In 1968, Oklahoma football coach Chuck Fairbanks made a choice that would dramatically change tight end Steve Zabel’s career.
The Sooners started off slow despite a No. 5 preseason ranking, with a blowout loss to Notre Dame in the season opener and a loss to Texas two weeks later. His defense was struggling, so Fairbanks went to Zabel with a new challenge — he wanted him to play tight end AND linebacker.
“He said, ‘Steve, when you go play pro football, you’ll be either at tight end or at linebacker, and we’ve proven we can’t outscore people,’” Zabel said.