Baker Mayfield thanks OU football family during emotional statue ceremony
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NORMAN — Baker Mayield understood OU athletic director Joe Castiglione wasn’t about to permit Mayfield’s Heisman Park statue to be of his famed flag plant at Ohio Condition.
But, like everything with Mayfield, he experienced to make a little bit of a statement when settling on the pose.
Eventually, his stiff-arm all through a landing operate for the duration of the Sooners’ 2017 Bedlam victory was the option.
“For it to be a stiff arm of your little brother, for good they have to offer with that 1,” Mayfield reported Saturday right after the statue’s general public determination Saturday at halftime of the OU soccer spring video game.
Mayfield’s NFL long run is in flux after the Cleveland Browns moved on with the offseason trade for Deshaun Watson.
But while Mayfield does not however know his household for following year, he clearly still has a home in Norman.
Smoke filled the southeast tunnel at Gaylord Loved ones — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at halftime and the crowd of 75,000-moreover roared the way they did plenty of moments throughout Mayfield’s storied OU career.
But in its place of sprinting towards the stop zone waving his arms wildly, Mayfield strode in a deliberate wander towards midfield, using in every single bit of the adulation from the throng.
“I dreamt about acquiring a statue ideal there, and now I do,” Mayfield mentioned to the crowd. “It blows my thoughts.”
Mayfield was joined for the ceremony by not only his household and former Sooners mentor Bob Stoops but also fellow OU Heisman winners Steve Owens, Jason White and Kyler Murray.
While he grew up in close proximity to Austin, Texas, Mayfield was a Sooners admirer from a younger age.
His 1st Sooners autograph came courtesy of Tinker Owens — a signed image of both Tinker and Steve Owens. Mayfield grew up watching White quarterback the Sooners. Murray was a teammate in 2016 and 2017, won the Heisman Trophy in 2018 and will get his very own Heisman Park statue upcoming year.
The night in advance of, during a celebration for Mayfield with former Sooners, Mayfield posed for a picture with White, Murray and Sam Bradford.
A lot more: Reliving Baker Mayfield’s 13 ideal times with OU soccer, from wander-on QB to the Heisman Trophy
“Just wondering about that period of when I seriously fell in adore with Oklahoma football,” White stated of getting surrounded by White and Bradford on Friday. “Those were fellas that I idolized at that position in my daily life.”
Mayfield also heaped praise on the substantial team of teammates who collected for the ceremonies.
“I like most people that served me out so a lot,” he mentioned. “I’d acquire a bullet for them. I indicate that.”
As Mayfield completed that sentence, an “I appreciate you, Baker” rang out from the stands.
“Love you fellas as well,” Mayfield said, achieving the cusp of tears.
Just after commencing his profession going for walks on at Texas Tech, Mayfield transferred to OU, arriving just after the 2013 season with minimal fanfare.
Stoops mentioned he hadn’t experienced call with Mayfield before a crew dinner in January 2014 when he satisfied the quarterback.
After sitting out the 2014 year, Mayfield defeat out Trevor Knight for the setting up task forward of the 2015 season — Lincoln Riley’s initial as offensive coordinator.
Mayfield immediately turned into a star with the Sooners, top OU to a comeback at Tennessee in the next match of his 1st year.
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He completed fourth in Heisman voting that time, then 3rd in 2016 ahead of successful by a extensive margin around Stanford Bryce Love in 2017.
A number of months later, Mayfield was the No. 1 in general select by the Browns.
Riley, who still left in November to choose the USC position, was conspicuously absent from Saturday’s tribute films.
But Mayfield claimed his thoughts about Riley haven’t dimmed.
“That guy place in some time below,” Mayfield claimed of Riley. “We had some excellent decades.”
Friday
morning, Mayfield expended about 30 minutes with new Sooners coach Brent Venables.
“I’ll say this, this place is heading in the ideal route,” Mayfield reported. “I was ready to operate by means of a wall. I’ll notify you this, we’re back again. We never ever still left, but we’re back.”
So is Mayfield, at the very least in Norman, and it seemed like he never ever remaining both.
“This is house,” Mayfield said, choking up a little bit. “It’ll often be dwelling. I mean that.”
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This article at first appeared on Oklahoman: Baker Mayfield thanks OU football relatives all through psychological statue party
