Tulsa World: Bradford is winner of O'Brien QB award

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Bradford is winner of O'Brien QB award
Tech's Graham Harrell and Texas' Colt McCoy were also nominated.

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford holds the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award after winning the honor as the nation's best quarterback on Thursday in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 12/12/2008 2:31 AM
Last Modified: 12/12/2008 2:37 AM

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Sam Bradford stood there, gripping his new trophy, smiling an intoxicated smile.

The Davey O'Brien Award was his. Wow.

"It feels good," he said.

Bradford, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, takes home college football's honor as the nation's outstanding quarterback, presented Thursday during the ESPNU College Football Awards Show.

He beat out Big 12 Conference rivals Colt McCoy of Texas and Graham Harrell of Texas Tech.

Bradford arrived at the Dance Hall inside Disney's Boardwalk on a red carpet. When he left, the carpet might as well have been a cloud.

"It's so exciting," Bradford said. "Just to be nominated and be here, especially with Graham and Colt, that was such a big honor. But to actually win the award, I can't really describe how that feels."

On the horizon is an early morning flight Friday to New York, where he is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. That announcement comes during a 7 p.m. ESPN broadcast Saturday from the Nokia Theater in Times Square.

Perhaps history offers a clue of Bradford's Heisman chances. Of the 13 QBs who won the Heisman since 1981 (when the O'Brien Award was specified for QBs), 11 won the O'Brien first.

Bradford's Heisman competition comes from two other quarterbacks: McCoy and Florida's Tim Tebow. Tebow won both the O'Brien and the Heisman last season. The only two Heisman-winning QBs who didn't win the O'Brien first were Matt Leinart in 2004 and Carson Palmer in 2002, both of USC. Iowa's Brad Banks won the '02 O'Brien, and OU's Jason White won it in '04.

Bradford becomes OU's second O'Brien Award winner, joining White, who won it in 2003 and 2004 (Ty Detmer and Danny Wuerffel are the only other two-time winners).

"It felt good," Bradford said. "Especially knowing that Jason White won it when he was at Oklahoma. I kind of grew up an Oklahoma fan following him, so I guess following in his footsteps and winning the award, I mean, it feels great."

Bradford leads the nation with 48 touchdown passes and a 186.3 efficiency rating. This season he set numerous OU records, including yards and touchdowns in a game, single season and career. He guided the Sooners to an NCAA-record 702 points and a third consecutive Big 12 championship. On Jan. 8 in Miami, Fla., Bradford and the No. 1 Sooners (12-1) clash with No. 2 Florida (12-1) and Tebow in the Bowl Championship Series national title game.

Bradford wasn't the state's only big winner Thursday. Oklahoma State punter Matt Fodge won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter.

"I'm just at a loss for words," Fodge said. "To be able to win an award like that, working hard for four years, to see it pay off is very rewarding."

Fodge, a senior from Garland, Texas, averaged 44.1 yards per punt this season as the Cowboys went 9-3. Fodge didn't punt enough times to qualify for national NCAA rankings, but his average would have ranked 11th nationally.

"They were joking the entire season they had to go wake me up on the bench when it was time to punt," Fodge said during the telecast.

"That's a tribute to our offense. They've been playing good all year."

Only one of his 31 punts was a touchback, and 17 were downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line. OSU ranked second nationally in net punting with an average of 40.7 yards.

"I've got to give it up to the other 10 guys on the punt team," Fodge said. "Without them, this award wouldn't be possible."

OSU wide receiver Dez Bryant was a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, but lost to Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree, who also won the award last season.

OU guard Duke Robinson was a finalist for the Outland Trophy, but lost to Alabama's Andre Smith.

OSU's Brandon Pettigrew and OU's Jermaine Gresham were finalists for the John Mackey Award (top tight end), which went to Missouri's Chase Coffman.

OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was recognized for winning the Frank Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.

Hardware store

A list of Thursday's winners at the ESPNU College Football Awards Show:

Chuck Bednarik Award (top defender): Ray Maualuga, USC

Fred Biletnikoff Award (top receiver): *Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

Lou Groza Award (top kicker): Graham Gano, Florida State

Ray Guy Award (top punter): Matt Fodge, Oklahoma State

Robert Maxwell Award (top player): *Tim Tebow, Florida

Davey O'Brien Award (top quarterback): Sam Bradford, Oklahoma

John Outland Award (top interior lineman): Andre Smith, Alabama

Jim Thorpe Award (top defensive back): Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State

Doak Walker Award (top running back): Shonn Greene, Iowa

*2007 award winner

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

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SteveH, McAlester (12/12/2008 8:34:18 AM)

"Sam Bradford stood there, gripping his new trophy, smiling an intoxicated smile."

Did Bradford actually appear to be drunk or did the writer perhaps mean to say "intoxicating?"

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