Why, exactly, did Blake Bell come to OU?
Published: 8/26/2011 5:59 PM
Last Modified: 8/26/2011 5:59 PM
NORMAN — When Blake Bell committed to Oklahoma, Sam Bradford had just won the Heisman Trophy.
As a sophomore.
Why, then, did Bell choose to come to OU? He knew he’d be waiting, at best, two years just to compete for the first-team gig.
And right behind Bradford was another five-star recruit who would be waiting awhile, Landry Jones.
My, how things change.
While Bell played his senior year in Wichita in 2009, Bradford busted his shoulder and Jones got the call in Norman.
Then in 2010, Jones went from “Will he beat out Bell?” to “Will he be a four-year starter?”
“Everyone wants to compete for the starting job,” Bell said. “But a deal like this, Landry’s got probably one more year and who knows what happens? You just keep battling because you never know what could happen. You’re one play away from being that guy.”
As he said, you never know. Maybe Jones starts in 2011 and then goes to the NFL. Maybe Jones starts in 2011 and 2012, giving Bell two years. Maybe Jones gets hurt on the first play against Tulsa and Bell is the new starter. Maybe Bell never beats out Drew Allen and remains a backup. Maybe Allen wins the backup job and Bell transfers.
So why, then, did Bell choose to come to OU?
“I’d say just the coaching, man, just coach Heup (Josh Heupel) and what he does with the quarterbacks,” he said.
“I think if you want to be a great player, I think you have to wait your time. Not necessarily wait forever, but you’ve got to learn the game. Not saying I didn’t know the game, but there’s a lot to learn. From the time I’ve been here until now, I’ve learned so much, and I can only keep learning more.”
— John E. Hoover
Written by
John E. Hoover
Sports Columnist
