Switzer’s office: A tour through time
I spent Wednesday morning in Barry Switzer’s office in his home in Norman. We shot a video of Switzer talking about some of his favorite recruiting memories. The series begins on newsok.com on Thursday; I think you’ll enjoy it. But while the videographers were setting up, I just looked around Switzer’s office, which is full of memorabilia.
Switzer said he wasn’t really a collector, but over the years people have given him so much stuff, “you have to put somewhere.” Here are a few of the highlights:
* My favorite piece, and probably Switzer’s, is an old black and white photo, of a man standing on a docked boat. You can’t see the man’s face; the camera was quite far away. But it’s a great “feel” photo. Takes you back in time. The man? Frank Switzer, Barry’s father. The boat? Switzer’s first home. Frank Switzer in 1936-37 worked as toll collector for a bridge over the Ouachita River, and the Switzers lived under the bridge on that boat, which wasn’t really a house boat but served as one.
* A photo of Mike Shanahan working a practice, with the signature, “To Barry, thank you for giving me my start in football. Your friend, Mike Shanahan.” Shanahan was a graduate assistant on the 1977 OU squad.
* A framed Arkansas letter jacket. Sure looks small, but Switzer really hasn’t gained any weight over the years. Must have worn those things tight.
* Tons of photos of Switzer’s kids and grandkids.
* All kinds of action photos. My favorite: a Cowboy-Steeler Super Bowl picture, shot from the end zone, with Troy Aikman directing his offense just before the ball is snapped.
* A photo of Switzer, Larry Lacewell, Frank Broyles and Jerry Jones. A whole lot of Arkansas history in that picture.
* A photo signed by dozens of Heisman Trophy winners. Without taking the ball from its perch, two of the old-timer John Hancocks I recognized were John David Crow (1957 Texas A&M) and Dick Kazmaier (1952 Princeton).
* A 1956 Crossett, Ark., High School yearbook.
* Boxing gloves signed by Don King.
* A photo of a young Barry Switzer and Mickey Mantle. I always thought they sort of resembled each other.
* A late ’50s photo of a group of Razorbacks, still in uniform after an Arkansas practice. I love looking at old photos like that.
* A table full of championship rings and watches, placed under glass.
* A framed black and white photo of Jim Mackenzie, just his face. Mackenzie was Switzer’s great mentor. He’s been gone now 43 years this spring.
* An envelope signed, at different times over the years, by Barry Switzer, Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne, John McKay, Woody Hayes, Darrell Royal, Bud Wilkinson and Bear Bryant.
* A guitar signed by Tim McGraw.
* And maybe the coolest thing, which is a fan letter Billy Sims received in November 1978. Sims years later gave it to Switzer. “Dear Billy Sims: Even though we lost to Nebraska, you are still the greatest back in America. Love, Greg Switzer. P.S. No one can catch Billy. Vote Billy for Heisman.” Greg Switzer was 10 years old at the time.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Comments
The story is about all of the history associated with Switzer. Every coach in America would have done the same things if given the opportunity to trade places. OU Realist you need to get real.
Wow, another OU fan who lives under a rock.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/9160/index.htm
I have been associated with Barry Switzer for many years. If you think you don’t like him it is because you don’t know him. He is the nicest most considerate person on this good earth.
Wow OU Realist….like as was stated….you’re another moron! Just because there were allegations does not mean “Switzer” is a cheater. Many of these allegations were never proven that Switzer had knowledge of personally, but he was still held accountable. And he has admitted where he made mistakes, but a lot of what he was accused of was not true.
But again, you believe what you want, and I’ll believe the truth.
How many NCAA probations were there? How rampant were the allegations of cheating? Why is OU widely considered one of the dirtiest programs in NCAA history to this day? Ask anyone outside of Oklahoma what they think about Switzer’s tenure at OU. It’s a blight on an otherwise proud program and that is just a fact.
Yes Switzer was a great coach and motivator w his
roping & doping players.
Switzer never got to preoccupied w rules at OU and had outlaws on team but tremendously talented.
He chose talent over character and the end that alway dooms you.
He was raised much like the outlaws he coached and did not know any other way to do it and never believed he did anything wrong either.
Very charismatic person ann could coach to go along w it.
When OU got deep in trouble,they got rid of him and should have.
Screw you UNFORGIVING Switzer distractors, guess some just love to hate all their lives. So some mistakes were made, I’m sure you all are Jesus Christ perfect so throw those stones. YOU Hypocrites.
Switzer is the king. Switzers reign will never be over.
I always love to hear stories about Coach Switzer.
The king of sleaze maybe. Every major sports publication in America has called him that. I’m sure this will be erased also. Typical pathetic OU Homers!!!
Comment to OU Realist. I suppose you are nothing but an aggie agent. Sooners dont need you. Are you a fan or are you just jeolous of an innovative coach who broke barriers in sports. He recruited players that other coaches wouldnt because of the color of their skin. Back in those days coaches could do anything. The NCAA had to set an example by going after the king. The king who is full of integrity resigned instead of dragging the university through the allegations. Realist you are not real!
I like Barry Switzer. I really miss the OU replay every Sunday night on the local tv station with Switzer explaining the last game. I like Bob Stoops also but the Bob Stoops show is boring and only on cable.
I love these stories about Switzer, too. Good job Tramel!
What amazes me is people like OU Realist who, obviously don’t like Switzer, yet they are inexplicably drawn to “read” articles about him and then comment. Love-hate? Maybe a little envious of his success?
Give it up…..just because you have something against him doesn’t mean its fact and we should all be influenced by you and follow your lead.
All you Switzer hater can go straight to h e l l! He was the greatest coach of the modern era and Bud Wilkinson was the greatest of the past era. Barry was only guilty of too loosely gaurding the fort. He trusted kids to behave like good young men and it bit him in the a s s . He paid with his football life for that mistake so you chicken s h i ts who have never accomplished 1/10 of what Barry has and you losers who have never done anything for our state of Oklahoma just shut your pie hole or better yet take your complaints to the next OU home game and preach them loud and see where that gets your p u n k a s s! Real SOONER fans do not want to hear your BS and half truths.Barry you will always hold a special spot in our hearts and thanks for the very special memories on and off the football field of dreams.
Thanks for a great commentary about a great man. The detractors who insist on disparaging Barry Switzer obviously know little about him as a person. If they ever met him, he would smile, call them by name and chat a bit. Then five years later, he still would remember their name. He is an amazing, caring person. I once sent him a card that said, “A star you are… But a saint you ain’t”. He absolutely LOVED it. I feel very sorry for naysayers who thrive on negativity. They really should get a life.
great story berry. coach switzer was my idol growing up in davis,okla. we ran the wishbone just like oklahoma. and too this day davis still runs it. too coach switzer no matter what they say about you, i stand with you all the way. some of these ou-haters need too walk in there own shoes first. barry you are oklahoma, i have pictures and ou stuff on you and your players back then. barry do what ever you can too help bob stoops find some good players for oklahoma. man you could really see talent coming too oklahoma. coach wilkinson and you set the pace for oklahoma football. sincerely ou-johnny in megargel,tx. pop. 248.
I have so many saturday afternoon football memories. Some just on radio, where a kid could only imagine the feel of game time @ Lincoln or @ Dallas. Some on live television, where you got to see The Man, along with Osborne, Royal etal. I dreamed of last second wishbone touchdowns in the Cotton Bowl on the second Saturday of every October. Dreamed of being a Tinker Owens in my own back yard. Dreamed of bustin’ around the corner on a triple option. I was to little to play football and definitely to slow to do any bustin’ around the corner, but what I did get was some form of a role model in you Coach Switzer. Thanks. Hope to meet you someday. You are my hero. Not because of football, but because of who you are. I read bootleggers boy. I had a similar life myself and had to rise up on my own, if I was ever gonna be anything in life. Thanks for supporting Cleveland elementary school @ the Vince Gill Concert. I don’t know if you’ll see this or not. I want to say: You have had a profound effect on my life and I look up to you. I’m coaching various sports through The YMCA of Oklahoma City.Sometimes it’s tough but I think back to those last second victories in the backyard and just tell myself not to give up.
What haters? Sports Illustrated, ESPN…LOL……you name it. This guys name is still mud nationally. Only the OU homers here respect Switzer and his ugly history which caused OU to fire him. Troy Aikman and Lacewell on his wall. Hilarious. Yea, they love Switzer. Only Barry Trammel pretends Switzer wasnt a cheat and a disgrace. Thanks.
Too bad Bob Stoops doesn’t have a little bit of Barry Switzer’s personality. But Stoops’ teams have more character, but less national championships. I guess you can’t have both.
Amazing, folks still pretending Switzer’s era in Norman isn’t permanently stained by scandal and cheating.