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Wild season keeps OU's dreams alive

OU's injured quarterback Sam Bradford and quarterback coach Josh Heupel stand on the sideline Saturday during the Tulsa game. JOEY JOHNSON / For the Tulsa World

 
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Writer
Published: 9/29/2009  2:24 AM
Last Modified: 10/8/2009  1:04 PM
Go to Dave Sittler's Blog


CRAZY IS about as good a word as any to describe the 2009 college football season as the race to the BCS championship rounds the first turn.

You need look no further than the Oklahoma Sooners to grasp just how nutty things have gone thus far. Consider this: OU still has a shot to make a return trip to the BCS title game next January, and quarterback Sam Bradford's hopes for a second straight visit to the Big Apple in December also remain alive.

Less than a month ago, the chances of OU playing for the national championship and Bradford traveling to New York City as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy weren't even on life support. They were declared dead by most so-called experts on Sept. 5, after BYU upset No. 3 OU and knocked Bradford out of the contest with a separated shoulder.

A funny thing happened to those hellbent on burying Bradford and the Sooners after that 14-13 loss to a non-BCS team. Upsets of top-rated teams became an every-week occurrence, and nobody used the first three or four games to become the Heisman frontrunner.

As we hit the backstretch and head into October, OU already has climbed back from No. 13 to No. 8 in the polls, and Bradford definitely has a opportunity to rejoin the Heisman pursuit even though he's played less than two quarters of one game.

Here's another example of how goofy things stand: Bradford could miss Saturday's game at No. 17 Miami and STILL be in contention to join former Ohio State running back Archie Griffin as the only two-time Heisman winners.

OU obviously has to run the table to make it to Pasadena, Calif., for the BCS Championship game at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 7. In the process, Bradford could capture the hearts of Heisman voters if he writes a comeback story that includes a Big 12 title and a win Oct. 7 against Texas and the Longhorns' Heisman candidate, quarterback Colt McCoy.

A lot of what happens from here to December depends on Sooner coach Bob Stoops. In other words, it's times likes these when Stoops earns those big bucks OU is paying him, $3.675 million this season.

From the first day he stepped on campus in December 1998, Stoops vowed his OU program would always be about championships. That starts with winning the Big 12 title, which more often than not would earn the Sooners a spot in the BCS championship contest.

If Bradford's entourage of medical experts declares it's safe for the Sooner junior to play against Miami even though his shoulder is not 100 percent healed, what's Stoops to do?

Risk it and play him, or sit him and focus on the Big 12?

Stoops confirmed during Monday's Big 12 teleconference that OU has sought advice on Bradford from some of the country's top medical minds, including renowned sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

"X-rays, MRIs and (other information) has been sent to multiple, multiple people, including Dr. Andrews," Stoops said. "When it first happened, we got multiple opinions, and everybody's were pretty similar and felt that our (OU medical) guys were definitely on the right track and doing the right things."

Ah, yes, doing the right thing. That brings us back to the choice Stoops could face later this week after watching Bradford practice — BCS or Big 12 championship? He could have both, lose both or win at least one of the two.

OU obviously doesn't have to defeat Miami to win the Big 12. And with the Sooners opening conference play next week against Baylor, it's conceivable Stoops could save Bradford until the Texas game to lessen the chance of the shoulder being injured again.

The Sooners almost certainly can whip the Bears with Landry Jones at quarterback. And now that Baylor has lost standout quarterback Robert Griffin for the season, an OU win on Owen Field on Oct. 10 seems easily attainable without Bradford.

Yes, I know about the rust factor. If Bradford doesn't play again until the Red River Shootout at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, he may be so rusty from the layoff that he can't operate against the No. 2 Longhorns.

Poppycock.

If Bradford scrimmages OU's starting defense several days in practice, he'll face a unit salty enough to knock the rust clean off a 1908 Ford Model T.

"We have to feel comfortable that he's healthy," Stoops said of Bradford. "That he feels good enough to make the throws we need to make and he's ready to do it."

In other words, don't look for Stoops to add to this wacky season by making the crazy decision to play Bradford before he's ready, just so OU can stay in the BCS race.

By DAVE SITTLER 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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AtlantaSooner, Atlanta (9/29/2009 7:33:00 AM)
Geeze, when was the last time two undefeated teams met for the national championship? It is a rare occurance, so this year could hardly be described as that unusual. The only reason these "upsets" are so surprising is because reporters attempt to write the season before it is played. If the preseason polls meant anything, we wouldn't play the season.
Report Comment
pat, Kiefer (9/29/2009 9:29:23 AM)
WELL SAID A.S.!
Report Comment
The Truth Hurts, (9/29/2009 9:44:07 AM)
If we believed the crap that Sittler writes, OSU would be 11-0 heading into Bedlam...oh wait
Report Comment
SoonerDJ, Lisbon, Portugal (9/29/2009 11:29:46 AM)
Poppycock!

I agree, going against OUs number 1 defense would get the rust off. So I hope that they keep Sam until he is 100% healthy and ready.
Report Comment
MaintenanceMan, Tulsa (9/29/2009 11:44:24 AM)
Tough decisions upcoming for Bob and the medical personnel of the Sooners. Even if Jones plays, I think our chances are good enough. Let Bradford go one more week then warm up vs. Baylor to get ready for the must win vs. Texas.

BOOMER!!!
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (9/29/2009 3:01:51 PM)
BOOMER SOONER!!
Report Comment
Sooner Alum 04, (9/29/2009 6:01:05 PM)
Excellent story! Stoops and the Sooners are champions and if people could just get the rust out of their minds and remember the mid -late 90's when OU couldn't even win a game. I think OU can take Miami if they play smart and should handle TX so now it's time to wait and see. BOOMER SOONER!!!!!
Report Comment
dcood, (9/30/2009 9:34:46 AM)
All I've heard on the Bradford deal is, even from Stoops, is that they are waiting to see if/when he can make all the throws... To me, that is secondary to if/when he gets drilled to the turf on that shoulder, how will he respond? Also, I love it when everyone says he should only play if he's 100%. Bull, real competitors want to play as soon as it is safe. He didnt stay an extra year to watch games like Miami. If he's out of danger, whether that means 100% or not, we will play.
Report Comment
broozer, (9/30/2009 11:04:28 AM)
It matters not if Bradford plays or not. The problem is not at Q-Back!
It has been pass defense all along, period. Sittler, you need to get a
grip. I do not believe there has been an upset of the best teams. Florida, Texas, and Alabama are still undefeated. These are the Big
Boys. OU has proven over the last 8 or 9 years they cannot play in their league. So please Dave, don't start building us sooner fans up for the big BCS letdown again.





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