Heisman winner Bradford staying at Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla. – Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford wasn't ready to give up the life of a college quarterback — not without a national championship.

The third-year sophomore quarterback will return to Oklahoma next season, passing on a chance to be a high NFL draft pick.

"I've dreamed about playing at Oklahoma since I was little, and my three years here have been probably three of the best years of my life, and I really feel that there's no need to cut this experience short," Bradford said Wednesday at a news conference.

"I'm really looking forward to coming back and competing for a fourth straight Big 12 championship and another opportunity at a national championship."

His return also means another shot at a Heisman Trophy. Archie Griffin of Ohio State is the only player to win two Heismans. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, the 2007 winner, finished third behind Bradford in the Heisman voting this season.

For the first time, the top-three vote-getters for the Heisman Trophy will return to college football. Tebow announced his intentions Sunday and Texas quarterback Colt McCoy said he'd be back for his senior season long before the Longhorns won the Fiesta Bowl.

Bradford led the nation with 50 touchdown passes and a quarterback rating of 180.8. He likely would have been one of the first quarterbacks taken in April's draft.

Instead, Bradford will take another run at a national championship with Oklahoma. The record-breaking quarterback led the Sooners to the BCS championship game this season, but they lost 24-14 to Florida.

"Obviously it's frustrating to end with a loss and I want to come back and finish my career the right way: on a win," Bradford said. "I would say it had a little bit of an influence on my decision, but I really tried to keep that out of my mind because that could have limited myself to making the best decision for me."

Bradford also let it slip that tight end Jermaine Gresham and offensive lineman Trent Williams also decided not to enter the draft early. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy has also said he'll be back for another season with the Sooners.

Sooners coach Bob Stoops, who took the podium after Bradford, went as far as saying all of the Sooners' third-year players will be back next season.

"All the guys who are thinking about leaving, they're classmates of mine," Bradford said. "We came in together. We've kind of gone through everything together. We did talk to each other and let each other know how we were feeling."

When asked what he liked about college football, Bradford answered: "Everything."

"You come out here and get to play in front of 85,000 people everyday. This state is a football state. Everyone knows about Oklahoma football. I've grown up watching it," Bradford said. "Just having this experience and being able to live my dream."

Stoops said Wednesday was a more important day than signing day for the Sooners, bringing back so many players who'll play a key role next season. Oklahoma already loses four starters on the offensive line and three receivers from the nation's top-scoring offense. Losing Bradford, Gresham and Williams would have been devastating.

The returning trio represent quite a turnaround from last season, when linebacker Curtis Lofton, receiver Malcolm Kelly and cornerback Reggie Smith all left after their junior season. Only Lofton was a first-round pick.

"Not one of them went where they were projected on TV or what everyone talked about," Stoops said. "They went where their draft projection (from the NFL) was. None of them were ahead of their draft projection, but the TV all had them above their draft projection."

Gresham and Williams each issued statements through Oklahoma's athletic department looking forward to next season and addressing their hopes to complete or at least make progress toward their college degrees.

"I think they're sending a great message to a lot of other young people in the value of that last year or going as far as you can in your college career," Stoops said.

Each of the others will also play key roles in Bradford's success next year. Gresham caught 14 touchdown passes, including two in the BCS title game, to rank second on the team, and Williams could be the one protecting Bradford's blind side.

"I always feel, `Why not have your cake and eat it, too?' Why not have all you want here, and still he's only going to get bigger and stronger in everything that he does," Stoops said.

"I think he only can improve his position a year from now."

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Manchester United win but face losing Rooney for three weeks

MANCHESTER (AFP) – Wayne Rooney is facing three weeks out of Manchester United's title charge after scoring the winner and then being struck down by a hamstring injury as the champions sealed a narrow 1-0 win against Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Rooney, 22, lasted just seven minutes of United's win, which takes them to within two points of leaders Liverpool with a game in hand, before limping out of the action.

United can claim top spot in the Premier League for the first time this season if they defeat Bolton at the Reebok on Saturday, but Rooney will be forced to watch from the sidelines after suffering his injury blow.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said that he hoped Rooney would not be out for longer.
"Wayne has done his hamstring," said Ferguson.

"It's one of those things, but it's a three-week job I'm afraid. Hopefully it won't be any longer than that, but he gave us a great start with a great finish from Ronaldo's cross.

"We were carrying injuries throughout the game and that says a lot for the character of the team. Carlos Tevez limped throughout the second-half, Jonny Evans, Paul Scholes, Ronaldo.
They all seemed to be limping about the place.

"In terms of who will be fit for Saturday, we will just have to assess the injuries and do our best against a Bolton team that are very strong themselves. But Darren Fletcher, Anderson, Park Ji-Sung will be fresh, so they will all play."

Ferguson had warned his players ahead of the game that Wigan, guided to six wins in seven league games prior to this clash by boss Steve Bruce, would prove a stern test at Old Trafford.

And the manager's words were proved accurate as the visitors threatened to de-rail United's charge to the title.

Ferguson said: "Wigan are the best team we have played here this season by far. It was an outstanding performance by them and they really made us work.

"We should have had the game put to bed by half-time with the penetration we had and the chances we created, but Wigan are a very good side, so it's a big result for us.

"It was a gritty performance and in the second-half we didn't play well. That was down to Wigan and the injuries taking their toll on our performance.

"There are always games that you win 1-0 and look back and think that you battled well and showed some spirit. We've got the three points and there have been many occasions like that over the years."

Victory at Bolton will ensure top spot before Liverpool return to action at home to Everton and Ferguson admits that being top is a prize worth chasing at this stage of this season.

He said: "You don't mind when you are top, but in my experience, being top is where you want to be, there is no question about that. So hopefully we can be top by Saturday night."

Wigan manager Steve Bruce admitted that he faces a battle to hold onto Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios after revealing that Spurs have had a ten-million-pound bid rejected for the player, who followed him to Wigan from Birmingham.

"For a club of our size, we are talking telephone numbers and I don't even know what Spurs are prepared to go to," said the former United centreback.

"I haven't spoken to the boy yet, but I have been there myself and how can you deny somebody a life-changing opportunity? We will see what the money men come up with in the next 24-48 hours.

"Whatever happens, though, it will take top dollar to get him. He showed against United what he can do, but in two years time, he can be the best around."

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