University of Oklahoma Athletics
Shepard Continues Late Father's Legacy
October 20, 2012 | Athletics
Oct. 20, 2012
NORMAN, Okla. -- Sterling Shepard doesn't recall the first time he met Bob Stoops. The Sooners' head coach had a daily reminder.
Derrick Shepard was a star receiver and fearless punt returner for the Sooners in the 1980s and parlayed his athleticism into a five-year NFL career that began with a Super Bowl championship as a Washington Redskin in 1987.
When Stoops was hired at the University of Oklahoma, Shepard was on the staff as a graduate assistant, learning the ropes in the infancy of his coaching career. In June 1999, Shepard took a full-time job as assistant at Wyoming. Five weeks later, he died after suffering a heart attack while playing racquetball, leaving behind his wife, Cheri, and three children, Ashleigh, Shelby and Sterling.
Stoops spoke at Derrick's funeral. When he returned to Norman, he placed the notes used that day in his top desk drawer.
"I couldn't imagine growing up without a father," Stoops said, "As a coach's kid, I knew what my father meant to me and how special it was to be around a team. I felt bad he was missing that, so I told Cheri that we wanted him around at practices and in the locker room whenever he could be there."
Sterling became a fixture inside the Barry Switzer Center and on OU's sidelines. He lived for many what would be a childhood dream by hanging out with players in the locker room. When the 1985 National Champion Sooners had a reunion at Owen Field in 2000, six-year-old Sterling wore his father's jersey and accepted the loudest ovation during introductions.
"I looked up to those guys whenever I was younger," said Sterling. "and some of the coaches were kind of like father figures to me because I didn't have one. It helped me out a lot.
"So being around the program just let me know that I wanted to be a part of it when I got older. I've always kept that in my head and that's why I've always wanted to play here at OU. I set that dream when I was real little and this is where I wanted to be. This is where I wanted to go to college. I put forth all my effort to make it possible."
Over time, it became obvious the Sterling had the potential to follow in his father's footsteps as a college football player.
"We never had any idea we would ever recruit him," Stoops said. "We were all really excited when we knew we wanted to offer him a scholarship and have him with us. So it was really special to make that call."
The offer came on Sterling's birthday and, one month later, he committed to Oklahoma.
"It was the best birthday present. I know I took a little while to commit," Sterling said, "but I was always going to be a Sooner."
The gift-giving was not complete. When Stoops showed up at the Shepards' house to receive Sterling's commitment, he brought the notes that had remained in his desk for more than 11 years.
"He actually didn't want to give it to me at the beginning of the recruiting process because he didn't want to make it seem like that was a bribe," Sterling said, "But he told me he had it for me whenever I committed.
"I'd never think that he had it still but he kept it in the same drawer. So right when I committed in my house visit, he gave it to me. My mom and I read it right after he left and we got it framed.
"For him to keep it that long just lets me know that he cared a lot about my dad and about my family. It's just great to see that. Whenever I saw the letter, I was just shocked. I read over it. Obviously, I didn't remember it (at the funeral) because I was so little. When I was reading over it, it was really cool to see."
Now, Sterling is adding to his father's legacy while leaving his own. Just a freshman, Shepard is quickly becoming a go-to target for Landry Jones and the Oklahoma offense.
"My dad was the youngest out of his brothers and showed he could play at an early age. I knew I wanted to come here and show that I could play at a young age. I've got to work hard to do the same thing because that's the kind of legacy I want to leave around here with fans being able to show that kind of love towards me."
The love shown spans generations. Many Sooner fans watch Sterling on Owen Field and are reminded of Derrick's elusive plays. Sterling enjoys hearing about all the similarities.
"Definitely, in the way we run. My mom even tells me that we look alike in the way we run. Sometimes we get going so fast that we're about to fall over."
Shepard's head coach sees the resemblance, too.
"Here's No. 3 out there, running like him, making the same plays," Stoops said.
Sterling's breakout came in OU's third game against Kansas State. Although the outcome was not the one desired, it was evident the younger Shepard could make the impact that his father did a quarter-century earlier.
That day, Shepard led the Sooner receivers with seven catches for 108 yards and one touchdown punctuated by a point towards the Heavens.
"We run out before the game and kneel and pray, I talk to God, but I always talk to him, too. I point up at the sky and show him some love. Whenever I score, that's the first thing I remember to do."
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