While Oklahoma is looking toward a future under second-year coach Brent Venables and an impending move to the SEC, it took some time to honor a former great on Saturday.
The Sooners unveiled a statue honoring former quarterback and current Arizona Cardinal Kyler Murray outside Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman.
After transferring from Texas A&M, Murray only started one full season for Oklahoma, leading the Sooners to a spot in the College Football Playoffs on the strength of a superb season that earned him Heisman trophy honors.
In 2017, he backed up Baker Mayfield only attempting 21 passes. But in his standout ’18 campaign, the dual-threat signal-caller threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground.
The statue features Murray in his patented No. 1 jersey sporting a headband—something he continues as starting quarterback for Arizona in the NFL.
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐳𝐞@K1 📍 Heisman Park#OUDNA pic.twitter.com/EIVypPdTpU
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) April 22, 2023
Murray’s statue is displayed in area named Heisman Park, joining six other Oklahoma Heisman winners: Baker Mayfield, Sam Bradford, Billy Sims, Steve Owens, Jason White and Billy Vessels.
Murray addressed the fans prior to the school’s Spring game on Saturday: “This is crazy to have this many people show love to me and support me. I always just wanted to give my all every time I touched the ball. It was a blessing to be here. This is a surreal moment for me and I can not thank ya’ll enough.”
Kyler Murray, who won the Heisman in 2018, had a statue of him unveiled today ahead of the Sooners' spring game. @OU247
— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 22, 2023
FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/4uFNqIUsfy pic.twitter.com/VwQJxE97J5
A contingent of members of the Cardinals, including new coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort, were in attendance joining Venables as well as Murray’s former coach Bob Stoops.
At halftime of the school's Spring Game, Murray had the Sooner faithful buzzing when he stated: "I had a rocky start to my college career. I chose the wrong school."
Even though his time in Norman was short, the results were prolific.
