Before we go into the start of the season hype of another National Title run, we should take some time to remember two Oklahoma legends who just passed away.
Bo Bolinger, born Virgilee but known as one of the B Boys from Muskogee, died Friday at the age of 78. He was an All-American guard during Bud Wilkinson’s championship year in 1955, finishing ninth in the Heisman voting. During the 1954 season, he was one of the famous players from the Oklahoma town that produced the Burris Brothers, notably Kurt and Bob during that season, and Max Boydston.
Bolinger was good, real good. During the game against Pittsburgh in 1955, Tommy McDonald ran a 43-yard reverse for a touchdown because Bolinger was able to make two different blocks. Not simple shove you over blocks but, as Jim Dent put it in his book The Undefeated, “two de-cleating blocks.”
After his efforts to extend the nation’s longest winning streak ever (take that Mount Union), Bolinger went on to coach in the NCAA and the CFL. He also served 30 years as a scout in the NFL, mostly for the now-Arizona Cardinals and later the Tennessee Titans.
Jimmy Harris, the quarterback for the Sooners from the mid-1954 campaign (he was the backup quarterback before Gene Calame’s injury) through his senior season in 1956 was a true leader and winner. Never losing at OU (his freshman squad in 1953 also went undefeated) with a 25-0 varsity record, Harris was often overlooked in the national media as quality QB but idolized in the college circles as the best quarterback Oklahoma has likely ever seen.
Back in those days, coaches didn’t call the plays the way they do today. The QB had to know every situation and what to do in each of them. But it wasn’t just his playing ability that made him a star, it was his cockiness on and off the field. Many of the hijinx that went on after hours at the athletic dorm (as well as the hotels) involved Harris. One of our favorites involve a certain Nebraska co-ed who Harris would sneak around to see whenever OU traveled to Lincoln. Prior to the game in 1955, Harris limited himself to just one enjoyable encounter to save his energy for the game. During the game, however, Harris was injured with a slight sprain. He was visibly angered by the situation. It’s not that bad, the doctor told him. But Harris wasn’t made at not playing the rest of the game (which OU won 41-0) but because he could’ve had more “fun” the night prior.
Harris went on to play in the NFL and AFL as a defensive back (many players back then played both sides of
We don't have an unlicensed photo, and we're too poor to buy a license, so here is Jimmy Harris courtesy of Getty Images.
the ball) before hanging up his cleats after four years. He later became a petroleum geologist and later president of Midrock Oil Exploration in Shreveport, Louisiana. When Sports Illustrated released their top 50 quarterbacks in 1990, Harris came in at 11, above Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway and Roger Staubach.
The best reason we can give for why Harris was the best: because Bud Wilkinson himself said so. In a letter to his former signal caller in 1987, Wilkinson wrote, “When interviewed, I always try to avoid the question, ‘Who is the best player you coached?’ If the reporter persists, I always say someone you have not heard too much about. He played both ways. He started 33 games. We won all 33. The man is Jim Harris.
Boomer Sooner
(c) 2011 by Boomer Shimko.
Link to NewsOK.com article on Harris’ passing (for once, watch the video).
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