Steve Owens (football)
Encyclopedia
Steve Everett Owens raised in Miami, Oklahoma
, was the 1969 Heisman Trophy
winner. Owens was the second Oklahoma Sooners
player to win the Heisman Trophy, after Billy Vessels
, and preceding Sam Bradford
, Jason White
and Billy Sims
. He was the school's all time scorer with fifty-seven touchdown
s until DeMarco Murray beat his record on October 16, 2010, and is third most on its career rushing chart with 4,041 yards. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
with their first round pick in the 1970 NFL Draft
. In 1971, he became the first Lion to rush for over a thousand yards and made the Pro Bowl
. However in 1975, Owens was forced to retire after a series of knee injuries had plagued him for the four seasons during 1972-1975. He served as Director of Athletics
at the University of Oklahoma
for several years during the 1990s.
Owens holds the distinction of executing touchdown
s on the first three forward pass
es of his NCAA career. He also established the career rushing yards record of 3867 that stood for two years until Ed Marinaro
broke it in 1971. His 1967-69 career points per game record would be broken the following season by Arkansas' Bill Burnett.
In 2006, a bronze statue of Owens was dedicated on the University of Oklahoma campus in Heisman Park, commemorating his 1969 award. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma
fraternity at the University of Oklahoma.
Miami, Oklahoma
Miami is a city in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States. As of 2009, the population estimate was 12,910. It is the county seat of Ottawa County. The city is named after the Miami tribe...
, was the 1969 Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner. Owens was the second Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
player to win the Heisman Trophy, after Billy Vessels
Billy Vessels
Billy Vessels was a standout football player in his hometown of Cleveland, Oklahoma, where he was known as "Curly." He went on to play college football for the University of Oklahoma and win the 1952 Heisman trophy. He was the first Oklahoman to win the award, which is given to the nation's top...
, and preceding Sam Bradford
Sam Bradford
Samuel Jacob "Sam" Bradford is an American football quarterback for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was the first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, and played college football at Oklahoma. In 2008, as a redshirt sophomore, Bradford became the second sophomore to win a...
, Jason White
Jason White (American football)
Jason White is a former American football quarterback who played for the University of Oklahoma from 1999 to 2004, during which he won the 2003 Heisman Trophy...
and Billy Sims
Billy Sims
Billy Sims is a former college football and NFL running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.-Early years:...
. He was the school's all time scorer with fifty-seven touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s until DeMarco Murray beat his record on October 16, 2010, and is third most on its career rushing chart with 4,041 yards. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
with their first round pick in the 1970 NFL Draft
1970 NFL Draft
The 1970 National Football League Draft was held on January 27–28, 1970.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. In 1971, he became the first Lion to rush for over a thousand yards and made the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
. However in 1975, Owens was forced to retire after a series of knee injuries had plagued him for the four seasons during 1972-1975. He served as Director of Athletics
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
for several years during the 1990s.
Owens holds the distinction of executing touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s on the first three forward pass
Forward pass
In several forms of football a forward pass is when the ball is thrown in the direction that the offensive team is trying to move, towards the defensive team's goal line...
es of his NCAA career. He also established the career rushing yards record of 3867 that stood for two years until Ed Marinaro
Ed Marinaro
Ed Marinaro is an American former football player turned actor.-Football career:Marinaro played high school football in New Milford, New Jersey, for the New Milford High School Knights....
broke it in 1971. His 1967-69 career points per game record would be broken the following season by Arkansas' Bill Burnett.
In 2006, a bronze statue of Owens was dedicated on the University of Oklahoma campus in Heisman Park, commemorating his 1969 award. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma
Kappa Sigma , commonly nicknamed Kappa Sig, is an international fraternity with currently 282 active chapters and colonies in North America. Kappa Sigma has initiated more than 240,000 men on college campuses throughout the United States and Canada. Today, the Fraternity has over 175,000 living...
fraternity at the University of Oklahoma.