Barry Switzer called the other day to say he really enjoyed the centennial list of Oklahoma’s 100 greatest athletes. He had only one complaint. Tommie Harris’ exclusion.
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“Tommie Harris is the best player ever at Oklahoma,” Switzer said. A few minutes later, Switzer backed off that claim, but just a bit. “It would be him and Lee Roy” Selmon, Switzer said. “Tommie Harris is the best lineman in the NFL today. Every coach I talk to tells me, he’s a destroyer. He’s a freak.”
Harris has played only three pro football seasons, which is why I didn’t include him. Probably a mistake on my part. I’ve had a lot of post-list nominations for who was overlooked. Excellent cases can be made for the likes of Pat Smith and Darrien Gordon. Some nominations were easily dismissed, like Pete Incaviglia and Jimmy Houston. Put Harris with the former group. He belonged on the list.
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