ESPN Classic - Classic Texas vs. Oklahoma Live

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Classic Texas/Oklahoma memories

Sooners and Longhorns battle in important Red River Classic

Flashback: Oklahoma-Texas 1984

Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Classic Texas vs. Oklahoma Live

In celebration of one of college football's most unique and intense rivalries, ESPN Classic brings its road show to Dallas on Saturday, October 7 where the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners will stage the 95th meeting of the Red River rivalry at the Cotton Bowl.

The normal color and pageantry associated with college football is amplified in this annual feud. The setting is an equal distance between Austin and Norman and takes place in the midst of the State Fair of Texas. The border between Texas and Oklahoma is seemingly transported to the 50-yard line of the Cotton Bowl. One half of the stadium is bathed in burnt orange and white, the other in crimson and cream. The game, sold out 54 straight times, has showcased Heisman Trophy winners Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams of Texas and Billy Vessels, Steve Owens and Billy Sims of Oklahoma. Coaching legends Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer of Oklahoma and Darrell Royal of Texas have taken teams down the Cotton Bowl's storied tunnel.

ESPN's Kenny Mayne will be live from the Cotton Bowl where he will be joined by Brian Bosworth, Earl Campbell, Tony Dorsett, Marcus Dupree, Eric Metcalf, Greg Pruitt and Darrell Royal as they look back on one of the greatest rivalries in college football history.

Live OU/Texas chats on Friday, Oct. 6

1978 Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims will chat live at 11 a.m. ET

1985 Lombardi Trophy winner Tony Casillas will chat live at noon ET

Former Sooners tailback Marcus Dupree will chat live at 3 p.m. ET

Former Sooners tailback Greg Pruitt will chat live at 6:30 p.m. ET

Classic Texas vs. Oklahoma on ESPN Classic
Saturday, October 7

Time Event

noon ET SportsCentury: Bud Wilkinson

1 p.m. ET 1969 Texas vs. Oklahoma

3:30 p.m. ET Texas vs Oklahoma Live

6 p.m. ET 1984 Texas vs. Oklahoma

ESPN Classic begins the special presentation with the SportsCentury profile of Bud Wilkinson at noon ET. From noon to 3:30 ET will be the 1969 Texas vs. Oklahoma game. The live portion of the special, 3:30 to 6 p.m. ET, will be hosted by ESPN's Kenny Mayne and feature interviews, highlights and portions of the 1978 and 1980 games. Texas vs. Oklahoma Live concludes with the presentation of the 1984 game at 6 p.m. ET.

In the 1969 game, No. 2 Texas beat No. 8 Oklahoma 27-17 on their way to the national championship. The Horns wishbone attack led by quarterback James Street defeated the Sooners for the third consecutive year.

During the Live portion of the special, ESPN Classic will show highlights from the 1978 Sooners/Longhorns clash. Led by 1978 Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims, No. 1 Oklahoma crushed No. 6 Texas 31-10. Sims gained 131 yards on 25 carries, in addition to sprinting 18 yards for one touchdown and plunging one yard, for another. Highlights of the 1980 Red River Rivalry will also be shown. No. 3 Texas, led by quarterback Donnie Little's 118 yards on 21 carries and 99 yards passing, defeated No. 12 Oklahoma 20-13.

In 1984, No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Oklahoma played to a 15-15 tie in Dallas amid wet conditions, curious coaching decisions and contraversial officiating. Texas forged the tie on Jeff Ward's 32-yard field goal as time expired. The field goal drive was kept alive by some questionable calls and began after Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer elected to give up a safety to pull the Longhorns within 3 points. Leading 15-10 with two minutes left, Switzer had the Sooners take a safety of punting out of the end zone.On the play before Ward's field goal, the Sooners' Keith Stanberry seemed to have intercepted in the end zone but the catch was ruled out of bounds.

ESPN Classic is the only network that features past Super Bowls, World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Championships, heavyweight championship fights, NCAA Final Fours, Olympics, NASCAR, Grand Slam tennis events, The Masters and much more. The greatest moments in sports, larger-than-life personalities, history-making games and epic events are available to relive for the first time or the 100th time.

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