Berry Tramel, Sports columnist
Berry Tramel: Sam Bradford’s return lifts Sooners' spirits
OU-Texas: Sooners will have extra confidence with Bradford at the helm
By Berry Tramel
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Published: October 12, 2009
NORMAN — The Sooners tried to speak carefully. Tried not to besmirch Landry Jones, who ably filled in as the Oklahoma quarterback.
Coach Bob Stoops, right, slaps Sam Bradford on the helmet after the Sooners scored a touchdown during the second half against Baylor on Saturday. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman
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But the truth is unavoidable.
Sam Bradford’s return thrilled the Sooners. And Bradford’s return to the OU huddle is almost as valuable as Bradford’s return to the OU pocket.
Texas Week has arrived, and Sooner psyches are in much better shape knowing that Sammy B. will don shoulder pads in
Dallas.
"There’s no denying it,”
Bob Stoops said. "There’s no getting around it. He gives everybody extra confidence.”
Bradford is a security blanket. He’s like mom’s home cooking. You know what you’re going to get, and you’re going to like it.
Bradford provides a calming influence. Everything seems a little more in place with Bradford back, a little more orderly.
Better yet, Bradford’s walk down the
Cotton Bowl ramp will not be a
Willis Reed repeat.
Sir Willis limped onto the court in Game 7 of the 1970
NBA Finals and invigorated his Knickerbocker teammates and the
Madison Square Garden crowd. But Reed that night scored just four points and played 27 minutes. His contribution was emotional, spiritual if you will.
Anyone who saw Bradford zip the ball against
Baylor on Saturday knows his benefit to the Sooners is more than symbolic. But Bradford’s benefit also is more than physical.
"Him being a leader out there, it was good to have Sam back,” said tailback
DeMarco Murray. "It was definitely a little extra boost with him being more vocal than Landry.”
Nothing against Jones. Mister Mustache has shown he can do more than throw a spiral and generally in the proper direction. Jones was a solid field general and gives the Sooners hope for the future.
But the streets of
Dodge City are safer when Marshal Dillon strolls its boardwalks, and OU ballplayers are more comfortable when Sam is slingin’.
"I was excited,” receiver
Brandon Caleb said of Bradford’s return. "He’s been rehabbing a lot and working hard, so when he was out there, I was just excited.”
Same with everyone in crimson. Bradford restored to them a bounce in their step and a lift to their spirits, which alone can’t beat Texas, but it’s impossible without them.
Berry Tramel: 405-760-8080; Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1.
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missing on the defensive team. They should have been carrying the offense till Sam returned.
If the defense was down that means Wilson was right! If OU can't outscore people, they
will lose.