Oklahoma football: Wheels keep turning for Jaydan Bird and his brother

The next roll in the lives of Team Bird — that's what they like to call themselves, Oklahoma linebacker Jaydan Bird, his brother Jordan and their mom Kristy — is another roll forward.

Most Saturdays in the fall, Kristy is in the stands cheering on her youngest son. For OU that means making plays at fullback and tackles at linebacker. Most practices for Jaydan are spent running between the offensive and defensive practice fields to work on different packages and schemes.

When he can, Jaydan's older brother Jordan makes the trip to Norman, but he's still in college himself on a full scholarship. Jordan Bird is one of the nation's best athletes in wheelchair track, and he's representing the United States for the first time this week at the 2012 Paralympics in London. He was scheduled to compete in the 800 meters early Wednesday morning, in addition to the 400 and 4x400 relay later in the competition.

Jordan's wheels spun over many bumps along the way to this stop, but it's nothing Team Bird doesn't know how to get through.

They know their wheels need to continue to turn, never stopping, not like they did that February day in 1992.

Twenty years ago, Jaydan and Jordan rode with their father, Jeff, on the way to pick out a Valentine's Day present for their mom when a car crossed the centerline on a highway near Wichita, Kan. According to the Wichita Eagle, Jeff Bird was ejected from the automobile and died on impact. Jaydan, 1, was sitting in the back seat and broke his collarbone. Two-and-a-half year-old Jordan, who was sitting in the front, suffered two microscopic bruises to his spine that left him paralyzed from the waist down.

Kristy knew that day would change their life. She didn't have a college degree, and the road ahead was one of struggle, but life would not stop. The Birds would not live in that tragic moment. They would take what they were given and move forward.