OU football: Former Sooner Jerry Tubbs dies at age 77

Tubbs died Thursday in the Dallas area at the age of 77.

Tubbs placed fourth in the 1956 Heisman voting, one of the closest tallies in that trophy's history. Notre Dame's Paul Hornung won with 1,066 points, followed by Tennessee's Johnny Majors (994), OU teammate Tommy McDonald (973) and Tubbs (724).

Tubbs won the Walter Camp Award, given to the national player of the year, and also was named UPI's lineman of the year.

Then Tubbs played 10 years in the NFL, was hired by Tom Landry and spent 22 years as a Dallas Cowboys assistant coach.

“Outstanding athlete,” said Bill Krisher, Tubbs' teammate on those great OU teams. “Just so good at what he did as an athlete and an individual. And as a person. Clean-living. Deep man. Miss him already.

“Just an outstanding athlete. I enjoyed playing with him very much.”

Tubbs came to OU from Breckenridge, Texas, where he led two state championship teams. Then Tubbs went 31-0 as a Sooner, forming the bulk of the historic 47-game winning streak.