White, Peterson Make Heisman Statements

KANSAS CITY -- Jason White came back to Oklahoma because he wanted to win a championship. As a bonus, the Sooners' sixth-year senior quarterback just might become only the second player to win the Heisman Trophy twice.

Then again, second-ranked Oklahoma could have two straight Heisman winners even if White doesn't repeat. Freshman Adrian Peterson made a strong closing argument in the Big 12 title game Saturday night, too.

White threw touchdown passes on Oklahoma's first three possessions, leading the Sooners to a 42-3 victory over Colorado. Peterson, the record-breaking running back, ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries.

2004 Big 12 Championship: Oklahoma 42, Colorado 3

Just don't ask coach Bob Stoops how he'd vote.

"It's hard for me to talk about one player, or two," Stoops said. "These guys are tremendous. You see it every week. They complement each other with great running and passing -- and it's made a major difference this year, the fact that we're strong in both.

"But a lot of these guys have helped them. So I wouldn't be the one to choose. It wouldn't be fair."

But even if neither player walks away with the Heisman on Saturday in New York, both will have the satisfaction of helping Oklahoma (12-0) earn its third conference championship in five years and an all-but-guaranteed shot at a national title in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4 in Miami.

"I'm just excited about winning the Big 12," said Peterson, who set an NCAA freshman record with his 10th 100-yard rushing game.

White -- who has been granted two medical redshirts in his career and plays on a pair of rebuilt knees -- will have a chance to join Ohio State running back Archie Griffin (1974-75) as a two-time Heisman winner.

"The Heisman is great. Individual awards are great, and it's a fun opportunity," he said. "Words can't speak to how much fun it is just to be around the greats that are there (at the presentation ceremony), but right now I'm enjoying the victory we had tonight. It's one of the main reasons I came back."

Peterson could also make history. No freshman or sophomore has ever won the Heisman.

The other major contender, Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart, had a relatively quiet game in the top-ranked Trojans' 29-24 win over UCLA on Saturday.

Leinart, a junior, was 24-of-34 for 242 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. It was his first game in 25 starts without a scoring pass.

White had one major misstep against Colorado (7-5), a badly lofted pass that was intercepted in the end zone after Mark Bradley's run on a fake field goal gave the Sooners first-and-goal at the 6.

He also threw an interception in the third quarter, setting up Mason Crosby's 34-yard field goal for Colorado's only score, but that happened after Bradley slipped going for the ball. White was solid otherwise, completing 22 of 29 passes for 254 yards.

"Each throw was on," Colorado quarterback Terrence Wheatley said. "You make a wrong step, you slip, you're just a second too slow -- you do anything wrong, and it's a catch."

That was worlds better than White's performance in last year's conference championship, when he threw two interceptions -- one of which was returned for a touchdown -- was sacked three times and did not have a TD pass in the Sooners' 35-7 loss to Kansas State.

White still won the Heisman, and Oklahoma had a shot at a Bowl Championship Series title -- but a 21-14 loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl denied them even part of a national championship.

Now, with the Sooners poised for another title shot, White can wipe out that disappointment -- with or without the Heisman.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

White, Peterson Make Heisman Statements

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