I must confess I was dreading Thursday. I figured we were going to lose our Heisman quarterback, Sam Bradford. And our all-world tight end, Jermaine Gresham. And probably the best defensive lineman in the nation, Gerald McCoy. And the only returning starter on our offensive line, Trent Williams. In other words, Black Thursday.
Then Wednesday came, and Bradford announced he was going to make an announcement. Suddenly I thought he would return. Bearers of bad news typically procrastinate until the absolute last minute. Even if he were staying, the only reason I could think of for Bradford to announce a day early was as an attempt to influence the decision of others thinking of leaving, particularly Gresham.
I thought for certain we would lose Gresham. Of course, I thought we would lose McCoy, too. His announcement earlier in the week set the tone. Still, I thought Gresham was gone. He is more physically ready for the NFL than Bradford.
While it is good news the players are staying, the even better news is why. The loss in the national title game left a bad taste in their mouth, a taste that will define next season. These players are now on a mission. As Tebow showed this year, that makes all the difference.
I suspect Bradford learned something from Tebow. Technically, Sam is as proficient as there is. What he lacks is that intangible. He hasn't learned to come up big in big games. He doesn't play poorly, he doesn't choke, but neither does he take the game by the throat and wring out a victory. At the end of both the Texas and Florida games this year, he seemed to be wondering how technical proficiency was behind on the scoreboard. Ten points behind with three minutes to play is not utterly hopeless, not with that offensive firepower, and, more importantly, not with that thing they call Sooner Magic.
With his decision to stay, Bradford has taken that first step towards acquiring the only thing he lacks as a quarterback. He now wants to win more than anything. Moreover, as indicated by announcing early to sway the decisions of others, he wants to lead.
Last week all seemed hopeless. This week, I'm sensing some of that old Sooner Magic.
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Comments (6) Add A Comment
Yep. Now the only things left to do are get an undeserved BCS bowl bid and tank it like has happened the last four times.
Maestroh
Lewisville , TX
Total Comments (138)
Maestroh,
Yep. You forgot about handing Texas its ass while we're at it.
RMutt
Chesapeake , VA
Total Comments (33)
Mutt you can't win that Cotton Bowl game. Choklahoma's coach isn't big game bob anymore, Mack is Choklahomas daddy, and honestly choklahoma is not good enough. Funny how his assistants leave and so does the hardware unless you are satisfied with the golden hat once in every 3 tries. Sooner Looser's worry too much about one game and like your awful coach says it is not how you start but how you finish, hey Bob Stoopid said it best! How does 5th taste or better yet how does our AS* taste!
weatherford blue
Austin, TX
Total Comments (154)
weatherford blue,
// how does our AS* taste //
You ought to know how AS* tastes. OU has won 6 of the last 9 meetings. I know how well you Texans can count so I'll clue you in: losing 6 of 9 hardly qualifies being somebody's "daddy". Actually that makes it 2 out of 3 golden hats for the good guys. You guys slop into one about once every three tries in the Stoops era.
So now who's "Stoopid"?
RMutt
Chesapeake , VA
Total Comments (33)
you are of course! your college proves it 05 your team lost, 06 your team lost, 08 your team lost, no excuses but if Charles wasnt an idoit and protect the ball 07 would of been a win also by the way that was a great game in 07. Yes mac is your Daddy because in big games he does what Bob Stoopid cant, and i dont have to finish that sentence. Choklahoma had their run and once again sitting behind Texas so once again how does that as* taste Looser Sooner must suck losing your big games by 10! Isnt twice a trend? Choklahoma is sooooo trendy!
weatherford blue
Austin, TX
Total Comments (154)
blue,
And how many national championships has Mac Brown been in again? Of course you have to get to the big games, and to do that you have to win the big games. To spell that out for you, Mac hasn't won the big games to get to the national title games where he can then choke. It wasn't too terribly long ago the knock on Mac was he was a helluva recruiter but couldn't win the big game! In fact I remember reading articles about how Mac's job was on the line because he couldn't seem to win the big one during that run of FIVE straight trouncings of Texas Bob Stoops' Sooners gave the horns. 49, 11, 11, FIFTY FREAKING TWO points as a margin of victory in those games--all more than 10, huh? Must suck being trendy. Oh, and I left out my personal favorite: 12-ZIP! That's more than 10, too.
And one more thing, loser. "Loser" is spelled with one O. Should be easy for you to remember: as in 12-O.
RMutt
Chesapeake , VA
Total Comments (33)
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