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sports Monday 11 deceMber 2017

Walk-on to Heisman: Oklahoma’s Mayfield wins in landslide

Continued from Page 18 who also was at the Best
Buy Theater in midtown
Mayfield is the third player Manhattan, for welcoming
to win the Heisman head- a “chubby, unathletic kid
ing to the College Football into the program with open
Playoff. The second-ranked arms.” That was also Riley’s
Sooners meet No. 3 Geor- first season as Oklahoma’s
gia in the Rose Bowl on Jan. offensive coordinator. The
1. He is the first senior to win two have been a perfect
the award since Smith and match. “For any coach to
the first Heisman winner to have a chance for your
begin his career as a walk- guy to be standing here,
on since athletic scholar- to win the Heisman Trophy,
ships started in the 1950s. and just to do it kind of at
“It’s been a tough journey,” the end of such a long jour-
Mayfield said during his ney we’ve had together,
acceptance speech. He it’s very special,” Riley said.
choked back tears, thank- Mayfield’s departure from
ing his parents and first-year Texas Tech was conten-
Oklahoma coach Lincoln tious. At first, he lost a year
Riley. of eligibility, despite not be-
“Tried to play it cool,” May- ing on scholarship. He even-
field said later. “That’s not tually got that year back
my thing though. I’m a guy when the Big 12 tweaked
that wears his emotions on its rules, but he never did
his sleeve.” let it go. For his last game
Mayfield finished fourth in In this Oct. 7, 2017 photo, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) leaps over Iowa State against Texas Tech this sea-
the Heisman voting two defensive back De’Monte Ruth, bottom, in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game son, he wore the “Traitor”
years ago and third last in Norman, Okla. Mayfield is the 2017 winner of the Heisman Trophy. T-shirt that some Red Raid-
year. “It’s motivating for me (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) ers fans wore when he first
to be the best in the coun- attached to Mayfield often, kid who grew up in Aus- Mayfield said. “Just true returned to Lubbock with
try,” he said. but at times poor judgment tin, Texas, rooting for Okla- belief. My journey, like I Oklahoma.
Mayfield entered this sea- has gotten him in trouble homa, but did not receive said earlier is not over, but Later in the year, it was
son as one of the Heisman on and off the field. a scholarship offer out of it’s about facing adversity. Kansas — of all teams —
favorites and jumped to- Those were really the only high school from either the If there’s mistakes, being that tried to get the volatile
ward the front of the pack marks on Mayfield’s Heis- hometown Longhorns or his up front about it and then Mayfield off his game.
when he led the Sooners man resume because his beloved Sooners. moving forward and being Jayhawks captains refused
to an early victory at Ohio play has been consistently At Lake Travis High School, better in the future.” to shake his hand during
State that he celebrated stellar. He has thrown for Mayfield won a state He walked-on at Texas Tech the pregame coin flip.
by planting the OU flag in 4,340 yards and 41 touch- championship at a school and started eight games as They trash-talked Mayfield
the Horseshoe turf. downs this season for the that regularly pumps out a freshman in 2013. and even took a late hit
He later apologized for Big 12 champion Sooners Division I quarterbacks. He With a glut of quarterbacks at him. He responded by
that, but that has been (12-1). For his career, May- received one offer from in Lubbock, Mayfield left screaming profanities and
Mayfield’s career. Spec- field is eighth in FBS history in a Power Five program — and had only one school in making a lewd gesture that
tacular play fueled by yards passing (14,320) and Washington State. mind. He walked-on again television cameras caught.
grudges, slights and trying sixth in touchdown passes “There’s something to be at Oklahoma. That led to a public apol-
to prove doubters wrong. (129). said for having just good Mayfield thanked former ogy from Mayfield, his third
Moxie is the word that gets Pretty good for a scrawny ol’ confidence in yourself,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops, this year.q

Lomachenko stops Rigondeaux to win match of Olympic greats

By BRIAN MAHONEY “I guess I should change my his left hand. Rigondeaux first felt pain in hospital for X-rays.
AP Sports Writer name now to NoMaschen- Lomachenko was eas- the second round and hurt Duva said the injury came
NEW YORK (AP) — Vasyl ko,” Lomachenko said. ily winning boxing’s first pro it more significantly in the from a punch — though
Lomachenko doesn’t just Lomachenko won their match between two-time third. Rigondeaux certainly
beat fighters. He makes bout Saturday night when Olympic gold medalists Duva said doctors believed didn’t hit Lomachenko with
them quit. Rigondeaux’s corner when Rigondeaux and his the hand could be broken many of them.
Even Guillermo Rigon- stopped the fight after six trainers jointly called for the and were sending the 2000 “Where did he hurt his hand,
deaux, who had never rounds because the boxer match to be stopped. and 2004 Olympic gold in the dressing room?” pro-
even lost a fight as a pro. was complaining of pain in Promoter Dino Duva said medalist from Cuba to the moter Bob Arum said. q