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Sam Nation
Sooner quarterback is rewriting record books as his team marches toward a possible national title.


 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 12/3/2008  2:23 AM
Last Modified: 12/3/2008  4:11 PM



Video: While being pursued by an Oklahoma State defender, OU quarterback Sam Bradford made a leap into the end zone. It didn’t count as a touchdown, but it showed Bradford’s athleticism. In this video, watch the flip and Bradford’s commentary after the game.




NORMAN — With tendons torn in his non-throwing hand, with his long legs whipping skyward like a ride at the fair, with even his incomplete passes thrown perfectly, Sam Bradford has become Oklahoma's greatest quarterback.

So says Sooner coach Bob Stoops.

"I think I've been asked that too early in times past — is he the best we've had? — I don't think there's any question now," Stoops said Tuesday. "I love what Jason White was able to do. It was absolutely incredible with his circumstances and what he fought through. And Josh Heupel and what he was able to do here in a short period of time. But what this guy has done for two straight years now — I don't know how to explain it."

Bradford didn't have the prettiest game last week in OU's 61-41 victory over Oklahoma State. He sustained a semi-serious injury to his left thumb, he was flipped upside down and landed hard on a scramble near the end zone, and his receivers dropped too many perfect passes.

But his goal-line scramble, awkward as it ended, may end up being one of OU's signature plays of 2008.

"It
looked like a gangling deer," said tight end Jermaine Gresham, "that got hit by a car."

But it was typical Bradford. Nothing, but nothing, affects him. He finished last Saturday with 370 passing yards, four touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown, and a trip to Saturday's Big 12 championship game against Missouri.

"He doesn't amaze me," said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "I just trust him and count on him. He does it on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. What's unique about it is, he stays within himself and stays calm. I think he still believes he can and needs to be better. And he works hard."

Bradford on Tuesday was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year by conference coaches. He also was named as one of five finalists for the Walter Camp Award (national player of the year). Last week he was named Academic All-American. Next week he'll go to Orlando in contention for the O'Brien Award (top quarterback) and the Maxwell Award (another national player of the year honor). And he's regarded as the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy and is expected to get a formal invitation to New York next week.

In 2007, he led the nation in passer efficiency and set an NCAA freshman record with 36 touchdown passes. This year, he's second nationally in efficiency and leads the country with 46 TDs.

And, potentially bad news for Sooner fans, Bradford has been out of high school for three years and is viewed by draft analysts as the best NFL quarterback prospect — so good, in fact, some say he'd be the top overall pick. Is Bradford NFL-ready?

"Hopefully not," Stoops said with a laugh.

Oklahoma is in position to win its third consecutive Big 12 championship. No Big 12 quarterback has won two. If the Sooners (11-1) beat Missouri (9-3), they'll likely advance to the Bowl Championship Series national title game in Miami on Jan. 8, where Bradford can truly take his place among Sooner legends.

"The guy, it's just uncanny how accurate he is, how consistent he is," Stoops said. "I would ask you, have you seen (him throw) a bad ball? It's just amazing. But he has that kind of ability. He has a little more size than the other guys we've had. He's got pocket presence. He's a better athlete, as people see the more he's out of the pocket, than he's ever given credit for. And he's got that touch and precision to put the ball in different places different ways, whether it's fast or whether it's lobbed over people."

What of Stoops' assessment that Bradford is better than Heupel and White?

"I didn't know that he said that," said Heupel, now Bradford's position coach. "His memory must not be real good."

Then Heupel turned serious.

"I would certainly echo those sentiments," he said.

What did Bradford think of Stoops' comment?

"That's a huge compliment to hear that. It means a lot," Bradford said. "But there's still a lot of things we need to accomplish this season. Obviously Coach Heupel was able to win a national championship. Jason White was able to play in a couple national championships. I have yet to do that. So there's still a lot of things I need to do before I can be considered with those guys."

Bradford says he’s ‘fine’ after thumb ligaments tear



NORMAN —Sam Bradford doesn’t expect his thumb injury to limit him when Oklahoma plays Missouri on Saturday night.

“It’s fine,” the quarterback said Tuesday.

Bradford sustained torn ligaments in his left thumb in OU’s 61-41 win at Oklahoma State last Saturday.

It doesn’t affect his passing because he is right-handed, but he told coach Bob Stoops last week it felt like he was holding a deflated football because his thumb moved when it shouldn’t. That could affect hand offs.

“It sure bothered him the other night,” Stoops said. “His thumb just goes back. He didn’t have it. So he has to use his other hand. That’s when he realized, ‘Uh-oh, I can’t.’

Bradford had the thumb taped, but he fumbled two snaps under center and had to finish the game in the shotgun formation.

This week, he and the OU training staff devised a custom pad that supports the thumb and lets him get under center, where the Sooner running game is more effective.

Bradford said with the new tape job, “It feels normal now.”

“We’ll operate as usual,” Stoops said. “We feel, yeah, confident that he’ll be able to take snaps as usual.”

Tickets available



OU tickets sold out through the University of Oklahoma early Monday. But tickets are still available at tulsaworld.com/ticketmaster or by calling 587-2322. Prices range from $55-$85.




John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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9 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!

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Report Comment
Dad, Up North (12/3/2008 7:39:12 AM)
Heisman............
Report Comment
Bird1, Tulsa (12/3/2008 8:16:13 AM)
Maybe Sam can break the Heisman Jinx this year. Usually, the Heisman's team loses the big game. I think this Sooner team can break that.

Boomer Sooner!
Report Comment
Milo, PoDunk (12/3/2008 10:27:02 AM)
I am very vocal about Sam..But, I am just as vocal about whole team and they win games when they play as a team!!! Plus they are fun to watch!!!
Boomer!!!
Report Comment
Trickstr25, (12/3/2008 10:57:13 AM)
ESPN paid big for SEC broadcast rights. This means they have a conflict of interest when it comes to promoting and influencing people associated with the polls. It doesn't surprise me that they want to turn OK and TX fans against each other so they can keep up their true agenda of lifting the SEC to the top. OK and TX are better than Bama and Florida and should be reflected so in the polls. Just look at their computer rankings and the schedules.

The entire ESPN network has become biased. Herbstreit specifically promoted Florida and the SEC. ITS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST!!!!!

Just Google "ESPN SEC Sign Historic Contract"
Report Comment
Arbythree, (12/3/2008 11:15:49 AM)
Another National Championship....another Heisman Trophy......I love tradition!!!!!!!!

BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!
Report Comment
godsgirlok, Clearfield (12/3/2008 3:22:20 PM)
Have anyone else noticed that when we played the "head-to-head" it was in Texas - THAT IS NOT A NEUTRAL SITE!!! I was at the October 11th game this year and far as the eye could see there was a sea of burnt orange inside the Cotton Bowl and throughout Fair Park. I ate at Texas restaurants, spent quite a few days before and after the game in Texas hotels and spent money at Texas retail stores. Not one dime of my money was spent in Oklahoma during the Red River Shoot Out Weekend. I don't hear Texas complaining about the sudden spike in their economy compliments of the Sooner Nation. I am a Sooner alum and a Sooner fan...my nephew is a starter for the D-line...however I flew in from Odgen Utah to watch the game because I now reside there. I hope the Sooners will strongly advocate playing future games at other stadiums - at a truly neutral site like New Orleans, Lousiana!!! That way both teams will have to travel the same distance to a "NEUTRAL SITE." How about that Texas!!!
Report Comment
my2cents, (12/3/2008 5:33:43 PM)
I thought the University of Texas was in Austin. Oh wait, it IS!!! 50/50 fans split right down the middle equals neutral site. Get over it, godsgirlok.
Report Comment
kyote, (12/3/2008 6:35:25 PM)
I am so glad that bob and sam are so close on and off the field, bob needs to remember there are other players on the field though, no matter who he THINKS is the best.
Report Comment
dege, Edmond (12/4/2008 1:12:01 PM)
godsgirlok ... while spending your money in Texas does help the Texas economy, understand that OU receives a bootload of money from the Cotton Bowl (or whoever) to play the game in Dallas, not to mention receiving HALF of the tickets. If the powers that be at OU feel this is hurting the coffers in the Athletic Department, or the performance of the team on the field, they have every right not to renew the contract when it's up and make the OU/UT series a home and home series. So have a little cheese with that wine and enjoy Dallas, the game is going to be played there for the forseeable future.
 

 
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