Tulsa World: Wall Street last stop for Bradford

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Wall Street last stop for Bradford
OU's Heisman winner rings opening bell to begin trading at New York Stock Exchange.

Sam Bradford, with NYSE executive Lawrence Leibowitz at left and Bradford's father, Kent, at right, prepares to ring the New York Stock Exchange opening bell Tuesday. Associated Press

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 12/17/2008 2:26 AM
Last Modified: 12/17/2008 2:35 AM

NEW YORK — Stocks may be down, but spirits on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange were definitely up Tuesday.

The Sam Bradford Heisman Trophy Tour concluded with a brief morning tour of the Wall Street icon, wherein Bradford met the CEO, rang the opening bell to begin trading, and was given a quick rundown of the techniques and technology of contemporary trading.

"You're a great example for a lot of kids out there, in school and in sports," NYSE CEO Duncan Niederauer told Bradford after the Oklahoma quarterback was presented with a commemorative medallion. "We hope you continue your interest in finance. And also in football."

Bradford and his party — mom Martha, dad Kent, girlfriend Kelsey Kurtz, longtime friend Kelsey Cline, OU associate athletic director Kenny Mossman and Heisman representatives Tim Henning and Jim Corcoran — arrived on the bell podium at 9:21 a.m. At 9:29:30, applause rose up from the trading floor, and at 9:30 sharp, Bradford pushed the button to start the day's trading.

Bradford then made his way to the floor, where he gave an interview to CNBC financial reporters and was briefed by senior floor associate Peter Costa on how the whole thing works. All around him, traders usually focused on their monitors stood staring, smiling and taking pictures.

In the midst of thousands of computer screens monitoring the world's money, Bradford — a 3.95 student in finance at Oklahoma — confidently listened, looked, nodded, and smiled, as though he'd just received the next play from the Sooner sideline.

With the market in recession and the holidays bearing down, many at the NYSE were in the mood for a little excitement. As usual, Bradford delivered.

"Sometimes you put these really stuffy CEOs up there and they only want to talk business, or what their IPO is or whatever," said David Lee, a Morgan Stanley operations manager and the man responsible for coordinating Bradford's appearance. "This is a lot more fun, a lot more relaxed."

The buzz worked both ways.

"It's pretty fun," said Kent Bradford. "I haven't ever been a part of anything like this."

Bradford planned to board a plane in New Jersey later in the afternoon bound, finally, for Oklahoma. He hadn't been home since leaving last Wednesday for the ESPNU College Football Awards Show in Orlando, Fla.

His return comes none too soon. Said Kurtz, "We've got a finance final today that we're missing."

Maybe opening trading on the New York Stock Exchange will earn them some extra credit.

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

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	Report Comment tulsaOUfan, Tulsa (12/17/2008 7:55:52 AM) The market was up nearly 400 points. They should pay Sam to ring the bell every day. BOOMER SOONER!!
	Report Comment Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (12/17/2008 7:57:18 AM) And let's not forget he brought interest rates down too!!!!!!!!

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