Tark the Shark

[bocabull]

One of the all time memorable sports figures chewing on that towel. Fondly remember the big game vs unlv in Norman. And the shocking Duke upset of his undefeated team which really put coach K on the map.

RIP. It was a hell of a run.

 

[1390]

One of the all time memorable sports figures chewing on that towel. Fondly remember the big game vs unlv in Norman. And the shocking Duke upset of his undefeated team which really put coach K on the map.

RIP. It was a hell of a run.

The year before that he put one of the all time beat down in NC history on Duke

 

[usedtobe1]

Tark was a character. I liked him. He had a great team that won the NCAA one year and was upset in the championship game the next year.

We lost 2 coaching icons this week: Tark and Dean Smith….. along with golfer Billy Casper.

 

[WTSooner]

Will never forget that team lead by Larry "Grandmama" Johnson.

Fun team to watch.

 

[DenverSooner]

From 1983 through 1990 (seasons not dates of game) OU played UNLV 7 times. Three games were in Vegas, one in Lahaina and three in Norman. The results were:

1990 OU 89 UNLV 81 in Norman
1989 OU 90 UNLV 88 in Las Vegas (Maui Tournament)
1989 OU 83 UNLV 81 in Lahaina
1987 OU 89 UNLV 88 in Norman (bad weather, OU allowed $1.00 admission)
1987 OU 81 UNLV 90 in Las Vegas (pre season NIT)
1984 OU 78 UNLV 70 in Norman
1983 OU 54 UNLV 65 in Las Vegas

Tubbs went 5-2 against UNLV. Pretty impressive. I don't recall when UNLV became really good but they were clearly really good from 87-90. OU went 4-1 during that period.

Those were great times. Tark was a great coach.

 

[sanguinetti]

we had those guys. not many can say that.

 

[AdaSooner]

The NCAA should erect a monument on their front lawn to honor "Tark the Shark." He gave them fits for a long time.

RIP, Tark!

 

[Big Old Booger]

One of the all time memorable sports figures chewing on that towel. Fondly remember the big game vs unlv in Norman. And the shocking Duke upset of his undefeated team which really put coach K on the map.

RIP. It was a hell of a run.

Which big game in Norman? We played them 3 times in Norman for sure, and won all 3. 2 of which they were ranked #1 in the country when they arrived.

I remember the last 2 games very well. For some reason, I was unable to watch the first game when Tark's son played for UNLV.

 

[coolm]

He was FAR ahead of his time when it came to his criticism of the NCAA.

 

[Big Old Booger]

From 1983 through 1990 (seasons not dates of game) OU played UNLV 7 times. Three games were in Vegas, one in Lahaina and three in Norman. The results were:

1990 OU 89 UNLV 81 in Norman
1989 OU 90 UNLV 88 in Las Vegas (Maui Tournament)
1989 OU 83 UNLV 81 in Lahaina
1987 OU 89 UNLV 88 in Norman (bad weather, OU allowed $1.00 admission)
1987 OU 81 UNLV 90 in Las Vegas (pre season NIT)
1984 OU 78 UNLV 70 in Norman
1983 OU 54 UNLV 65 in Las Vegas

Tubbs went 5-2 against UNLV. Pretty impressive. I don't recall when UNLV became really good but they were clearly really good from 87-90. OU went 4-1 during that period.

Those were great times. Tark was a great coach.

I think that last game was in 82, because I distinctly remember being in Lincoln at the OU-NU football game and my brother asked the people around us if the basketball team had won vs UNLV (in LV). That was Wayman's first game, I'm pretty sure and the only game he did not start at OU.

EDIT: it was in November of 82, according to soonerstats.com but it was part of the 82/83 season.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Will never forget that team lead by Larry "Grandmama" Johnson.

Fun team to watch.

Yep, and they played the late game on Monday night almost every week. That was must watch TV.

 

[usedtobe1]

I vaguely remember one of the games where OU only won by a point or two, and UNLV had a wide open shot at the buzzer and missed it. After the game Tubbs deadpanned that the guy was so wide open that it scared him into missing the shot. Something like that.

Does anyone else remember that? Maybe I'm imagining things….. at my age anything is possible.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Will never forget that team lead by Larry "Grandmama" Johnson.

Fun team to watch.

OU was very close to landing Johnson ... and many at the time thought that was a little bit shady

 

[jaymOU]

I vaguely remember one of the games where OU only won by a point or two, and UNLV had a wide open shot at the buzzer and missed it. After the game Tubbs deadpanned that the guy was so wide open that it scared him into missing the shot. Something like that.

Does anyone else remember that? Maybe I'm imagining things….. at my age anything is possible.

I believe you are talking about the 87 game, where they played UNLV for a second time that season, after beating them - I think - in Hawaii.

I was working at a local Norman newspaper - the weekly called "The Oklahoma News" - writing sports and got to cover all of the games in Norman that year, including meeting Tark, Larry Johnson and most of the UNLV team. Pretty cool.

UNLV, based on my memory, missed an open 3 and about three putbacks before the clock finally ran out. Was an unbelievable atmosphere in LNC that day!

 

[bocabull]

Which big game in Norman? We played them 3 times in Norman for sure, and won all 3. 2 of which they were ranked #1 in the country when they arrived.

I remember the last 2 games very well. For some reason, I was unable to watch the first game when Tark's son played for UNLV.

1987 when they were ranked #1. It's really the first time I'd ever heard of the running rebels. That was right when Tark the Shark was putting them on the map out of nowhere. Of course we later learned he was doing it Switzer style with an open checkbook!!! Hot tubs baby!!

 

[DenverSooner]

1987 when they were ranked #1. It's really the first time I'd ever heard of the running rebels. That was right when Tark the Shark was putting them on the map out of nowhere. Of course we later learned he was doing it Switzer style with an open checkbook!!! Hot tubs baby!!

Was that ever proven? I thought he filed suit against the NCAA.

 

[steverocks35]

Was that 87 UNLV/OU game the "home horn advantage" game?

 

[Sooner04]

Sometimes you get to meet your heroes. Other times you just get to sit next to them.

 

[Big Old Booger]

1987 when they were ranked #1. It's really the first time I'd ever heard of the running rebels. That was right when Tark the Shark was putting them on the map out of nowhere. Of course we later learned he was doing it Switzer style with an open checkbook!!! Hot tubs baby!!

In December of 1989 they were ranked #1 too. I was a freshman at OU at the time and arrived at the LNC at 8 am for a noon or 1 pm tip and got a mid-court seat. That was a great game.

EDIT: I was wrong...they were ranked 5 and we were ranked 12. For some reason I thought UNLV was ranked #1 that day but that is the season Tark won the NC.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Was that 87 UNLV/OU game the "home horn advantage" game?

Yes, that's the one where someone in the stands rang an airhorn with 2 or 3 seconds left before halftime and Gerald Patillo missed a 3 pointer due to the horn. :ez-laugh:

That game was also played on my 16th birthday and an ice storm the night before prevented my dad from taking me to the game or allowing me to drive from Chickasha. The LNC was rocking that day though and it was jam packed.