FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — If Oklahoma has its way, you’ll be hearing a lot about wide receiver Ryan Broyles and running back Mossis Madu Thursday night in the BCS national championship game.
If you’re familiar with Norman High football, that combination should be extremely familiar. It should sound like a Norman High game straight out of 2005.
Both former Norman High standouts were taking in Dolphin Stadium during OU’s media day Monday when it kind of hit them.
“This was always the dream,” Broyles said.
Just about every kid that grows up in Norman has the same one. You see the way the town swells not only with people but with energy every Saturday in the fall. It doesn’t even matter if you actually get inside Owen Field for games. You still hear and feel the roars from the outside.
Madu and Broyles wanted to be part of it from the first time they met in elementary school. But it never really looked like a reality.
Both were stars at Norman High.
Madu was one of the best running backs in the state in 2004 and 2005. But he figured throughout his senior season he was going to go to UCLA. The Bruins had recruited him heavily throughout his senior year and OU hadn’t shown a whole lot interest.
That all changed when recruiting season hit its peak in the winter of 2006. Out of the blue, the Sooners came with a scholarship offer that hit Madu for a loop. OU had a healthy stable of running backs that still included Adrian Peterson. If he was looking for a place he could jump right in and play, OU wasn’t it.
But then he started thinking.
“When the opportunity popped up, I couldn’t turn it down,” Madu said.
Neither could Broyles. The former Norman High defensive back, wide receiver and running back’s decision to go to OU nearly mirrored Madu’s. The only difference was Oklahoma State was the early leader for his services. But once the Sooners came with an offer, he couldn’t turn down the opportunity.
“ I think they thought since we lived in Norman they could get us whenever they wanted us,” Broyles said. “Doesn’t matter now. We’re very blessed to be there and really enjoying being here.”
Both played a big part in getting the Sooners in this position.
Broyles, a redshirt freshman, enjoyed a breakout season with 42 receptions for 661 yards and six touchdowns. With seniors Juaquin Iglesias, Manny Johnson and Quentin Chaney playing their final game Thursday night, Broyles is expected to be OU’s featured receiver in 2009.
Madu might be in for a bigger role next season, too. He’ll definitely have a bigger one against the Gators. With DeMarco Murray out due to a knee injury, Madu will share time in the backfield with Chris Brown.
Madu showed he was up to the challenge in the Big 12 championship game, rushing for a career-high 114 yards and three touchdowns in the Sooners’ 62-21 rout of Missouri.
It was the first time both had played major roles in a victory since their last game at Harve Collins Field.
OU coach Bob Stoops l seeing it as well.
“We love it when local, Oklahoma guys are doing the things they are,” he said.
Both gazed at an empty Dolphin Stadium Monday. The grounds crew was painting the banners on the field and it was a good time to think back to those days growing up in Norman and wondering what the future held.
“We always knew Oklahoma as played for championships,” Madu said. “I guess it’s just that I’m so used to watching other guys play in this game. I always thinking, ‘What if that was me someday?’”
For Madu and Broyles, the time has arrived.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
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