Sam Bradford needs big finish
By Jake Trotter
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47
Published: November 26, 2008
NORMAN — In 1997, Charles Woodson led Michigan to three straight wins over ranked opponents to close the season, culminating with a 20-14 victory over No. 4 Ohio State.
OU's Sam Bradford waves to the crowd after the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Tech University at Gaylord Family -- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008. BY BRYAN TERRY
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Against the Buckeyes, Woodson returned a punt for a touchdown, intercepted a pass in the end zone and reeled in a long reception.
That performance charmed the voters and carried Woodson to an improbable upset of
Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning for the Heisman as Michigan went on to a shared national championship.
Not since has a
Heisman winner defeated three ranked teams to close the season.
But with games looming against No. 12
Oklahoma State and potentially No. 13
Missouri in the
Big 12 Championship,
Oklahoma quarterback
Sam Bradford will probably have to reproduce Woodson’s feat this season and close strong to hold off Heisman incumbent and
Florida quarterback
Tim Tebow.
"Ultimately, we need him to play well if we want to win these games here at the end of the season, when we look at this ball game coming up, and hopefully one after that,” said OU quarterbacks coach
Josh Heupel, who in 2000 became the first Sooner quarterback to find himself in a Heisman race late in the year.
For Bradford, he’s already one-third of the way there.
Saturday, the sophomore threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns as OU disposed of then-No. 2
Texas Tech 65-21.
Now, he’ll have to do it on the road in Stillwater.
"It’s a rivalry game, it’s going to be loud,” Bradford said. "I’m excited about playing there.”
History suggests that winning late is almost paramount to winning the Heisman.
OU quarterback
Jason White was the last to lose any of his three remaining games before the bowl season — a 35-7 defeat to
Kansas State in the Big 12 title game — and still go on to win the Heisman.
And while none of the last four winners defeated three consecutive ranked opponents to end the season, Tebow,
Troy Smith,
Reggie Bush and
Matt Leinart surged in November.
Tebow totaled 16 touchdowns in his last three games; Smith threw for four scores in a victory over No. 2 Michigan; Bush rushed for almost 600 yards in back-to-back wins over ranked foes; Leinart had 400 yards passing and five touchdowns in a victory over Notre Dame.
Strong impressions left in the minds of voters just before ballots were submitted.
Heading into the next two weeks, Bradford appears to hold the lead over Tebow as well as
Texas quarterback
Colt McCoy.
Heisman voters will be watching how Bradford and Tebow compare in road games at rival schools and in the conference championships (if OU makes it that far).
Tebow’s Gators travel to No. 20 Florida State before taking on No. 1
Alabama in the
SEC Championship. By leading Florida to wins in both those games, Tebow will put pressure on Bradford, especially since voters — like they were with Manning — will be tempted to vote for the preseason favorite.
But if Bradford can continue to follow Woodson’s lead, and dominate late on the biggest stages, 2008 could feature another Heisman upset.
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And none of us OSU fans are jealous. We are thankful that we don't have a history like you guys. I wouldn't root for OSU if we were cheating for the last half century. I also wouldn't boost about those wins, knowing how they were obtained. It's called class and morales. ou fans have none, just as the ou administration doesn't.
Hook'em