Legendary OU Football Coach Chuck Fairbanks Dies

[osu1991]

Legendary OU Coach Chuck Fairbanks Dies

http://www.newson6.com/story/21857486/legendary-ou-coach-dies

Former OU football coach Chuck Fairbanks has died at the age of 79.

Fairbanks coached the Sooners from 1967-72. During his time at the school, the team saw a resurgence in domination on the field and also the implementation of the wishbone-T offense. His successor Barry Switzer took over for Fairbanks in 1973 when the coach went on to become the head coach of the New England Patriots.

Fairbanks died in Scottsdale, Arizona following a battle with brain cancer.

 

[John Corn]

Chuck is one of OU's greatest coaches, no question. But Barry is the one that urged and convinced him to switch to the wishbone, in late september, which saved their jobs and started a dynasty

 

[Mr Tony]

RIP

 

[dfergie]

RIP ...

 

[whitewolf8214]

R.I.P

 

[AntAltMike]

It will be interesting to read the reader comments regarding Fairbanks in the Boston newspapers. Fairbanks was part of very good drafts and installed defensive schemes that worked, but to say that he didn't have many friends in New England would be to make a big understatement, though it is not possible to tell how much of his problems came from having to deal with jerk team owners.

 

[osu1991]

Chuck is one of OU's greatest coaches, no question. But Barry is the one that urged and convinced him to switch to the wishbone, in late september, which saved their jobs and started a dynasty

Chuck gets forgotten a lot, as most people remember the long successful tenures of the 4 B's, Bennie Owen, Bud Wilkinson, Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops.

However Chuck got the ball rolling, restoring the Sooners success before Barry took them back to a dominating national power house. His history at OU may have been different if hadn't listened to Barry or jumped to the NFL before OU was put on probation for recruiting infractions and other things during his tenure.

 

[Ramy]

R.I.P.