Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: March 2, 2009
Sen. Todd Lamb and Sam Bradford read SR 13 as it is is presented
to the Senate.
Sam Bradford thanks the Senate for their recognition.
Coach Bob Stoops addresses the Senate.
Senate Honors 2008 Heisman Winner Sam Bradford and OU Football
Team
The State Senate honored the 2008 Big 12 champions,
the University of Oklahoma Sooners and their outstanding quarterback,
2008 Heisman winner Sam Bradford.
The team and Head Coach Bob Stoops were welcomed with cheers and
applause as they lined up to listen to the reading of two resolutions
recognizing their many accomplishments.
“We are very fortunate to get to play at a great university
that we’re very proud of. I recognize the great support
that we get from our president David Boren, through our athletic
director Joe Castiglione, through all the communities throughout
Oklahoma, the great support of our student body and 85,000 sold
out every single game,” said Stoops. “So again we
always look at it that we’re incredibly fortunate to work
and play at a great university with such great support throughout
the state of Oklahoma.”
SR 13, by Senators Todd Lamb and Glenn Coffee, congratulated the
2008 Heisman Trophy winner, the team’s outstanding quarterback
sophomore Sam Bradford and named March 2, 2009 as “Sam Bradford
Day” in Oklahoma in honor of his many accomplishments.
“Sam Bradford has not only provided great leadership for
the Oklahoma Sooners—he’s also a great role model
for our youth and an excellent ambassador for our state. We’re
so proud of all of his accomplishments both on and off the field;
and we’re thrilled that he chose to return to OU next year
and continue his education,” Lamb said. “It was an
honor to welcome Sam, his teammates, and Coach Stoops to the State
Senate.”
Bradford graduated from Putnam City North High School in 2006
in the top ten percent of his class. While in high school, he
played basketball, golf and was the Panthers quarterback for three
years being named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State
Football Team.
His excellence both in the classroom and on the field has continued
at OU. As a redshirt freshman, he was selected as the Sooner’s
starting quarterback and holds the NCAA record with 36 touchdown
passes as a freshman. Last year, as a sophomore he successfully
passed 302 times for 4,464 yards and 48 touchdowns, as well as
rushing for five touchdowns, setting a new school record. In total,
he has passed for 7,585 yards and 84 touchdowns.
Bradford let the Sooners to Big 12 Conference Championships in
2007 and 2008, and to the BCS National Championship game in 2009.
In recognition of his incredible athletic ability, Bradford was
named an Associated Press All-American First Team Quarterback
and won the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award as
best quarterback in the nation. In 2008, he was also selected
as the 74th Heisman Memorial Trophy winner making him only the
second sophomore, fifth Sooner, and 30th quarterback to win the
highest honor in collegiate football.
"It was a great honor to be recognized by the Senate and
House of Representatives especially since my teammates were there
to share that with me. I owe any personal success to our team,”
said Bradford. “I think today reminded us that there are
a lot of people in Oklahoma who are cheering for us. That's rewarding
and challenging all at the same time."
SCR 7, by Senators Coffee and Lamb and House Speaker Chris Benge,
commended the OU Sooners football team for winning their third
consecutive Big 12 Conference Championship last year and for competing
in the BCS National Championship game in January.
“I know that there are people all over the state who are
already counting down the days until the next football season
begins,” Coffee said. “Oklahomans know football is
more than just a sport for us—it’s a way of life and
part of who we are. The OU Sooners are a tremendous source of
pride, bringing positive national attention to Oklahoma. We were
so thrilled to welcome this outstanding team to the State Senate
and honor their outstanding achievements.”
The Sooners have dominated the gridiron for the past decade. During
the 2000-2008 seasons, they had 102 wins, which is the most wins
of any school in the nation and the longest home winning streak
at 24 games. They have played in six different conferences over
the years, winning their first conference championship in 1915
and winning at least one title in every conference in which they
competed. The team wins an average of one conference title every
other year.
The Sooners became the first team to win three consecutive Big
12 Conference Championships when they defeated the Missouri Tigers
62-21 in December 2008, claiming their sixth Big 12 title in nine
seasons. No other Big 12 team has won more than two conference
championships. They also set a NCAA record during the 2008 season
having played five consecutive games in which they scored more
than 60 points.
For more information contact:
Sen. Lamb's Office: 405-521-5632
Sen. Coffee's Office: 405-521-5636
