Switzer tales: 1974 defense the best?

I’ve always thought Barry Switzer’s 1973 defense was the greatest in OU history. That’s the defense that had all three Selmon brothers, plus Rod Shoate at linebacker and Randy Hughes at safety.

But Switzer might vote for 1974. No Lucious Selmon at nose guard, but the others were still around, a year older and a year better.

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA: "Quarterbacks lead a rough life.. That's Marty Akins of Texas being smothered by Sooner linebacker Rod Shoate" as the Longhorns were beaten by the Sooners 16-13 in Dallas. Staff photo by Jim Argo taken 10/12/74; photo ran in the 10/13/74 Daily Oklahoman. File: College Football/OU/OU-Texas/Cotton Bowl/Rod Shoate/1974

The ’74 defense included the greatest Sooner of them all, Lee Roy Selmon; OU’s only three-time all-American of the last 60 years, Shoate at linebacker; and cornerback Tony Peters, whom Switzer says was his best defensive back.

Switzer likes to point out that eight of the those 1974 defenders became NFL starters, if you count linebacker David Smith, who didn’t really start but spelled Gary Gibbs much of the game. “Time to get David Smith’s (butt) out there,” Switzer says he would tell his defensive staff early in the game. ” He was a man who could run 4.6, weighed 240 pounds.”