Former OU Quarterback Dean Blevins Recalls 1977 'Revenge' Bedlam

It’s 1976, the University of Oklahoma has won the past nine Bedlam games. In a surprising turn of events, Oklahoma State University rolled the Sooners, 31-24.

This upset made everyone think the 1977 game was up for grabs. The Sooners, however, played looking to right the wrongs of the year before. OU beat OSU 61-28, setting up another years-long winning streak for the Sooners.

News 9’s Sports Director Dean Blevins played for the Sooners in both of these games as quarterback.

In the 1976 Bedlam game, Blevins was recovering from an injury.

“I had been the starting quarterback, hospitalized a couple weeks before,” Blevins said. “Just came out of the hospital.”

The Sooners didn’t want to play Blevins that day. Blevins did play, but even he would admit he played poorly.

“It was the only loss Oklahoma sustained against Oklahoma State in a 26-year block,” Blevins said. “Yours truly was partly responsible for that.” 

The 1976 loss set up the tension for the 1977 Bedlam game.

“OSU was really good, once again,” Blevins said. “They actually led in the third quarter. I came in thinking revenge, or trying to avenge that last game.”

Blevins remembers the game’s flea-flicker play, and OU’s win, like it was yesterday.

“We were able to avenge that loss from a season before, but it was a game that was very much in doubt,” Blevins said. “There were a lot of questions looming. Sooners were able to do it and go on to win the Big 8 and have a chance to go down and play for a national championship.”