According to an article that ran in the Chicago Sun Times on November 23, 2019 - Oklahoma-Northwestern in 1959: College football’s infamous cold case comes to life
By Rob Miech
“Two days before Oklahoma, a dynamo under Bud Wilkinson, played Northwestern on Sept. 26, 1959, the point spread of the Sooners giving six points had been halved, reflecting heavy action on the home team in illegal parlors in and around Chicago. Those bookies removed the game from their menus, but they soon reposted it when their moles could not detect illicit behavior.
Two days before Oklahoma, a dynamo under Bud Wilkinson, played Northwestern on Sept. 26, 1959, the point spread of the Sooners giving six points had been halved, reflecting heavy action on the home team in illegal parlors in and around Chicago. Those bookies removed the game from their menus, but they soon reposted it when their moles could not detect illicit behavior.
More than 20 players, many starters, became sick. The cabs of some were diverted from their hotel to Louis Weiss Memorial Hospital. Nine players would have their stomachs pumped, according to various reports. Seven remained overnight for observation. One went into shock and was not released until the morning of the game.
In heavy rain, No. 10 Northwestern belted No. 2 Oklahoma 45-13 before a Dyche Stadium crowd of 55,432 and a national TV audience. The Sooners’ 28-game true road-game winning streak, still a post-WWII record, was halted. It was the worst defeat of Wilkinson’s storied career. More triumphs would vault Wildcats coach Ara Parseghian to the top job at Notre Dame.”
As legend has it, Lefty Rosenthal (who was portrayed in the movie, “Casino” by Robert DeNiro) arranged to have drops of a special solution mixed into the food of the Oklahoma players during their outing at the restaurant. Some have even said, it was Lefty who did it himself on behalf of the “Chicago Syndicate” (i.e. the Mafia)
This is an actual ticket stub from one of the greatest upsets in NCAA college football history and put Northwestern Football on the map and paved the way for Ara Parseghian to end up as head coach at Notre Dame a few years later.
Item: 13021
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