiving game between our Huskers and Oklahoma was always exciting. I was just a little tike in 1971, but over the years the big game was always between Nebraska and Oklahoma. I miss this match up terribly. I wish the best of luck to our old respected Big 8 foe as they move to the SEC.

[@JessePerez-kd3sk]

The cheerleaders were so close to field on the sidelines in the 70’s

[@Fire_soul1796]

Anybody here after listening to Mike Asanovich talk about the '71 & '72 Nebraska team and how they trained?

[@Andre-qc9nb]

What the hell was that pre game chaos with both teams taking the field at the same time and crossing paths then oh hey look, lets run thru the band!

[@russellmohr9758]

RICH GLOVER 22 SOLO TACKLES FROM THE NOSE GUARD POSITION IS STILL THE GREATEST INDUVIAL PERFORMANCE IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY!!!

[@jamiecrawford8133]

I would say Suh single handedly snuffing out the Texas offense with numerous sacks was better

[@MB-vw3jc]

Tom Osborne was Nebraska offensive coordinator

[@joannleichliter4308]

As Nebraska fans, we called these Thanksgiving Day games the Indigestion Bowl. Those Nebraska/Oklahoma games were always stressful. This was a truly great game between two excellent teams.

[@jeffmerklin2022]

Still love watching film of this game, which I watched as 11 year old in Central Ohio who loved football. One thing I never understood....why a couple Nebraska players had "NU" decals on their helmet instead of just the classic block "N." In looking at older Nebraska tapes, the "NU" was on the helmets in the 60s. Why did the equipment dude not bring all the helmet decals up to date when the change was made?

[@shanecrowe5955]

Loved those tear-a-way jerseys!

[@Tavat]

21-year old juniors and seniors at this game are 70 years old in 2021.

[@alanwylie8960]

I was 14 years old and a diehard OU fan, I'll never forget watching this game on that Thanksgiving Day. That same year we had Thanksgiving dinner at our house, my mother had ten siblings, with seven being males, not to mention my maternal grandparents also came that day. We ate a early Thanksgiving meal so that the men could watch the game, thank God we had a livingroom that was at least twice the size of the normal livingrooms for a house, because it was full with every sitting place taken, even the chairs were brought out of the dining room so that there'd be enough seating. That was the very best Thanksgiving Day that I'd ever experienced with most of the big family being there with good food, followed with the greastest college football game ever played that day between Oklahoma vs Nebraska, and the players from both sides had class and respect for each other, especially compared to these 21st century presentday hand held out spoiled brat thugs. Like the NFL, college football is going downhill fast.

[@charleswest9181]

LSU fan here. This was the greatest game ever. It was the purest.

[@fruticetum]

BGSU vs Kent State that one year was a better game.

[@johnmanning4097]

Barry Switzer then Oklahoma offensive Coordinator, said he made two major mistakes in this game… 1- Did not give the great Greg Pruit the ball 🏈 enough ( only 10 carries) 2 -He should have thrown the ball more

[@svtinker]

Greg Pruitt and Johnny Rogers!

[@bransonwillis1672]

I'm now 77. Watched it on TV. That Jeff Kinney was one hard nosed running back.

[@jamiecrawford8133]

They still have Brut by Faberge?

[@chuckwest7045]

I'd love to slip into this video and go back in time for about 3 hours. What a game !! And Chris Schenkel's voice is beautiful in it's simplicity. I'm 63 years old and I've been following football since I was 10 in the late 1960's. I don't ever recall a game or a season where two teams were just so much better than everyone else. Colorado was the #3 team in the final 1971 polls and they lost to both of these teams by three touchdowns. I'm not a fan of either team or either program but this game has a strong argument as the greatest game ever played. It was hyped up a month in advance and it lived up to the hype.

[@keithespinoza2064]

Colorado beat both LSU and Ohio State on the road in ‘71, beat Houston in the Bluebonnet Bowl. Only time one conference has finished #1, #2, and #3 in the final poll. I remember it well, I was 10 years old.

[@chuckwest7045]

@@keithespinoza2064 .....You are correct sir. The 1971 Colorado team was a good one. And the Big Eight did indeed go 1-2-3 in the final AP poll. The SEC had #4(Alabama),#7 (Georgia),#8 (Tennessee),#11(LSU),#12(Auburn)&#15(Ole Miss) in that same poll. I know Nebraska and Oklahoma beat Alabama and Auburn in bowl games but LSU did beat Iowa St. in the Sun Bowl. I'd of loved to have seen those two conferences play an 80 game round robin that year had it been feasible. It would've been close IMO.

[@Finarphin]

1946, 1947. 1966.

[@gocygo63]

@@Finarphin ...what's up w/ the years?

[@gocygo63]

@@chuckwest7045 ...yeah...& Iowa State went 8-3 during the regular season losing to Nebraska & Oklahoma on the road & to Colorado at Clyde Williams Field in Ames...I think they finished the final poll 16th or 17th in the country...they lost to LSU & Bert Jones 33-15 in the Sun Bowl...their first bowl game ever... ...pretty good year for the old Big 8...

[@jamesfleming5849]

I remember EXACTLY where I watched it.It didn't disappoint.

[@robertmartin5308]

Me too, in the game, darn I’m getting old

[@husker91]

Back before thousands of penaltys

[@husker91]

Must've been nice

[@johnsexton7621]

Nebraska and ou should always play each other

[@dougpage1271]

Hawkeye alum here - loved the annual Nebraska versus Oklahoma game!

[@thescatman5029]

Before conference realignment tore everything up...!

[@johnhebert3855]

One of college football's greatest games. Who was that Jeff Kinney? What a beast. Such a different game from today's -- no wild celebrations after EVERY play (Kinney scores the winning TD and gets one handshake as they immediately line up for the extra point), very few penalties, and a lot of running plays. I miss those days. Even though I am not a fan, I feel kind of bad for Nebraska. They were a dominant team for four decades but once coach Tom Osborn left, the team went absolutely to shit. I don't know why.

[@DarkKnight-yz2wg]

The first year Huskers won the Championship back to back. I grew up on Huskers in the 90s. Love their legacy.

[@jesusmartinez5494]

Yes;in they were robbed of a 3 peat & gave it to Michigan

[@DarkKnight-yz2wg]

@@jesusmartinez5494 huh? They never were in the running for theee in a row, considering they lost the inaugural Big 12 against TX in 96

[@jesusmartinez5494]

We can agree to disagree

[@DarkKnight-yz2wg]

@@jesusmartinez5494 Can’t disagree with facts son. You sounding like a feminist.

[@jesusmartinez5494]

I'm not your son punk. You're the ignorant one.

[@jeffelliott1194]

A lot of games get the title of Games of the Century.’ This was the game of the 20th century.

[@Arturo-sm1tb]

I do believe this really was The Game of the 20th Century. It lived up to its billing, when so many of these matchups fizzle out.

[@timettinger2017]

Love those Oklahoma uniforms!

[@jackieoman6695]

I loved watching these 2 teams play back in the day ! This was Bob Devaney team. , the teams played after he retired also, in the Tom Osborn era...I lived in Nebraska and we went wild when we beat Oklahona ! So much fun back then ! Epic games in thec70s 80s and 90s !!! With the Awesome Sooners !!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂 I sure hope Frost can get the Cornhuskers back in the top again in the future for the great fans in Nebraska !!

[@ronniebishop2496]

And Nebraska has gone down ever since and I don’t understand that

[@DarkKnight-yz2wg]

Frost ain’t looking too good. I grew up off Frazier, Phillips, Green, Frost and Crouch.

[@dewood9463]

This is still the best football game I've ever seen.

[@ezsmith3765]

26:54 NEB player dings the refs elbow. Ref is like “that smarted”

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

I loved Chris Shenckle he could convey the excitement of a play without screaming into the mic like these 🤡 do today. I'm pretty sure the networks want their announcers to do it, for some unknown reason.

[@JoshuaWilliams-pz8wn]

CLASSIC...... & LOVE IT

[@ronaldlamascus1944]

Great game but I still think Oklahoma was the rightful winner. The punt return for touchdown by Rodgers had 3 uncalled clips that were obvious. Oh well, we couldn’t win them all.

Sat with my dad in the north end zone. I thought OU had them but realized we just couldn't stop Nebraska on that last drive. That was my 1st year to go to the OU games. Hooked ever since. It was the Game of the century because the Nebraska team was without doubt one of the greatest overall teams in football history and OU had an offense that set the NCAA record that stills stands for rushing offense. We had a great QB in Jack Mildren. Our defense was not quite on that level.

[@blancolobo6308]

I grew up in Oklahoma Sooner family & my mom was pregnant with me when they played this game. She told me she remembered it was snowing & she was looking out kitchen window crying when OU lost. Sooner born, Sooner bred. Miss this rivalry. I never hated Nebraska like I did Texas. More a respect rivalry. And Texas still sucks.

[@ronniebishop2496]

I never hated Texas because their greatest coach was Oklahoma quarterback Darrel Royal. lol

[@TimothyCihal-pn7fm]

Everyone will a soul hates Texas. Go Big Red! Miss playing OU

[@filbertovandette]

Rather be dead than Sooner red....lol.... BIG respect for the Sooners....hated losing to them but you knew you had been beaten by a good football team with fans that were equals....also...Texas is the main reason this game isn't played anymore....so yeah....Texas sucks....

[@iamrichrocker]

Mildren and Tagge..gawd how i recall this game..spellbinding...still is..

[@timettinger2017]

Nebraska was Alabama before Alabama. If you get my drift!

[@markharris5107]

Notice the celebrations - all respectful and no showboating or strutting. A lot of character and sportsmanship has been lost in football.

[@tanmaxwell4599]

GREAT game . Never get tired of watching it . A real football game.

[@Tavat]

I got CTE just watching this.

[@jamiecrawford8133]

Were you put in concussion protocol right afterwards?

[@RGL01]

Back when football was football, and America was America!

[@redbaronreborn3372]

Not a fan of either team,but this was a tremendous game I can see why it holds up as a "game of the centry" it still holds up well.Thank you for uploading 👏🙂

[@hankgarza4975]

Who gives a shit what team you are a fan of... POS.

[@solrosenberg3803]

@@hankgarza4975 I notified ICE of your post. Pack your bags, you’re going home to Mexico. Bye.

[@JoshuaWilliams-pz8wn]

JOHNNY " THE ROCKET " RODGERS....... "72 HEISMAN!!!! SPEED KILLS

[@russellmohr9758]

WRONG KNICKNAME...IT WAS JOHNNY "THE JET" RODGERS!!...LOL

[@Finarphin]

I've never seen this game before; at the time I listened to it on Armed Forces Radio. A number of things stand out. Chris Schenkel did a good job calling the game, no doubt partially because he'd come up via radio and knew what he was doing. I'm not hearing Bud -- must be because he was talking during the huddle interval, which has been edited out. Bud was great: knowledgeable, reserved, precise, and positive. He must have been feeling some tension which he mostly held in check, although when presenting the halftime stats he allowed himself some emotion: "And the first half statistics WAY in favor of Oklahoma." I like the way they handled the camera: few close-ups of the sidelines, fans, relatives, officials, or assistant coaches in the pressbox. Dramatic game, not marred by any crucial disputed calls. It looks like Nebraska's strategy was to make Mildren run, rather than allow Pruitt to do so. I like the variation in offensive schemes that existed back then. Nowadays everybody seems to be running exactly the same offense with the same formation; playing catch. This game was not playing catch. Not being one of the 55 million original viewers of the game, I was interested not only in watching the plays, but the commentary, somewhat truncated here; happily I found another recording, where the commentary was more complete. Bud seemed to be doing a good job of pretending to be objective, but after watching a couple of times I got the impression he was really wrapped up in the entire situation. Who wouldn’t be. At the end of the third quarter, after the Oklahoma score, Chris observed, “A record-breaking crowd here. The last bigger crowd was in 1957, Bud, when you were the coach and it was Notre Dame that day that stopped your 47 game winning streak.” Bud: “I remember the Afternoon very well, it was grey and overcast almost like this one. Let’s watch the touchdown again…” If he was miffed, then he found a good comebacker. Midway through the fourth quarter Oklahoma had a fourth and six at the Nebraska 17., trailing 28-24. Bud: “What play do you call here, Chris?” Chris: (pause) “Well, you’re the coach, Bud,…you did so well here, for so many years.” Bud: “It’s going to be a running fake…I believe they may run the basic option or a pass off the fake.” Mildren takes the snap, fakes the belly to the fullback, fades back, and hits Harrison for a touchdown.

[@hermanator74301]

Seen? Saw.

[@jeffclark7888]

Write a book?

[@ezsmith3765]

So no Greg Pruett until the 4Q ?? OU deserved to lose. Fairbanks just lacked in too many areas. Lacked 🔥🔥 Lacked ⚽️🏀🎾🏐⚾️

[@williamjordan5554]

True game of the century. ESPN rates the 71 Nebraska team the greatest college football team of all time.

[@ronniebishop2496]

If Oklahoma hadn’t fumbled so much it wouldn’t have been close.

[@williamjordan5554]

@@ronniebishop2496 wishbone teams always fumbled. Too many pitches.

[@ronniebishop2496]

William Jordan But they were fumbled on straight hand offs.

[@williamjordan5554]

@@ronniebishop2496 That sux.

[@IndianOutlaw1870]

Turnovers are part of the game. They fumbled, they lost.

[@SnipePerfect]

Johnny was so shifty jeez bravo huskers

[@DaveLynchJazzGuitar]

Great game !! I am a big Nebraska fan. Love it without the ads, huddles, etc.

[@jeffking887]

“If you’re watching in color” comment really dates this broadcast. A time when you might not have color tv. I watched this game in black and white.

[@Dude10271]

Nothing wrong with black and white.

[@TheCream14]

Greatest game ever! I'm a big Husker fan, but these Sooner guys are first class. Sorry Huskers, there was a clip on Rogers return. However, it was not Blahak hitting Jon Harrison by the sidelines - - it was John Atkins (#57) clipping Joe Wylie (#22).

[@sooner9971]

Die Hard Sooners fan here and same to you Huskers, thanks for the memories they made for some of the best sports has ever had to offer.

[@josephelmstreet8598]

I am in the end zone for the whole game. Tickets were going for $500/seat. I didn’t have to pay but was the greatest football game ever played. These teams were

[@josephelmstreet8598]

To continue…these were these best teams in US not even close. I was 11 and the best game ever in college football history. Clip on Rodgers return but still best team by a nano inch won.

[@darylevrba6705]

THEY WERE ALL CLASS ACT IN THOSE DAYS...NOT LIKE THE THUGS OF TODAY!!!

[@quincee3376]

Johnny Rodgers ! CFL Rookie of The Year in 73 then won a Grey Cup in 74 with Montreal .

[@quincee3376]

@@ronniebishop2496 noo.. are u serious? Lol. Wow, i never knew that. Was that why he went Canada ? NFL teams were scared off of him ? Just wondering .....

[@ronniebishop2496]

Quincee 33 I didn’t know why he went to Canada but we were shocked at how stupid that was.

[@sashacougar]

@@ronniebishop2496 Rodgers was arrested when he was a freshman, placed on probation, then lived a good life as a good citizen since. He learned his lesson, benefited from getting a second chance and became one of the greatest college football players in history.

[@sashacougar]

@@quincee3376 Rodgers was arrested when he was a freshman, placed on probation, then lived a good life as a good citizen since. He learned his lesson, benefited from getting a second chance and became one of the greatest college football players in history. He went to Canada because he was offered more money.

[@ronniebishop2496]

sashacougar I have to apologize to you because you’re exactly right and for the people from Nebraska and the radio station person that had that wrong should have their asses kicked because that’s where I heard it. But the Nebraska fans never tried to correct it. Unbelievable

[@bokchow]

Johnny Rodgers brought a lot of excitement to the CFL, dubbed The Ordinary Superstar.

[@hermanator74301]

Back then they just found the 2 players whom were best at punting and place kicking and those duties were just tacked onto their regular position duties.

[@williamjordan8603]

Game of the Century. Needs more views.

[@jamiecrawford8133]

Good game I would rate USC vs Texas as better.

[@ab9957]

I saw a stat somewhere that okla averaged 27 yards per pass completion in 1971.

[@politicoswaff]

This game could also be known as the game where the OCs of both squads would reach much more reknown at their respective schools than their own HCs.

[@brianstjohn]

I grew up in Norman (was only 2 years old when this game happened, though). I love seeing images of old Owen Field as it looked then, while I was growing up in its shadow.

[@laquanmaitland7330]

I’m here because of skip bayless

[@billblaski9523]

This vs the 1984 Orange Bowl Nebraska vs Miami, which is better?

[@markharris5107]

That was back when the "soccer style kickers" were the exception. It really looks odd now to see the kickers go toe first.

[@Valhalla6257]

Smash mouth feetball classic

[@andrewrogers2313]

Still a clip on Johnny Rodgers’ punt return!!

[@kevinbelka1711]

Wylie landed on his back and then rolled towards the sideline, away from where the hit came from. A block in the back?... then he would have landed face down, probably slides forward a bit, for an obvious penalty. Didn't happen.

[@jimbosc]

Man some of those hits especially Nebraska's D are big league

[@timcavanaugh5759]

Chris Shenkel was more excited over the OU field goal than Rodgers' punt return.

[@mrtnt3462]

Ohhhhhhh!!!! Uuuuuuuuuuuuu!!! Braskuuuuuurrrrr!!!!! ONCE GREAT RIVALRY,GONE EXTINCT, DAMN SHAME

[@steelbuck6777]

Yeah it is a shame. I'm not a fan of either team but greatly enjoyed this rivaly growing up in the 70's

[@derekwood4051]

Yeah I miss the old big 12 conference with Texas A&M, Colorado, Missouri and Nebraska.

[@williamjordan5554]

@@derekwood4051 Well, Texas and ESPN decided a Longhorn channel would be better than, say, a Big XII network, and 4 schools said, "Hell, no."

[@jamiecrawford8133]

Oklahoma and Nebraska are doing a home and home in 2021 and 2022

[@benballesteros6346]

The game of the century

[@daviddickey1994]

The Nebraska offensive backs do not have stripes on their shoulders. What is up with that?

[@charlesmurphy3222]

Tear away jerseys.

[@cynic2all]

I was a Texas fan then, and I thought there couldn't be a better #1 v #2 game than Texas v Arkansas in 1969. But that game was decided by miscues-- Texas had more of them, but Arkansas had them at more critical times. But this game showed both teams at their best, so that's why it has to be ranked the best of a regular season 1 v 2.

[@brickbrick8292]

Greatest team of all time

[@floridapmi]

You can see the major crown in the field, OU made it like that when they implemented the wishbown so the QB and running backs were running downhill on the option.

[@jabbers081769]

Tito im a sooners fan since 1977 and i agree

[@johnmanning4097]

Love the speed games keep them coming

[@steelbuck6777]

Appreciate the compliment!

[@yunstarr502]

Im a Longhorn fan but have a secret crush on Nebraska .

[@rickaaron697]

I remember watching this game as a kid.

[@dwighta8215]

Gawd, Chris Schenkel was not a good fit to announce such a game. And the OU crowd hardly turned up the noise on the winning Nebraska td drive.

[@chuckwest7045]

Respectfully disagree. Schenkel was effective in his simplicity.

[@dwighta8215]

He announced the game like he was watching paint dry, he was better for skating or archery on Wide World of Sports, but was not very good for a game of this magnitude.

[@ronniebishop2496]

The mics weren’t like they are now and announcers had more reserve class. But the crowd noise that close to the field is very loud, I’ve been there before many times and 62 thousand people are loud.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Plus a lot of people turned the sound down and turned the radio on to hear Mike Treps and John Brooks shout Gimmminey Christmas.!! lol no matter who the tv crews were.

[@jamiecrawford8133]

@@ronniebishop2496 Ronnie are you related to Michael Bishop?

[@bradspicks]

I watched this killer game} .... Classic!!!

[@bradspicks]

11 years old and a big Oklahoma Greg Pruit fan

[@errose5967]

Bud Wilkinson probably had a melt down during this game

[@PurpleChevron]

This was once the greatest rivalry in all of American sports. To hell with the forces that led to its demise.

[@bubbadump8676]

It's a laugher now. Bama and Auburn or Michigan and Ohio State have always been the top rivalry though

[@markstepanekii388]

​@Bubba Dump michigan/osu has an argument. Maybe.

[@Shindler39]

The more I get older the more I enjoy those historic game more and more.

[@brianstjohn]

What a mess at the beginning! Sooners - run through the opposing team AND the band! :-)

[@raybenoit5238]

Guy said before the game. If Oklahoma loses fumbles twice they probably lose the game . It played out that way.

[@dave1283]

This Nebraska team blew out #2 Alabama in the Orange Bowl. Oklahoma crushed #5 Auburn. The SEC was overrated even back then.

[@christophershannon8734]

@Randall Denison You have 11. We can't claim "national championships"....You gotta win the game that is the national title game. AP Poll history has Alabama at 11.

[@chuckwest7045]

LSU beat Iowa St. in the 1971 Sun Bowl. All told the SEC had SIX teams in the Top 15 of the final 1971 AP poll. I'll grant you that Nebraska and Oklahoma were the two best teams in 1971 but top to bottom the SEC took a back seat to no one.....and it still doesn't.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Chuck West Your forgot Colorado. Oklahoma Nebraska top three in the country same conference

[@oranculpepper9008]

Yea tell Alabama and LSU that.

[@chuckwest7045]

@@ronniebishop2496 ...I didn't forget. I'm well aware that the Big Eight went 1-2-3 in the final AP poll. I'm merely pointing out that the SEC had 6 teams in the final Top 15 of that same AP poll. The Big Eight wasn't better as a whole than the SEC in 1971.

[@bdautch20]

It's just too bad that Chris Schenkel was hardly the announcer of the century.

[@LIE11Bldg7]

Oh yeah the Great days of Big 8 football..when referees were Overjoyed with enthusiasm signaling each score.. classic

[@jakeanderson007]

He’s hit and got away... johny rodgers making moves, to the 40, the 30, the 20, the 10!!! MAN WOMAN AND CHILD DID THAT PUT THEM IN THE ISLE. JOHNY THE JET RODGERS JUST TORE THEM LOSE FEOM THEIR SHOES!

[@chipgriffiths3655]

What a shame that these two teams don't play on Thanksgiving. College football fans lost a true gem when this game was cancelled due to the Big 12's lust for money.

[@jamiecrawford8133]

Oklahoma weakened as a program after Switzer stepped down and this game was replaced with Nebraska Colorado.

[@jdp0359]

If Oklahoma wins this then they would have been considered one of the best ever!

[@ronniebishop2496]

OU beat them bad in everything but the score .

[@politicoswaff]

Jack Mildren may be one of the best to not win the Heisman.

[@jerrysweet8202]

Am a lifelong fan of the sooners but the wishbone Offense and the whole of college football was extremely boring at this time, not sure how I became a fan with how boring this is, glad I did though, sooner for life.

[@jamiecrawford8133]

I like this smash mouth old school football much better then today's spread bullcrap.

[@christopherslovick9373]

We won the toss and elect to...........Defend a Goal???? HA HA HA you never see that any more

[@ronniebishop2496]

I saw the cowboys do it last year in a real screw up by Prescott.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Oklahoma fumble after fumble even back then. Should have won. I saw this and Johnny Rogers knee was down on that punt return. Johnny went on to win the Heisman, for years they lead us to believe Johnny had robbed a gas station after he won the Heisman but it was before. Lol just a little extra history.

[@dwighta8215]

Rodgers knee did not touch, you need glasses.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Dwight A Well I guess everyone in the country needs glasses too don’t they.

[@ronniebishop2496]

Dwight A Were you at the game, lol well watch this game.

[@63utuber]

Waddaya mean - the fumble was recovered but cannot be advanced?!

[@bustercherry9643]

Real football. Not that Mike Leach bullshit.

[@jeffclark7888]

Chris Schenkel: terrible football play-by-play broadcaster.

[@aichejaye363]

Chris Schenkel was a horrible play by play football announcer. He was best suited for ABC Sports figure skating.

[@johnmarshall8021]

Big12 vs B1G

[@jeffking887]

Big 8 back then.

[@jamesvickers9476]

Do it Pruitt

[@IsueBadGovernmentLawyers]

Just from the start of the game where the teams took the field you can see how classless and trashy ou was as a team and program. The Nebraska team's coming out and ou cuts off the back end of Nebraska coaches and players, trash...glad you lost!! Lol