Heisman vs. Heisman

So, whatever became of Rhett Bomar anyway?

Surely, you remember the name. He was everybody's All-America, Oklahoma's next big-time quarterback.

Meanwhile, when Sam Bradford was coming out of Oklahoma City's Putnam City North High School, he wasn't even the most-recruited QB in his state.

Funny how thinga can work out sometimes.

Just before the 2006 season, Bomar, a redshirt sophomore, became an ex-Sooner after it was revealed he'd been paid by a car dealership for work he didn't do. He moved on to Division I-AA Sam Houston State, where he just completed his career by throwing 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 10 games.

We'll never know what might have been. Not that it really matters. Bradford, in case you hadn't heard, is on top of the college-football world.

"I grew up an OU fan," he said. "And if I ever had the opportunity to go to OU, that's something I wanted.

"I didn't get as much attention as some of the other guys. But once they saw me and what I could do, I got my shot."

His biggest shot yet will come tonight at Dolphin Stadium, when the Sooners (12-1) finally meet Tim Tebow and Florida (12-1) in the BCS championship game.

Last month, Bradford became the second sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. Florida QB Tim Tebow, last year's winner, wasn't happy he finished third this time. If he can help the Gators get their second ring in three years, it'll probably make him feel better.

"We're here for one reason," he insisted. "We know it's a business trip."

Heisman winners, of course, have not fared well in bowl games this century. Ask Tebow, whose team lost to Michigan in last season's Capital One Bowl. Oklahoma has lost four consecutive BCS bowls since winning the final game in 2000. Two were BCS finals, including in 2003, with Heisman-winning QB Jason White.

"Obviously, the Heisman experience was something really special," said Bradford, whose father Kent was an offensive lineman for OU in the late 1970s. "But I think as soon as I got back to Norman, I got back to trying to be as normal as possible.

"I don't know what (other winners) got caught up doing, and how they prepared for the game. You have to make sure you're ready for the opportunity. Nothing has really changed. I'd definitely say a couple more people stopped me for autographs. It's pretty cool. You walk around campus and you see somebody with your jersey on, that's something I just had to get used to.

"But if you give any thought to (the jinx), then you bring yourself down."

Still, he has his superstitions.

"There's so many, I probably couldn't tell you all of them," Bradford said. "I've worn the same socks every game week, and if you saw them, they're really not like socks anymore. They're like pieces of thread everywhere. We're still wearing those this week, though.

"Obviously, I eat the same thing. And I read the Bible, the story of David vs. Goliath, before every game. That's one of the big ones."

He said he doesn't see himself as David this week. Even though he'll be wearing a splint on his left (non-throwing) hand, which required surgery after the Big 12 finale. He threw for only two TDs against Missouri, to give him 48 this season, yet the Sooners still scored 60 points against a fifth consecutive opponent.

"Right now, it feels a lot better than it did going into that game," he acknowledged. "It's not going to come down to whether me or Tim plays great. It's going to be which team plays better as a whole."

Whatever transpires, some experts project him as the first pick in the NFL draft if he turns pro. Not too shabby, for someone who sat out his first season, while Paul Thompson, who'd been moved to wide receiver, succeeded Bomar.

"What this guy has done for two straight years now, I don't know how to explain it," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "It's just amazing, how accurate he is, how consistent he is."

Florida coach Urban Meyer believes Tebow is the best football player in America, period. Which makes sense, since Gator Nation had him pegged for greatness from the moment he signed. He might not always look as pro-oriented as Bradford, but he's been equally lethal.

Following a 31-30 home loss to Mississippi in late September, Tebow basically promised the Florida faithful he wouldn't allow it to happen again.

His word has been his will. He'll never go hungry in Gainesville. So he knows hype.

"Sometimes, I think you can get overwhelmed with it," said Tebow, who won a state title in this stadium in his final high-school game. "And sometimes I think it's a blessing. You have to balance it out and work with it and try to handle it as best you can.

"Last time (I played here), it was fun. And it meant a lot."

So would this. Two years ago, he was Chris Leak's caddie when the underdog Gators rolled Ohio State in the Arizona desert. Now, it's mostly in his hands. As is the burden.

"It's such a privilege and an honor to be here," Tebow said. "I do appreciate it. It's something you dream about.

"You never know when you're going to get another chance. "I'm enjoying the moment, and I'm going to remember it.

There can only be a right ending for one of them. You think maybe Bomar will be watching?