Most Popular Archives Shop
OKC, 91°F, Partly Cloudy, Radar Loop | More Weather




View more >
Thu December 28, 2006

Living the dream
Walk-ons enjoy the little rewards of being a Sooner

Related Articles
Related Information


OU Football Links
- Stoops@10: A look at Stoops Career at OU
- Live College Football Scores
- Big 12 Football Scores
- OU Stats Page
- John Rohde's blog
- Jenni Carlson's blog
- Berry Tramel's blog
- Bedlam Nation





Stoops@10 -
A look back at Bob
Stoops at OU

Oklahoma walk-on deep snapper Kyle Johnson practices in Phoenix on Wednesday. Johnson, a Konawa native, is in his first year with the team. By STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN

Goody bag
Bowl trips offer not only offer players an expenses-paid getaway and a stay in posh hotels, but also gifts — all allowed by the NCAA. OU's haul:

From the school:

Nike dri-fit warmup

Nike bowl shoes

Nike sweatshirts

Nike hats

From the Fiesta Bowl

I-Pod

Watch

Bose headphones

Fiesta Bowl sweatshirts

Fiesta Bowl T-shirts

Fiesta Bowl hats

School-Bowl combo

20-inch LCD plasma screen TV

Related Searches
 
 
Top Jobs
AddThis Social Bookmark Button
By Scott Wright
Staff Writer
Kyle Johnson will never forget this year's Oklahoma-Texas game.

ADVERTISEMENT


Sure, Oklahoma lost and Johnson didn't play a single snap. But his memories were born before the game ever began, when he ran down the ramp and into the Cotton Bowl.

"I just had chills all over, I was pumped up,” Johnson said. "It was exciting.”

Like most walk-ons at Oklahoma, the ultimate reward — getting to play — may never come.

Seeing the jersey with his name on the back hanging in his locker next to his helmet. Standing on the Owen Field sideline with his Sooner teammates.

These are the rewards Johnson enjoys.

"The first game, walking in the locker room, all the jerseys laid out. You can't even describe the feeling,” Johnson said.

"It's living a dream, really.”

Months of thanklessly sacrificing their bodies and time rarely bring tangible benefits for walk-ons.

Except for this time of year.

The payoff comes in the bowl trip, usually to a warm, exotic locale. The Sooners have been to Miami, Fla., and southern California in recent years. They're in the Phoenix area for the Fiesta Bowl now.

And don't forget the goody bag. Each player gets a collection of gifts from the school and the bowl.

"All kinds of clothes, a video iPod, head phones, a 20-inch LCD TV,” Johnson said. "More gifts than I've got in the last five Christmases, probably.”