Former Oklahoma QB Steve Davis dies in plane crash

By Houston Mitchell

March 18, 2013 12 AM PT

Former University of Oklahoma quarterback Steve Davis, who was the starting quarterback for the 1974 and 1975 national championship teams, was one of two people killed when a small aircraft smashed into a house in South Bend, Ind., on Sunday.

Davis, 60, and Wesley Caves, 58, died in the crash.

Davis started every game for the Sooners from 1973 to 1975 and finished with a 32-1-1 record. His coach at Oklahoma, Barry Switzer, sent out the following tweet on Monday:

“I’m saddened by the loss of Steve Davis. Great role model for young people on & off the field. He was my 1st QB & had an outstanding career.”

Davis talked about the thrill he got playing for Oklahoma in a recent book: “I will never get away from the fact that I was an Oklahoma quarterback. I will never get away from the fact that I only lost one game,” Davis said in the 2008 book “The Die-Hard Fan’s Guide to Sooner Football.”

“All of those things are a part of my legacy and my history. I am very thankful for what happened. I don’t know that I would trade my career for any other quarterback that has ever played at OU.”

Caves owned the plane involved in the crash and had a pilot’s license, but officials have not said who was flying the plane.

Two others on board the plane survived, South Bend Assistant Fire Chief John Corthier said. South Bend Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Maggie Scroope told Associated Press that Jim Rogers was in serious condition and Christopher Evans was in fair condition.

Diana McKeown, who was on the ground and got hurt when the plane crashed, was in fair condition, Scroope said.

“I was looking out my picture window,” said Mary Jane Klaybor, who lives across the street from the crash site. “This plane was coming straight at my house. I went, ‘Huh?’ and then there was a big crash, and all the insulation went flying.”

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.