Sooners Showcase Dominance as Davis and Brooks Strategize on the Sidelines in Manhattan
Manhattan, Kan., October 27, 1973 —
On a crisp fall afternoon in the heart of Kansas, the Oklahoma Sooners left little doubt about their supremacy, rolling past the Kansas State Wildcats 56–14 at Memorial Stadium. Yet while the scoreboard reflected a lopsided contest, a quieter, telling moment unfolded on the Sooners’ sideline — a meeting of minds between quarterback Steve Davis and wide receiver Billy Brooks that illustrated just how meticulously Oklahoma approaches every snap.
Midway through the second quarter, with the Sooners already beginning to pull away, Davis and Brooks could be seen in deep conversation along the sidelines. Animated yet composed, the two discussed routes, coverage reads, and adjustments to the Wildcats’ defensive schemes. It was a snapshot of the precision that has made Barry Switzer’s first season at the helm so far a resounding success.
Davis, the poised sophomore from Sallisaw, was in complete command of the Oklahoma offense once again. Although known primarily for operating the Sooners’ devastating wishbone running attack, Davis showed his ability to adapt, balancing option reads with timely passes. He finished the afternoon rushing 14 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns, while also completing 3 of 6 passes for 73 yards — modest numbers through the air, but deadly efficient when called upon.
One of Davis’ primary targets was Brooks, the rangy 6-foot-3 sophomore from Austin, Texas, whose speed and size made him a mismatch against the Kansas State secondary. Brooks, though often tasked with blocking in the run-heavy offense, remains a critical part of Oklahoma’s aerial threat, and his sideline conversations with Davis proved that he is deeply involved in the strategic aspects of the game.
“We saw something in their secondary we thought we could exploit,” Davis said after the game. “Billy’s a guy I can trust to make the right adjustment when we need it. We talked it over, and sure enough, it opened up for us.”
That attention to detail paid dividends. Following the sideline chat, the Sooners dialed up a rare pass play, with Davis finding Brooks on a deep post route that set up yet another Oklahoma touchdown. Although the Sooners did not rely heavily on their passing game — only attempting six passes all day — the threat of Brooks stretching the field kept the Wildcats from stacking the line of scrimmage completely, allowing Oklahoma’s ground game to operate with devastating efficiency.
The Sooners amassed an eye-popping 590 total yards, 505 of them coming on the ground, with running backs Joe Washington, Waymon Clark, and Grant Burget each contributing big plays. Oklahoma’s defense was equally dominant, forcing six turnovers and consistently smothering the Wildcats’ attempts to mount any kind of comeback.
For Brooks, the game represented another important step in his development as one of Oklahoma’s key offensive weapons, even within a system that rarely features wide receivers in starring roles. His rapport with Davis is becoming increasingly evident — and increasingly dangerous for opposing defenses.
“We don’t throw it a lot, but when we do, it’s important that we hit,” Brooks said. “Steve and I just try to stay on the same page so when the moment comes, we can take advantage.”
As the Sooners improve to 4–0–1, with sights firmly set on a Big Eight Conference championship and beyond, it’s moments like these — a quarterback and receiver quietly fine-tuning their attack while leading by 30 points — that show why Oklahoma is emerging not just as a powerhouse, but as a finely tuned machine.
Next up, Oklahoma heads to Ames for a November 3rd matchup against Iowa State, a test that will demand more of the same focus and preparation. If Davis and Brooks continue building their connection on and off the field, the Sooners’ offensive juggernaut will be even harder to stop.