Jack Mildren
Larry Jack Mildren, was an American football player and politician. He was an All-American quarterback at the University of Oklahoma, and professional football player with the Baltimore Colts and New England Patriots. A native Texan, he was later an oil company owner, elected as the 13th lieutenant governor of Oklahoma, and enjoyed a career as a successful bank executive in Oklahoma.
Early life
Born in Kingsville, Texas, Mildren played football at Cooper High School in Abilene, set passing records, and graduatedCollege football
Mildren is perhaps best known as the "Godfather of the Wishbone" going back to his days as quarterback at the University of Oklahoma Introduced at OU in October 1970 by head coach Chuck Fairbanks, the success of "The Bone" depended on a quarterback with a rare combination of quickness, strength, and intelligence. Posting a mediocre 6–4 record in Mildren's sophomore year in 1969 and off to a lackluster 2–1 start in 1970, Fairbanks' Sooners installed the option offense during the two-week period between a home loss to and the annual Red River Rivalry clash against arch-rival Texas. Despite losing to the Longhorns, most career touchdown passes, and season passing efficiency record. OU won its first nine games and fell just short of a national championship, losing at home in Norman on Thanksgiving to eventual champ Nebraska, billed as the Game of the Century. The defending national champion Cornhuskers gambled defensively by taking halfback Greg Pruitt out of the action and forced Mildren to defeat them virtually on his own; he threw for two touchdowns and ran forMildren was named both All-American and Academic All-American his senior season. He was also named the Sugar Bowl MVP after the Sooners' victory over #5 Auburn in New Orleans on New Year's Day, a game OU led Mildren's 1971 single-season record for yards rushing by a quarterback was broken three seasons later by Freddie Solomon.