OU football notebook: Bradford knocked out against Tech last year

Published: November 20, 2008

Last year in a loss at Texas Tech, quarterback Sam Bradford suffered a concussion on OU’s first offensive play.


OU's Sam Bradford sits on the bench after an injury during last year's Texas Tech game. Photo by Bryan Terry

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After Allen Patrick fumbled a handoff, Bradford tried to tackle the Tech defender who recovered the ball. While making the tackle, Bradford was driven into the turf before 350-pound teammate Duke Robinson fell on him.

Bradford left on the next series and didn’t return to the game, as Tech jumped to a big lead before holding on for a 34-27 win. Bradford said if the situation came up again, he’d still try to make the tackle.

"Ninety-nine times out of 100 he’s not going to get knocked out,” coach Bob Stoops said. "If it happened again, he’d throw himself in there.”

BRACING FOR ACTION

Manny Johnson said he continues to heal from a dislocated elbow he suffered a month ago against Kansas.

"It’s getting better. I’m about 80 percent right now,” said Johnson, who played sparingly against Nebraska and Texas A&M. "I have a little pain. But I can go full speed and I have full extension.”

Johnson has been wearing a brace to protect the elbow.

"The brace helps a lot,” Johnson said. "It gets annoying sometimes. But you have to work through it.”

ELDRIDGE HEALTHY

After battling an ankle injury the last month, tight end Brody Eldridge is finally close to 100 percent, thanks to a week of rest during OU’s bye week.

Said Stoops, "That’s a positive.”

PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS

Tuesday, the BCS and ESPN signed a four-year deal that will begin in 2011 and last until 2014, diminishing the chances of a playoff being implemented anytime soon.

Still, President-elect Barack Obama continues to stump for a college football playoff.

"He’s probably got a lot more pull than I do, there’s no question about that," said Stoops, who came out in favor of a playoff this year. "We’ll see. I’m sure he’s got some more important issues to handle before that. But I’m not worried about it. I’ve got Tech coming here this Saturday."

McCoy a Wooden finalist

Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was named one of 16 semifinalists for the 2009 Wooden Cup.

The Wooden Cup is given to a collegiate and a professional athlete who have made the greatest positive influence in the lives of others. The award recipients will be announced at a ceremony held at Atlanta’s East Lake Golf Club on Jan. 14.

BY JAKE TROTTER


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kelly, he didn't change his mind midway through the season. He wanted one at the beginning of the season but no one asked him his thoughts at the beginning of the season.
Barney, poppycock - Nov 21, 2008 at 9:23 am
I'll take a shot at your question. Ummm, let's see...oh yea, because it's a completely "no brainer" idea. Every time someone starts throwing common sense into the equation, all hell breaks loose. Everyone knows that. Do you really want to upset the balance of nature? Has the current system outlived it's usefulness? Absolutely it has, but my goodness can you imagine what a playoff system would mean for college football? A championship game would be played by the two best teams in college football each season and the eventual winning team would be unquestionably and unanimously declared "National Champions!" Whoever heard of such a thing? On a serious note and I don't want to sound unsupportive of Bob Stoops at all because I whole heartedly beleve he is one of the best all-around coaches in college football, but I was surprised that he wasn't in favor of a play-off system at the beginning of the season. NOTE: This is not a cue for any haters to start making silly comments about Coach Stoops changing his beliefs halfway through the season just because OU might not benefit from the current BCS system. Perhaps he's already answered this question and I missed reading about it.
Kelly, Newalla - Nov 20, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Sam, a game to prove if you are a great QB or just another jason white. .
Tony, glendale - Nov 20, 2008 at 6:00 pm
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I have yet to hear a reasonable argument against a playoff. Anyone want to try???
Grant, Edmond - Nov 20, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Watch the video of Bob Stoops' press conference. I think you will see that he didn't bring the topic of crowd noise up. He was just trying to answer some dumb a$$ reporters stupid question.
Mike, Corpus Christi - Nov 20, 2008 at 4:30 pm
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I think Jo raised a very good question about Hazle's ability to perform as a backup QB to one of College's best team in the country. Sam Bradford is one hit away from turning OU's season from good to mediocre. This year, there were several blowouts that Hazle could have been put in and really throw the ball with the first string receivers/TE/RB. The only thing Hazle does is to take the snap and handed of to the RBs. Why? Shouldn't he be better off throwing the ball to get his timing down with the 1st teamers?
j3lly, Boon Dock - Nov 20, 2008 at 4:01 pm
jo..... pull your head out and pay attention to the details
Barney, poppycock - Nov 20, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Jotex is such a crybaby! Dry your eyes, slap in another tampon, and put your big girl panties on. (I believe you are a female because never in my live have I met a man who spelled his name "Jo". If I am wrong, the same still applies because you whine like a woman.)
Allen, Oklahoma City - Nov 20, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Jo, Do you think Stoops is now offended because you only think he works for 6 months? He was saying he didn't remember any penalties or unnecessary timeouts being called because of crowd noise. Pay attention to details next time.
B, L - Nov 20, 2008 at 2:02 pm
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Regarding Jo. Nobody wants to sit behind the guy that stands the whole game, no matter the situation. However, it appears Jo may be that guy that is always yelling "sit down".
Jim, Wichita - Nov 20, 2008 at 1:28 pm
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Stoops is not saying we are not good fans, he just said that we are not loud in a good way. I think every fan that has been to an OU game would agree with Stoops on that. And... because of his comments, is there any doubt that this will be the loudest crowd (providing TT does not blow us out) in many years.
Jim, Wichita - Nov 20, 2008 at 1:25 pm
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Don't let what you think he meant ruin your day Jo. I'm certain Coach Stoops wasn't trying to offend anyone much less the very dedicated fans that support his teams year after year. Why don't you take another approach. Look at this as an opportunity to ensure that this game is the loudest home game ever. That this game becomes known for generations as the game when every OU fan went absolutely ape sh$$ evertime OU picked up the first down, knocked G.H. on his keister for yet anther loss and scored TD after TD to win so decisively that Mike Leach quit coaching college football to become a public defender in Tumbleweed, Texas. Thats right, show up this Saturday Jo and make everyone around you think that Old Yeller must have bitten you just before he was put down. High-five everyone around you and put Grandma on your shoulders for a few minutes every quarter so she can scream and go nuts right along with you and every other rabid OU fan in attendance. As the last few seconds tick down, you'll be an exultantly proud OU fan knowing that you were part of the legendary crowd known around the world as "The fans who kicked Tech's ass!" It might be faintly heard Jo, but I'll be going ape sh$$ with you, all the way from the deserts of Iraq!
Kelly, Newalla - Nov 20, 2008 at 12:36 pm
No doubt! Relax!
Patrick, Fayetteville - Nov 20, 2008 at 11:43 am
Hey, Halze looked pretty good in that game by the time all was said and done. He even threw the game tying touchdown late in the fourth, but it was called out of bounds. I thought it was in bounds, but I wasn't the ref on the field. And, even though nearly all OU fans sided with Stoops, I don't think he was making any insult to OU fans. I think he was just trying to get fans fired up. Standing and yelling the entire game instead of being complacent when OU's up big or down by like 14 or so.
Zach, Perkins - Nov 20, 2008 at 11:42 am
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Jo, lighten up!
Tom, Tulsa - Nov 20, 2008 at 10:55 am
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Stoops could have played Halze last year in games with big leads, but instead he chose to make "his" team look foolish and unprepared for 3 quarters by hitting the panic button when Sam got hurt. I say "his" team because he stated earlier this week the fans have no bearing on "his" teams ability to win games at home. I guess all those road expenses fans fork over. plane tickets, gas, hotels, meals, rental cars, no big deal to a guy that makes $4.5 mil. for 6 mo.of work and 6 mo. of golf. Maybe the fans should save their money and stay home, we aren't needed.
jo, edmond - Nov 20, 2008 at 10:31 am
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