BCS National Championship: Oklahomans play a big part in Sooners’ run to BCS title game
Native sons play key roles
By Berry Tramel
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Published: January 7, 2009
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Sooner locker room often is filled with good-natured, but competitive, banter. Oklahoma high school football vs. Texas high school football.
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Homegrown All-Americans
This is the sixth time OU has produced at least three All-Americans from Oklahoma high schools. The seasons:
→1975 (6): Lee Roy Selmon, Eufaula; Dewey Selmon, Eufaula; Terry Webb, Muskogee; Mike Vaughan, Ada; Jimbo Elrod, Tulsa East Central; Tinker Owens, Miami.
→1974 (6): Rod Shoate, Spiro; Lee Roy Selmon, Eufaula; Dewey Selmon, Eufaula; Tinker Owens, Miami; Randy Hughes, Tulsa Memorial; Kyle Davis, Altus.
→2003 (4): Jammal Brown, Lawton MacArthur; Teddy Lehman, Fort Gibson; Antonio Perkins, Lawton; Jason White, Tuttle.
→1952 (4): Tom Catlin, Ponca City; Eddie Crowder, Muskogee; Billy Vessels, Cleveland; Buck McPhail, Oklahoma City Central.
→1949 (4): Stan West, Enid; Darrell Royal, Hollis; Jim Owens, Classen; George Thomas, Fairland.
→2008 (3): Sam Bradford, Putnam North; Jermaine Gresham, Ardmore; Gerald McCoy, Southeast.
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For decades, the Texans have held the majority and do so now, on the eve of the national title game against Florida.
But the Okies have more quality to their argument than in a long time.
Putnam City North’s
Sam Bradford won the
Heisman Trophy and has thrown a combined 20 touchdown passes to Ardmore’s
Jermaine Gresham, Norman’s
Ryan Broyles and
Tulsa Washington’s
Quentin Chaney.
Southeast’s
Gerald McCoy is an All-America defensive tackle. Tulsa Union’s
Dom Franks has four interceptions and plays an excellent cornerback.
Norman’s
Mossis Madu has rushed for 463 yards as the third-team tailback and will platoon against Florida, with the injury to
DeMarco Murray. Enid’s
Austin Box was the starting middle linebacker the second half of the season until an injury Nov. 29 against
Oklahoma State. Heritage Hall’s
Jimmy Stevens has 116 points kicking, the ninth-highest season scoring total in school history.
"There’s a lot of pride in it,” Madu said with a wide smile. "Tells us what kind of football we have in Oklahoma.
"In the locker room, we’re always joking about Texas football and Oklahoma football. There’s so little Oklahoma players and so many Texans. You kinda want to represent.”
Bradford, Gresham and McCoy made All-American. Since 1975, only twice has OU produced at least three homegrown All-Americans.
"Players we’ve gotten have been productive for us,” said OU running backs coach
Cale Gundy, who came from
Midwest City and quarterbacked the
Sooners 1990-93.
"That’s always our priority. The closer they are to home, the more important it is to them. If things don’t go good, when they go home, maybe they have to hear about it.”
The bonus of a local Heisman winner is great for the Sooner fans. OU has had five Heisman winners; four were from Oklahoma.
"Our fans are excited just to have a Heisman winner,” Gundy said, "but anytime you have a local boy, you’ve read about him in the papers and maybe you feel like you’re closer to him than some other players.”
Said Broyles, "They’ve known us since high school. It’s like a special bond we have.
"They’re always talking about Texas guys coming here, but Oklahoma guys are ... producing. The ones that are here are playing their hearts out. Ready to get another banner up there.”
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