This was not how the season was supposed to play out for Heisman Trophy Winner Sam Bradford.
After all he put his personal gain aside for the betterment of one of the things that he is the most passionate about; OU football and his Sooner teammates.
But his efforts and his unselfishness could not help his luck.
He went down with an AC Joint Sprain in the 14-13 loss to BYU, an injury that typically forces a player to miss at least six weeks of action.
He worked very hard to get back in to shape so that he could be ready in time to help the Sooners in Saturday’s tilt against No. 3 Texas.
Bradford's luck and his shoulder took their lumps again in the first quarter when UT cornerback Aaron Williams applied a hit that would put him out of the game.
“Yeah, it was the same shoulder,” Bradford said. “It felt pretty much like it did at BYU. We don’t know the outlook from here. Obviously, I will have to talk to the doctors and make a decision (and) find out exactly what’s wrong with it.”
This time around the injury did not seem to be as serious. Bradford was in obvious pain, but he still managed to throw a couple of passes on the sidelines after sustaining it and even met with the media in the post-game.
With the first injury he could not even raise his arm and he was immediately bustled back in to the locker room for treatment and ice was applied.
“I don’t know if it is the exact same injury or not,” said OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. “I don’t have the details or anything.”
Bradford seemed somewhat dejected after the game as he tried to put in to words how hard it has been for him to go through this and especially not being able to play in the Red River Rivalry.
“It is extremely frustrating, obviously, just the way the season has gone for me. To miss three games and then come out and start this one and hurt my shoulder and not be able to finish. It is really hard to pit in to words the frustration I have felt, right now.”
Bradford would not rule out the possibility of a return to the ’10 version of the game.
“I really can’t answer that,” Bradford said when asked if this was his last chance to beat Texas. “I am really not sure.”
“I will have to make that decision at the end of this year.”