‘SOMETHING Former Putnam City North teammates not surprised by Bradford's successful freshman season Former teammates not surprised by Bradford's successful freshman season
NORMAN — Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford's remarkable freshman season might have come as a surprise to many.
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But not to his two best friends from Putnam City North High School, Ben Bench and Connor Boyd.
"We all knew how good he was going to be,” said Bench, a golfer at Oklahoma City University. "He's so good at everything. That's how those athletes are, so much better than anyone else. I knew he was going to be something special.”
Bradford has been something special.
He broke the NCAA freshman record for touchdown passes in a season with 34.
Bradford also heads into the bowl season leading the nation in passing efficiency.
"I'm not surprised, not at all,” said Boyd, who played wide receiver for Putnam City North. "I knew since little league he would be a phenomenal athlete. I'm not fast or quick, but I caught a lot of balls because Sam put it on the money every time.”
Bradford, Bench and Boyd spent most of their childhood competing in anything from ice hockey to golf.
"We played just about everything,” Bradford said. "We'd get a 21 game going or 2-on-2 football or hockey. We'd play whatever we felt like at the time.”
One morning, the trio elected to play 112 holes of golf at Mustang's Pebble Creek golf course, which is exclusively comprised of par 3s.
"Mom dropped us off before she went to school at 7,” Bradford said. "And dad picked us up that evening at 9.”
Boyd, the non-golfer of the three, connected on a hole-in-one, drawing the envy of the other two.
"I remember I didn't think it should've counted because it came on the front tees,” Bench said. "I was probably a little jealous that the non-golfer of the group did it. And Sam was giving me a hard time, too, asking me why I hadn't gotten a hole-in-one — I was getting annoyed.”
The trio still hangs out often, sometimes getting together at Bradford's house after an OU home football game to play ping-pong.
Two weeks ago, they watched Floyd Mayweather score a 10th-round technical knockout of Ricky Hatton.
But Bench and Boyd admit that all isn't the same.
"Anywhere we go in public, everyone knows who he is,” Bench said. "People constantly are coming up to us, asking for an autograph or a picture.
"It's amazing how much a life can change.”
But while Bradford's fame quickly grows, his friends say he is the same person he was in high school.”
"He's the most humble guy I know,” Boyd said. "He never talks about himself unless you bring it up, never brags.
"He's still the same — just real down to earth.”
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You think about it, this will be the first time quarterback will not be the question. Let me find some wood to knock on because anything can happen. You know what the offensive scheme will be, run first but utlimately balance. Personally, I think we should pass first but whatever as long as it's not extremely predictable.
How did they keep it a secret? From reading everything and listening to coaches, I could barely tell he was the better of the three. Expectations will be tremendous next year but he seems to be just COOL enough for the job.
Day and Night comparison when it comes to Bomar, what a difference two seasons can make huh? Look out football world in 08', they'll be like, "Tebow who?"
Wow, the possibilities for Sam are endless. Seems it couldn't be happening to a finer young man. Great story. Great to hear the good side of good athletes when the bad and negative seem to be the only thing reported 95% of the time.
I really hope he stays to a *down to the earth* kinda guy. Someone who will take a few minutes to talk to a no body or sign autograghs. I'm sure it gets old after a while, but those kinda peaple that will do it no matter what, are the kind of peaple that gets everyones respect. Good luck Sam.
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We shall see won't we how well the coaches take advantages of the talents they have next year.
we shall see.