The Sooners have stopped Heisman winners before
Published: 12/11/2012 7:51 AM
Last Modified: 12/11/2012 7:51 AM
Oklahoma hasn't faced Johnny Manziel before. The Sooners could be in for a shock, unless Mike Stoops has become fast friends with Les Miles (recall Manziel's three interceptions and 1.6-yard rushing average in Texas A&M's 24-19 loss to LSU Oct. 20).
At least OU has defended Heisman Trophy winners in bowl games, with pretty good results to show for it.
New Year's Day 1972, the Sooners dominated Auburn, and Heisman-winning quarterback Pat Sullivan, in the Sugar Bowl. The final was 40-22. It wasn't nearly that close.
Sullivan finished 20-of-44 for 250 yards, one touchdown, one interception and one botched handoff for a fumble. He said: "As big and strong as they were, I knew they were going to score a lot, and we were just going to have to outscore them. We just weren't able to."
The feeling is the OU-A&M Cotton Bowl will be another shootout. Maybe the Sooners can disappoint Manziel like they did Sullivan.
Twenty-nine years later during the Orange Bowl pregame coin flip, OU linebacker Torrance Marshall told Florida State Heisman-winner Chris Weinke he wanted Josh Heupel's trophy back.
Then the Sooners went out and spent three hours doing everything but actually swiping the prize. Weinke threw two picks and no touchdowns for an offense that didn't sniff the end zone, and OU captured the national championship.
The one time the Heisman-winner proved his worth to OU was the 2005 Orange Bowl, and boy did he ever. Matt Leinart threw for 332 yards and five touchdowns as USC humbled the Sooners 55-19.
OU defensive end Larry Birdine dropped a little smack on Leinart in the lead-up to the game, calling him "definitely overrated" and worse than Utah's Alex Smith.
This is history the Sooners won't want to repeat. Expect R.J. Washington to try killing Johnny Football with kindness.
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
