All-State Project: What was going on? (3s edition)

BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com

In Sunday’s Oklahoman, I wrote about the “threes” across the first 99 years of the paper’s All-State football team.

You can read that content here:
Former Sooner Lydell Carr’s legend was born in Enid
All-State football rosters: Years ending in 3
Oklahoman All-State football teams: The 3s

After the jump, here’s a look back at what was going on in the world on the day when those All-State teams were published:

Dec. 21, 2003
News: Nichols’ writings may be evidence
“Prosecutors want to use evidence against Terry Nichols at his state trial that was banned from his federal case, The Oklahoman has learned.

“Most of the evidence involves Nichols’ so-called “anti government” writings before the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building.”

Sports: Sutton in Hog Heaven: OSU wins in coach’s return to Fayetteville
“FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.–It doesn’t rank with U.S. Reed’s half-court shot that lifted the Eddie Sutton-coached Razorbacks past defending national champion Louisville in the 1981 NCAA tournament.

“It doesn’t rank with Bryant Reeves’ half-court miracle that forced overtime in a Sutton-coached Oklahoma State win over Missouri at Gallagher-Iba Area.

“Still, half-court shots are memorable. And John Lucas picked an ideal setting, Sutton’s return to Arkansas, to bank in a half-court shot at the first-half buzzer, the momentum-changing play in OSU’s 73-58 win Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.”

Dec. 19, 1993

News: Vote Shows City’s Divisions: Affluent Areas Carried Day For Sales Tax

“Imagine droves of northwest Oklahoma City residents north of NW 50 going to the polls and overwhelmingly voting in favor of Oklahoma City’s 1-cent sales tax increase.

“Then imagine another large group of voters in the growing residential areas southeast of the Interstate 44 and 240 interchange doing almost the same thing.

“Those were the two key groups that helped the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) proposal nab a 54 percent victory in last Tuesday’s election, an analysis shows.”

Sports: Pokes Kings of the Mat: Bedlam Wrestling Ends No. 1-Sided

“STILLWATER–The theory that Bedlam wrestling was once again a competitive proposition was struck down in a hurry Saturday afernoon.

“With Joey Wildasin striking a blow in the first match and Johnny Martin delivering the knockout two bouts later, any hint of suspense expected from the revival of the Oklahoma State and Oklahoma programs quickly evaporated.

“The Cowboys, bringing a No. 1 ranking into their home opener, bolted to a 28-0 lead on the way to a 28-9 victory over Oklahoma before 4,500 fans in Gallagher-Iba Arena.”

Jan. 1, 1984

News: DHS Survives $78 Million Cut

“Department of Human Services Director Robert Fulton talks about slashing $78 million from his agency’s $1.1 billion budget the way most people talk about missing a morning cup of coffee.

“‘It hasn’t been tremendously traumatic,’ Fulton said. ‘It hasn’t been business as usual in the sense we could do everything we wanted to do, but it hasn’t been tremendously disruptive, either.’”

“The $78 million in spending cuts were forced on DHS in fiscal year 1983 when sales tax revenues fell way short of expectations. DHS made the cuts. The agency survived.”

Sports: Pokes Put Bears Away Early, 24-14

“HOUSTON–Baylor ranked only eighth among nine Southwest Conference football teams in total defense. It showed. Oklahoma State’s defense was called by BU’s Grant Teaff, ‘One of the quickest I’ve ever seen for all 11 players.’ That held true to form, too.

“But what the sellout Astrodome crowd didn’t expect in Oklahoma State’s 24-14 victory Saturday night over Baylor in the 25th annual Bluebonnet Bowl was a remarkable display by OSU’s Rusty Hilger.

“Hey, what was going on here? Baylor, not Oklahoma State, was supposed to have the quarterbacks. Three of them, in fact. OSU’s signal-callers were supposed to do just that–call the signals and hand off to the tailbacks.”

Dec. 16, 1973

News: Hall Reports Net Worth Has Dropped Since ’71: Holdings, Debts Outlined, Blast Aimed at IRS Probes In Statement by Governor

“Gov. David Hall’s net worth has decreased almost $17,000 since he became governor, he said Saturday.

“‘Hiring attorneys and accountants … has cost me more than the salary of the office of the governor,’ Gov. Hall said in a blistering attack on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

“‘I have had to borrow money to pay those bills.’”

“In a briefing at the state capitol conducted by his press secretary, Ed Hardy, the governor released a statement in which he said agents of the IRS have checked and rechecked his financial records for the years 1968 through 1972 for nearly three years.”

Sports: What A Day For Lucious

“EUFAULA–Some folks always thought that Lucious Selmon was the nicest thing that ever happened to Eufaula. But here Saturday Eufaula became the nicest thing that ever happened to Lucious Selmon.

“Ol’ No. 98 chugged back into his home town for a parade, various honors from various dignitaries, and most importantly, a chance for his home town to express its thanks to the Oklahoma Sooner All-American.

“‘I think it’s fantastic,’ said Lucious, who obviously was touched by the day’s events. ‘I know a lot of people put in a lot of effort putting this all together. No words can express it.’”

Dec. 22, 1963

News: Defiant House Fails To Vote On Aid Bill, Blocks Adjournment: Carl Albert Threatens Christmas Day Session If Necessary in Quarrel

“WASHINGTON–The house failed Saturday to reach a vote on a compromise $3-billion foreign aid money bill.

“This inaction apparently killed any chance for early enactment of the measure or for sine die adjournment of this session of congress before the next one starts January 7.

“This would make the first session of the 88th congress, already a peacetime record-breaker for length, the first around-the-calendar congress since Korean War days.

“Although the disputed measure is an appropriations bill, the deadlock developed over demands in the house for a ban on government-backed credit for sales of U.S. goods to Soviet-bloc nations and the senate’s insistence that the president be allowed to permit such guarantees in the national interest.”

Sports: Trull Riddles Bengals, 14-7

“HOUSTON–Dashing Don Trull, the wonder boy from Oklahoma City, smashed seven Bluebonnet Bowl records Saturday in guiding Baylor to a come-from-behind , 14-7 victory over Louisiana State.