Southeastern Oklahoma State University Athletics

Football (1963-68)

Baseball was his first love, but football became Richard “Red” Rutherford’s new passion after his arrival at Southeastern in 1963 as a freshman.

Rutherford was born September 21, 1945, in McAlester, Oklahoma. He attended high school in McAlester where he was a three-sport athlete in baseball, football, and track. He was recruited to Southeastern by long-time coach Bob Thomas, as an offensive/defensive lineman but an injury in his first collegiate scrimmage resulted in a red-shirt freshman season. He sat out and returned the following year as a defensive player where he remained his entire career.

Rutherford was named honorable mention All-Oklahoma Collegiate Conference at defensive tackle as a sophomore. He was named first team All-OCC as a junior linebacker and first team All-OCC as a senior nose tackle in 1967. Rutherford was twice named captain of the squad and helped lead the Savages to their first conference championship in 19 years, winning the title in 1967. Rutherford was named Southeastern’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete in 1966.

After his playing days, Rutherford was a graduate assistant at the University of Oklahoma before he came back to serve as an assistant football coach at his alma mater for nine years. He was named head coach of the Savages in 1979 and served in that capacity for four years. During his 13 years at Southeastern he was an important part of Savage history. His former players held him in high esteem as a coach, teacher, and special friend. He continued his coaching career at Durant High School until his retirement.

Rutherford’s talents as a player and a coach have earned him a place of high respect at Southeastern and in the community in which he has lived. The University honored him with membership in the Southeastern Athletic Hall of Fame on February 12, 2005.