(NOTE: This is a new column on West Metro Sports. Unlike most of the articles you find on this site, there will be some opinion mixed in. With this column taking the “West Metro Weekly” name, the weekly schedule is now called “West Metro Schedule.” – Joel)

Even though 52 years have passed since he graduated, Steve Largent still marvels at the talent Putnam City had during his era in orange and black.

Coming from a Pro Football Hall of Famer, that’s saying something.

Many of the players in the Class of 1972 became household names. Alvan Adams was a basketball star at OU before a 13-year NBA career with the Suns. Bob Shirley starred on the diamond at OU and had a 10-year career in the major leagues.

Largent wasn’t heavily recruited by big-time college programs. The Sooners were running the wishbone offense and weren’t looking for receivers as much as today. Pirate quarterback Tony Brantley ended up at Notre Dame and Largent went on to the University of Tulsa.

We know what happened next. Largent spent 14 seasons as wide receiver with the Seattle Seahawks. When he retired, he held all of the NFL major receiving records. That career led to being honored in Canton in the Hall of Fame. Following that, he had lengthy career as a U.S. Congressman.

Both Tulsa and Seattle have long since retired his number. But, last Friday (Oct. 25), Original followed suit, retiring Largent’s number 82, the first number retired in school history.

“To be the first guy is really special, but really what makes it special is just the school itself and the tradition that it has and how much it meant to be in my career and everything that I’ve done,” Largent said.

Amazingly, the Pirates didn’t make the playoffs in football during Largent’s time in Warr Acres. Fewer teams made the playoffs then. A single loss could keep a team from going to the postseason.

His senior football season, 1971, the Pirates were kept out of the Class 4A playoffs after going 8-1-1 with five shutouts. His final high school game was an 18-14 loss to Midwest City.

In his three seasons at Putnam City, Largent’s teams went 23-5-2.

“We we always felt like that we were gonna be competitive,” Largent said.

Largent was quick to point out that the 1972 Pirate baseball squad won a state championship.

“That was something I think certainly every Putnam City Pirate dreamed of doing and we finally did it,” Largent said.

Largent was a catcher on that team.

Interestingly, the Pirates success after the school was split with the opening of Putnam City West in 1968. Despite the split, Original was one of the largest schools in the state and had plenty of athletes.

“It was really a fun and competitive environment that you walked into when you played for the Pirates,” Largent said.

Even with high school success, the idea that Largent would excel in the NFL or even in college wasn’t something he expected.

“It was the furthest from my imagination, that I would get a college scholarship and go to college. I never thought I could do that,” Largent said. “I was able to do that, graduate and get to the NFL. My life has been a dream to me.

“I have to pinch myself all the time to make sure it really happened.”

He credited coach Jerry Potter. The hall of fame coach later won state titles in 1974, 1975 and 1977.

“Coach Potter was a real man of integrity. He really taught me a lot about football: the game, how you play it, things you do and you don’t do. So, I really credit Coach Potter for a lot of my success my whole life, not just my career.”

One of the things Potter did when Largent was an underclassmen was change his position.

“I wasn’t very happy about moving from running back to wide receiver at first, but Coach Potter knew what he was doing,” Largent said. “I just took to it really quickly and it was it was the right move, obviously because it shaped and formed most of my life from that point on.”

That’s something to think about for every player who’s been moved to another position by a coach today.

Largent was a part of the Pirate defense as well. During his senior season, he had a 96-yard interception return for a touchdown against Ada.

“It was fun playing both offense and defense. I loved it,” Largent said. “I love playing football, so it was not a hard ask for me to play both positions.”

Much has changed in the sports world since Largent played at Northwest 50th Street, but he had advice for today’s players.

“I think football is one of the greatest games that a guy can play,” Largent said. “I think what I would tell guys today is: give everything you can because you’ve got just so much time to play football.

“It deserves your time and effort in order to really be rewarded the way you want to be rewarded in this game.”