A special night for Sam Bradford
OU football PC North retires OU quarterback’s No. 16 high school jersey

BY RYAN ABER Comments 6
Published: April 25, 2009

Putnam City North football coach Bob Wilson, left, holds up Sam Bradford’s high school jersey during a ceremony to retire Bradford’s jersey Friday. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Sam Bradford could’ve been in New York on Friday, preparing for today’s first day of the NFL Draft.

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Instead, OU’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback was at Putnam City North High School, where he was honored during Sam Bradford Night.

"When Sam won the Heisman Trophy, I had about 15-20 calls asking, ‘When are you going to do something for Sam?’ ” Putnam North coach Bob Wilson said. "Tonight’s the night.”

The packed audience at the school’s Performing Arts Center, which included Bradford’s family and many of his former teachers and coaches, watched a nearly 20-minute Bradford highlight video that included glimpses of Bradford’s football career from the time he was seven years old through his high school career at North.

"To actually come back to my high school, a place that I keep so close to my heart, I’m so lucky,” Bradford said. "Even with all the success I’ve had in college, if I could come back to high school and play one more game on Friday night, there’s no doubt I’d be back here in a second.

"It’s hard for me to put into words how much this means to me.”

Bradford, who wears No. 14 for the Sooners, also had his No. 16 jersey retired by the Panthers. It’s the first Putnam North jersey to be retired.

"It’s in recognition of your accomplishments but more because of the way you live your life,” Wilson said. "The role model you are for our young people is unsurpassed by anybody — athlete or movie star — that I’ve seen in decades. That’s what I’m most proud of.”

The celebration included Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett presenting Bradford with a street sign for "Sam Bradford Drive.” The street turning into the school parking lot on the school’s north side has been named in Bradford’s honor.

"When you’re mayor, you get to do a lot of fun things, but this just about tops them all,” Cornett said.

Before the ceremony, crowds gathered around the front of the stage to take photos of Bradford’s Heisman Trophy, which was on a table in front of the podium.

The event started with the school’s band playing the Putnam North fight song and ended with them playing "Boomer Sooner.”

"When I head that (Putnam North) fight song play tonight, it brought back so many memories,” Bradford said. "I just want to thank everyone for creating one more memory for me here at Putnam City North.”