Keeping Austin Box's memory alive was tough, but it never became a burden
Published: 12/28/2011 4:56 PM
Last Modified: 12/28/2011 4:56 PM
PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — One theory for why Oklahoma didn’t live up to expectations this season was that players had become emotionally drained from coping with the death of teammate Austin Box.
They were clinging too tightly to his memory, trying too hard to live up to his spirit, playing every snap in his honor.
When Box died of a drug overdose in May, it ripped out a significant portion of the Sooners’ emotional heart and soul.
In that vein, Box’s memory almost became a burden that was too heavy to bear.
Each week, one defensive player was appointed to wear Box’s No. 12 jersey, and it was an emotional moment when news came of who would wear it. Every day, someone was appointed to carry Box’s helmet to stretching drills. Box’s locker sat untouched for 125 consecutive days, from reporting day on Aug. 3 to the Bedlam meltdown on Dec. 3. The defense broke out of each huddle with a “12!” shout. And before every game, the Sooners migrated to the opposite end zone to kneel in prayer for Box.
During a 45-minute Insight Bowl media day interview session on Wednesday, though, OU defensive starters said Box’s memory had not become a burden, that they still felt honored to wear his jersey and keep him in their thoughts.
“It does get tough sometimes, always seeing No. 12,” said sophomore defensive back Aaron Colvin. “But I think it gives us more motivation than anything. Give us more drive.”
Senior defensive end Frank Alexander was in Box’s recruiting class back in 2007. He said not having Box around was indeed hard, but keeping his memory close helped everyone cope.
“It just was a good feeling for me to be able to see 12 still out there being active,” Alexander said. “We keep him in our minds and in our hearts, and I feel like he’s always been there with us. It’s just hard, you know? Because all of us, we pride ourselves on being a close team. We’ve been through a lot together. So I don’t think it got too heavy on us. I think it was good for us to go out there and have something else to play for.”
Alexander recounted how excited he was when he learned that he would be wearing Box’s jersey at Florida State.
“I called my mom and dad. Like I was a kid,” Alexander said. “‘Mom, I got selected to wear Box’s jersey in this big game right here, Florida State!’ That was a good deal, you know?”
Another sophomore, safety Tony Jefferson, acknowledged how Box’s death might have wore emotionally on a senior class that came in with 18 players leaves with seven: Alexander, Ryan Broyles, Jamell Fleming, Travis Lewis, Sam Proctor, Donald Stephenson and Jimmy Stevens.
“So maybe there was a lack of leadership throughout the year,” Jefferson said, “but there were guys that stepped up and wanted to do things better.”
Said Colvin, “Austin was a leader from the start anyway. He was one of our leaders. And a lot of guys tried to listen to Austin and tried to do the things that he did. When we lost a guy like that, it hit the whole team — especially that class. They were so small, and for them to lose one of their brothers that made it all the way through with them, none of us know how that felt for them.
“But those guys, they tried to stay positive. They kept trying to be taking a leadership role, basically leading the younger guys. I mean, you could notice that they were hurt. They were more hurt than anybody else. Especially Travis, being at the same position. But at the end of the day, they still tried to go out there and compete and help us win games.”
Alexander also pointed out the car accident three years ago that paralyzed wide receiver Corey Wilson, another member of the ’07 class. A pall hung over Norman all year, from the death of legendary announcer Bob Barry to the passing of popular former players like Lee Roy Selmon and Jimmy Harris.
“A lot of the stuff that we went through this year was hard,” Colvin said. “I mean, I don’t really know too many teams that had to go through the stuff that we did this year. But I never saw coach (Bob) Stoops let it affect him. He never was different around us. At the end of the day, it was how we performed on the field. But going through those things was hard.”
Nothing, though, comes close to losing a teammate. Going into Friday’s Insight Bowl against Iowa, Box’s death has left a permanent scar, and more.
“We all came in together,” Alexander said. “It was just like losing a brother. Once you lose him, you feel like a part of you is gone.”
— John E. Hoover
Written by
John E. Hoover
Sports Columnist
