NORMAN — If come November, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford remains in the hunt for the Heisman Trophy, that will mean two things.
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Bradford will be breaking school passing records. And he'll have the Sooners in the thick of the national title race.
In all probability, however, Bradford winning the Heisman is a long shot.
Sophomores don't win the award given to college football's best player, unless that player puts up mind-boggling statistics, which is what Florida quarterback Tim Tebow did last season.
Tebow accounted for 51 touchdowns, 29 passing and 22 rushing, the most in SEC single-season history.
That output, coupled with a weak field, allowed Tebow to become the first sophomore to win the Heisman.
The competition will be much stronger this year.
Three of the top vote getters in 2007 return: Tebow, Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel and West Virginiaquarterback Pat White.
Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree could put up record-breaking statistics in the Red Raiders' explosive offense.
And running backs Beanie Wells of Ohio State and Knowshon Moreno of Georgia figure to be the top producers on the nation's top-two teams in the preseason rankings.
That's why for Bradford to become the second sophomore and fifth Sooner to win the Heisman, he'll have to put up record numbers and have OU in the national title game.
That was the formula for Sooner quarterback Jason White, who won the Heisman in 2003 and finished third in 2004.
As a junior, White tossed 40 touchdowns in 2003 and OU made the national title game, despite a collapse to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship.
Bradford's road, however, will be more difficult, since he'll have to overcome the stigma of being a sophomore.
Also, the Sooners will hand the ball off to running back DeMarco Murray half the time, meaning Bradford won't have the same statistical opportunities that Tebow and Daniel will and White did in 2003.
But as Josh Heupel proved in 2000 by quarterbacking the Sooners to an improbable national title and a second-place finish in the Heisman voting, anything is possible.
Leading OU to a national championship game appearance this season will keep Bradford in the minds of Heisman voters.
Even if his chance of winning the Heisman is slight.
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Those of you who sit behind a keyboard and slam a college kid who didn't even write or even condone the article is absurd. It shows the cowardice and anonymity that the computer age has given us. You people would never stand up/to/for anything in real life, but when you hit submit/send it makes you feel euphoric and powerful in this fantasy dream land where you are equal to those that you fear in real life. You are the type that if anyone said anything negative to or about you then you would run and hide. Cowards. Whether or not Sam Bradford can or will win the Heisman is irrelevant. Your scum of the earth lives are what is truly sad here.
Brian, Sunny Southern CA - Aug 25, 2008 at 1:09 pm
If everything goes right he could end up with Heisman numbers but I don't think he's a Heisman player, yet!
He has the most resonsibility but probably not the best player on the team. OU has a lot of players, especially on offense, that are tops at their position. I don't think you can really just single him out. Don't get me wrong, I love em, think he's perfect for the team. I still don't see why no one really mentions Jermaine Gresham, that kid's a freak.
Damn I can't wait until Saturday. Anyone know if Tennessee Chat will be on ESPN Game Plan?
*scratches his head* Hard Harry, I think you are confused... Sam Bradford was the 2nd best QB in the state -last year-, but Paul Smith has since graduated...
Thanks for the article Jake...Unlike some below, who couldn't write a letter home and make sense, some of us appreciate most articles from you and BT...and for "hard harry...aka Richard Cranium"...if he isn't the best in the state, then their must be some High School kid out there that we don't know about...he has no equal in the College ranks in Oklahoma...and yeah...that includes your beloved school...just my opinion...
As Mike pointed out, the Sooners need to worry about TEAM goals. If the team reaches all its goals, then the Heisman might take care of itself. But to worry about the Heisman in August is putting the cart before the horse.
First, I will be happy if the OU team goes 14-0 and wins an 8th national championship. Second, I hope some combo of Murray, Brown, Justin Johnson, and Calhoun can rack about 3,000 rushing yards and 35 TDs in the process in the ground game. I don't think either Bradford or Murray will win the Heisman because although their total vote total might be a winning count, to win those fourteen games OU will need 2-headed offensive monster to succeed, especially in games where the defense might get riddled and the offense has to literally outscore the opponent. What I would love to see is a combination of THREE OU starters, Bradford, Murray, and someone like Jermaine Gresham all get votes in the top 10 vote getters. The feel good story in Sam is when he was awarded a scholarship as a 3 star recruit a lot of folks thought it was a 'throw away' as Sam would never displace Rhett Bomar or the kid from California who fled to Utah, or even last year, he would be overcome by Kid Nichol. Well, he rose to the top and when given his shot, he came through like the champion he is. I am so happy for Sam and his parents because he is a great kid with a normal, unswollen head from the adulation, gets good grades, and is the role model all of us hope an OU QB would be....that level of achievement is a pretty good in itself.
If he is the best player this year, he may win and if OU wins the B-12, BCS Bowl, and if Bradford has the best stats, yes he could win. Look into my crystal ball and predict the future. Let's play some football!
Bradford won't win the Heisman. He won't win it because it's not his year to win it. He's really not THAT good. His passes are sloppy. If he has great receivers it might be OK for the team, but it won't be because he'sa Heisman winner, because he won't be. It might be he gets the job done because his line is phenomenal, but it won't be for his arm or scrambling ability. I hate the Heisman. A guy gets it and he's all the team is about. That's bull. Special teams, defense, linemen, punters, field goal kickers, even playes who never get to play on Saturdays help a team win games because they challenge the starters. Wow, Bradford is a one man team with 22 guys on the field. He's not that good. Never will be. Leave him alone and see what the TEAM can do.
This article is just another shining example of where those responsible for covering OU football lack creativity. The local sports "reporters" could benefit from following a real sports journalist, Sally Jenkins, around for a couple months. There are a million potentially legitimate OU football stories to write about, but this article about heisman chances at this time of year is unfortuantely not one of them. Even more unfortunate, Trotter is not nearly the only local writer guilty of such lazy "journalism".
I wouldn't be surprised to see Bradford mentioned a little bit. i mean the kid is wonder quarterback at one of the most prestigious schools in the country. I would love to see him and Murray in the spot light though. Forgot Heisman, I would be happy for a bcs bowl win!
I think the thing that will hurt Crabtree is the offense that he plays in. With what he did last year those stats are expected out of an offense by which everyone knows they run year in and year out.
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Chattanooga at OU•When: 6 p.m. Saturday
•Where: Owen Field, Norman
•TV: Pay-per-view
2008 OU schedule
Aug. 30 Chattanooga
Sept. 6 Cincinnati
Sept. 13 at Washington
Sept. 27 Texas Christian
Oct. 4 at Baylor
Oct. 11 Texas (Dallas)
Oct. 18 Kansas
Oct. 25 at Kansas State
Nov. 1 Nebraska
Nov. 8 at Texas A&M
Nov. 22 Texas Tech
Nov. 29 at Oklahoma State
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He has the most resonsibility but probably not the best player on the team. OU has a lot of players, especially on offense, that are tops at their position. I don't think you can really just single him out. Don't get me wrong, I love em, think he's perfect for the team. I still don't see why no one really mentions Jermaine Gresham, that kid's a freak.
Damn I can't wait until Saturday. Anyone know if Tennessee Chat will be on ESPN Game Plan?