A telephone call threatening the life of...

A telephone call threatening the life of Barry Switzer, Oklahoma football coach, was received during Thursday night’s Orange Bowl game in Miami, it was revealed by Ed Goss, a spokesman for the game committee. He said the call came near the end of a long halftime show.

“A secretary took the call and she said, ‘Oh my God,’ ” Goss said. “I said, ‘What’s wrong?’ and she said a man said, ‘I want you to know there’s somebody in the stadium who wants to shoot Switzer.’ ”

The Miami Police Department was notified, and plainclothes officers were sent to the Oklahoma sideline. Switzer continued to coach, and his team defeated Arkansas, 42-8. No other special measures were taken to protect him.

“They thought it was a crank,” Goss said. “Obviously it was, but you can never tell.”