Family key to Gresham choosing OU
Family key to Gresham choosing OU

By Scott Wright

Published: September 6, 2007

NORMAN — In his choice between Oklahoma and Miami, Sooner tight end Jermaine Gresham's decision revolved around family.

His own — "Gotta listen to my momma,” Gresham said earlier this week — and those of his coaches.

"He was really impressed with the way the OU coaches dealt with their families,” said Gresham's head coach and mentor at Ardmore High School, Mike Lloyd. "He saw Kevin Sumlin and the way he treated his kids and his wife. That was one of the big things that turned it for him.”

Saturday morning at 11, the phenomenally athletic, 6-foot-7, 265-pound tight end will suit up for the Sooners against the team he could have been playing for. And the team that was his No. 1 choice for much of his recruitment.

Deciding between OU and Miami wasn't an easy choice for Gresham.

Lloyd estimated it was a one-in-four chance that Gresham would go to Miami until that visit to Norman. After that?

"It was about 50-50 when he came back,” Lloyd said.

Gresham was drawn to the closeness of the Miami players. And he was fond of tight ends coach Mario Cristobal, a former Hurricane offensive lineman.

"He was a great guy. Down to earth,” Gresham said. "He came to my school and lifted weights. He said he needed to lift, so he got down and lifted. He threw a T-shirt on. He was wearing some slacks and some nice shoes in there lifting.”

So Gresham took his time deciding, holding his announcement until signing day, though those around him say he made up his mind a few days before.

"It felt more like home here,” Gresham said.

OU assistant Jackie Shipp, who led the recruiting of Gresham, said: "You never trust them 'til they sign their name on that letter, so you keep working. Never in my mind did I think we'd lose him, but there's always a chance they could go somewhere else.”

Each place had its strong point. For Oklahoma, proximity to Ardmore played a part. At Miami, it was the growing list of tight ends — Bubba Franks, Jeremy Shockey and Kellen Winslow among them — the school had put in the NFL.

"I visited ‘The U' because of the tight ends,” Gresham said. "It was all over the walls down there, all their great tight ends. Four or five of them are All-Pro in the league right now.”

Ultimately, family ties won out.

"One thing you'll find about Jermaine Gresham is that he's quiet, very observant, and very loyal to family and friends,” Shipp said.

"I do think that had a big impact in his decision. And I'm glad it did.”

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