Head Coach
Following the sudden death of Sooner head coach Jim Mackenzie in April 1967, Fairbanks was promoted to head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners. Over the next six years, Fairbanks led the team to three Big Eight Conference titles, with 11–1 records during his final two seasons. Three months after Fairbanks mid-contract departure to the New England Patriots, Oklahoma was forced to forfeit nine games from the 1972 campaign after evidence of recruiting violations involving altered transcripts of student-athletes was found. Fairbanks denied knowledge of the situation. The scandal under his watch prevented the Sooners from playing in bowl games for two years after his departure and also kept them from challenging for the national championship. Despite the probation, the Sooners, under his successor Barry Switzer, won two national titles in 1974 and 1975.
Read more about this topic: Chuck Fairbanks
Famous quotes containing the words head and/or coach:
“It’s sort of a shock to see your head detached that way.”
—Crane Wilbur (1889–1973)
“Oh! joyous hearts! enfired with holy flame!
Is speech thus tasseled with praise?
Will not your inward fire of joy contain:
That it in open flames doth blaze?
For in Christ’s coach saints sweetly sing,
As they to glory ride therein.”
—Edward Taylor (1645–1729)