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Heisman showdown

Tom Gilbert/Tulsa World file

 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 10/10/2008  2:05 AM
Last Modified: 10/11/2008  1:44 AM

Correction
In some editions, this story incorrectly identified the number of Heisman Trophy winners from Oklahoma and Texas. The schools have combined for six Heisman winners.



Guerin Emig on the OU blog: Sooners have yet to really rattle Colt McCoy. To expect anything diMerent Saturday might be asking too much.
tulsaworld.com/sportsextra



The Oklahoma-Texas showdown has produced six Heisman Trophy winners. Will Saturday's game eventually turn out No. 7?

If so, it could be Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford or Texas quarterback Colt McCoy who counts the 2008 Heisman among his spoils of victory.

"It's really something that I'm not concerned with," Bradford said. "It's something like, kind of, whatever. As long as we win games, that's my main goal."

Said McCoy, "How fun is it every week to be up against a team that has another great quarterback? It's a challenge every week to know that, hey, there's another guy across the field that's leading his team and is playing really well. It makes it fun, it makes it exciting."

On ESPN.com's Heisman poll this week, Bradford ranks second behind Missouri's Chase Daniel. McCoy is third. USA Today has a similar poll that also ranks Daniel first, Bradford second and McCoy third.

The Bradford-McCoy winner, apparently, could gain ground on Daniel.

Top-ranked OU and No. 5 Texas — both 5-0 overall and 1-0 in Big 12 Conference play — kick off at 11 a.m. at the Cotton Bowl inside the Texas State Fair.

There is much at stake, including the inside track to the Big 12 South Division title and a spot in the league's championship game. Barring major upsets, that game could produce one of two participants in the national championship game.

There may be more at stake, too. Chris Spielman, an ABC broadcaster (he worked last year's Big 12 title game, as well as OU's 2007 game at Tulsa), thinks Bradford has a lot to gain by continuing to play at his current level.

"I think he's the best quarterback in the country," Spielman said. "If he comes out (early in the NFL Draft), I think he'd be the first pick taken. Well, I'll say top five. Absolutely the first quarterback."

As both Bradford and McCoy said this week, there's a lot of football left to be played.

Both QBs have a victory in the Red River Rivalry, each winning as a redshirt freshman. In Texas' 28-10 victory in 2006, McCoy was 11-of-18 for 108 yards with two touchdown passes. In OU's 28-21 triumph in 2007, Bradford was 21-of-32 for 244 yards with three TDs.

"I think that's a big accomplishment for both of us, to be able to do that as redshirt freshmen," McCoy said. "But at the same time, it's a total team effort."

Said Bradford, "Obviously you're going to come out and there's probably going to be a lot more emotion. You're going to be a little more amped up. But I think you have to do your best to get in your rhythm and treat it like any other football game."

Bradford set college football afire last season by leading the nation in passing efficiency and setting an NCAA record for touchdown passes (36) by a freshman. That broke McCoy's NCAA freshman record of 29.

This is getting good.

"I'd have to go back and look at it, but I don't see how it could be any better," said Texas coach Mack Brown.

Bradford ranks second nationally this season in pass efficiency with a rating of 204.97. McCoy is fourth at 197.94. Bradford is fifth nationally at 333 yards per game, McCoy is 20th at 256. Bradford is seventh in total offense at 328 yards per game, McCoy is 10th at 319. Between them, they've thrown 34 touchdowns (18 for Bradford) and just six interceptions (three each).

"These two guys have just been on fire," Brown said. "They're unbelievable the way they're playing and leading their team."

And both have done it in the OU-Texas pressure cooker. Two years ago, McCoy directed a key drive late in the third quarter by rushing three times for 21 yards and completing 3-of-3 passes, including a touchdown that stretched a tenuous four-point lead to 21-10. Last year, with the score tied at 21, Bradford put together one for the ages, covering a 92-yard march in the fourth quarter by completing 7-of-8 passes (one was dropped), including a 35-yard TD to put OU ahead 28-21.

"It was big," said OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel. "It was pivotal in that ballgame. It was good because he was making good decisions (and) took care of the football. You do that in this football game, you give yourself a chance to win the game."

Said Brown, "It's really impressive when a young quarterback can come into this game and play well because of the pressure surrounding the game and the matchup," Brown said. "Colt has done it for two years and Sam did it last year. For those two young guys to have that presence in this game for their first year says something about their toughness, their character and their leadership."



John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com



No. 1 OU vs. No. 5 Texas



11 a.m. Saturday Cotton Bowl, Dallas TV: KTUL-8 Radio: KMOD fm97.5, KTBZ am1430



Sam Bradford vs. Colt McCoy:
Tale of the tape



(National rankings in parentheses if in top 25)

Sam Bradford  Colt McCoy
1,665 (7) Passing yards 1,280 (22)
205.0 (2) Passing efficiency rating 197.9 (4)
18 (4-tie) Passing touchdowns 16 (7-tie)
72.6 (5) Completion percentage 79.2 (1)
-23 Rushing yards 317
2 Rushing touchdowns 4
1,642 (7) Total offense 1,597 (10)
120 (4-tie) Points responsible for 120 (4-tie)
3 Interceptions 3
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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3 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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HamInTeeTown, Broken Arrow (10/10/2008 9:12:49 AM)
I didn't know they gave out the Heisman trophy after this game. I learn something new everyday ;-) Boomer Sooner....
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Sooner Alum 04, (10/10/2008 10:48:45 AM)
All I stated was that I don't know why we are even talking about the heisman yet because it's too early and tw erased my comment. What a joke I'm going to stick to USA TODAY!! If you can't allow someone to comment and in a nice manner why have this? The tw is a joke..............
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Dave in Houston, (10/10/2008 11:19:21 AM)
Sooner Alum 04...get used to the deleted comments. TW has been doing a lot of sensorship lately. Kinda ironic isn't it. Thought newpapers were all about freedom of speech. TW is about as 'free' and 'fair' and FOX News. Care to take bets on how long this comment makes it before being 'sensored'.
 

 
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