Sooner Club Spotlight: Sterling Shepard

NORMAN, Okla. -- If you've seen Sterling Shepard on the University of Oklahoma campus, then you've seen his infectious smile. Whether it's in the classroom, on the practice field or virtually any other locale, Shepard boasts an engaging personality and seemingly carries good vibrations with him wherever he goes.

Shepard is naturally upbeat. Perhaps some of his positive aura can be attributed to the sense of gratitude he possesses for the opportunity to attend OU and compete for one of the nation's most storied football programs. Shepard realizes the generosity of Oklahoma fans plays a large role in his ability to receive a world-class education.

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"I appreciate what the Sooner Club does," Shepard said. "I know a lot of people who couldn't go to school without their donations. I may not be here without the Sooner Club, so it means a lot."

Shepard is one of the more than 500 OU student-athletes who receive some kind of financial aid, and it's through the private support of OU fans and the Sooner Club that makes it all happen.

But maybe Shepard appreciates his opportunity to study and compete at Oklahoma just a little more than some of his fellow student-athletes on scholarship. Sterling wears jersey number 3 in honor of his late father, Derrick, who passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack in 1999.

The elder Shepard had been part of OU's 1985 national championship team and was serving as a graduate assistant on the staff of newly-hired OU head coach Bob Stoops before accepting a coaching job at the University of Wyoming.

After passing away at 35 years old, Derrick Shepard left behind a widow, Cheri, and three children, Ashleigh, Shelby and Sterling.

"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 (Sterling) 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.

But as one of three children in a single-parent household, he also knew that his family would face challenges to continue his academic and football careers after high school.

"Being around the program just let me know that I wanted to be a part of it when I got older," Shepard said. "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."

While the generous support of Sooner Club members helps make dreams come true for student-athletes like Shepard, there are countless other individuals working behind the scenes helping make the OU experience as fulfilling as possible. Annette Moran is one of those people. She serves as an academic advisor for Shepard and numerous other Oklahoma student-athletes.

"It means a lot to these student-athletes to have their education essentially paid for," said Moran. "They do work extremely hard because of that opportunity that they may not otherwise have had."

Moran's job is to help players like Shepard arrange class schedules and tutoring, and advise them on how to manage their time to make use of all the athletic department resources.

"I know that Sterling takes advantage of all the resources we have to offer," Moran said. "He visits with me often to assess how he is doing with his classes and what he wants to do with his major. He is a good student and has gotten off to a good start so far, but he definitely utilizes the resources we have up here to help him get ahead academically."

Shepard also excelled on the field for the Sooners in 2012, playing in all 13 games and accumulating 45 receptions for 621 yards with three touchdowns. His 621 yards ranked third among freshman in OU history, while his 45 catches ranked fourth all-time in Oklahoma annals for a freshman.

"My work ethic has improved since I got to OU," Shepard said. "It's a lot harder in college to manage time. You have to work a little harder."

A former OU student-athlete herself, Moran appreciates the many challenges of balancing academics and athletics.

"Time is everything when it comes to these guys." Moran said. "In a lot of ways it's the number one thing that's difficult for our students. They all have that time constraint on them and that's definitely the largest challenge for them. Being a former student-athlete, I am a product of what goes on here and it's really fortunate to have people who donate. It really helps us out. It's an opportunity that would not be here without it."

Maybe Sterling Shepard appreciates his scholarship a little more because his late father originally joined OU as a walk-on before eventually earning a scholarship. No matter the reason why his gratitude is so deeply rooted, it's hard for OU fans who enjoyed watching another number 3 make big plays for the Sooners not to appreciate the family resemblance between father and son.

"My mom even tells me that we look alike in the way we run," Sterling quipped. "Sometimes we get going so fast that we're about to fall over."

That resemblance isn't lost on Stoops, either.

"Here's No. 3 out there, running like him, making the same plays," the head coach said.

For more information on joining the Sooner Club, or to renew your membership, visit TheSoonerClub.com or contact the Sooner Club office at (405) 325-8000 or toll-free at (866) Sooner Club.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sooner Club Spotlight: Sterling Shepard

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