WHEREAS, Barry Switzer joined the University of Oklahoma (OU) as an assistant coach before the 1966 season, was named offensive coordinator in 1967, and served as head coach from 1973 to 1988; and

WHEREAS, Coach Switzer is tied with Bud Wilkinson for the most national championships in program history, winning titles in 1974, 1975, and 1985, and finishing his head coaching career with a 157–29–4 record, good for a .837 winning percentage; and

WHEREAS, Coach Switzer went undefeated in his first thirty games, finished with a winning record each season, and won twelve Big Eight Conference titles in his sixteen years as OU's seventeenth head coach; and

WHEREAS, Switzer thrived against OU's biggest rivals, posting a 12–5 record against Nebraska, 9–5–2 against Texas, and 15–1 against Oklahoma State University; and

WHEREAS, his 1986 and 1987 teams led the nation in scoring and his teams posted a 77–10–1 home record and 63–9–1 on the road for the most true road wins and best true-road-game winning percentage in program history; and

WHEREAS, his players earned twenty-eight consensus All–America honors, as well as Billy Sims' 1978 Heisman Trophy, eighteen individual national honors, and eight College Football Hall of Fame inductions; and

WHEREAS, he produced ninety-four NFL Draft picks, with sixteen first-rounders and two number-one overall selections, Lee Roy Selmon and Billy Sims; and

WHEREAS, he served as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 1994 to 1997, posting the best winning percentage in franchise history and leading the 1995 team to a Super Bowl title. He is one of only three coaches to win a national championship and a Super Bowl; and

WHEREAS, Switzer was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, and College Football Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Switzer has always heavily involved himself with community service efforts, even in retirement. He has served as an honorary coach for Special Olympics Oklahoma for over forty-five years; and

WHEREAS, for more than five decades, Sooner Nation has rallied behind Coach Switzer, inspired by his iconic leadership, legendary confidence, and deep loyalty to the University of Oklahoma.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma State Senate recognizes the distinguished career of Coach Barry Switzer and extends appreciation for his continued service to the State of Oklahoma.