When Tennessee & OU "Made" the Orange Bowl

[HvilleCommando]

SIAP. Really cool read on Fox Sports with UT-OU meeting in 1939 and a National Championship year for us. Good bit of history in here in a defining moment in our program.

When Tennessee and Oklahoma "Made" the Orange Bowl | FOX Sports
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[vosams]

I thought Ta&m was the national champion.

 

[1725gatorhater]

I can guarantee that Tennessee and Oklahoma will been in a Orange Bowl next year!

 

[owenfieldreams]

My Godfather & OU's first consensus all-American, Roland "Waddy" Young played in that game. He graduated from OU and became a B-29 pilot. His plane, "Waddy's Wagon" went down over the Pacific in 1944. I was born on 1942 but never met him. He and my dad were Sigma Chi's together at OU.

 

[knoxvols11]

Good article. I enjoyed it.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

This web page (1939 - Orange Bowl History | Orange Bowl) provides additional context on how this matchup came to pass. "It took some marketing and public relations moves by the OBC's Ernie Seiler to bring the Sooners to South Florida. Seiler went to Norman and covered the campus with posters of palm trees, beaches, and Miami's young women. After a stirring pep talk to the OU squad, the Sooners voted to accept the Orange Bowl offer over more lucrative ones from the Cotton, Rose, and Sugar Bowls. Seiler then asked Oklahoma head coach Tom Stidham to call his friend, head coach Bob Neyland at Tennessee, to set up the match-up. When Neyland accepted, the Orange Bowl had the game of the year. Oklahoma had recorded eight shutouts in its 10-0 season, while the Volunteers had seven in their 10-0 campaign."

The game itself was dominated by Tennessee which ran for 197 yards and held Oklahoma to 94 yards total offense. To say that tempers "flared" would be an understatement; both teams combined for 220 yards in penalties as the Big Orange were flagged sixteen times for 130 yards.

 

[BornOrange33]

My Godfather & OU's first consensus all-American, Roland "Waddy" Young played in that game. He graduated from OU and became a B-29 pilot. His plane, "Waddy's Wagon" went down over the Pacific in 1944. I was born on 1942 but never met him. He and my dad were Sigma Chi's together at OU.

How high can an eagle fly...

 

[VolForLife83]

I can guarantee that Tennessee and Oklahoma will been in a Orange Bowl next year!

Underrated imo

 

[OrangeByBirth]

That game was almost a single handed effort by George Cafego. If he were still around, nobody would have to worry about the kicking game. He was the best kicking coach in history and was true VFL.

 

[TrueOrange]

I thought Ta&m was the national champion.

That would be the 1939-1940 season.

This bowl game followed the 1938 season.

 

[DD4ME]

This web page (1939 - Orange Bowl History | Orange Bowl)
...
The game itself was dominated by Tennessee which ran for 197 yards and held Oklahoma to 94 yards total offense. To say that tempers "flared" would be an understatement; both teams combined for 220 yards in penalties as the Big Orange were flagged sixteen times for 130 yards.

Take it to Em in Norman too 118.