On Saturday, Former Sooner Heisman winning quarterback and current St. Louis Ram, Sam Bradford,gave to the University in a big way. Following Adrian Peterson’s lead, Bradford donated $500,000 to the athletic department.

To honor Bradford’s donation, the school will name the first level of Headington Hall, the new student-athlete housing facility’s dining room, The Sam Bradford Training Table. The dining hall, originally named, Wagner Dining Hall will serve as the main dietary and nutritional needs for all Oklahoma student-athletes.

Bradford on giving back:

My experience at Oklahoma made it possible for me to realize my dreams,” said Bradford. “The coaches, the academic environment and every aspect of being a student-athlete at OU made me a better person. I am honored to give back to a program that did so much for me and hope that in some way this contribution can make it possible for those who follow me to enjoy the same kind of experience I did as a Sooner.”

Sooner athletic director, Joe Castiglione also had some kind words to say about Bradford giving back:

Sam Bradford developed into a consummate leader and an award-winning student-athlete at the University of Oklahoma. Sam embraced our incredible tradition here at OU and was relentless in helping his teammates enhance it. In Sam’s typical humble fashion, he continues to serve as a wonderful role model for all OU alumni through his actions and deeds like this generous gift to OU Athletics and Headington Hall.
 
Just as others before him, he leaves a legacy which allows future student-athletes to enjoy that same experience of a lifetime he relished. We appreciate Sam’s commitment to this project that will benefit a wide range of students, and improve the quality of life for the entire OU campus.

Headington Hall is scheduled to be opened in 2013.
 

New NCAA Reception Record Holder, Ryan Broyles

The Sooners started off shaky, but finished dominating to beat the Jayhawks 47-17. After the first half, I don’t think many thought it would turn out that way.

The Sooner offense was slow to get going, with QB Landry Jones throwing inconsistently. He missed 4 passes in his first four attempts against a defense that allowed 56 points scored on them in the first half of their game last week against Oklahoma State. The road-woe Landry showed up to Lawrence. Going in to the second quarter the Sooners were  only ahead by 3 points.

The second quarter kicked off with with the same lack of enthusiasm from the Sooners, as the score was 27-17 going into the half.

The third quarter is when things finally started to click. The Sooner defense decided to wake up, and held the Jayhawks to no points the entire second half. Hopefully the BCS computers missed the first half statistics of the game.

One thing that head coach Bob Stoops can be pleased about from last night is the record breaking performance Senior WR Ryan Broyles had. Broyles caught  a 57-yard touchdown pass from Jones in the first half Saturday night, and Broyles finished with 13 catches for a school-record 217 yards and two touchdowns. Broyles now has 326 career receptions,  beating out former record holder Taylor Stubblefield’s 316.

Broyles on his record night: 

 ”I was just in the moment out there. I’ve been blessed to be around some great quarterbacks.”

Heisman Trophy winner and current St. Louis Rams QB, Sam Bradford was his QB before Jones. Broyles also admitted to getting pretty emotional on the sidelines last night after the record. And Coach Stoops was right there with him. “Ryan Broyles was just out of this world,” Stoops said. “When you set a national record, that’s pretty special, but to do it with over 200 yards is unreal.”

RB Walk-on Dom Whaley also had another great night, with 165 yards and a touchdown to add to his growing numbers. Whaley is making the case for that scholarship offer. Between Broyles and Whaley’s two late touchdowns, they put the nail in the coffin for the Jayhawks attempt at coming back. And looking at the second half numbers, its doubtful that was going to happen.

Official Stats from SoonerSports.com

The Sooners are back in Norman next Saturday to take on Texas Tech.

The Daily Oklahoman did an interview recently with Sooner Co-Offensive Coordinator Josh Heupel, and it has inspired me to take a look back at the Heupel-era at Oklahoma.

You know it’s off-season when…..

So let’s take a walk down Josh Heupel memory lane, shall we?

As most Sooners have engrained in their memory, Josh Heupel led Oklahoma to a undefeated season in 2000 and to the 2001 Orange Bowl to win the National Championship against Florida State. He was was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy that same year, losing out to FSU QB, Chris Weinke.

After leaving the Sooners, Heupel took off to the Miami Dolphins and then the Green Bay Packers, not making it past being a 4th string quarterback. Shoulder tendonitis of his throwing arm ended up being the death of his playing career.

Jason White

In 2004, Heupel returned to the Sooners as a graduate assistant to Bob Stoops. This also gave him a chance to work with his former back up quarterback, Jason White.

White had won the Heisman the year before, and was a finalist again in his 2004 season; losing out to USC quarterback Matt Leinart. Jason White has said that Josh Heupel had always been one of his inspirations as a Sooner.

After one year as a graduate assistant, Heupel was offered the position as the University of Arizona’s tight ends coach by none other than Mike Stoops. The newly-appointed head coach of the Wildcats, and brother of Bob. Mike was an assistant at Oklahoma during Heupel’s playing days at Oklahoma.

Heupel finally returned to the Sooners in 2005 as the quarterbacks coach. After a few seasons, enter first prodigy: Sam Bradford.

Sam Bradford

Bradford’s freshman season at Oklahoma was the year of the Rhett Bomar debacle. Bomar was dismissed from the team for violating NCAA rules; Senior Paul Thompson was named the starter. With Thompson graduating, this left the QB postion up for grabs. Lliterally. It was between: Keith Nichol, Joey Halzle and Sam Bradford. I think most thought it would end up being Nichol.

But Heupel found his man, and this was Bradford. As a redshirt freshman, Bradford came out slinging.

His first starting game, he threw for 363 yards and broke a school record for most yards completed in a quarter, held by his new mentor, Heupel. In the next game, Bradford broke ANOTHER school record for most consecutive pass completions, 22, stealing this from one of his idols, Jason White.

Sam’s Sophomore season is what made him the new Sooner idol. Breaking records, achieving awards: the Heisman, the Davey O’Brien, and the Associated Press Player of the Year to name a few. To the horror of most,especially me at the time, Sam went out with a season-ending shoulder injury his Junior year and was replaced by prodigy number 2: Landry Jones.

Jones had an up and down start debuting as QB for the Sooners. Consistency was his biggest problem. There was also the comparisons of him and Bradford swirling around, so Landry had some big shoes to fill. By the end of the 2009 season, Landry had found his flow and was an honorable mention for the Big 12′s Offensive Freshman of the Year and ESPN’s Big 12 Freshman of the Year. He ended up breaking Bradford and White’s record as the most touchdown passes thrown in a game, making the new number 6.

Jones was named the starter in 2010, naturally. And here’s a look at what happened…

Landry Jones

He was the Sammy Baugh Award winner, an honorable mention All-American by Sports Illustrated, All-Big 12 first team by the Dallas Morning News and Kansas City Star. He was named All-Big 12 second team by AP. Rightfully owns seven passing records at OU. Tied for the single-game yardage mark with 468 yards on an OU record: 62 attempts were at Oklahoma State. He set the single-season completion record with 371 completions on a program record 568 attempts.

He has season (two) and career (three) record for 400-yard games. Multiple TD passes in 11 of his last 14 outings and has seven career games with four or more TDs including four this season. Jones threw for 300+ yards on nine occasions during 2010. He leads the nation in completions and attempts and is No. 2 in total passing yards and TDs. Led the Big 12 in total offense.

All this put together is Heisman potential for 2011.

And it all goes back to one person: Josh Heupel. Heupel is known for producing. The past list of Sooner quarterbacks is a prime example.

With Heupel at the helm of the offense this season, expect big things out of the Sooners and his quarterback prodigies.

It’s tradition in Oklahoma, ya know.

At the Sooner Spectacular gala event Saturday night in Oklahoma City, Sam Bradford’s official Heisman Trophy statue was revealed to the public.

Picture Credit: SARAH PHIPPS / The Oklahoman

Bradford’s statue will be joining the rest of the Sooner Heisman winners Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, Billy Sims, and Jason White; who are all immortalized at Heisman Park outside Memorial Stadium.

Bradford said about the statue:

“I never thought I’d be standing here giving a speech in front of a statue of myself, Pretty cool, though.”

“You know, I’m pretty young to be walking around looking at a statue of myself.”

“I can be content now knowing I can tell my kids I threw a touchdown pass here at Owen Field, I ended up throwing a couple more.”

The Sooner Gala was a fundraiser for the new Sooner Housing Center, which is said to be a 70-75 million dollar project.

Bradford won the Heisman as a sophomore, was the No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft, and was the NFL’s offensive Rookie of the Year.

The statue will officially be unveiled before a game at Heisman Park in the Fall.

Congrats Sam, it is well deserved.

Coach Bob Stoops and Former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez at Spring Practice

It was football day in Norman yesterday. Beautiful weather, wonderful scenery and of course the Sooners playing football.

There are still a lot of questions to be answered about who will rightfully own which position come Fall, but there were quite a few stand-outs.

I don’t know if it was the picture perfect Spring weather or not, but the crowd yesterday was somewhat lethargic. That is until a surprise breakout run from a walk-on running back.

Yes a walk on. Dom Whaley wowed the crowd with a 40 yard run yesterday. I know I was asking myself who the heck this kid was. Whaley had 10 carries and a total of 65 yards. More than any of the other running backs I was anxious to see. The RB spot is wide open at this point, though I still feel it will fall into the hands of Roy Finch, who did well behind DeMarco Murray last season.

» Continue reading “Spring Game, the Aftermath”