TULSA Under the big top on the
grounds of the OU-Tulsa campus, a
fan embraced the spirit of the
Sooner Caravan auction Tuesday
night.
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She paid $2,200 for a
Rhett Bomar jersey.
There's an excellent
chance she got a bargain. The Sooner quarterback, with three
years eligibility remaining, has a chance to become quite the Oklahoma hero.
Part Tom Sawyer, part Tom Brady. A rascal
of a quarterback. A QB who knows not caution;
a QB who will try to put the ball and his body
where even the brave dare not go.
But a cloud hovers over what should be not
only a promising Sooner season but also a historic OU career. Since last September, Bomar
twice has been cited for underage drinking and
once for hosting a nuisance party.
Big deal? No big deal? All depends on the future, of course, but this much is for sure. It's
big news when the incumbent OU quarterback, the state's crown prince, runs afoul of the
law, even the misdemeanor side.
Is Bomar rascal or rogue? Is he just a 20-year-old who hasn't grown up, or is he a knucklehead who never will?
Bob Stoops says the former.
"He's a smart young guy, Stoops said at a
press conference before the Caravan party.
"Well above 3-point (in the classroom). Always
does well in everything he does.
"I'm not going to condone any of that behavior. I also have a decent perspective on what it
was. And easily correctable.
I don't know what Bomar needs, whether it's
running steps or counseling or just holding on
until July 2, when he turns the legal drinking age of 21.
But OU's athletic department
stands ready to help Bomar.
OU athletic director Joe Castiglione declined to talk about Bomar
but did address the total program
the Sooners offer.
Education, prevention, intervention, on a variety of fronts.
OU defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek went public with his alcoholism last year, and alcohol is the
No. 1 problem on American campuses, athletes or not. But college
athletes can have many more problems than alcohol.
Nutrition, depression, relationships, stress. Great athletes aren't
immune from the problems that afflict us all.
"Everybody's supposed to throw
the perfect strike or make a 3-point
shot, and people think they're not
supposed to have any problems,"
Castiglione said.
"We have to use good, sound
judgment to be aware, to be mindful, to be wise. It's also important to
be discerning. Is it a problem or
flat-out immaturity? We never assume it's either or."
Chances are, Bomar's troubles
are in the past. Jerry Schmidt's
drill-sergeant act and Stoops' lecture provide plenty of motivation.
Reaching 21 will help. Bomar
likely will become more Tom
Brady and less Tom Sawyer.
But you never know.
"You're always concerned with a
player's development and maturity," Stoops said. "Rhett's learning
through some mistakes. There's a
responsibility. Everything he does
will be analyzed and critiqued.
"He's learned from that and will
grow into a leader as he continues
to develop."
Bomar remains more potential
than production. Watch him play
and you sense a certain special
something. His stats did not reveal
that 10 interceptions, 10 touchdowns.
Still, Bomar might be the best
returning quarterback in a wiped-out Big 12, which will be missing
Vince Young, Brad Smith, Reggie
McNeal, Joel Klatt and Cody
Hodges.
"I expect him to be much-improved," Stoops said. "All the
added experience of an entire fall
season, all the games, all the practices, all the work in the spring."
Believe the potential. But for that
$2,200 jersey to rise in value, Bomar must stay out of further trouble.
Berry Tramel: 475-3314, btramel@oklahoman.com. His radio show, The Writers Block,
can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-7
p.m. on KREF-AM 1400, KADA-AM 1230 and
KSEO-AM 750.
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OU fans on BomarJim Self, Broken Arrow: “I
played baseball there in the ’50s. I
think you’re going to have that (alcohol) from a young person. I would
imagine they’d take care of it internally with the coaches. That is a
worry, though. No doubt about
that.”
Steve Ludwig, Tulsa: Alcohol
“kind of goes along with the college
atmosphere, I’d say. He could do
worse. I don’t know that he’ll ever
make it to the NFL; he doesn’t have
the stature. But he’ll do good when
he gets some experience under his
belt. If he’d been given the chance
(early) last year, he’d have a little
more experience.”
Sandy Chalmers, Tulsa: “I think
he’s got all the physical tools.
Sometimes he gets a little ahead of
himself. When you’re kind of young,
you think you can get any ball in
there. (The alcohol) doesn’t concern me at all. I went to OU, and I
did it.”
Jeremy Rogers, Tulsa: “I think
the potential’s there. I think he’s
gotta stay focused. That’ll be the
key. He’s got to lead the team, become a leader. He was young last
year and did some silly things.”
Ups and downs
August 2004: Came to OU as the most heralded quarterback recruit since Jack Mildren. OSU coach Mike Gundy called Bomar the best high-school quarterback he had ever seen.
September 2005: A sluggish start to his college career. Bomar completed just 7 of 20 passes for 61 yards against TCU and Tulsa; his fumbles against TCU and UCLA led to touchdowns in tight games that OU lost.
Sept. 3, 2005: Cited for minor in possession of alcohol; the case was dismissed in January.
Sept. 17, 2005: Completed 20 of 29 passes for 241 yards against UCLA, his second college start, though OU lost 41-24.
Oct. 8, 2005: Played miserably in a 45-12 loss to Texas; Bomar completed 12 of 33 passes for 94 yards, with an interception.
October-November 2005: In a three-game stretch, completed 58 of 98 passes for 724 yards as the Sooners swept Baylor, Nebraska and Texas A&M.
Dec. 29, 2005: In a 17-14 Holiday Bowl victory over Oregon, Bomar completed 17 of 30 passes for 229 yards and for the third straight game was not sacked, after being sacked 17 times in OU's first nine games.
March 10, 2006: Cited at the Ford Center for minor in possession of alcohol; pled guilty May 31.
July 13, 2006: Scheduled to be arraigned for hosting a nuisance party, a misdemeanor citation.
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