Cherokee Nation to Honor OU Quarterback Bradford
TAHLEQUAH, OK — University of Oklahoma quarterback and Cherokee Nation citizen Sam Bradford will be honored during a special ceremony on Friday, April 17, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Place Where They Play activity center, located on the campus of Sequoyah Schools in Tahlequah.
“Leadership is an attribute we seek to identify in our young people, and we witnessed the accomplishments of one such Cherokee leader, Sam Bradford,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Sam has graciously and quietly assumed the leadership of his team and led them to the national championship game. He also received several awards along the way, including the prestigious Heisman Trophy, yet in doing so he never ignored this team or his teammates.”
Bradford is the first Cherokee Nation citizen to win the Heisman Trophy. His style and skill in leading the Oklahoma Sooners football team have made him a positive role model and an inspiration to Native American youth across the nation.
Representatives of several Native American tribes, dignitaries and tribal elders will be on hand during the event to help honor Bradford, and the event will begin with a grand entry of tribal flags, complete with a flag song and posting of colors. Following a brief welcome, Smith will interview Bradford, discussing areas of the importance of leadership, setting goals, living a healthy life and more.
Bradford became the starting quarterback of the Sooners in 2007 as a freshman, and in 2008 led the team to the national championship game against the University of Florida. Last season, he led the nation in touchdown passes (50) and passing efficiency (180.84), set an OU record for passing yards in a game with 468 yards versus Kansas, set OU records for touchdowns in a season and a career (86) and also set school records for passing yards in one season (4,720). In addition, he set several NCAA records, including most touchdown passes during the freshman and sophomore seasons with 86, threw five touchdowns in four different games, and is number two in OU career passing yards (7,841) and in career 300-yards passing games (nine). He is also an honor student majoring in finance. His father, Kent Bradford, was an offensive lineman for the Sooners in 1977-78.
There is no cost to attend the special honoring ceremony and the public is invited. Due to the size and nature of the event, seating is limited. As per University of Oklahoma and NCAA guidelines, no autographs or personal photos with Bradford will be available at this event. For more information, contact Diana Turtle at (918) 453-5289.