1988 Oklahoma Sooners football team

1988 Oklahoma Sooners football
ConferenceBig Eight Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 14
APNo. 14
Record9–3 (6–1 Big 8)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJim Donnan (4th season)
Offensive schemeWishbone
Defensive coordinatorGary Gibbs (8th season)
Base defense5–2
Captains
Home stadiumOklahoma Memorial Stadium
1988 Big Eight Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 10 Nebraska $ 7 – 0 – 0 11 – 2 – 0
No. 14 6 – 1 – 0 9 – 3 – 0
No. 11 Oklahoma State 5 – 2 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
Colorado 4 – 3 – 0 8 – 4 – 0
Iowa State 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Missouri 2 – 5 – 0 3 – 7 – 1
Kansas 1 – 6 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
Kansas State 0 – 7 – 0 0 – 11 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1988 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. They played their home games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and competed as members of the Big Eight Conference. The Sooners were led by Barry Switzer in his sixteenth and final season as head coach.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 104:00 p.m.at North Carolina*No. 4
ESPNW 28–053,675[1]
September 171:30 p.m.Arizona*No. 4
W 28–1075,004[2]
September 242:30 p.m.at No. 5 USC*No. 3
ABCL 7–2386,124[3]
October 11:30 p.m.Iowa StateNo. 10
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
W 35–775,004[4]
October 81:30 p.m.vs. Texas*No. 10
CBSW 28–1375,587[5]
October 151:30 p.m.Kansas StateNo. 9
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
W 70–2473,800[6]
October 227:00 p.m.at ColoradoNo. 8
ESPNW 17–1449,716[7]
October 291:30 p.m.KansasNo. 8
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK
PPVW 63–1474,004[8]
November 53:30 p.m.at No. 12 Oklahoma StateNo. 8
ESPNW 31–2850,440[9]
November 121:30 p.m.at MissouriNo. 8
PPVW 16–740,704[10]
November 192:30 p.m.No. 7 NebraskaNo. 9
  • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
  • Norman, OK (rivalry)
CBSL 3–775,004[11]
January 2, 198912:30 p.m.vs. No. 13 Clemson*No. 10
ABCL 6–1353,571[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[13]

Rankings

See also: 1988 NCAA Division I-A football rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
AP3 (2)3 (1)4 (1)3 (1)3 (3)101098888910101014
Coaches Poll2 (4)2 (4)433101098878811101014

Game summaries

At North Carolina

#4 Oklahoma Sooners (0–0) at North Carolina Tar Heels (0–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oklahoma 14 7 7028
North Carolina 0 0 000

at Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

[15]

External videos
Game highlights
Team Category Player Statistics
Oklahoma Passing Jamelle Holieway 2/3, 61 Yds
Rushing Anthony Stafford 12 Rush, 88 Yds, TD
Receiving Eric Bross 3 Rec, 72 Yds
North Carolina Passing Deems May 9/19, 87 Yds, INT
Rushing Jonathan Hall 10 Rush, 44 Yds
Receiving Randy Marriott 4 Rec, 64 Yds

Arizona

Arizona Wildcats (1–0) at #4 Oklahoma Sooners (1–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Arizona 3 0 7010
Oklahoma 7 7 7728

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

  • Date: September 17, 1988
  • Game attendance: 75,004
Game information

[16] [17]

At USC

#3 Oklahoma Sooners (2–0) at #5 USC Trojans (2–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oklahoma 0 0 707
USC 7 13 0323

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game information

[18] [19] [20]

External videos
Full game
Game highlights

Iowa State

Iowa State Cyclones (1–2) at #10 Oklahoma Sooners (2–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Iowa St 0 7 007
Oklahoma 14 7 14035

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

  • Date: October 1, 1988
  • Game attendance: 75,004
Game information

[21] [22]

Vs. Texas

See also: Oklahoma–Texas football rivalry
#10 Oklahoma Sooners (3–1) vs. Texas Longhorns (3–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Texas 0 0 7613
Oklahoma 6 8 7728

at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas

  • Date: October 8, 1988
  • Game time: 1:45 p.m.
  • Game weather: Light rain, 57 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 75,587
  • Referee: Sam Maphis
  • Box Score, Box Score

Jamelle Holieway left in first quarter with sprained right ankle following Oklahoma's first score.[23]

Texas is just horrible.

Kert Kasper, pregame
Team Category Player Statistics
Texas Passing Shannon Kelley 22/35, 198 Yds, TD, 3 INT
Rushing Eric Metcalf 15 Rush, 89 Yds
Receiving Kerry Cash 2 Rec, 99 Yds
Oklahoma Passing
Rushing Leon Perry 18 Rush, 118 Yds, TD
Receiving

Kansas State

Kansas State Wildcats (0–5) at #9 Oklahoma Sooners (6–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Kansas St 0 0 71724
Oklahoma 35 14 71470

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

  • Date: October 15, 1988
  • Game attendance: 75,004
  • Box Score

Oklahoma set single game NCAA rushing record (768)[24]

External videos
Game highlights (Oklahoma Football Show)
Team Category Player Statistics
Kansas St Passing Carl Straw 27/42, 336 Yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Tom Dillon 6 Rush, 57 Yds
Receiving Greg Washington 8 Rec, 146 Yds, 2 TD
Oklahoma Passing Jamelle Holieway 5/9, 58 Yds, TD, INT
Rushing Eric Mitchel 6 Rush, 161 Yds, 2 TD
Receiving Leon Perry 2 Rec, 33 Yds, TD

At Colorado

#8 Oklahoma Sooners (5–1) at Colorado Buffaloes (5–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oklahoma 7 7 0317
Colorado 6 8 0014

at Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado

[26][27]

External videos
Full game

Kansas

Kansas Jayhawks (0–7) at #8 Oklahoma Sooners (6–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Kansas 14 0 0014
Oklahoma 14 7 142863

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

  • Date: October 29, 1988
  • Game attendance: 74,004
  • [28]

Jamelle Holieway set school record for career total yardage.[29]

Team Category Player Statistics
Kansas Passing Kelly Donohoe 13/24, 260 Yds, TD, 3 INT
Rushing Tony Sands 8 Rush, 34 Yds
Receiving Willie Vaughn 5 Rec, 161 Yds, TD
Oklahoma Passing Jamelle Holieway 7/7, 104 Yds, TD
Rushing Charles Thompson 14 Rush, 118 Yds, 2 TD
Receiving Artie Guess 3 Rec, 49 Yds, TD

At Oklahoma State

See also: Bedlam Series
#8 Oklahoma Sooners (7–1) at #12 Oklahoma State Cowboys (8–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oklahoma 21 3 0731
Oklahoma St 7 7 01428

at Lewis Field, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Oklahoma State's Brent Parker dropped a potential game-winning touchdown pass in the end zone with 43 seconds left.[31]

External videos
Full game
Game highlights
Team Category Player Statistics
Oklahoma Passing Charles Thompson 2/5, 24 Yds
Rushing Mike Gaddis 18 Rush, 213 Yds, 2 TD
Receiving Leon Perry 1 Rec, 17 Yds
Oklahoma St Passing Mike Gundy 18/28, 228 Yds, TD, 3 INT
Rushing Barry Sanders 39 Rush, 215 Yds, 2 TD
Receiving Hart Lee Dykes 9 Rec, 122 Yds, TD

At Missouri

See also: Missouri–Oklahoma football rivalry
#8 Oklahoma Sooners (8–1) at Missouri Tigers (2–6–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oklahoma 10 6 0016
Missouri 0 0 707

at Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri

  • Date: November 12, 1988
  • Game attendance: 40,704
  • Box Score

Oklahoma's 30th straight conference victory[32]

Team Category Player Statistics
Oklahoma Passing Charles Thompson 1/4, 8 Yds, TD
Rushing Charles Thompson 26 Rush, 118 Yds
Receiving Eric Bross 1 Rec, 8 Yds, TD
Missouri Passing Brad Fitzmaurice 11/23, 160 Yds, TD, INT
Rushing Tommie Stowers 20 Rush, 83 Yds
Receiving Craig Lammers 6 Rec, 75 Yds, TD

Nebraska

See also: Nebraska–Oklahoma football rivalry
#7 Nebraska Cornhuskers (10–1) at #9 Oklahoma Sooners (9–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Nebraska 7 0 007
Oklahoma 0 0 303

at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma

Charles Thompson broke his leg on Oklahoma's final offensive play of the game.

[33]

External videos
Full game
Game highlights
Team Category Player Statistics
Nebraska Passing Steve Taylor 2/12, 48 Yds, INT
Rushing Ken Clark 24 Rush, 167 Yds
Receiving Richard Bell 2 Rec, 48 Yds
Oklahoma Passing Charles Thompson 3/9, 39 Yds, INT
Rushing Mike Gaddis 12 Rush, 45 Yds
Receiving Artie Guess 1 Rec, 28 Yds

Florida Citrus Bowl (vs. Clemson)

Main article: 1989 Florida Citrus Bowl
Florida Citrus Bowl: #13 Clemson Tigers (9–2) vs. #10 Oklahoma Sooners (9–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Clemson 0 6 0713
Oklahoma 3 0 306

at Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida

  • Date: January 2, 1989
  • Game weather: Sunny, 73 °F (23 °C)
  • Game attendance: 53,571
  • Referee: Dick Burleson
  • Box Score

Jamelle Holieway made the start in his final collegiate game.[34][35]

External videos
Full game
Game highlights
Team Category Player Statistics
Clemson Passing Rodney Williams 5/11
Rushing Terry Allen 53 Yds, TD
Receiving Terry Allen 4 Rec, 47 Yds
Oklahoma Passing
Rushing Mike Gaddis 12 Rush, 37 YDs
Receiving

Roster

1988 Oklahoma Sooners football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
SO 12 J. J. Agee So
RB 28 Rotnei Anderson  Sr
RB 20 Glen Bell
G 66 Brian Brauninger So
WR 36 Eric Bross Jr
WR 83 Carl Cabbiness Sr
WR 16 Chris Cabbiness So
QB 10 Steve Collins Fr
WR Adrian Cooper
RB Rod Fisher
RB 32 Mike Gaddis RFr
WR Artie Guess
QB 4 Jamelle Holieway (C) Sr
OL Terron Manning
OL Larry Medice
RB 5 Glyn Milburn Fr
RB Eric Mitchel
RB Leon Perry
G 68 Anthony Phillips (C)  Sr
FB 33 Kenyon Rasheed Fr
OL Mike Sawatzky
RB Don Smitherman
RB 25 Anthony Stafford (C) Sr
RB Damon Stell
QB 6 Charles Thompson  So
OT 76 Mark Van Keirsblick Jr
OL Mike Wise
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DL Tom Backes
LB 40 Reggie Barnes Fr
DB 27 Jason Belser Fr
LB Frank Blevins
LB 45 Joe Bowden Fr
DE 43 Adrian Cooper  So
DL Wayne Dickson
DT 77 Stacey Dillard  So
DL Scott Evans
DB 49 Scott Garl (C) Sr
DL James Goode
NG 71 Harold Jones So
LB 46 Kert Kaspar Sr
DE 52 Corey Mayfield Fr
DB Kern McMichel
DB Jerry Parks
DB 4 Terry Ray Fr
DB 22 Kevin Thompson Jr
NG 96 Andre Williams Jr
LB 30 Chris Wilson  Fr
DT 93 Curtice Williams Sr
NG 98 Dante Williams Jr
NG 99 Tony Woods Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
K 13 R.D. Lashar So
P 91 Todd Thomsen Sr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

Roster

Awards

DT Scott Evans

  • All-Big Eight

DB Scott Garl

  • All-Big Eight

OG Anthony Phillips

QB Charles Thompson

  • All-Big Eight

DT Curtice Williams

  • All-Big Eight

NG Tony Woods

  • All-Big Eight

[36]

After the season

Barry Switzer resigns

Following the season, the Sooners were placed on probation by the NCAA due to several incidents that occurred within the program.[37] Switzer, his staff, and Oklahoma boosters were found to have been making illegal payments to several players.[38] In particular, Oklahoma booster Bill Lambert was found to have illegally paid 100 to 150 players while recruiting coordinator Shirley Vaughn paid several dozen players through a ticket scalping scheme.[39][40] Players from the Sooners' 1985 championship team also openly admitted to accepting illegal payments while playing at Oklahoma as part of the investigation.[41][42][43] The Sooners were placed on probation for three years, were banned from bowl games for two years, and could not appear on live television for the 1989 season, along with recruiting restrictions.[44] Oklahoma would also receive the death penalty if any of its programs were to commit any violations in any sport over the next five years.[45]

In addition to recruting violations and the NCAA investigation, the Sooners garnered more controversy due to off-field incidents involving players. During Switzer's tenure, players had been arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and rape.[46] On February 13, 1989, quarterback Charles Thompson was arrested for attempting to solicet cocaine from an undercover FBI agent.[47] On June 19, 1989, Barry Switzer resigned as the Sooners' head coach; at the time Switzer said he resigned willingly but later it was revealed that he was forced to resign.[48]

NFL draft

The following players were selected in the 1989 NFL draft following the season.[49][50]

Round Pick Player Position NFL team
6 152 Anthony Stafford Wide receiver Denver Broncos
6 165 Eric Mitchell Running back New England Patriots
8 216 Tony Woods Defensive back Chicago Bears
12 333 Anthony Phillips Guard Chicago Bears

References

  1. ^ "Oklahoma cruises past North Carolina 28–0". Winston-Salem Journal. September 11, 1988. Retrieved February 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "OU's wishbone beats Arizona's". The Wichita Eagle-Beacon. September 18, 1988. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Oklahoma suptters, stalls in 23–7 loss to USC". The Tampa Tribune-Times. September 25, 1988. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Oklahoma (yawn) runs over Iowa State". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 2, 1988. Retrieved June 2, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Oklahoma survives Texas scare". The Palm Beach Post. October 9, 1988. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "OU scores at will in rout of K-State". The Olathe Daily News. October 16, 1988. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Sooners outlast Colorado". The Olathe Daily News. October 23, 1988. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "KU holds Sooners in check for a half...then dam breaks". The Kansas City Star. October 30, 1988. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Cowboys earn praise, but Sooners win again". The Courier-Journal. November 6, 1988. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Sooners hold off Mizzou". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 13, 1988. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "NU Black Shirts rough up Sooners". The Grand Island Independent. November 20, 1988. Retrieved June 3, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Sooners cut off at the pass". The Orlando Sentinel. January 3, 1989. Retrieved February 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "1988 Oklahoma Sooners Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  14. ^ SoonerStats.com Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-Oct-21.
  15. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1988 11 Sep. Retrieved 2022-Dec-27.
  16. ^ SoonerStats.com Archived 2016-10-26 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-Oct-23.
  17. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1988 Sep 18. Retrieved 2017-Aug-27.
  18. ^ "Oklahoma Feels Crunch of U.S.C." The New York Times. September 25, 1988. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  19. ^ SoonerStats.com - 1988 Oklahoma at USC
  20. ^ Gainesville Sun. p. 10C. 1988 Sep 25. Retrieved 2022-Dec-16.
  21. ^ SoonerStats.com Archived 2016-08-31 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2015-Nov-06.
  22. ^ Gainesville Sun. 1988 Oct 02. pg. 6C. Retrieved 2022-Dec-17.
  23. ^ Sally Jenkins (October 9, 1988). "Oklahoma Runs Down Texas Fourth Time In Row, 28-13". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  24. ^ "Oklahoma collects record runaround." Gainesville Sun. pg. 4C. 1988 Oct 16. Retrieved 2022-Dec-19.
  25. ^ "1988 Oklahoma at Colorado box score". SoonerStats.com. 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  26. ^ "Fourth quarter kick gives Oklahoma win." Gainesville Sun. 1989 Oct 23. Retrieved 2022-Dec-28.
  27. ^ "Oklahoma 17, Colorado 14." Eugene Register-Guard. 1989 Oct 23. Retrieved 2022-Dec-28.
  28. ^ "1988 Oklahoma vs. Kansas". SoonerStats.com. 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  29. ^ "Oklahoma rolls past Kansas in 2nd half 63-14." Gainesville Sun. pg. 2C. 1989 Oct 30. Retrieved 2022-Dec-28.
  30. ^ "1988 Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State". SoonerStats.com. 2022. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  31. ^ "A penalty, a dropped pass and Sooners win, 31-28." Eugene Register-Guard. pg. 8F. 1988 Nov 6. Retrieved 2022-Dec-28.
  32. ^ "Nebraska, Oklahoma struggle to wins." Gainesville Sun. pg. 4C. 1988 Nov 13. Retrieved 2022-Dec-30.
  33. ^ "1988 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma". HuskerMax. 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  34. ^ "THE OTHER BOWL GAMES : Citrus Bowl : Sooners Beaten at Pass by Clemson". Los Angeles Times. January 3, 1989. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  35. ^ "Clemson and Oklahoma in '89". 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  36. ^ 2011 Oklahoma football media guide
  37. ^ "Barry Switzer". The Arkansas Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  38. ^ "Duncan, Switzer Silent on Report". Oklahoman.com. July 2, 1988. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  39. ^ Rick Telander. "YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW - Sports Illustrated Vault". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  40. ^ "Ou'S Approach In Your Face". The Washington Post. October 28, 1987. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  41. ^ "Bosworth Details Chaos at Oklahoma". Washington Post. August 8, 1988. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  42. ^ "Jackson Says Alumni Paid Him". The Washington Post. December 21, 1988. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  43. ^ Almond, Elliott (December 8, 1989). "Holieway Says He Got Booster Favors". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  44. ^ "Oklahoma Given 3-Year Probation: NCAA Holds School Accountable for Football Violations". Los Angeles Times. December 20, 1988. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  45. ^ Telander, Rick (February 27, 1989). "You Reap What You Sow". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  46. ^ Palmateer, Tyler (June 22, 2019). "OU football: Remembering Barry Switzer's resignation 30 years ago". The Norman Transcript. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  47. ^ Oklahoma has paid the price for anything goes Archived February 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Sports Illustrated, February 27, 1989. Retrieved January 19, 2009.
  48. ^ Tramel, Berry (June 19, 2018). "Barry Switzer resigned 29 years ago today". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  49. ^ "1989 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  50. ^ "Oklahoma Drafted Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
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