It's Thompson

By John Shinn

Paul Thompson chose to come to Oklahoma to play quarterback. He has waited behind Nate Hybl, Jason White and last season watched Rhett Bomar claim the reins of the offense.

Thompson accepted his fate and even moved to wide receiver last season, making a complete switch in the spring. His days of wearing the blue “non-contact” jersey appeared finished.

“I had totally shifted my focus,” Thompson said. “I was totally in receiver mode.”

He caught 11 passes last season and expected to grab a lot more this season.

But everything changed Wednesday for Thompson and the Sooners. Bomar was forever banned from the program and the offense lacked a captain.

There was only one place to turn in the aftermath. OU coach Bob Stoops called the 22-year-old into his office to lay out the situation.

He knew Thompson had spent the better part of year turning himself into a wide receiver. He had given up his dream of becoming a quarterback, because he thought he could help out somewhere else.

“When you think of a guy here who has really been the ultimate team guy,” Stoops said. “He has sacrificed a lot for this team.”

However, Thompson has abandoned his new dream for the old one and was back in charge of the Sooner offense when practice began Thursday.

“It was my decision and it was a tough decision,” he said. “In the end, I wanted to have the ball in my hands and do what was best for me and this team.”

At this time last year, Thompson and Bomar were head-to-head, beginning an August duel for the starting job. Neither separated himself from the other and the coaching staff went with Thompson for the season-opener against TCU.

It didn’t go well. Thompson fumbled twice and threw and interception in an upset loss. The decision to turn to Bomar came quickly after.

“At the time, all things considered, Paul had had more snaps than Rhett and their competition was pretty close. It was darn close, in our minds,” Stoops said. “That being the case, we felt Rhett had had far less snaps, that given the opportunity to have more, that he would progress further and have longer to play.”

After Bomar’s dismissal, coaches were left to decide whether to return to Thompson or go with junior-college transfer Joey Halzle, freshman Sam Bradford or walk-on Hays McEachern, none of which had ever played the position at OU.

Stoops said Thompson’s experience made him the only logical choice.

“We realize for the last four years he has been our backup quarterback all four years,” Stoops said. “The only time he has not been a quarterback has been for 15 practices here last spring because even last year, if there was anything that happened, we were going with Paul.”

Thompson has completed 42-of-73 passes for 428 yards with four touchdowns. He also has the mobility to be a threat in the running game.

Stoops admitted the offense wasn’t exactly tailored to Thompson during last season’s quarterback race. That will change as the Sooners prepare for their Sept. 2 season-opener against Alabama-Birmingham.

“We’ll adjust to strengths and weaknesses that we have,” offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. “Some quarterbacks like different routes and struggle with certain reads. It’s not that they can’t drop back and throw the ball. We’re going to do everything to put him in a position to be successful.”

Whether or not it means the Sooners will be at the level they were prior to Bomar’s departure remains to be seen. But they’ve been dealt a hand and, with Thompson at quarterback, they believe they can play it well.

“He has talent,” running back Adrian Peterson said. “If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be at the University of Oklahoma. It’s up to him to step up to the plate and get it done.”

Thompson struck out in his first attempt last season, but he’s ready to take another swing.

“I’m out here having fun and trying to do the best I can,” he said. “I’m trying not to put too much pressure and stress on myself. I’m just ready to roll.”

John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com