OU notebook: Sam Bradford goes live

Injured Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford gave a live telephone interview to the ESPN pregame show "College Gameday” on Saturday morning. Although the projection for his return is two to four weeks, Bradford reminded viewers that it could be slightly shorter or much longer.

"Everyone I talk to, there’s really not a certain timeline for as soon as I’ll be back,” Bradford said. "There’s been so many different numbers. I think the main thing is I have to get healthy before I can play again.”

Bradford spoke earlier in the week with Eli Manning, who suffered the same injury and played again in 10 days before leading the New York Giants to the Super Bowl. However, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith suffered a grade-three separation and the initial diagnosis was no surgery would be needed. He didn’t play again in the 2007 season and underwent surgery in the offseason.

Bradford did say he could throw a ball if he wanted to, but doing so would be extremely painful.

Landry Jones’ national television debut featured a cameo appearance that drew mixed reviews: his mustache. At least one group of students showed their support for the facial hair on Saturday, sporting fake mustaches and "Fear the ’Stache” shirts. Jones completed 18 of his 32 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns, all to Ryan Broyles.

Sophomore receiver Jameel Owens did not dress for the game. Owens had missed practice earlier in the week. Rumors of his transfer leaked earlier in the week, but Owens’ family said on Friday he has no plans to do so. Owens was still on the team as of Saturday.

Idaho State received a $500,000 check from the University of Oklahoma for its troubles. Last week, the Bengals traveled to Phoenix, where they were beaten 50-3 by Arizona State.

Freshman defensive back Marcus Trice blocked a punt in the third quarter, juking Idaho State’s Dustin Tew and jumping to bat the kick away with his right hand. The snap on the play was low, giving Trice’s speed-rush time to reach Idaho State’s Jon Vanderwielen’s punt. Vanderwielen recovered the ball, and Trice also made the tackle on the play. Early in the fourth quarter, freshman linebacker Ronnell Lewis tackled Clint Knickrehm in the end zone for a safety to put the Sooners up 50-0.

A week ago, Cory Brandon drew five flags in the Sooners’ 14-13 loss to Brigham Young. On Saturday, he was booed during pregame lineup introductions. Brandon’s most costly penalty against the Cougars was a false start on third-and-nine with just under two minutes to play. The penalty put the Sooners into a third-and-14, where a Jones incompletion forced Tress Way to kick a 54-yard field goal instead of a 49-yarder.

Although he was introduced as a starter, Brandon began the game on the bench, replaced by Tyler Evans at right guard.

Despite opening up their 2009 home slate in the rain with an FCS opponent and without their Heisman winner under center, the Sooners sold out their 63rd consecutive game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Official attendance was a full house at 84,749, despite a few empty seats at kickoff, presumably from fans who either stayed at home or under their tailgate tents.

Stoops and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson promised changes on the offensive line all week, and on Saturday, they delivered them. For their opening possession, the Sooners trotted out Trent Williams, Evans, Ben Habern, Jarvis Jones and Stephen Good.

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