Jimmy Harris

Jimmy Harris was born in Terrell, Texas, and led Terrell High School to a 1953 state title. He had committed to Bear Bryant at Texas A&M, but Bud Wilkinson won him over, partly by getting him a summer job as a roughneck in the Oklahoma oil fields. He became OU's quarterback in 1954 when Gene Calame was hurt and never lost: he won all 25 of his starts during the 47-game winning streak, including the 1955 and 1956 national title seasons. Philadelphia drafted him in the fifth round, 50th overall, in 1957 and moved him to defensive back. In 1958 he was part of the trade that sent him to the Rams for Norm Van Brocklin. He later played for the AFL's Dallas Texans and the Dallas Cowboys, finishing with 11 interceptions. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2013 and died on August 9, 2011. The Daily Oklahoman wrote on December 2, 1956 (NewsBank page 37): "Harris knifed off right tackle for seven more and McDonald lunged to the two. Oklahoma, to the mental tune of Auld Lang Syne, was up to some genuine mischief at this juncture."