Jenni Carlson, Sports columnist
Bradford's Heisman Lunge puts award within his reach
OU's quarterback has signature play to go with sensational season
By Jenni Carlson
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27
Published: November 30, 2008
STILLWATER — Nothing rattled Sam Bradford for nearly four hours Saturday evening.
Oklahoma's Sam Bradford (14) and quarterback coach Josh Heupel celebrate after a touchdown during the second half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, in Stillwater, Okla. STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER
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Blitzing defenders?
No problem.
National championship pressures?
Big 12 title game questions? Ever-changing defenses?
No worries.
Teeth-rattling, somersault-inducing hits?
Little league stuff, he says.
No doubt you’ve already marveled about it, discussed it, maybe even YouTubed it. It is Bradford’s Heisman highlight. It is The Play.
His team leading by only four points and his offense facing a long third-and-goal Saturday night, the Oklahoma quarterback scrambled right and headed down the sideline. Nearing the goal line, he dove.
A couple of
Oklahoma State defenders did the same.
The collision sent Bradford heels over head. He cartwheeled through the air and landed on his belly just short of the goal line.
That dive will be part of Bradford lore for years to come. Less than 24 hours after the game, footage of the flip had already been posted on
YouTube and viewed thousands of times. One even dubbed Bradford with a new nickname — “Superman Sam.”
“It was interesting,” he said sheepishly of the dive. “It reminds me of a play I had in little league.”
No biggie, huh?
Truth is, this was bigger than big. It was the moment in the game that likely won Bradford the
Heisman Trophy.
“To be honest, I really don’t even care,” he said of winning the little bronze statue. “All I know is that I gave our team a chance to play in
Kansas City next week.”
Did he ever.
Bradford orchestrated the
Sooners’ 61-41 victory over the
Cowboys, catapulting OU over Texas in the
BCS standings, breaking the Big 12 South’s three-way tie and punching the Sooners’ ticket for the conference championship game.
Bradford threw for 370 yards and four touchdowns while rewriting the Sooner record books yet again. He broke
Josh Heupel’s single-season record with 4,082 passing yards and
Jason White’s career record with 82 touchdown passes.
And so the legend grows.
““He will be in
New York come picking day,” Sooner
tailback Chris Brown said.
Bradford’s invitation to the Heisman ceremony has yet to be extended, but it’s only a formality. He is already on the guest list for college football’s big awards show in
Orlando, and he’s becoming something of a postgame regular with
ESPN’s GameDay crew. As Bradford sat on the show’s set Saturday night, chants of “Heisman Trophy” echoed around the emptying stadium.
All of it has to be a little surreal.
“A little bit,” Bradford admitted, “but I think the biggest thing these past two weeks is the way our team’s played. I couldn’t be prouder of going out there and playing with those guys.”
Bradford has become their spokesman. He is the unassuming superstar, the team player, the guy who would rather tout his offensive linemen than his completion percentage.
Bradford has become a sought-after commodity. Interviews. Autographs. Face-of-the-program duties.
Yet, he is still the guy taking more notes in meetings and watching more video in preparation than anyone else on the team. He’s still intense during the week and wired on game day.
Then again, this is what Bradford dreamt about as a kid.
“Getting to play for Oklahoma is one thing,” he said, “but getting to play for Oklahoma and having the possibility to win a Big 12 championship and then maybe even a national championship ... it’s like a dream come true.”
Bradford and the Sooners took another big step toward realizing those dreams this weekend.
And when all was said and done, Bradford finally emerged from the Sooner locker room and walked across the
Gallagher-Iba Arena lobby around midnight. The fans gathered around the team buses hooted and hollered when he stepped out the doors, but Bradford never broke stride. He just kept going down the steps, around a corner and into the Oklahoma night.
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My wish that he not go pro yet is not just a selfish one. He would make a ton of money (and deserve it) as a pro. That's undeniable.
But despite his calm leadership, he's a young man. He's likely to be even better (and more saleable) in the future. In addition, his body, his mind and his judgment will all have gained a year of maturity.
Of course, he has to weigh all that against the possibility of injury.
But, that possibility is always with a football player at any level.
If he signed a fantastic pro contract, he could still have a career-ending injury before he ever got into a meaningful pro game.
This is one decision he doesn't have to make with the speed he makes decisions on the field, and that's a good thing. I'm sure before he makes any decision, he'll talk to Stoops and Heupel and wiegh their input carefully.
No degree + top 15 = $20 million +
Degree + bad injury = $50k a year.
He can always come back and get his degree.
I love ya Sam, but make the smart decision.
Sam, I would dearly love to see you stay here at least one more season but, sure understand if the money is too good to turn down. There is always the possibility of an injury and I know if you were my son, I'd advise you to go for the green while you can, it's very very few of us that would ever have such a chance and no one will blame you if you decide to take it and leave us behind. Being Chickasaw myself, I'm very proud to see another Natural representing our heritage. And God bless you and your family for all that you are.