Barry Switzer Honored At Statue Dedication In Norman

Hundreds of faithful Sooner fans gathered Saturday to dedicate a statue in honor of former Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer.

Big 12 Interim commissioner Chuck Neinas along with Bob Stoops, OU President David Boren, Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione as well as many more former and current OU coaches and players were all on hand for the dedication ceremony.

The bronze statue will join other statues of recognized icons Bennie Owen and Bud Wilkinson that were unveiled last season.

Switzer, who led the Sooners from 1973-1988, won more games than another other coach in school history with a 157-28-4 record including a 100-11-1 mark in conference games.

In his first eight years at OU, Switzer amassed an 83-9 record, along with eight conference titles and two national championships in 1974 and 1975.

During his tenure the Sooners took home a total of three national championships and 12 Big Eight conference championships. OU also appeared in 13 bowl games—winning eight of those matchups.

Switzer went on to coach for the Dallas Cowboys from 1994-1997. Coach Switzer led the Cowboys to Superbowl XXX in 1995.

In 2001 Switzer was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

The bronze statue was created by Jack Nortz, the head of the sculpture department at Oklahoma City's MTM. Nortz also sculpted the statue of OU Heisman winner Sam Bradford.