Heisman U? Sam Bradford is latest in impressive run of OU signal-callers
BY JAKE TROTTER
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70
Published: December 9, 2008
Sam Bradford walks off the field and salutes the Sooner fans after the Big 12 Championship college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Missouri Tigers (MU) on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER
NORMAN — When Bob Stoops arrived in Norman a decade ago, the position of Oklahoma quarterback was merely a glorified halfback.
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Four
Heisman Trophy finalists later — including one winner and perhaps another on the way — and Stoops has OU on the brink of becoming "Quarterback U.”
Saturday night,
Sam Bradford has a chance to become not only the school’s fifth Heisman winner overall, but also its second Heisman quarterback in five years.
Bradford leads the nation in touchdown passes (48) and passing efficiency (186.29) in one of the finest seasons ever produced by a quarterback.
Barring a collapse in the BCS title game, Bradford will break the
NCAA all-time record for passing efficiency in a season.
"The guy is just absolutely amazing,” Stoops said. "The poise, the precision he plays with. The guy is just special. I don’t know any other way to say it.”
But Bradford is just the latest in an impressive run of Sooner quarterbacks, which began in 1999 with
Josh Heupel.
After throwing for 30 touchdowns in 1999, Heupel was a Heisman runner-up in 2000 before leading OU to a seventh national championship.
In 2003,
Jason White became the school’s first quarterback to win the Heisman after throwing for almost 3,900 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was also a finalist in 2004.
"I feel fortunate,” Stoops said. "It’s been pretty special.”
Up until the late 1960s, Notre Dame was Quarterback U., headlined by four Heisman-winning quarterbacks and a host of other finalists.
In the 1980s,
Brigham Young had a tremendous run of talented quarterbacks, led by future
NFL stars
Steve Young and
Jim McMahon and capped by 1990 Heisman winner
Ty Detmer.
From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, the three Sunshine State powers of
Florida, Florida State and
Miami dominated the position, combining to deliver six Heisman winners.
This decade, Southern
California, known for its tailbacks, has had two Heisman quarterbacks in
Carson Palmer and
Matt Leinart, as well as productive players like
John David Booty and
Mark Sanchez.
But if Bradford wins the Heisman this weekend, it will be hard to find a school who’s done more at quarterback in the last decade at the college level than OU.
"I don’t know if there’s anyone who’s had more success at the quarterback position than the quarterbacks here under coach Stoops,” said Heupel, the
Sooners’ quarterbacks coach, who’s played a large part in Bradford’s success. "Hopefully, we have more coming.”
The biggest knock against the OU quarterback legacy is the fact that no ex-Sooner quarterback, other than
UCLA transfer
Troy Aikman, has completed a pass in the NFL since 1949.
But Bradford could end that dubious streak. Even though Bradford is just a third-year sophomore,
ESPN NFL Draft guru
Todd McShay rates him as the top quarterback prospect eligible for the 2009 draft.
"I don’t know if we get the pub a USC does because of what’s happened (in the NFL),” Heupel said. "But certainly Sam has that to look forward to.
"Hopefully, that allows us to bring in the right guy, the guy who can continue that legacy and build upon it and win some championships.”
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Theres always a job at Big Red Sports and Imports for the guy after college.
If he graduates.... unlike most of OU's athletes.
I applaud Stoops for his ability to find diff. coaches, with diff. philosophies, even diff. personalities i.e. Leach, and each bringing a diff. approach but all delivering success., diff. degrees of success obviously. I hope Stoops has the touch again because after #8 he may have to look for another OC.
IT'S INEVITABLE!
THE PRESSURE'S ON!!!
ANOTHER BOWL LOSE.
TO BAD!!! SO SAD!!!
FU 21
I heard the piece where Tebow said he couldn't wait to play a Big 12 Defense. Well guess what big Boy?, Travis Lewis can't wait to see you either!!! Or will it be Gerald or Beal. Take your pick. The D is a lot better than the talking heads are giving credit.
Long ran a versatile offensive by incorporating the shotgun spread but also utilized the I formation in 2004 with AD and Kejuan Jones. As we all know Jason White won the Heisman in 2003 and was a finalist in 2004 along with AD, so Chuck Long had success as Off. Co-Ord. Wilson's debut at calling the offensive plays came in the 2005 Holiday Bowl win vs. Oregon; Long had taken the Head coaching job at San Diego State.
But I would agree that OU's offense has not had a definate, concrete identity; the offense has changed and evolved due to the type of players/talent on scholarship, the different co-ordinators calling the plays etc...But I think that is good for attracting different types of high school recruits and keeps opponents guessing due to the balance and versatility.
Offensive balance + versatility + Kevin Wilson = National Scoring record of 702 pts., 5 games of scoring 60+ and Wilson winning the Broyles award. Congratulations coach Wilson.
GO BIG RED, beat Florida and bring home #8 in 2008! Boomer Sooner!
I couldn't agree more. Nate was a great QB w/ very little respect from the public but alot from the team. Reminds me a lot of Bradford.
Even won a National Championship in golf while @ UGA. Very hard to follow a national champioship team. Remember he was the QB of the last OU team that won a BCS game
When I hear people bragging about Bradford's ability, I hear them say things like "He never throws a bad ball". "He can make any kind of throw, long, short, with touch, with zip...all of it." "Bradford has the ability to check down to his 4th or 5th receiver when his primary target is covered..."
What exactly is the system, then? Oh, the system where wide receivers run routes and Bradford finds the guy who's open. Got it...just like all of those "systems" in the NFL. Good deal.
b, Oklahoma City - Dec 9, 2008 12:50 PM
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Now that's what I call funny!!!!!!
I prefer OU win the NC than Sam winning the individual award.
.
The best part? Bradford has already said he's totally OK with that. He already emphatically stated earlier this year that he'd rather have a national championship over the Heisman any day.
- In '99/'00 Heupel flourished in the Leach/Mangino spread, but he was never a solid pro prospect.
- In '01 we struggled to find an identity on offense. Hybl was the starter, then White, then Hybl again after White's injury.
- Same story in '02 with the QB's but Wilson came and we ran more of a verticle, run first, playaction offense that REALLY helped Hybl. Hybl had the look of an NFL QB and he made a few scout teams, but he wasnt ever good enough to be an NFL starter.
-'03 we were back to full on shotgun/spread with White who couldnt even get under center.
-'04, more of a balanced offense with AD, but White was not physically able to compete in the NFL.
- '05 Rhett Bomar, we remember the results of his career.
- '06 Paul Thompson was never a pure QB, but they went back to the Hybl offense and he did well. Nearly made the cut at Green Bay too.
- '07 & '08 Sam breaks the trend.
They will fight their butts off this time. All Stoops has to do is show them the last two trips to the BCS championship.
"Three Heisman Trophy finalists later, including a back-to-back finalist, Stoops has..."
m., Oklahoma City - Dec 9, 2008 10:33 AM
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Hey M. , HOw about tongue in cheek. Go back and read the thing again...I finished with, "But wait"
But wait...more media bias. McCoy will not be a high draft pick. If he did play in the NFL and tried to run like he did this year, he would get killed.
I noticed during the A&M game the TV cameras kept going to Colt's dad after every other play. It was crazy.
My Mother called me and asked me if I noticed that and I told her I did. She then said she noticed Bradford's parents weren't being shown after every play when OU played two days later. Good point. Media is in love with Colt and TExas for some reason.
I hope "The OHIO STATE U" knocks their jocks off.
ESPN yesterday said Shipley was OK but not an overwhelming prospect or anything. I guess I must have been watching a different Shipley because he really impressed me.
OH yeah, forgot to mention, that was at the A&M game! They acted like they had just beat a good team or something. What Bowl game is A&M going to this year?
But the media, like Craig James will say, "I just can't over the head to head." OK, then Graham Harrell should be rated above Colt, right? But wait, Craig James says he is a "system" QB.
What a joke. Forget about it and go beat Florida. Let the golden giddy boy win the Heisman and then get punked on by OSU.