Oklahoma football: Trevor Knight isn’t Trevor Knight without Rhett Bomar

Yesterday, I read an article from The Oklahoman highlighting a key play in the 2013 Bedlam game, and how it created a huge domino effect in the college football landscape. If you remember, Justin Gilbert almost saved the day for the Pokes.

However, his interception was ruled an incompletion. But if he just holds on to the ball, things would get really weird.

If Gilbert is awarded the interception and Oklahoma State takes Bedlam, then the Cowboys secure their second Big 12 Conference Championship, which means Oklahoma doesn’t get to the Sugar Bowl, and Trevor Knight probably isn’t a rockstar.

That dropped interception had my face buried in my hands and ready to leave Boone Pickens Stadium, but then I gave it a few seconds and Oklahoma’s offense was still on the field.

At the time, it seemed like a miracle, but in reality, it was a game changer. Not in the sense that it changed Bedlam, but imagine if Oklahoma never won the Sugar Bowl over Alabama? I mean, would you be as cool with the new uniforms if Oklahoma won (or even lost!) an unsatisfying Alamo Bowl?

Things happen for a reason. Or at least that’s what my seventh grade science teacher tried to tell me and a group of 13 year olds.

But look at this way. And I’m going way back on this one.

The Oklahoman is spot on with its assessment. However, Oklahoma’s success is truly all thanks to a man by the name of Rhett Bomar.

Yeah, you remember Rhett Bomar? He really loved going to Oklahoma City Hornets basketball games and even though college football is already a full time job, Bomar found a part-time to earn some extra cash.

Anyway, to refresh your memory, Rhett Bomar lost his spot on the team after receiving more money than he had worked for at his off-campus job. This created an opening for first-string quarterback.

Paul Thompson, who lost the starting gig to Bomar in 2005, took the throne in 2006 and led Oklahoma to a Big 12 Championship over the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Thompson’s career ended with a gut-wrenching loss to Boise State, and once again, the starting quarterback position was up for grabs.

Enter Sam Bradford. If Rhett Bomar does not get kicked off the team, he’s more than likely entering 2007 as a junior and still Oklahoma’s starter. However, Rhett “Money Bags” Bomar was not in the picture. Bradford took advantage and then some.

The freshman from Oklahoma City beat out Keith Nichol and Joey Halzle for the QB1 spot. At 6-5, 197 pounds, Bradford looked the part as a frosh, but it was only a matter of time before we found out how good Sam Bradford was for Oklahoma.

Two Big 12 titles, back-to-back BCS bowl appearances, a few national awards, but most importantly, another Heisman Trophy was brought back to Norman.

I think it’s a safe bet to believe Bradford doesn’t win his Heisman if Bomar didn’t clear the way for him in 2007. I mean, maybe Bradford takes over in 2008, but his first year as the starter? Just doesn’t seem as likely, though, he’d potentially have the same group.

Sam Bradford witnessed his team lose the 2009 BCS National Championship Game to Florida, which prompted him to come back for one more season. He could have chased millions of dollars in the National Football League, but instead, he wanted to chase a National Title.

Well, Oklahoma’s championship hopes were dashed rather quickly. Usually the Sooners wait for a midseason game against Texas Tech or some random Big 12 North school to end all hope of a title. But 2009, the football gods were not messing around.

Sam Bradford went down in Oklahoma’s season opener against BYU, and while he came back to help OU beat Baylor, his career would end the very next week against Texas.

Enter Landry Jones. One of the most polarizing figures in Oklahoma football history.

If Bradford doesn’t suffer a seaosn-ending injury, Jones never gets thrown in to the fire and OU fans don’t associate him with that wretched 8-5 year in 2009.

While Landry Jones put up ridiculous stats while wearing an Oklahoma jersey, the hard times and suffering that went along with his career was all apart of the master plan.

2013 Cotton Bowl Classic. 41-13 Texas A&M. Landry Jones’ career was finally over and Sooner fans could gripe over the next quarterback.

Enter Trevor Knight. While in reality he has not even seen the field that much as a starter, Knight is the main option for Oklahoma at this point.

The media loves him in the way they love Tim Tebow. Fans are crazy about him for beating up on Alabama. And the coaches couldn’t ask for a more stand-up human being to lead the Sooners.

Trevor Knight is a class act. He’s the type of guy you want your daughter to date and your son to look up to. He’s not a trash-talker. He’s just a guy blessed to be in his position.

And to go off the notion presented by The Oklahoman, Knight isn’t Knight without Bomar.

Rhett Bomar set up a timeline that allowed some middle-schooler from San Antonio, who was brought up as a Longhorns fan, to take over as the starting quarterback at Oklahoma by the time he was a redshirt freshman.

But it’s not merely the timeline. It’s everything that went with it.

The head-scratching losses to inferior teams. The BCS bowl losses. Losing to the Gators in the National Title Game. The season-ending injuries to countless Oklahoma greats like Bradford, Jermaine Gresham,, Ryan Broyles, Trey Millard, Corey Nelson, and so on.

The Sugar Bowl isn’t as sweet without all of these misfortunes. Oklahoma is Oklahoma, because of its tradition and triumph. And triumph they did over Alabama, which has Sooner Nation as satisfied as they have been in quite some time with a finish to a season.

Of course, this off-season wasn’t just new jerseys and new stadium

s

. OU had its fair share of bad news.

However, the Sooners are in good hands with Trevor Knight at the helm. It’s almost destiny that he’s in this place.

All I’m saying is if the Sooners can manage to get a College Football Playoff and win their eighth national title, Rhett Bomar wouldn’t be a bad person to thank.

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