Griffin’s gone, but college ball in state still OK
These Sooners get it
In fact, after I returned to the press box to gather my stuff, I looked down onto the field and saw one last Sooner at the wall. There were only a couple dozen fans left, but the player stood there, signing whatever anyone handed to him. Unfortunately, no one left in the pressbox had binoculars, so I can’t be certain if it was McCoy or Franks.
Bradford needs line, time
Sam Bradford looks a lot like you remember him.
Smooth. Accurate. Composed.
Unless he’s running for his life.
The Oklahoma quarterback was hurried more in the first couple series of the Red-White game Saturday than he was all of last year. Oh, that might be a bit overblown, a smidgen of hyperbole, but not by very much. Bradford clearly didn’t have the time that he had a year ago when he led the Sooners to the national championship game and won the Heisman Trophy.
Offensive line was one of the biggest questions after the Sooners lost four big-time players from last year’s starting unit. Out are Jon Cooper, Phil Loadholt, Duke Robinson and Brandon Walker. In are Ben Habern, Cory Brandon, Brian Simmons and Stephen Good. Trent Williams is the only holdover.
Everyone knew it would take time for this new group to come together.
Clearly, that time has yet to arrive.
Did the Sooner offensive line do some nice things in the Red-White Game? Sure, but Bradford was “sacked” twice in the first possession. (Being “sacked” in the spring game means that a defender got to him and would’ve lit him up in a full-contact situation, but being the spring, full contact is a no-no where quarterbacks are concerned.) Slingin’ Sam was sacked an average of once a game last season.
He wasn’t just sacked. He was rushed, too. Bradford missed a couple throws because he just didn’t have time. Several other times, he went with a hot read or a quick out or a dump off to get simply get rid of the ball.
It was a positive play, a smart play, but it wasn’t the play it might have been.
Bradford looks like he’s every bit as good as he was a year ago, but it might not look like it come the fall unless the offensive line improves.
More from The Q&A: Kevin Durant
Had a fun conversation with Thunder superstar Kevin Durant before the team’s last home game. As the season winds to a close, he reflected on this year and on what’s to come.
Jenni Carlson: I wonder if you could give your “best of”s for the year. I’ll throw out a few categories. Team MVP?
Kevin Durant: That’s tough. I’d have to say Russell (Westbrook). He’s been the point guard, and he’s been handling the offense very well. His stats speak for itself. He’s been playing good basketball throughout the year, and he’s gotten better and better.
JC: I should’ve told you — you can vote for yourself.
KD: Nah. I don’t think it’s me.
JC: What about best off the bench?
KD: We’ve got so many guys that come off the bench and help us. I would say Kyle Weaver. He’s been helping us out in different areas. Scoring the basketball. Passing. Playing defense.
JC: Is there an unsung hero?
KD: Nick Collison. He’s been counted on to do so much on this team — rebound the ball, play defense. He’s been one of our go-to big guys, one of our consistent big guys throughout the year. He doesn’t complain; he was in the starting lineup, then he was taken out. But he still comes and plays hard.
JC: Who’s been most improved this year?
KD: Jeff Green. He’s stepped his game up throughout the whole year. He’s been playing great basketball.
JC: Biggest surprise?
KD: Um, Kyle Weaver. In the off-season, he was a little timid. He didn’t want to be aggressive like we wanted. But as the season went along, he’s been more aggressive. We all know he can play defense, but he’s been helping us on the offensive end.
JC: Most memorable moment?
KD: I have a lot of them, but I’d have to say the one where Jeff hit the big shot against Golden State. That was a big one for us. We needed that win, and he got it for us. I’d also say when Russ dunked on Mario Chalmers. That was a good moment for me.
JC: Once the off-season starts, you’re going to take some summer school at Texas. What classes are you going to take?
KD: I don’t know yet. I’ve got to talk to my academic adviser.
JC: But you’ll actually be back on campus?
KD: I’ll be back on campus with regular students.
JC: That has to be weird.
KD: It was last year because I spent the whole year away from school. I was waking up in the summer at 5:30 to workout at 6, be done with workouts by 7:15, then head to class. It was tough, man. I wasn’t waking up that much during the season. I would wake up at 9:30 or 10 to go to practice.
JC: How many classes will you take?
KD: I’ll take two, I think. D.J. Augustine, plays for the Bobcats, he’s going to be with me, too. Last year, I was just by myself. With him there, it’s going to be a little bit easier.
JC: How far along will you be after the summer?
KD: Give me three or four more summers, and I’ll be through my sophomore year. I’ve got a long ways to go.
Hey, Thunder, go get Blake Griffin unless …
More stories of Courtney and Ashley
Hope you enjoyed the stories about the Paris twins that appeared Saturday in The Oklahoman and on NewsOK.com.
A few stories arrived too late to make Saturday’s package.
Enjoy:
Leah Rush, former Oklahoma player
I am in college to become a elementary teacher and coach. This past winter I had the most amazing opportunity to coach a second grade girls winter league basketball team at Zaneis, which is a small consolidated school between Ringling and Healdton (Sherri Coale’s hometown) that goes from 4-year-olds to eighth grade . It was so much fun, and the girls ended up tying for first place in the league and got second place in the tournament.
As gift for them for all the hard work this season, I told the parents about the special prices for group tickets for the OU women’s Senior Night. Everyone was all for it, so I ordered the tickets for everyone. When they game was over and the Senior Night celebrations were winding down, the girls wanted Courtney and Ashley’s autograph so bad and I wanted them to have it. We went to the court where a security guard told us we couldn’t come down there, so we stopped and the girls yelled Courtney’s name and she saw the girls and waved to them like the had always known them. We spied Ashley at the other end, so that’s where we went next. The girls yelled Ashley’s name, and she waved and put up her hand and said, “Just one minute. Hang on a second.”
The security guard came over and told us we had to leave, and I told him that Ashley told us to stay here for a minute so he left us alone. A couple minutes later, Ashley came walking over and hugged the girls, and I told her who we were, and she talked to them about basketball, posed for pictures, and then when she couldn’t find a hard place for her to sign autographs she got on the floor with my girls all around her.
A couple minutes later, here came Courtney who just towered over the girls and she got in the floor with them too and signed their posters and shirts. They hugged the girls and made them feel so special.
The Paris sisters can not imagine what them being so generous meant to my team. Ashley and Courtney did something for those girls that they nor I will ever forget.
***
Diana Bickle, Edmond
I walked in the “Race for the Cure” breast cancer walk last fall for the first time as a breast cancer survivor. Our group of eight, including my twin sister, along with thousands of others, walked to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.
As we walked the route, we saw a sea of crimson and cream along the race route — it was the OU women’s basketball team. All of the women were cheering for us. What a thrill. The OU women also participated in the closing ceremonies, and gave out roses to all the survivors. The highlight of my day — besides the obvious, being a survivor — was having a picture taken of my twin sister, Donna Hepp, and myself with the Paris twins, Courtney and Ashley.
They were so sweet to pose for pictures, sign autographs, cheer the racers on and give survivors a chance to meet them.
***
Leah Rush, former Oklahoma player
More from The Q&A: Danielle Robinson
Here’s more from The Q&A with Oklahoma point guard Danielle Robinson:
Jenni Carlson: Talk about your older brother for a second. I know you’ve said that Jonathan has been a big part of your development as a basketball player.
Danielle Robinson: He’s been a huge part of my life, especially during high school. We played at high schools that were kind of rivals. He went to an all-boys school, and my school was co-ed, but they still didn’t like his school. They would come play our boys, and I’d kind of have to cheer for my brother. (Laughs.) But he’s always been there for me. Before each game, he sends me an inspirational quote or just a text message letting me know who I’m playing for and what I need to do to be the leader on the floor. His little inspirational messages have been great. I’m really excited that him and my dad are coming to St. Louis. It’ll be the whole family.
JC: So, what did your brother text you before the Elite Eight game?
DR: He actually sent me a quote from Coach K, something about leadership. It was talking about how the leader, regardless of good or bad, has to have that good face and has to have that good leadership mentality. We have to put our phones up an hour and a half before the game, so right before that happens, he’s always sending me a text. I know it’s coming so I’m always waiting for it.
JC: And you know he’s taking some time to go find something to send.
DR: He’s putting some effort into finding quotes like that. He’s awesome.
