Reflecting on a Legacy

or the last four years, Sterling Shepard has wowed Sooner fans with his outstanding play on the field. From a wild Sugar Bowl touchdown to his overtime heroics at Tennessee, Shepard has been a staple of the Oklahoma offense and has produced moments that will live forever in OU lore.

Last Saturday, in front of the third largest crowd in Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium history, Sooner Nation got its chance to say thank you.

As part of the annual senior day festivities, the 2015 OU senior class stayed on the field following warmups and, joined by family members, lined up to be recognized by the home crowd. Shepard, waiting near the end of the alphabetical line, would hear for the first time the ovation that his name on the video board draws every home game.

When the time came, the Owen Field faithful did not disappoint.

“It means a lot to me,” Shepard said. “I said my freshman year that I want to leave my mark here with my Dad and my uncles leaving their stamp. To hear the crowd like that was a special moment for me and my family.”

And leave his mark he has. For his career, the two-time Biletnikoff Award semifinalist has totaled 3,308 yards receiving, second behind Ryan Broyles. He has 216 receptions, and is just five catches from tying Mark Clayton for second on OU's career list. Shepard also ranks fourth in program history in receiving touchdowns (25) and owns 12 career games of more than 100 yards receiving.

Sterling Shepard has delivered countless unforgettable moments, perhaps none as legendary as his game-winning score against Tennessee.

“It is a blessing. I have watched those guys as a young kid and wanted to make my game like them,” Shepard said of Broyles, Clayton and other OU receiver greats. “To be mentioned with them is an honor and it is a blessing.”

Making Shepard's historic numbers even more impressive is the fact that he has played significant time with four different quarterbacks during his career. Shepard also missed several games during his junior season due to injury.

But there would be more than a cheer for Sterling and his family on Saturday. Unbeknownst to Shepard, former Sooner great Brian Bosworth had prepared a special gift for him, a signed magazine with his late father, Derrick, on the cover that had been autographed by members of the Sooners' 1985 national championship team. In front of 85,000 fans, Shepard found himself choked up.

“I didn't want to get emotional before the game, but I wasn't expecting that,” Shepard recalled. “He came up and gave that to me and my family and it just meant so much to me and my mom as well. Just for them to think about me and do that for me. I got a little emotional even though I didn't want to. I think the main thing was my dad on the front of that. I know that I play for him every week so just seeing him and knowing I had one more chance to play for him—I was very grateful.”

Sooner great Brian Bosworth presents the Shepard family with a special gift.

Derrick Shepard was a receiver and punt returner for the Sooners from 1983 to 1986. An integral part of the 1985 national championship team, he went on to play five years in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with Washington in 1987. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 35 after suffering a heart attack while playing racquetball. He had recently been hired by the University of Wyoming as an assistant coach after serving as a graduate assistant at OU the year before.

Sterling Shepard, who was 6 when his father died, took his last chance to play for his family name on Owen Field and made the most of it. He tallied 111 yards and a touchdown on eight catches to help lift the Sooners past TCU, 30-29. While his performance on the field has always been of upmost importance to the team, Shepard has always played for just a little bit more.

“I read a tweet that [Bosworth] said that my dad had given his heart to me,” Shepard said. “That's what I try to do. I try to play for not only the name on the front of my jersey, but also the name on the back. Bosworth has worn this jersey and he knows what it means. I had to go out and represent.”

With just one regular season game left as a Sooner, Shepard carries the burden of perspective.

”So many great memories on and off the field,” Shepard said. “I have met brothers that I will have for a lifetime and all the coaches have been great. I was reflecting on it the other day and I just have so many great memories here.

“On Saturday it really sunk in walking off that field. I had to turn back around and get one last look at it. It is a blessing just being able to play in front of the best fans in the nation for four years.”

One blessing Shepard is particularly thankful for is his relationship with his head coach. Following Derrick's passing, Stoops, knowing the difficulty Sterling would face with the loss of his father, insisted that he be around the program as much as possible. So with the head coach's insistence, Sterling became a staple around the Barry Switzer Center and the Sooner sidelines, cultivating a close relationship with Stoops.

“It's special,” Shepard said. “The things he did for me as a little kid are special. There's no way I can repay him for that. The best I can do is go out and give my all every week and that's what I try to do. It is just a blessing. I am glad I chose this place.”

While Shepard will reflect on his career if asked to, there is really only one thing on his mind this week. There is just one more thing he'd like to add to his Sooner legacy.

The 2015 Big 12 Championship.

A win Saturday against Oklahoma State in Stillwater will deliver just that, and could even send the Sooners to the College Football Playoff for the first time in just its second year of existence.

“We still have some work to do,” Shepard said. “That is why I came to this school. To win championships. That was what it was about before I came here and that was one of our goals as senior leaders, to bring this team back to winning championships.”

Regardless of Saturday's outcome, one things is certain. Sooner fans will not soon forget the Shepard legacy.