Larry Jack Mildren
Larry Jack Mildren was born on Oct. 10, 1949 in Kingsville, TX.
Jack was a brilliant athlete. While he was attending Cooper High School, in Abilene, TX, Jack led the team to a state championship in 1967.
In that game, trailing Austin Reagan High School by a single point. Jack directed a drive late into the fourth quarter that became one of the finest drives in Texas High School Football history.
He led them to the one yard line with time expiring. The Cooper coach tried to get the field goal team on the field, but Jack waved them off. Later citing that there was no time to kick a field goal. On the ensuing play, the Cougars failed to score a touchdown and lost the game 20-19.
After high school, Jack Mildren decided to attend to University of Oklahoma.
While at OU, Jack Mildren would become known as the Godfather of the wishbone. Thanks to a rule by the NCAA that was reversed in 1972, Mildren had to wait until his sophomore year to play.
In 1970, then Oklahoma coach, Chuck Fairbanks, introduced a new offensive scheme known as the wishbone. Jack Mildren seemed to be the perfect quarterback to usher in the new offense. Especially since the wishbone succeeds with great quarterback athleticism and judgments. OU started the 1970 season 2-1 before implementing the new offense. They would finish the season 5-2-1.
In 1971, Jack's senior season at OU, Jack led the OU team to an 11-1 record. In the process, Jack set several records that have since been eclipsed. Oklahoma as an offense averaged an impressive 472.4 yards rushing.
Mildren set records for most rushing yards in a season (1,289 and still stands as most by an OU QB), most career touchdown passes (25), and season pass efficiency (209.0).
The Sooners led by Jack Mildren fell just short of a national title in 1971, losing to Nebraska 35-31 in what has since been billed as the “Game of the Century.”
Jack Mildren would go on to be named to both the All-American and Academic All-American teams his senior season. He would also go on to win the Sugar Bowl MVP leading OU to a 40-22 win over Auburn. The Sooners led 31-0 at half time in that game.
After his life at the University of Oklahoma, Jack would go on to to play in the NFL for three seasons. Two of them with the Baltimore Colts and one with the New England Patriots.
After his three years in the NFL, he hung up the cleats of football and began a life outside of the sport.
In 1990, Jack Mildren won the second highest seat in the Oklahoma state government. He was elected and held the Lieutenant Governor seat until 1995. In 1994, running as a democrat, Jack would lose a bid to become the Governor of Oklahoma. He lost to republican Frank Keating.
After his life as a politician, Jack would become vice-chairman of the Arvest Bank Group. He would also host a radio show on WKY 930 AM. Where he served and did both until his death.
On May 22, 2008, the Godfather of the Wishbone, lost his two year battle with stomach cancer. He died in Oklahoma City at the age of 58.
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