Baker Mayfield has finished his playing days as a football player and is now the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns. The Sooners unveiled their statue in celebration of Baker’s success on April 13th, 2018.
The “oklahoma sooners’ spring game 2022” is a statue of former quarterback Baker Mayfield during the Oklahoma Sooners spring game. The statue was unveiled on April 20, 2022.
NORMAN, OKLAHOMA – Following a turbulent offseason for both Oklahoma and beloved son Baker Mayfield, Sooners fans turned out to greet new coach Brent Venables and see the dedication of Mayfield’s monument in Heisman Park.
On Saturday, a crowd of 75,360 gathered in the third deck of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to witness the start of a new era following the departure of coach Lincoln Riley to USC in December and the arrival of Venables. This was more than 20,000 more than the previous spring-game attendance record, according to Oklahoma.
Venables took the microphone at middle and summoned more than 250 former players to the center of the field before the game had started.
With a huge delegation of alumni behind him, Venables bellowed to the throng, “This is Oklahoma.” “The most successful squad in the contemporary period. This area has always been and will continue to be about the players. This is the house that you’ve created. I want to express my gratitude and affection for these guys, their hard work, their faith, and their dedication to make this the model program in college football.”
Despite a lot of interest in the new coaches’ philosophy and the performance of UCF transfer Dillon Gabriel, who is replacing transfers Caleb Williams (USC) and Spencer Rattler, the game itself was a bit of a sideshow (South Carolina).
Gabriel went 19 of 28 for 250 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while splitting time between the red and white sides. On 17 carries, Jovantae Barnes led all rushers with 60 yards and two touchdowns, followed by Eric Gray (4 carries, 54 yards) and Tawee Walker (13-55, 1 TD). Jayden Gibson had three receptions for 113 yards and a 95-yard score from backup quarterback Micah Bowens. Barnes and receiver Marvin Mims led the red side to a 21-17 victory.
The mood, according to Mims, was “unique.” “It felt like a regular-season match. This means a great deal to us.”
At halftime, all eyes were on Mayfield, who emerged from a smoke-filled tunnel to a boisterous crowd, stood on the field, and watched his monument be erected live across the street from the stadium on the television screen. He grinned, mouthed “Wow,” and then stepped up to the microphone to thank the audience as well.
Mayfield addressed the audience, saying, “I dreamed of having a monument right there, and now I have.” Mayfield was joined on the field by former coach Bob Stoops, as well as previous Heisman winners Steve Owens, Jason White, and Kyler Murray. “It’s mind-blowing.”
Mayfield spoke to the media after the game and discussed what it meant to be back in Norman following an offseason in which the Browns traded for Deshaun Watson and Mayfield’s NFL career is still up in the air.
Mayfield added, “It’s quite great to return back to where it all began.” “Being surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones serves as a nice reset. You’ll always have someplace to depend on if you need it.”
Baker Mayfield, the former Sooners quarterback, remarked of his image at OU’s Heisman Park, “I dreamed of having a monument right there and now I have.” Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press
Mayfield requested to speak to the squad this week, and Venables said it was inspiring to reflect on his unique path from walk-on to Heisman Trophy winner with a statue.
Venables added, “This was a terrific weekend for him to return back to Oklahoma and sort of get folks to wrap their arms around him.” “What a privilege it is to be a fly on the wall while history is formed.”
Mayfield said he had influence on the statue’s posture, and despite supporters’ wishes for it to commemorate his 2017 act of planting a flag on Ohio State’s emblem at midfield, it was never a possibility. Instead, he picked a play from his Heisman season, a game versus Oklahoma State, an in-state rival.
With a giggle, he continued, “We all knew [athletic director] Joe [Castiglione] was going to keep things very acceptable, so the flag-plant was never going to happen.” “They offered me a few possibilities, and I thought to myself, “What better way to maintain a monument in Oklahoma than for it to be a stiff-arm of your younger brother?” Forever. That’s something they’ll have to deal with.”
While it was another trademark Mayfield dig at a competitor, he was much more reflective on this trip, seeing old teammates and guys he grew up idolizing as a longtime Sooners fan. Despite his feelings for Riley, which aren’t shared by many people in the stadium these days, he wanted to make it clear that he thinks OU is on the right route.
Mayfield informed the throng, “This town is moving in the right path.” “I had a 30-minute conversation with [Venables] in his office yesterday, and I was ready to run through a wall. We’ve returned. We’ve never gone, but now we’ve returned. It’s quite remarkable to have this facility so crowded for such a significant day.”
Venables emphasized that this is the atmosphere he wants from supporters in the future for Oklahoma to maintain its winning streak, referring to the stadium as “The Palace on the Prairie.”
“You can’t make a family up. This is what it’s like to be a part of a family “At halftime, Venables addressed the fans. “We only have six chances a year to see the Palace. We need to make opponents’ lives a living hell at the Palace. This area must be terribly discouraging and deafening. This is how commitment seems. We wanted to let college football know that there is only one Oklahoma.”
The “ou football spring game 2022 tickets” is a statue of former quarterback Baker Mayfield that was unveiled during the OU Spring Game. The game took place at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma on Saturday April 13th, 2022.
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