The Football Brainiacs

Photo from Instagram.com/ou_football

On Saturday the Oklahoma Sooners will travel to Kansas to play the Jayhawks. The last time the Oklahoma Sooners visited Kansas was a night that Ryan Broyles and Sooner fans will never forget. It was a night when a local kid would pen his name in the record books. A night when those who don’t believe that great things can happen to them would be inspired. It was the night Ryan Broyles broke the NCAA reception record by catching his 317th reception and added another share of wealth to the rich Oklahoma tradition. On the anniversary of that night Ryan reflects on that night:

A: The funny thing is I knew I was a catch away on the timeout break. Coach told me we were going to get me a touchdown pass so I could break it. I was so humbled and thankful when I broke the record, and on top of that I did it playing for my hometown team. It meant more to me than I can explain!

Q: What did the record mean after you had time to process it?

A: When I started my career at OU I just wanted to be a good player. I wanted to prove to my coaches and teammates I could help the team every chance I was given. So breaking that record was just a testament to the daily work I put in to make those promises to myself and my teammates come true.

Q: Is that record still something you think about?

A: I still think about the record from time to time. I have the news article of the record breaking catch framed, so it’s a daily reminder. I strive to do those things in the NFL now as well. I think there is a great lesson for me in that record because, thinking back, I probably didn’t imagine I’d accomplish something like that when I first started at OU, but it happened! So why not dream big again? People talk about dreaming big but the first time they fall short they feel cheated and they stop dreaming and aspiring because they’re afraid of feeling the sting of failure again. But having the capacity to dream big is an accomplishment in itself. Maybe it means that God has put within your heart a sense that there is no limitation because He is not limited. No matter how many times I fail I hope I never stop believing that the next dream will come true. And no matter how many times I succeed I hope I never stop thanking Him for it.

Q: How much of that record do you credit to your teammates and coaches for putting you in a position to succeed?

A: Looking back on it now I know I would never have had the chance of breaking it without great Coaches, Quarterbacks, teammates, and the strength staff around me. It was a total team effort from the first catch to the last. I’m not just being humble about the situation; really, a large part of that record belongs to those guys as well! A large part of that record belongs to the fans who supported me, our team and our university and I hope they are as proud of it as I am.

Q: What advice do you have to young people who have goals but don’t believe they can accomplish them?

A: You have to believe in yourself or no one will. The battle is having the vision to see the end in the beginning but working to become better on a daily basis. As they say, ‘Rome was not built in a day’ and records aren’t reached in a day either. You have to block out all negativity, internally and externally, in order to succeed.  Remember, you can do anything with God! That isn’t just a bumper sticker or something we say to show others we have faith. It is a conviction that you must have. And your hard work and perseverance are signs that you believe success with God is possible.