Rival QBs OU's Sam Bradford, OSU's Zac Robinson share faith at FCA fete
Huddling up Rival quarterbacks Bradford, Robinson share faith at FCA fete
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Published: April 28, 2009
Sam Bradford and Zac Robinson are gearing up for a showdown.
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Cowboy Talkback
Apr 22The Oklahoman's Berry Tramel talks with OSU quarterback Zac Robinson.
Not on the gridiron.
On the golf course.
"We’re getting on the golf course sometime
soon,” Bradford said.
"I’m gonna show him some stuff,” Robinson said.
Bradford raised an eyebrow.
"Not really,” Robinson said.
The
Oklahoma State quarterback looked at the
Oklahoma quarterback as they waited backstage Monday night at the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes Honors Banquet, and together, they laughed.
A quick warning to
Sooners and
Cowboys who are faint of heart — you might want to stop reading right here. What you are about to read could be hazardous to your health.
Bradford and Robinson are the faces of their teams, the leaders of the squads and the stars of the moment. They are the young men on opposite sides of the Bedlam battle.
They are also friends.
That’s right — friends.
Bradford agreed to do the FCA event at the National Cowboy &
Western Heritage Museum in large part because Robinson would be there, and vice versa.
"Once I heard about the opportunity to speak with Sam, I thought it was a great opportunity to come out here and give my testimony,” Robinson said. "I jumped all over it.”
Ditto for Bradford.
"When they came to me and told me — ‘We have this idea; we want you and Zac to come and speak at our state banquet’ — I thought it was a great idea,” he said.
Monday night wasn’t the first time the Bedlam rivals shared their faith together, either. They gave their testimonies earlier this year at Bradford’s church.
It was something they had talked about doing for a year.
"We just hadn’t been able to work out a time,” Robinson said.
What? You guys busy or something?
"Yeah,” Bradford said, "I don’t know
why it didn’t work out.”
But really, these two know exactly why. They know the stresses that come with being a major-college quarterback. They know the strains that stem from being a well-known athlete.
Few have that first-hand knowledge like Bradford and Robinson. They live it every day, the good and the bad, the fame and the fishbowl.
Truth is, these two have many more similarities than differences.
"I think that’s why we didn’t stay enemies as a lot of people would think we are,” Bradford said. "We’ve kind of become friends because we’re really similar in our personalities and the way we handle ourselves on and off the field.”
Rival quarterbacks becoming Bedlam buddies isn’t entirely new territory, by the way.
Rhett Bomar and
Bobby Reid were pals, a friendship forged the summer before their senior seasons in high school at the
EA Sports Elite 11 quarterback camp. From at point on, they had each other on speed dial, a relationship that continued even when the
Texas prepsters ended up on the opposite sides of an Oklahoma rivalry.
Reid even drove to
Norman to watch the Red-White Game in 2005.
Nowadays, elite athletes are so well-traveled before college that they come to know one another. Add that to today’s technology, and they have no problem staying in touch with
MySpace and
Facebook, text and Tweets.
So, how did Bradford and Robinson get to know each other?
"We probably met on the field,” Robinson said.
Bradford interrupted.
"We actually met — I don’t know if Zac remembers ... "
The words jogged Robinson’s memory.
Robinson: "Oh, yeah.”
Bradford: "We met a long time ago in high school. We were both at the Oklahoma State camp together.”
Robinson: "I remember that. Yeah. Sam was the tall,
skinny kid.”
Bradford rolled his eyes.
"I appreciate
that,” he said.
With that, the rifle-armed Sooner and the dual-threat Cowboy were laughing again. They were smiling. They were genuinely enjoying being together.
What’s next?
Human sacrifice. Dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria.
Sooner and Cowboy fans might think so, but it just isn’t so.
"To be able to talk to Zac about things that we’re both going through,” Bradford said, "it’s been helpful to me.”
Bedlam quarterbacks being friendly — is that allowed?
Robinson smiled and said, "We’re not the ones hitting each other.”
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John - Apr 28, 2009 at 10:53 am...Well John, I guess he could be hanging with Bo Bowling (drug dealer), Brandon Pettigrew (cop puncher), Byron Houston (sex offender), Prentice Elliot (all around POS, thug, criminal), Eddie Sutton (drunk driver), or the child rapist. (What was his name again? Collins?)
Lets not let the facts get in your way. OSU graduates from both an undergrad and masters program make more money on average then ou graduates. OSU has one of the highest retention rates in the nation. OSU has he largest Student Union in the WORLD. OSU has whats regarded as the best homecoming celebration in the nation. OSU has the third most national championships in the nation. OSU has the states largest public library. OSU has one of the nations best Vet, Orthopedic medicine, and geology programs in the WORLD!
Wow Dave, you really hit the nail on the head with that post. Though I do agree, this is a pathetic article. Little things like this just prove how bias the DOK is. They "try" to put stuff like this out to hide that fact. Besides that, the article is poorly written.
two champions and great competitors.
I didn't miss a game in Norman form 1968 to 1993 and you are a major embarrassment. Living in Florida allows me to appreciate Oklahoma State for what it is... a fine academic institution with a stellar sports program just like us. I am proud to say I am from Oklahoma and proud of both schools. You on the other hand are an embarrassment.