Loss of DeMarco Murray not the end of the world for Sooners

OU’s first bowl game was played short-handed, as Jennings suffered a broken leg in the season finale and Wood and Speegle suffered knee injuries in the next-to-last game. A Sooner team that went 10-0 and allowed only 12 points all season was beaten 17-0 by Tennessee.

→1959 Orange Bowl: David Baker

OU’s starting quarterback was ruled academically ineligible, but the Sooners beat Syracuse 21-6. Baker’s replacement, Bob Cornell, didn’t throw a pass.

→1964 Gator Bowl: Jim Grisham, Ralph Neely, Lance Rentzel

Gomer Jones suspended his three senior standouts for signing professional contracts, and the Sooners struggled. Grisham was an all-American fullback, and offensive tackle Neely and flanker Rentzel were future Dallas Cowboy stars. But OU’s offense struggled without the trio; aside from a 95-yard pass play, the Sooners generated just 185 total yards and lost 36-19 to Florida State.

→1976 Orange Bowl: Horace Ivory

OU’s breakaway fullback was sent home from Miami for violating team rules. Ivory and Jim Littrell had shared the position all season. But third-teamer Jim Culbreath came up big with 63 yards on 11 carries, including a 21-yard gain on 3rd-and-20 that set up a touchdown in the Sooners’ 14-6 win over Michigan that secured the national championship.

→1987 Orange Bowl: Brian Bosworth

The Boz was suspended for failing an NCAA steroid test, but backup Dante Jones filled in superbly at linebacker as the Sooners routed Arkansas 42-8.

→1988 Orange Bowl: Jamelle Holieway

Holieway suffered a major knee injury in Game 9; backup Charles Thompson led OU to victory at Nebraska in Game of the Century II. But the Sooner offense was stymied by Miami in the national championship game. OU lost 20-14.

→1989 Citrus Bowl: Charles Thompson

CT had subbed for Holieway the year before, but this time, a wounded Holieway had to sub for Thompson, who suffered a broken leg in the regular-season finale against Nebraska. The Sooners were totally ineffective against Clemson, losing 13-6.

→1994 Copper Bowl: Garrick McGee

OU’s starting quarterback missed the game with spinal meningitis. Backup Terence Brown, moved over from flanker, completed just 13 of 30 passes for 163 yards as Brigham Young rolled 31-6.

→2008 Fiesta Bowl: Malcolm Kelly, DeMarcus Granger, Lendy Holmes

West Virginia rolled 48-28, dominating both sides of the ball. Defensive tackle Granger was sent home for theft and safety Holmes was academically ineligible, and the Sooner defense never corralled the Mountaineers. Kelly, OU’s top receiver, missed the game (except for one half-speed series) with a deep this bruise. Backup Quentin Chaney had four catches for 129 yards and a touchdown, but West Virginia took advantage of Kelly’s absence to blitz constantly.

BY BERRY TRAMEL