Bradford: from face in the crowd to face of the program
Published: 10/27/2009 4:08 AM
Last Modified: 10/27/2009 4:08 AM
Joey Halzle, the Oklahoma grad assistant who was Sam Bradford's backup in 2007 and '08, had some really nice things to say after Bradford's farewell press conference Monday night. Among them: "We've been really good friends. People are surprised to hear that a lot of times because we competed against each other for this job. But I can honestly say that it stayed on the field the whole time. Off the field, we've been great friends, and we'll continue to be friends."
It's amazing, isn't it? To think that one of the most popular, accomplished players in OU history was one of three nondescript-at-the-time quarterback candidates just over two years ago. Bradford, Halzle and Keith Nichol addressed reporters one after the other at the Sooners' media day in August of '07, and about the only thing you thought you knew was, "Man, this team is really gonna miss Paul Thompson."
Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com put it another way in a column dated Aug. 14, 2007: "Rhett Bomar is the thief who keeps on taking. It cannot be downplayed how much the former quarterback hurt Oklahoma when he made Big Red Imports the infamous foreign-car dealership in college football. Senior Paul Thompson thankfully agreed to switch from receiver back to quarterback after Bomar was kicked off the team a year ago this month. Ah, the good old days. At least OU had a serviceable quarterback to fall back on."
Dodd pulled a quote from Bradford's media day press session: "I almost consider myself like Jason White," and said Bradford was speaking of his "drop-back ability, not necessarily of his ability to win the Heisman Trophy."
Let's be honest, it was easy to make cheeky comments back then. About three weeks later, Bradford ended his first college drive against North Texas with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Gresham. He went 21-of-23 that night at Owen Field, for 363 yards and three scores.
Seemingly out of nowhere, the Sooners had more than a "serviceable quarterback." They had White times two.
Quite a story, and sad that it ended Monday night.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
