College Football Standout At OU
In football, Mildren is perhaps best known as the "Godfather of the Wishbone" going back to his quarterbacking days at the University of Oklahoma (1969–71). Introduced at OU in 1970 by Mildren's coach, Chuck Fairbanks, the success of "The Bone" depended on a quarterback with a rare combination of quickness, strength and intelligence. Posting a mediocre 6-4 record in Mildren's sophomore year and off to a lackluster 2-1 start in 1970, Fairbanks' Sooners installed the option offense during the two-week period between a 23-14 home loss to Oregon State and the annual Red River Rivalry clash against arch-rival Texas. Despite losing 41-9 to the Longhorns (who had run the wishbone to a national title the previous season), the Sooners quickly turned their season around, going 5-2-1 after the gutsy switch, and also ushered in a period of rushing dominance seldom seen before or since.
Mildren set records in his 1971 senior season that have since been exceeded. The Sooners posted an 11-1 record, with the wishbone averaging a remarkable 472.4 yards rushing per game. Mildren set records for most rushing yards in a season (1,140; 1971), most career touchdown passes (25), and season passing efficiency (209.0; 1971) record. That same season, OU fell just short of a national championship, losing 35-31 in Norman, Oklahoma to eventual champ Nebraska in what was billed as the Game of the Century. The defending national champion Cornhuskers gambled defensively by taking halfback Greg Pruitt out of the action and forcing Mildren to defeat them virtually on his own.
Read more about this topic: Jack Mildren
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