Berry Tramel, Sports columnist

Read more columns by Berry Tramel. Or visit Berry's blog

Contact Berry -- E-mail: btramel@opubco.com. Phone: (405) 475-3313.

It's Bradford's job, until it isn't
Avoiding mistakes, winning will keep QB from being replaced
It's Bradford's job, until it isn't

By Berry Tramel
Published: August 23, 2007

Sam Bradford is the Oklahoma quarterback. For now.

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No way yet of knowing whether the Sam Bradford Era has begun. If Bradford remains the quarterback for Miami in Game 2, and particularly if he's still in the saddle for Texas in Game 6, then yes, this is a commitment by the Sooner coaches.

But until then, Bradford is on a short leash. It's like Kevin Wilson said before Bradford was named the starter; "even when we know, we might not know.”

This is a job that will be won in games, either by Bradford or someone else.

Bob Stoops' record is clear.

When Stoops has an All-American quarterback (2000, 2003, 2004), he doesn't change QBs, which stands to reason.

When Stoops has absolutely no legit backup (1999, 2006), he doesn't change QBs. Also logical.

But otherwise, all bets are off. Stoops pulled the trigger in 2001, when he switched from a sluggish and sore Nate Hybl to Jason White, and in 2005, when a loss to TCU prompted the switch from Paul Thompson to Rhett Bomar.

Stoops' only other year was 2002, when a second White injury gave the job to Hybl.

So Stoops twice has had to decide whether to make an in-season quarterback change. And he's done it both times. No reason to think he will stop now.

Bradford has to avoid mistakes, move the chains and win games to keep this job.

Otherwise, Stoops will try to find someone who will.


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What a waste of space!
Michael, Muskogee - Aug 23, 2007 8:43 PM
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For Someone that lives out of state and needs the OU scoop on a daily basis. I am seriously going to have to go elsewhere all of these coverage seems like it comes from a high school student. Just pointless.. needs more though.
JB, Phoenix - Aug 23, 2007 8:31 PM
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Well I don't know about anybody else, but I just learned alot...
Jerrel, Edmond - Aug 23, 2007 3:51 PM
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This article was written after the 1 liter of Jack Daniels was emptied.
j3lly, Boon Dock - Aug 23, 2007 12:50 PM
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I've never known Berry to be anti-OU. With sports writers today, they think it is cool to be controversial...sometimes it's not cool...
Jeff, Tulsa - Aug 23, 2007 12:20 PM
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Don.....Do you mean to tell me Berry was able to con TWO papers into paying him a salary for the crap he writes?
Louis, Oklahoma City - Aug 23, 2007 11:30 AM
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After all it is only a football game. Probably some of our best friends went to texas university.
Thomas, DeSoto - Aug 23, 2007 11:24 AM
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I used to enjoy Tramel's columns. Now they've become tiresome to read. So Bradford may or may not be benched. That's BIG news...
Dingle, Berry - Aug 23, 2007 12:10 PM
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What upsets me is that Berry Tramel has never LIKED OU. How is it that he gets to be an OU beat writer? When he was a sportswriter in Colorado Springs he made it CLEAR what he thought about the OU program. How many articles since OU's resurgence has Tramel written that were critical of the Sooner program or the Sooner coaches and laced with sarcastic barbs? Clearly, the Oklahoman should put Tramel on the OSU/Longhorns beat. (Otherwise known as the second string/bench)
Don, Crescent City - Aug 23, 2007 11:10 AM
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Berry Trammel is a writer for The Oklahoman. For now.
Writers have come and gone for this paper. Some day, he will be replaced. Check please!
Louis, Oklahoma City - Aug 23, 2007 9:47 AM
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Berry,
You sir have a death grip on the obvious. How long did it take you to phone-in this article? I'd guess you wrote this one while waiting in traffic. You truly are a master of surface level observations...you're a credit to your profession.
Roy, Lewisberry - Aug 23, 2007 9:48 AM
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Berry is an excellent writer! One of the best sports writers in America. Not only that, Berry is an excellent guy who knows the entire world of sports very well. Keep up the good work Berry!
Daniel , Oklahoma City - Aug 23, 2007 8:33 AM
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hello
Daniel , Oklahoma City - Aug 23, 2007 8:32 AM
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not much news but something that should have been said.
Charles, Kingston - Aug 23, 2007 9:28 AM
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Can't disagree with what you said. you can't be wrong on this one.
Charles, Kingston - Aug 23, 2007 9:27 AM
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I agree, Loius. What a pathetic excuse for journalism. Who pays for this stuff?
Chris, Dallas - Aug 23, 2007 8:49 AM
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Wow. What a genius analysis. I could have written this garbage.
Louis, Oklahoma City - Aug 23, 2007 7:55 AM
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