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Have a question about teams that ran the wishbone
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:16 pm
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:16 pm
When did Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma stop running the wishbone??
There is a new ESPN originals coming out and in it they have Brian Bosworth. He states that he's had 34 surgeries and he says that they are all due to offenses running the wishbone.
He got to Oklahoma in 1984.
How many offenses did he play against that ran the wishbone?
Bear Bryant died in 1983 and Ray Perkins didn't run it.
Texas stopped running it in the 70s.
So, how many teams were still running it when Brian Bosworth played???
There is a new ESPN originals coming out and in it they have Brian Bosworth. He states that he's had 34 surgeries and he says that they are all due to offenses running the wishbone.
He got to Oklahoma in 1984.
How many offenses did he play against that ran the wishbone?
Bear Bryant died in 1983 and Ray Perkins didn't run it.
Texas stopped running it in the 70s.
So, how many teams were still running it when Brian Bosworth played???
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Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:20 pm to bbvdd
For Texas it was when Earl Campbell hit campus. I think his sophomore year Royal went to the I formation and Campbell as tailback.
I think it was similar for Oklahoma. Billy Simms? I think it certainly before Marcus Dupree.
I think it was similar for Oklahoma. Billy Simms? I think it certainly before Marcus Dupree.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:22 pm to bbvdd
By the mid-80s OK might have been the only one still running a true wishbone and even they had tried to move away before Aikman's injury and the explosion of Jamel Holloway. But dozens of teams were running option- heavy wishbone influenced offenses. BB misspoke somewhat if he called them actual wishbones.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:24 pm to bbvdd
This is from a 1985 article in The Oklahoman:
Wishbone Offense Becoming Rare
quote:
Only seven of the 105 NCAA Division I-A teams operate exclusively out of the wishbone: No. 2 OU (1-0), No. 10 Arkansas (3-0), No. 17 Air Force (4-0), 24th-ranked Army (3-0), Colorado (3-1), Texas Tech (3-1) and Wyoming (1-3).
Wishbone Offense Becoming Rare
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:24 pm to bbvdd
Pretty sure OU started it when Aikman got hurt and Donnan changed the offense based on the QB he was left with. Holieway was a freshman and a runner. Went on to win the national title. Pretty sure they quit it when Switzer left.
This post was edited on 7/17/25 at 4:25 pm
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:26 pm to wm72
So, he would have played Arkansas and TX Tech?
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:29 pm to koreandawg
quote:
Pretty sure OU started it when Aikman got hurt
Switzer went back to it when Aikman got hurt and ran it tell he retired.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:31 pm to bbvdd
Alabama stopped running it after Bryant retired. Perkins brought a pro style offense to Tuscaloosa.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:31 pm to bbvdd
We stopped running it when Switzer left.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:36 pm to shinerfan
One of those o's you either stop cold or your in for a long day. People had them figured out and the NFL didn't want kids from a remedial offense
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:42 pm to koreandawg
A quick google search shows Texas ran the wishbone first.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:50 pm to WossNess
Emory Bellard brought it to Texas in 1967?
Alabama started running it in 1971.
Alabama started running it in 1971.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 4:55 pm to bbvdd
quote:
There is a new ESPN originals coming out and in it they have Brian Bosworth. He states that he's had 34 surgeries and he says that they are all due to offenses running the wishbone.
He got to Oklahoma in 1984.
How many offenses did he play against that ran the wishbone?
Not many, but he practiced against one every day
Posted on 7/17/25 at 5:18 pm to bbvdd
Arkansas ran it under Ken Hatfield till the 1989 season.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 5:18 pm to bbvdd
Posted on 7/17/25 at 5:22 pm to New Money
ESPN tonight 6 or 7 pm has the history of the wishbone, mainly covering OU, Texass, and Bama running the bone…..
Posted on 7/17/25 at 5:28 pm to bbvdd
quote:
There is a new ESPN originals coming out and in it they have Brian Bosworth. He states that he's had 34 surgeries and he says that they are all due to offenses running the wishbone.
That dude a was roided up train wreck. That probably had more to do with it.
This post was edited on 7/17/25 at 5:28 pm
Posted on 7/17/25 at 5:28 pm to Larry Seinfeld
quote:
Arkansas ran it under Ken Hatfield till the 1989 season.
Arkie was renowned for a very innovative take on the flexbone.
Posted on 7/17/25 at 5:30 pm to bbvdd
Colorado would’ve ran it
Some Big8 teams back then ran alot of single back with passing, and some under-center option as well (Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State)
I don’t know if Bosworth ever had to deal with it in practice. OU had a tremendous offensive line
Nebraska was a heavy run/option team, but they did it out of the I Formation
Some Big8 teams back then ran alot of single back with passing, and some under-center option as well (Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State)
I don’t know if Bosworth ever had to deal with it in practice. OU had a tremendous offensive line
Nebraska was a heavy run/option team, but they did it out of the I Formation
Posted on 7/17/25 at 6:59 pm to bbvdd
There’s actually a great documentary series on YouTube that details the rise and fall of the Wishbone offense. It’ll tell everyone what they need to know about it.
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