Emails on Heisman and Florida

The new emails are in, and no big surprise, Sam Bradford is the talk of the town.

Greg wrote, “If Sam does leave for NFL riches, and I believe he will (and should), most impressive beyond TD/interception ratio is he is a 3.95 student and is flush with real humility. Good parenting, good coaching and a kid with his head screwed on properly. Whatever happens tonight, Sam is a winner, and on Jan. 8, I believe he will lead OU to an eighth.”

Hard to argue now that Bradford should stay.

Jim wrote about the Norman Transcript’s John Shinn voting for Colt McCoy on the Heisman. “What was he thinking? OU fans have proven to be very sensitive and even hostile toward the national media when a negative story or thought is published. This unsavory side of too many Sooners will only be magnified when the hometown writer tries to justify why he voted for the disliked archrival on his Heisman ballot. I find it hard to believe that he did not realize he was getting ready to kick sand into the face of the Monster.”

Maybe Shinn was thinking he ought to do what he was asked to do: vote for whoever he thought deserved the award.

P.J.,not Carlesimo, wrote, “I have an idea for the Heisman Trophy to make it meaningful as the best college player rather than the best QB or running back or an occasional receiver. Wait until all the position awards have been awarded and instruct all the Heisman voters to choose the winner from one of the position awards winners. It would still be a little lopsided in favor of the QBs, but it might give the Butkus Award or the Thorpe Award winner more consideration.”

It also would give the Butkus and Thorpe awards more status, and in the dog-eat-dog world of college football trophies, I’m not so sure the Heisman wants to prop up any competitor.

Matt wrote, “I know who will win. I saw a replay of last year with Tebow, and he had a cast on his right arm. That clinches it. Sophomore QBs with casts on their non-throwing arm win the Heisman. Fortunately for Sooner fans, that is Bradford.”

It’s enough to make Colt McCoy go have surgery next year before the Heisman ceremony, don’t you think?

Jasen wrote, “How do you think Bradford would have done as a true freshman compared to Paul Thompson?”

I think he would have done about like Paul Thompson would have done in 2003 compared to Jason White. Not even close.

Jeff wrote, “Why doesn’t OU ever invite Troy Aikman to some OU games and honor him for his contributions to OU? After all, he was our QB (and becoming a great one) until the ‘Canes broke his leg and Jamelle Holieway took over with the wishbone.”

Maybe the reason he’s not honored is because he started four games and then transferred to UCLA. Aikman started as many games at quarterback as Jake Sills.

Bob wrote, “Do you think Sam is ready for the NFL? I think he has the talent, but I do not think he is ready physically. I’m not sure he can take the pounding he is going to get in the NFL. I know that money can change minds, but I think he also wants to be a great player at the next level and one more year will make a huge difference.”

No one is ready for the physical pounding of the NFL. The way you survive in the NFL is to not get hit.

Eric, an OU fan out in Lubbock, reports that “all the talk out here in Lubbock is how Graham Harrell got snubbed. The media here have a serious chip on their collective shoulders and inferiority complex. One of them said on the radio a few weeks back that in the eyes of Oklahoma, ‘Texas Tech is a pimple on the butt of the Big 12.’ Frankly, I think most of the talking heads out here are full of something. But, what would you say to those critics who say that the Heisman is tainted? That it’s a popularity contest that’s exclusive to only the ‘big’ schools, thereby overlooking schools like Tech?”

I would say they’re probably right.

David wrote, “After only two years on campus (for Bradford), I would go so far as to call him the best OU QB ever, pending how he does on the biggest stage of all. And what astonishes me is how close this came to not happening. Your column reminding us how this might have been Bomar’s senior year was wonderful, but is just half the story there, I think. What I marvel at now is that even after Master Rhett left in disgrace, the job STILL had to be won from the kid many thought of as the future after Bomar: Keith Nichol. This adds even more to the aura of Bradford: he was always the regular guy, not a superstar recruit, who took the job by the horns and showed the world what few knew he had. A story similar to Steve Davis, to me. With the blessings of the football gods, a man named Sam Bradford fell into our laps.”

I’ve got to say. Nothing against Kid Nichol, but no way could anyone see him throw the football and see Sam Bradford throw the football and still think there was a quarterback derby. Recruiting hype again means very little.

Terry also wrote about Bomar, “I agree absolutely that Bomar would have gotten much better and Sammy would still be on the bench. The one thing I’m not so sure about is how well overall the team would have done with Bomar at the helm. I have heard that because of his attitude he was not well liked. I expect Bomar to play in the NFL if he has his head screwed on right, but he was not the team player that Sammy is and that can make a big difference.”

Here’s my take. OU 2007 would have better with Bomar at quarterback. OU 2008 would have been worse.

Denver wrote about Bradford/Bomar: “I think it all comes down to karma. It is a funny thing, maybe because I played baseball and we are all kind of goofy when it comes to things like karma. Bradford is such a good person and has not changed a bit through all of his success. Bomar was cheating and when this came to surface, it paved the way for Bradford. Jason White is another example of good karma. He couldn’t be a nicer guy and look at all he went through but came out great. On the flip side look at O.J. Simpson!”

Well, generally, yes, I think you’re better off not breaking NCAA rules or state laws.

Now, on to general Sooner stuff. Bob wrote, “Just think of the things that did happen and didn’t happen for OU to get into the championship game. Tech had to beat Nebraska in overtime. Tech had to beat OSU. Tech had to beat Texas. Texas had to drop two easy interceptions against Tech. Cincinnati and TCU had to keep winning. Penn State had to lose one of its last three easy games. Southern Cal had to lose to one patsy in the Pac-10. All of this had to happen just for OU to get into the Big 12 game and it did. This is destiny for OU, and I believe that as long as everyone keeps bragging on Florida, OU will win that game.”