Nichol's dad: Keith won't transfer

By Blake Jackson

Published: August 21, 2007

It's been six years since Keith Nichol played second-fiddle.

So when he learned Sam Bradford had won the Oklahoma quarterbacking sweepstakes after a strong weekend performance, the true freshman from Lowell, Mich. took the news hard.

"When an 18-year-old has spent over half of his life working toward a single goal and it doesn't come true, that's not your best day,” said Keith's father Gary Nichol on Tuesday. Keith Nichol has been the starting quarterback on every team he's played for since seventh grade. "It's not like he was fractured and doing all these other things. He worked every day, virtually year-round toward this one dream and when it didn't come, it was heart-breaking.”

But not heartbreaking enough to quell Keith's determination to win the starting job.

Even if it takes longer than he'd hoped.

"Without question, Keith loves OU and is not going to transfer,” Gary said. "He's staying the course. He loves where he's at. It's not something we are thinking about or discussing.”

Gary and Patrice Nichol flew down from Lowell — a rural suburb of Grand Rapids — to attend Saturday's scrimmage. Keith struggled early but finished strong, completing 5-of-16 passes for 82 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown to Manuel Johnson.

Bradford was more consistent, going 12-of-17 for 130 yards and four touchdowns. By Sunday, the OU coaches had made their decision.

Keith called to tell his parents Monday night.

"He was very frank,” Gary said. "He's disappointed but he's very happy for Sam. (Keith) will continue trying to be the best quarterback he can be for OU. Just because he's made a mistake or something doesn't go his way, doesn't mean he quits. He regroups, retools and keeps moving forward.”

Keith committed to Oklahoma last December, while Bradford was still leading the Sooner scout team.

An Elite 11 quarterback proficient in both passing and rushing, Nichol brought hope in the wake of Rhett Bomar's dismissal and Paul Thompson's impending graduation.

He enrolled at OU in January and immediately began studying Kevin Wilson's offense.

Nichol was limited during spring scrimmages and the Red-White Game, especially on passing plays. But he did draw praise for a couple of heady scrambles.

"He was going to be a fun and exciting quarterback to watch play this year,” Gary said. "When he was at Lowell, that's what he was. He was exciting. A playmaker. A great leader.”

Keith spent most of his two-week summer break at home in Michigan, wrestling with the Sooner playbook. When he returned to Norman for summer workouts, he'd mastered most of it.

By the time two-a-days began, Gary says, Nichol had it down pat.

"He believes he has a very good grasp of the playbook and a very good grasp of what's being asked of him on the field,” Gary said. "Over the course of the last two weeks, his practices had gotten steadily better and his confidence had been getting better.”

Malcolm Kelly and Adron Tennell noticed.

The two Sooner wideouts didn't have to see who was behind center to know when Nichol was throwing the ball.

"Keith brings the heat,” Kelly said last week. "It took me a while to get used to at first, but now it's fine. He throws harder than any quarterback I've ever caught.”

Nichol still might receive opportunities to run with Kelly and the first team. Recent history shows no name is set in stone when it comes to OU quarterbacks.

Bob Stoops has made no bones about going with the player who gives his team the best chance to win.

Today, that's Sam Bradford.

Tomorrow, who knows?

"He's 18 years old,” Gary Nichol said. "To have mastered all he has mastered in the short time he's been there, imagine how good he's going to be a year from now, or two years from now. Imagine the quarterback he could be as a senior.

"This kid is going to be a great quarterback at OU, given the opportunity.”

Comments