University of Oklahoma Athletics

Tinker Owens

Tinker Owens Named to Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame

November 22, 2021 | Football

NORMAN — Former University of Oklahoma two-time All-America wide receiver Tinker Owens was named to the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame's 2022 class, the organization announced Monday.

Owens and the five other members of the 2022 class will be formally recognized Aug. 1 at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame's Induction Ceremony at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Fellow inductees will be Chuck Bowman, Lane Frost, R.W. McQuarters, Wilcy Moore and Lee Roy Smith.

A 1972 graduate of Miami (Okla.) High School, Owens starred for the Sooners from 1972 through '75, helping them to a 43-2-1 record, four Big Eight Conference championships and two national titles. Playing in OU's run-happy wishbone offense, Owens finished his 45-game career (36 starts) with 70 receptions for 1,619 yards (23.1 yards per catch) and 11 touchdowns. In 23 of his games he was OU's leader in receiving yardage. He also rushed nine times for 77 yards and two scores, and doubled as OU's punter. He averaged 37.1 yards on his 59 kicks.

By the time his collegiate career ended, Owens held 18 school and bowl records.

Owens played the 1972 season under head coach Chuck Fairbanks, as OU went 11-1 and beat fifth-ranked Penn State 14-0 in the Sugar Bowl to finish No. 2 in the country. The freshman caught five passes for 132 yards and a touchdown in the victory over the Nittany Lions, earning MVP honors.

Barry Switzer took over as OU's head coach in 1973 and the Sooners went unbeaten (29-0-1) over his first 30 games. Owens helped OU to a 10-0-1 record in 1973 and to national championships in 1974 (11-0) and '75 (11-1), earning first-team All-America honors his final two seasons.

The younger brother of OU's 1969 Heisman Trophy-winning running back Steve Owens, Tinker was a 1976 fourth-round draft pick (No. 96 overall) by the New Orleans Saints. In four seasons playing in the NFL (48 games), he caught 60 passes for 785 yards and four touchdowns. His most productive year was 1978 when he started 10 of 14 games and caught 40 passes for 446 yards and a pair of scores.

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