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When they showed Barry Switzer on the sideline, I thought he was looking pretty old
Posted on 12/20/25 at 1:31 am
Posted on 12/20/25 at 1:31 am
Had no idea he’s actually 88 now. Makes sense when I think about it, but this is still the mental image I have of the man.
Love him or hate him, he was a force for about 15 years.

Love him or hate him, he was a force for about 15 years.

Posted on 12/20/25 at 5:16 am to Ag Zwin
quote:
he was a force for about 15 years.
Yeah he was. Switzer was considered to be a top tier coach for a long time and had the record to back it up.
Posted on 12/20/25 at 5:56 am to Ag Zwin
I used to love watching those Oklahoma vs Nebraska games
And it seems like they were always playing for the Orange Bowl berth
And it seems like they were always playing for the Orange Bowl berth
Posted on 12/20/25 at 6:10 am to TigerReich
But Choklahoma Stoops was right beside him and he brought that stink with him!
Posted on 12/20/25 at 6:16 am to Ag Zwin
He was a great coach…
Switzer already had faced controversy when former Sooner linebacker Brian Bosworth wrote a book, which came out last August, saying players used cocaine and fired guns at the dormitory. Bosworth, who left the team after the 1986 season, also referred to NCAA violations and said the Oklahoma football program bordered on anarchy.
At the time, Switzer called Bosworth’s claims sensationalism.
The state’s largest newspapers called for Switzer’s resignation after five of his players were charged with felonies earlier this year.
One player was charged with wounding another player in a dormitory shooting incident. Three players were charged with first-degree rape in an alleged dormitory assault on an Oklahoma City woman. And quarterback Charles Thompson was charged in federal court with cocaine possession.
Switzer already had faced controversy when former Sooner linebacker Brian Bosworth wrote a book, which came out last August, saying players used cocaine and fired guns at the dormitory. Bosworth, who left the team after the 1986 season, also referred to NCAA violations and said the Oklahoma football program bordered on anarchy.
At the time, Switzer called Bosworth’s claims sensationalism.
The state’s largest newspapers called for Switzer’s resignation after five of his players were charged with felonies earlier this year.
One player was charged with wounding another player in a dormitory shooting incident. Three players were charged with first-degree rape in an alleged dormitory assault on an Oklahoma City woman. And quarterback Charles Thompson was charged in federal court with cocaine possession.
Posted on 12/20/25 at 6:42 am to GatorOnAnIsland
quote:
players used cocaine and fired guns at the dormitory
I’m sorry I thought this was America
Posted on 12/20/25 at 6:47 am to GatorOnAnIsland
Wasn't he born on third base and went through life thinking he hit a triple ?
Posted on 12/20/25 at 6:48 am to T1gerNate
I read Charles Thompson’s book. As a kid, he would race for money that was put up by the local gangsters. He never lost a race.
Posted on 12/20/25 at 7:25 am to Ag Zwin
He was the last to win a Superbowl with the cowboys....
That's how I remember him.
That's how I remember him.
Posted on 12/20/25 at 7:38 am to Ag Zwin
He loved to drink
Of course he looks old
Of course he looks old
Posted on 12/20/25 at 8:58 am to Ag Zwin
quote:
Had no idea he’s actually 88 now
I don’t know how old you are, but Switzer became the OU HC in 1973. That’s 52 years ago. Most of the prominent coaches of the 1970s are long dead. In fact, he is the only coach who won a natty in the ‘70s who’s still alive.
In other words, It shouldn’t be a surprise he’s old as shite. And while I didn’t see him last night, Switzer has aged well through the years and always seems sharp and energetic.
quote:
Love him or hate him, he was a force for about 15 years.
He was a great recruiter whose upbringing helped him jive with black athletes in the early days of integration. He also deserves a lot of credit for OU implementing the wishbone even before he was the HC.
That said, inheriting a peaking Oklahoma program in 1973 at just 36 years old and the Dallas Cowboys in 1994 after sitting on the couch for five years were two pretty damn good situations to walk into.
quote:
I used to love watching those Oklahoma vs Nebraska games And it seems like they were always playing for the Orange Bowl berth
They did because the rest of the Big 8 sucked. Switzer’s famous catchphrase “Hang half a hundred on ‘em” came from beating the shite out of overmatched teams by video game scores, which Nebraska continued to do in the ‘90s minus some competition from Colorado under McCartney.
However, both OU and Nebraska always struggled against Miami and FSU teams that recruited elite players on D to beat them. Switzer was 33-3 from 1985-1987 with all three losses to Miami. Nebraska had a seven game (very nearly eight game) bowl losing streak from 1987-1993 mostly against Miami and FSU.
1995 Nebraska advocates just don’t appreciate how much easier the path to greatness became when OU hit the skids post-Switzer and not having to face a bowl opponent with a physical defense built with an emphasis on defending run-oriented option offenses.
Posted on 12/20/25 at 9:00 am to Ag Zwin
That picture is peak middle aged male.
Posted on 12/20/25 at 9:01 am to Ag Zwin
Damn man he’s 88!
I thought shite he’s upright. That’s a good day for Barry.
I thought shite he’s upright. That’s a good day for Barry.
Posted on 12/20/25 at 9:07 am to MizzouTrue
He still drinks but it’s only red wine. He is mentally sharp and maintains a relatively healthy lifestyle. He has a nice house on campus.
Posted on 12/20/25 at 10:25 am to Trumansfangs
quote:
Wasn't he born on third base and went through life thinking he hit a triple ?
Well, he was actually born into a pretty hard-arse life. The story of the night his mom committed suicide is rough, and that was just part of what he dealt with.
That being said, I do understand your point. Still, he had a big role in building the thing he inherited, and he coached it through a level his predecessor didn’t.
A decade later, he lost a future #1 draft pick and HOF QB to a broken leg, then put in a true freshman, completely changed the offense, and went on to win the natty. I don’t care who you are, that’s impressive.
Posted on 12/20/25 at 10:33 am to Oklahomey
Switzer could make it to 100 and I wouldn’t be shocked
He sounds good in his interviews
He sounds good in his interviews
Posted on 12/20/25 at 10:36 am to Pauldingtiger
Stoops still looks like a kid with that baby face.
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