Billy Sims - University of Oklahoma - Norman, OK
Posted by: 
Max and 99
N 35° 12.364 W 097° 26.445
14S E 641932 N 3897009
Statue on the OU campus honoring football great Billy Sims. This was an Oklahoma Centennial Project to celebrate 100 years of statehood
Waymark Code: WMB379
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 03/29/2011
Views: 7
Oklahoma celebrated its 100 years of statehood in 1907. There were many events across the state, as well as numerous projects to honor the centennial. One of the projects was the Oklahoma Centennial Clock and Bell project, placing clocks in major OK cities. This row of statues of football greats is another of these projects.
The Billy Sims statue is located on the east side of Jenkins, just east of the OU football stadium. It is near several other statues of other OU football greats. He was recruited to OU football by Barry Switzer in 1975.
The bronze statue of Billy is about 6 feet tall, and stands on a marble base that is about 5 ft. wide and 8 ft. long. The football player is shown in motion, holding a football in front with both hands. His both falls to his left, but is curved toward the right.
Text on statue base:
Billy Sims
Dedicated September 1, 2007
A project of the Oklahoma Centennial
Billy Sims is considered one of the best running backs ever to carry a football and in 1978 became the sixth junior to win the coveted Heisman Trophy Award. Sims was the nation's leading rusher and scorer for 1978, averaging 160.1 yards and 10.9 points. He set the Big Eight Conference single season rushing record of 1,762 yards on 231 carries for a phenomenal average of 7.6 yards every time he touched the ball. Sims was the only back in the nation's top 50 to average 7.0 yards per carry, and became the first player in Big Eight history to rush for more than 200 yards in three straight games. Sims compiled these statistics in only one full season. Injuries kept him out of play in his freshman year, and most of his sophomore year as well.
Sculpted by Jim Franklin - Perry, Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Centennial Commission and the University of Oklahoma wish to thank the following friends and teammates of Billy Sims for making this possible.
Clayton I. Bennett; Jakie Sandefer; Jim and Jill Williams; The Jackie Cooper Family; Mr. and Mrs. Toby Keith; Hunter and Kathy Miller; Barry Switzer; Gene Torbett; Marshall Weir; Bob White; The Lee Allan Smith Family; Oklahoma University Football Letterman's Association; The University of Oklahoma Touchdown Club; The University of Oklahoma Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Subject: State/Province
Commemoration: 2007
Date of Founding: 11/16/1907
Date of Commemoration: 11/16.2007
Address:
East side of Jenkins, just north of Lindsey. The statue is located on the east side of the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Overview Photograph:
Yes
Detail Photograph:
Yes
Web site if available: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
- Artistic Photograph of Location. Make it from a new angle to show something new. Pictures can include interaction, as that is encouraged, but should be done so with the thought of inspiring further visitation of the area. No GPSr Pictures, unless there is something significant to show about the coordinates.
- In your description, tell us something new you learned about the area and your impressions of the waymark.