A line in The Oklahoman story that accompanied the 1971 All-State team suggested that the roster “does not possess the ‘super stars' of some of the past squads.”
Of course, in 1971, no one was predicting Eufaula's Lee Roy Selmon would eventually be a first-round NFL draft pick and Pro Football Hall of Famer.
OU found a few other stars on the All-State team that year, including Lee Roy's brother, Dewey, Miami's Tinker Owens and Tulsa East Central's Jimbo Elrod.
Muskogee's Bill Littrell, and later his son Seth, played for the Sooners as well.
1981: Cutter was top back
One of three running backs named to the 1981 team, Putnam City West's Mike Cutter was named Back of the Year, in the same season the Patriots' Mike Little was selected as Coach of the Year after leading PC West to a state title.
Oklahoman writer Tim Cowlishaw, now a Dallas Morning News columnist and ESPN personality, wrote that Cutter “might be embarrassed by a lot of running backs in a foot race. He wouldn't win a weightlifting contest, either. But he will win football games.”
Joining Cutter on the team that year was Tulsa Edison running back Spencer Tillman, who played on OU's 1985 championship team and spent eight years in the NFL.
1991: Like father, like son?
While many names on the 1991 team stand out for their accomplishments on the football field in high school and beyond, Shattuck's Dusty Hansen might not be one of them.
Hansen returned 10 kickoffs for touchdowns that year, and was selected as the team's kick returner, though he also starred at quarterback and defensive back.
But could Hansen be in line to join a small group of father-son duos to be named to the All-State team?
His son, Justice Hansen, was one of the top quarterbacks in the state at Edmond Santa Fe this past season. The 2012 All-State team will be announced Dec. 23.
2001: Year of the pass-catchers
The 2001 team stands as one of the best teams for pass-catchers, though the first-team roster had only one wide receiver spot.
That position went to Aaron Ivey of Putnam City North, who went on to play baseball at OU.
The offense had two tight ends, Garrett Mills of Jenks and Derek Fine of Sallisaw, who had standout college careers at Tulsa and Kansas, respectively.
Oklahoma State star D'Juan Woods made the team as a defensive back.
And the most successful of the bunch, Tulsa Washington's Robert Meacham, who is still catching passes in the NFL, made the team as a kick returner.
2011: No repeaters ahead
There won't be any second-time All-State selections on the 2012 team when it comes out.
The 2011 squad included 24 seniors, with Lawton's D.J. Ward checking in as the only junior. Ward was ruled ineligible by the OSSAA after transferring to Douglass, then Southmoore.
The 2011 team had some quick-impact college players, including Kevin Peterson at Oklahoma State and Sterling Shepard at OU.
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