TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bradford Tries To Keep Low Profile

ADVERTISEMENT

By JOEY JOHNSTON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2009

FORT LAUDERDALE - When you're the Heisman Trophy winner, it's difficult to maintain a relatively anonymous lifestyle.

But Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford is giving it a good effort.

"When I got back to Norman after the Heisman ceremony, things have been pretty normal," Bradford said Saturday, in his first comments since the Sooners arrived in South Florida to prepare for Thursday night's BCS Championship Game against the Florida Gators.

Bothered by the autograph hounds?

"No, not really," said Bradford, who did pose for photographs with the pilots and flight attendants when Oklahoma's charter landed Friday. "I haven't had many people ask. I know Tim Tebow, Florida's quarterback has a lot of that. When I talked to Colt McCoy, the Texas quarterback, he said he absolutely gets bombed by autograph-seekers every time he goes to class. That's not me. And that's just fine."

Is there any part of Bradford that would like to trade places with Tebow, just for a day?

"Well, I would like to be 240 pounds and be able to run over people like he does," Bradford said with a laugh.

STOOPS ADDRESSES TALK OF JUMP TO NFL

Following Oklahoma's practice Saturday, Sooners coach Bob Stoops was asked about reports of the Denver Broncos contacting him (through an intermediary).

"What situation? That's a rumor I have not heard," Stoops told reporters. "No one has contacted me. I'm sure someone other than you guys would have told me I was a candidate, if I really was.

"There's no story. I'm not a candidate. At some point in my life or career, being interested in an NFL job may be the case. Everyone wants you to tell them what you're going to be doing 10 years from now. Who knows? I don't know, nor do you."

HOW BAD DO THEY WANT IT?

The quote from last season's Fiesta Bowl, pounded home in the offseason, still resonates for the Sooners.

"I guess we just wanted it more."

The speaker was West Virginia QB Pat White, after the Mountaineers ripped Oklahoma 48-28 in a bowl game that most experts had already handed to the Sooners.

"That was our team, that was us, so we have to own it," Sooners TE Jermaine Gresham said. "We didn't perform the way we wanted. We're pretty eager to show what we can do. Nobody wants to win this game more than we do. I think that's safe to say."

UNSTOPPABLE SOONERS?

Oklahoma has scored 702 points, the most in major college football since 1904 (when Minnesota had 725). The Sooners come in with five consecutive games of 60-plus points.

Are they unstoppable?

"We got beat this year, so we've been stopped before," said TE Jermaine Gresham, referring to a 45-35 loss against Texas on Oct. 12. "So we can't be unstoppable."

"If we just walk on the field, it's not just going to happen automatically," Sooners center Jon Cooper said. "It just won't. We are very confident in our abilities. But it's obvious losing could happen again. We're not thinking we're some kind of unbeatable team. We're hungry to finish the job."

SETTING THE TEMPO

Oklahoma's no-huddle, fast-paced offense has been a load for opponents to handle. In the early season, some opponents were so befuddled that the ball was snapped during defensive substitutions, creating penalties and breakdowns.

Sooners offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said the real pace is set during practice, when the speed is ramped up even higher. He's generally screaming the whole time, imploring his players to locate the ball, to get lined up, to execute.

"If you convert on third down, eliminate negative plays and don't shoot yourself in the foot offensively, you have a chance to get rolling," Wilson said. "We don't have a goal for points or yardage. Our goals are avoiding turnovers, sacks, missed assignments, dropped passes. We chart things that get you beat.

"The majority of the season, we've blocked cleanly, taken care of the ball, ran it well, passed it well. Those things lead to yardage and points. But you take care of the details first. Then comes your ability to win the game."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT