In a time of desperate need, Dr. Steven Shin was the unlikely hero for an entire nation -- Sooner Nation.
News broke Tuesday that Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman frontrunner John Mateer injured his throwing hand in the first quarter against Auburn and would need surgery, which Dr. Shin performed on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Mateer is expected to miss multiple weeks, but the actual timeframe is still unknown, and OU fans are desperately hoping Mateer is healthy by the Red River Rivalry on Oct. 11. Although how the surgery is performed likely doesn't dictate how quickly Mateer will be healed, Dr. Shin will be deemed a legend if the Sooners have their QB1 against Texas.
This is not the first time even this year that sports fans in Oklahoma have had to rely on Dr. Shin. He also performed postseason wrist surgery on Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams. Dr. Shin's other past patients reportedly also include former New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees, Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love, Golden State Warriors All-Star guard Stephen Curry, Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff and more big-time athletes.
After a 4-0 start with two ranked wins, Dr. Shin essentially had the Sooners' championship hopes in his hands on Wednesday. Because of that, Dr. Shin instantly developed an almost cult-like following in Oklahoma with social media flooded by his face and praises.
Dr. Steven Shin becomes fan-favorite for Sooners fans
One OU fan even showed up at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles to give an update and even leave a gift for Dr. Shin.
Sooner Nation - Reporting live from Cedars Sinai Orthopedic Center #Sooners @GeorgeStoia @Eddie_Rado @JoeCJr29 @PlankShow @soonersonly @QB1TATT00 pic.twitter.com/T0waJKq1BR
— Carson Grane (@jcgrane) September 24, 2025
All day Wednesday, and even into Thursday, social media was filled with hyping up Dr. Shin for his historical moment in Oklahoma history.
When almost everything on the internet now is bad, OU fans hyping up John Mateer’s hand surgeon ahead of surgery and lionizing him like a demigod is the rare exception.
— David Ubben (@davidubben) September 24, 2025
If Mateer returns for OU/Texas pic.twitter.com/WZRv4hYwwu
— 𝙅𝙄𝙈𝙈𝙔 𝙂𝙍𝙀𝙀𝙉𝘽𝙀𝘼𝙉𝙎 (@soonersonly) September 24, 2025
But wait, what if we just pic.twitter.com/c8SpjoYus6
— Seth Oliveras (@SethOliveras) September 24, 2025
Chills. Straight Confidence. pic.twitter.com/OxC12rNVPu
— Jacob Jordan Enthusiast (@OUEnthusiast) September 24, 2025
https://t.co/fADfKmHnos pic.twitter.com/iIonbBYbjq
— SoonerSource (@Sooner_Source) September 24, 2025
Just placed my order, hoping it’ll be here by #RedRiver 🤞🏼 pic.twitter.com/YAJYxgw1jj
— Jen Arnold (@JenArnold74) September 24, 2025
If Dr. Shin gets Mateer back by the Red River Shootout we will name this Shin Tower. pic.twitter.com/bmYDgGdlEa
— The Main Line Podcast (@TheMainLinePod) September 24, 2025
OU has the absolute best fans in the world and it's not even close https://t.co/y8xWabqqV2
— Joe Buettner (@JoeBuettner) September 24, 2025
They saying you can’t do your job Shin
— Jaylenbrownfan (@SarksDaddy) September 24, 2025
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They saying you don’t know hands Shin
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They saying Mateer done Shin
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They saying you not a goat Shin
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Prove them wrong Shin🐐🔥 pic.twitter.com/Yv17CcOxvW
Can you imagine how much NIL money Oklahoma could have raised if they sold tickets to watch Mateer’s hand surgery?
— Travis J Davidson (@TravisSkol) September 24, 2025
Would’ve funded the roster for years. pic.twitter.com/WSLu5PsUnn
(No official update has been given about Mateer's surgery)
I’m hearing John Mateer’s surgery was successful.
— VenablesMuse (@TheBoomerRadio) September 24, 2025
The league is cooked. pic.twitter.com/iiZEzPjYvH
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